Ever wonder what happened to Dorothy after she returned from Oz? After Oz by Gordon McAlpine explores this narrative through the dual POV's of Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford (psychologist) and an unnamed resident of the small Kansas town where Dorothy lived. Did Dorothy actually go to Oz, or is she possessed by some evil demon that is forcing her to tell lies? Things take a turn for the worse when a local woman is found "melted" and the community is quick to blame Dorothy especially when word gets around of her melting the Wicked Witch in Oz.

I felt that the pacing of the story was a little slow for my liking. That being said, I did enjoy the dual perspectives. Dr. Wilford was investigating the truth's behind murder. Not convinced that Dorothy murdered the woman, she takes to interviewing the locals. The other perspective is from an unnamed man that spells out the religious beliefs of the town and how quickly mob mentality can take over when "evil" is suspected. There were parts of Evelyn's narrative that I felt drug on a little bit too long. She got a little wordy with psycho-analyzing herself that it detracted from Dorothy's story. In the end though, I felt this was a good possibility of what could have actually happened after Dorothy's return. The last chapter also gives a good nod to the author of the original Oz books.

Wow what a read. Dark and twisty and you just couldn’t put it down! I loved this after the wizard of oz book.

A very interesting and different twist to The Wizard of Oz. It is a little slow in the beginning but it picked up about 1/4 way through. I had a few different conclusions thought up in my head but nothing close to what really happened. Definitely recommended!

This was a really interesting take on The Wizard Of Oz. When poor Dorothy tells her tale, she’s put into the mental ward! It was a quick read that held my attention until the end. I would recommend it not only to Wizard of Oz enthusiasts, but anyone who enjoys a good alternate retelling. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

This was like a dark and twisted sequel (or arguably a prequel) to the Wizard of Oz. When Dorothy turns up four days after a twister hits her small town, telling tales of talking animals and witches, her religious community believes her to be a diabolical pagan. Her claims of melting witches weren't perceived as childhood fantasy, but as sacrilegious and disturbing. When a local spinster, referred to by children in the neighborhood as a witch, is found dead a few days later, the community fully turns against Dorothy, banishing the 11-year-old to an insane asylum.

A psychiatrist takes an interest in Dorothy's strange stories and interesting circumstances. Dorothy seems like a clever girl, but is she really capable of murder?

If you're interested in cults, witch hunts, and mob mentality, you'll probably like this book. It was a quick read that had you wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery. But this was more like a 3.5 for me because it felt like there was so much of the text that could be skimmed over, and the book was short to begin with.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC!

This book offers an intriguing question— "What happened after Dorothy came home from Oz?" Well? Would anyone believe her story? What was the aftermath of the twister? And how would she handle the return to reality? Author Gordon McAlpine, takes some creative liberties with the source material. While he includes enjoyable references, mostly from the film NOT the book series, the story unfolds as a break-neck paced thriller. However, there are inconsistencies in character portrayal compared to the broader Oz series, making it feel more like well written fan fiction.

One notable drawback is Dorothy. Although we hear from her sporadically, the reader is left wanting more. McAlpine touches on her treatment in the asylum but does not return to it...

On the other hand, McAlpine's writing style shines. His use of language, specically dialog, brings the people of Kansas to life.

While this is an entertaining read that takes a unique spin on a fairy tale, it doesn't stand out as something exceptionally special.

3.5 rounded up. I’m thankful to have received this ARC! I am all for retelling of classic stories, but this one is a smidge different. What really happened when Dorothy returned from Oz? It’s a mystery to be solved. Dorothy is being accused of killing Alvina, who named Dorothy as her beneficiary. However, nobody knew they ever had a relationship. Dr. Wilford wants to find the truth in the murder. She doesn’t believe Dorothy to be guilty, and she didn’t seem to really be a fan of the townsfolk either. They are a little *sketchy.* I read this book in one sitting. It’s written extremely well and follows the time period as well, in terms of the writing.

So im a huge wizard of oz fan and i loved the book because it was totally something else like added to the story after the twister what happened to dorothy she was nowhere to be seen but then turns up and she is around 11 or 12 years old and goes to a psych ward where a doctor interviews her about her time at oz to try and help her. It was a twisted sort of story to the original wizard of oz i loved it, i ate it up but the cons of the story i just didnt like the biblical quotes im not a god person and the story was like jumbled a bit hard to read in a kindle format the chapters are in between the words fix it for future readers.
great story though. thank you for letting me read this book.

I enjoyed this mystery story about what happens to Dorothy after coming back from the land of Oz. The author's writing style was unique to the time period (late 1800's), the plot kept my interest, and the characters seemed real. I would read more from this author and would recommend this book to my customers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A completely different take on the story of Dorothy Gale and the Land of Oz, this book takes a lot of liberties with the source material. There are some really nice references in here, largely to the material of the film and not the book series, and it's a well-written thriller. I did find that there were some inconsistencies with the characterisation, especially when compared to the Oz series as a whole, but I feel this is more of a spiritual successor.

