A thriller that wasn’t very thrilling ...

After hearing SO many good things about this book, I just knew that I had to jump on it.

I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed with the story line, the pacing, the characters and ultimately the outcome.


3 ⭐️.

Self-diagnosed as a sociopath is the protagonist Jane and boy is she a big ball of fun! The story is told only in her perspective where she is seeking revenge. So much thrill and devious fun I could not put this book down.

Jane (kind of her real name but not) is set on revenge and she is letting nothing get in her way.

Wow- this was such a quick read for me. I usually don’t enjoy books with unlikeable characters, but I was rooting for this main character (who is a self described sociopath no less!). I love the speediness of the chapters and how the ending isn’t what I would have expected.

Looking forward to continuing the series to see what happens next!

It was the suspense for me! The thought of wondering what’s going to happen next and coming up with different scenarios I’m my mind just to be taken by surprise! Great read!

BAM all the Stars! I absolutely loved everything about this book! It was so much freaking fun! Jane is a self-diagnosed sociopath and boy is she fantastic! She even loves to read! Who doesn’t like a sociopath who loves to read!? The book is a dark, twisted and unique thriller

Jane, Jane, Jane, you are something else!!! How I enjoyed this book. I will look for the 2nd part as it seems there may be one. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

Very fast paced, loved the storyline. I will definitely be reading the second one just to follow along Jane’s journey!

This is the kind of book that I would have read in one sitting before having kids. Even now I stayed up way too late finishing it last night. It hooked me from the start, and I was eager to find out how it ended. There was a point in the middle where it started to feel a little slow, but it got interesting again pretty quickly. I thought it wrapped up nicely at the end, so I was surprised to see it's going to be a series. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series, though!

I wasn't sure what to expect when going into this book and it took me a little while to fully get into it - but once I was, I couldn't put it down and flew through it. I even sneakily tried to read it at work! It had the perfect level of intrigue and suspense to make it an almost perfect book for me. I recently disovered this book has got a sequel as well which I cannot wait to get to!

I loved this book! I found Jane to be relatable but just enough disconnected to be believable. Jane was actually witty and her sarcasm had me from the get go. I was intrigued the whole time trying to figure out exactly what she was going to do to avenge her best friends death. Steven and his father deserve the worst karma has to offer them and Luke was a nice addition to the plot. If you are into pyschological thrillers that are overly dramatic and play into that theme, this may be light for you. This seemed calculated and believable by today's standards. This book is a great quick read.

RATING:4.5 STARS
2018; Lake Union Publishing

So. Fucking. Twisted. And. Good. Jane Doe will be a novel you will either love or hate, because of the main character Jane herself. Jane is very memorable due to her sociopathic ways being written so well by author, Victoria Helen Stone. I found myself volleying back and forth on a range of love and hate for her actions, but she was also a character I really felt invested in. Being seduced and seducing Steven, a character I definitely had a hate-on for, to get her revenge was a bit delicious and also messy. While I did not feel bad for Steven, I did feel bad for the guy (who's name escapes me) who tried to love Jane. I will warn you that once you start this book, you will be wanting to stay glued until you get to the last page. After I finished this book, I recommended it two other friends that gobbled this one up as well!

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

Jane takes a data entry job while telling the reader the whole time that she is a rich attorney. What's Jane's game plan? Revenge. Jane admits to being a self diagnosed sociopath...and I'm sure as a reader and general human that I'm supposed to feel like a normal person and sorta not sympathize with Jane.
After all....


But then you have some passages that sorta make you think twice. Like one of her memories of going to church.
But at least there's no danger of my grandmother jabbing her elbow into my ribs and snarling at me to stop "grinning like some whore devil." That was when I was nine. A precocious whore devil, apparently. By twelve I told my mother I'd poison her Dr Pepper with Visine if she made me go to one more service.
and
It's not that I don't have feelings. I have some emotions. I do. It's just that I can usually choose when to feel them. More important, I choose when not to.

Get ready to run from me. I love Jane.


I'm not gonna spoil the book because this is one of those that you just have to go into and enjoy the little crazy train that it is.
And don't shame Jane.....


Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

Jane Doe, a self-proclaimed sociopath who you fall in love with. This book had everything I want in a good story—strong characterization, witty dialogue, and a fast-paced, revenge plot. A very entertaining and quick read that I highly recommend.

Thanks you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Victoria Helen Stone for a copy of "Jane Doe" in exchange of an honest review.

Elyse: I just finished Jane Doe and I think I need a cigarette. That was the most satisfying book I’ve read in ages.

Sarah: I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO HAVE READ IT. I’m so excited to talk about this book with you.

I know many people don’t like first-person POV, I have to say, spending a book inside the head of a person who has no capacity to experience shame, fear, guilt, or remorse was so incredibly liberating.

I love how the story mixes mystery, thriller, and a tiny bit of romance, too. We as the reader know she’s getting revenge, but the why, and the how – and the when – are all part of the mystery. And seeing how close she gets to killing Steven before she’s ready is also part of the suspense.

Elyse: Jane is a sociopath, she’s aware of it, and that’s where her power comes from. Without the first person narrative, we’d be unable to stay three moves ahead of Steven (the villain) who doesn’t even realize he’s playing chess.

I spent a long time thinking about Jane’s sociopathy after I finished this book. My understanding of sociopaths is mostly informed by crime thrillers that suggest sociopaths are rare creatures who morph into serial killers. Jane disabuses us of that notion, and of the idea that she cannot form meaningful interpersonal relationships.

When we're first introduced to Jane, all we know is that she's working doing data entry at a company in the Midwest. She's taken a sabbatical from her job as a high-powered lawyer in Malaysia to come back to the States. She's toned down her appearance in terms of high-profile clothing, changed the color of her hair, and is doing everything possible to appear demure and weak. We later learn that she's grieving the death of her best friend Meg. Meg has killed herself over a relationship gone bad and it quickly becomes apparent that Jane is out to seek revenge against the man from Meg's past, Steven Hepsworth. The more Jane learns about Steven and his family, the more she desires revenge for her friend and is willing to do almost anything to get it. The only snag in Jane's plan is a chance meeting with an old college boyfriend, Luke. The more she begins to despise Steven, the more she gravitates toward Luke. Will Jane allow her quest for vengeance to override the desire for a relationship with a good man?

Jane Doe is a fast-paced and engaging read. From the very beginning, it is impossible to not know what Jane's intentions are because she verbalizes them quite well and often emphasizes the fact that she is a high-functioning sociopath. Does this make her a bad person when she's only out to get what she deems as justice for her friend? Is it ever right to take the law into your own hands? Is there anything you wouldn't do to right the wrongs of a loved one? Jane may not kill anyone (and that's the only hint I'll provide), but she does hold fast and firm to her intention to seek vengeance no matter the cost. Amazingly enough, Jane doesn't come across as a crazy person and she is somewhat likable in the end. Does she ever get her revenge against Steven Hepsworth? All I can say is read the book and find out for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this one. It was a pleasant escape from my tonsillectomy.

The main character, Jane, plays two different people. One who must avenge her friend’s death and and one who wants to try out living a normal life. This is a classic tug of war between good versus evil. Jane ultimately make the right choice and I loved every second of it.

‘I’ve never killed anyone. I’m not that kind of sociopath. But you never know. Desperate times…’

We’re always on the hunt for stories that offer something a little different, so if you’re like us and thrive on unique stories, then you MUST read Jane Doe. It was FANTASTIC! A suspenseful, wickedly amusing story with captivating mature writing that introduced us to a complex, funny and confounding character that is thirty-year-old, Jane Doe, a self-diagnosed sociopath with an acerbic wit and a vivid imagination. Jane Doe was one deliciously wicked and taunting tale we devoured from start to finish.

‘Emotion is sticky as tar, and it’s hard to get off you, which is why I’ve spent my whole life trying to avoid exposing my skin to it.’

Taking leave from her very successful Legal career and lifestyle in Kuala Lumpur, Jane accepts a role in a small insurance firm in Minneapolis, the place she spent her college years. However, Jane is going back a different version of herself, leaving behind the sexy confident go-getter to become a timid woman in order to capture the attention of her manager, the snivelling Steven Hepsworth.

“You’re sexy as hell,” he says. Lots of men have said this to me. They like a woman with no shame. We’re rare, you see because we’re told to be ashamed of everything, every day, by everyone. Ashamed to give them what they want, ashamed not to give it to them. Ashamed to show our average bodies, ashamed not to have a perfect one. I have no idea how normal women date. The world seems like it’d be an unbearable place for people with real feelings.’

Steven, the son of a minister is basically an A grade arsehole. He’s a man who delights in belittling women and sees Jane as the perfect catch for him. She appears subservient and he delights in knocking her confidence and lowering her self-esteem. It’s what Steven lives for. But…. Steven couldn’t be more off the mark! The real Jane is out for his blood, and she’s taking no prisoners, knowing her time in Minneapolis isn’t’ going to end well, Jane sets her plan in motion.

As we learn about Janes past, we begin to understand her reason for seeking retribution and why she has become emotionally shut off. We couldn’t help but connect to Jane. Her inner monologue is devilishly stinging and nail-biting at once! Hmmm secretly, wouldn’t we all want to be a bit like Jane?

‘Not all monsters are terrifying. Some of them are so tedious they’ll just make you wish for death.’

The way she smiles and appeases Steven, whilst inwardly plotting his downfall is deliciously wicked and scathing. Her thoughts are humorous and the opposite to the Jane this man thinks he is denigrating. We squirmed as she uncovered his weaknesses and rallied behind her in her quest for revenge!

‘Most of us aren’t evil; we’re just stupid and flawed and not careful with others.’

Jane Doe is a brilliantly written, captivating, intriguing, wickedly funny and somewhat deliciously dark story of revenge. Nothing is off limits in Jane Doe. You’ll devour this book as you unearth how she got there, what lead her to Steven and wonder if she does or doesn’t enact her revenge? We all know a Meg, we all hope to meet a Luke, we hope to god we never cross paths with a Steven, and we want to have a wine and a chat with Jane! She was such a fascinating character!

‘Are we all just animals bound to relive our broken childhoods over and over? Is it that simple?’

We’ve since heard that Sony has bought the TV rights to Jane Doe and can’t wait to see it brought to life! News has also broken about a second standalone Jane Doe Thriller called Problem Child releasing March next year, which is great news because we’re already missing Jane!

‘I’ve never killed anyone. I’m not that kind of sociopath. But you never know. Desperate times…’

We’re always on the hunt for stories that offer something a little different, so if you’re like us and thrive on unique stories, then you MUST read Jane Doe. It was FANTASTIC! A suspenseful, wickedly amusing story with captivating mature writing that introduced us to a complex, funny and confounding character that is thirty-year-old, Jane Doe, a self-diagnosed sociopath with an acerbic wit and a vivid imagination. Jane Doe was one deliciously wicked and taunting tale we devoured from start to finish.

‘Emotion is sticky as tar, and it’s hard to get off you, which is why I’ve spent my whole life trying to avoid exposing my skin to it.’

Taking leave from her very successful Legal career and lifestyle in Kuala Lumpur, Jane accepts a role in a small insurance firm in Minneapolis, the place she spent her college years. However, Jane is going back a different version of herself, leaving behind the sexy confident go-getter to become a timid woman in order to capture the attention of her manager, the snivelling Steven Hepsworth.

“You’re sexy as hell,” he says. Lots of men have said this to me. They like a woman with no shame. We’re rare, you see because we’re told to be ashamed of everything, every day, by everyone. Ashamed to give them what they want, ashamed not to give it to them. Ashamed to show our average bodies, ashamed not to have a perfect one. I have no idea how normal women date. The world seems like it’d be an unbearable place for people with real feelings.’

Steven, the son of a minister is basically an A grade arsehole. He’s a man who delights in belittling women and sees Jane as the perfect catch for him. She appears subservient and he delights in knocking her confidence and lowering her self-esteem. It’s what Steven lives for. But…. Steven couldn’t be more off the mark! The real Jane is out for his blood, and she’s taking no prisoners, knowing her time in Minneapolis isn’t’ going to end well, Jane sets her plan in motion.

As we learn about Janes past, we begin to understand her reason for seeking retribution and why she has become emotionally shut off. We couldn’t help but connect to Jane. Her inner monologue is devilishly stinging and nail-biting at once! Hmmm secretly, wouldn’t we all want to be a bit like Jane?

‘Not all monsters are terrifying. Some of them are so tedious they’ll just make you wish for death.’

The way she smiles and appeases Steven, whilst inwardly plotting his downfall is deliciously wicked and scathing. Her thoughts are humorous and the opposite to the Jane this man thinks he is denigrating. We squirmed as she uncovered his weaknesses and rallied behind her in her quest for revenge!

‘Most of us aren’t evil; we’re just stupid and flawed and not careful with others.’

Jane Doe is a brilliantly written, captivating, intriguing, wickedly funny and somewhat deliciously dark story of revenge. Nothing is off limits in Jane Doe. You’ll devour this book as you unearth how she got there, what lead her to Steven and wonder if she does or doesn’t enact her revenge? We all know a Meg, we all hope to meet a Luke, we hope to god we never cross paths with a Steven, and we want to have a wine and a chat with Jane! She was such a fascinating character!

‘Are we all just animals bound to relive our broken childhoods over and over? Is it that simple?’

We’ve since heard that Sony has bought the TV rights to Jane Doe and can’t wait to see it brought to life! News has also broken about a second standalone Jane Doe Thriller called Problem Child releasing March next year, which is great news because we’re already missing Jane!

Dark, twisted, very fast-paced read. Jane is a sociopath and knows it, but she is the best and most likable character in the book. She is straightforward (to the reader) about her motivation and intentions and I deliciously devoured to story to see how it would all play out.

This was such a fun and quick read! What does it say about me for enjoying books about a sociopath? I just found Jane to be interesting and complex, and I liked that we got to explore her mind throughout the book.

I will say that I was expecting more from the ending, but overall enjoyed this revenge thriller!

*Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union, and Victoria Helen Stone for the opportunity to read and review Jane Doe.