Unfortunately, I did feel a bit like there was a big chunk missing in all of this, and that chunk was mostly Dorothy. We hear from her on and off, but not to a level of substance, and even her treatment in the asylum is missing bits of context. The main character is well-written but lacks certain pieces of her own personality, and she could have been a bit more consistent throughout.

One thing that is well worth noting and appreciating is the way that this book is written. It has a fantastic tone throughout when it comes to the way that the townspeople put things across, and it was very much written for and in the time period that it is set. This is a fun little read that twists a faerie tale in a weird direction, but with that said, it's not something that's overly special.

Review Copy

I'm in shock at how bad this story was. Note I said 'story'. I'll get to that in a sec.

The writing I must say was excellent. It was the writing of the time (1890's). For some people that may make it tough to read, but that didn't bother me. In fact, that kept the book from being a one star read. The only thing that bothered me about the writing was how it was filled with biblical quotes. I totally skipped over those finding them unnecessary and bothersome.

But the story! I love retellings and have read many. I love the 'twistedness' of them. But this wasn't even close to a retelling of L Frank Baum's amazing series but a continuation of the movie. The movie was a compilation of several of the books and gave watchers the smallest taste of the magic of Oz. What this author has done is write his take on what he thinks would happen after the movie. And that's very different. I just could not appreciate this novel. While he did give a nod to Baum, I couldn't help but wonder if he ever read the Oz series.

If you're a fan of the movie who has never read the Oz series, you may enjoy this book. If you're open to wonder and magic you're never too old read the Oz books.

4.5/5 stars!

Really enjoyed this book. I needed a break from the fantasy train I've been on for the last couple of weeks, and this one delivered. I really loved the dark tone/atmosphere that this Oz retelling took on and the murder mystery aspect. The author did a wonderful job of making the audience feel as if they were set in the 1800s (which kind of put me on to a historical kick, I can feel it). Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of retellings (or Oz retellings, since this is my first). I think if you liked the atmosphere of Simone St. James' work, or even Jaime Jo Wright, you would enjoy this novel as well.

Can't wait to get a physical copy on release day!

I received this eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

There were several things about this book that caught my eye and piqued my interest with a desire to read it. The title and synopsis reminded me of a "movie" I had seen a trailer about, that seemed sort of along the same idea, and I wanted to read a version of the possibilities that took place after the famous book and movie of "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum.

In short, the story starts pretty much near the end of what we know of the original story, but with a little more realistic twist. We find Dorothy survived the tornado, with the unrealistic story of 'Oz'. Then the suspected murder of the local spinster is placed on Dorothy, due to her tale of melting a witch. Dorothy is placed in a mental asylum, where our MC, a female psychologist, meets her, and the story goes on to the details our MC faces over the course of a few short days in trying to prove Dorothy's innocence.

This was a very interesting read, as so many details of the time period were placed that provided a good background. The year being 1896, in Kansas, which I believe is part of the 'Bible Belt', so very strong religious views and following. A small town that has it's secrets. The misnomer that female doctors of any type were basically taboo. Throw in some of the plot twists, and it turned into a very good reading.

I had not read any previous works by McAlpine, but I see there are a few. I have looked at a couple and they seem to be of a similar type to this novel, and the twisted reality of what could be. I hope to be able to read them as well. Would definitely recommend this novel for those that enjoy historical fiction, mysteries, and plot twist with a possible alternate reality.

3.75 stars

What a dark, fascinating, exciting story. Such an interesting retelling. Did I love it…Judy is still out. I do not hate it though.
I was not entirely comfortable with all the Bible quotes, but I suppose I get why they were used, but maybe there could’ve been way less to get the point across.

Either way, this book is definitely worth the read just for the uniqueness of the story.

"After Oz" by Gordon McAlpine is a clever and imaginative retelling of L. Frank Baum's classic "The Wizard of Oz." Set in modern-day Hollywood, the novel follows the adventures of a washed-up actor named Skip Granger who finds himself transported to the Land of Oz after a freak accident on set.

McAlpine's writing is witty and inventive, blending elements of fantasy, mystery, and satire to create a fresh and engaging take on the beloved tale. The characters are quirky and memorable, from Skip's bumbling antics to the colorful inhabitants of Oz who are grappling with their own existential crises.

The novel is filled with clever nods to the original story, as well as contemporary references that add humor and depth to the narrative. McAlpine skillfully weaves together themes of self-discovery, redemption, and the power of imagination, creating a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

"After Oz" is a delightful and whimsical novel that will appeal to fans of the original classic as well as readers looking for a fresh twist on familiar themes. Gordon McAlpine has created a captivating tale that will leave readers enchanted until the very end.

What an absolutely fantastic read that was. I read it in one sitting, cover to cover. I could not put it down. This is my favourite book of the year so far.

It hooked me from the first page, the POV of the unknown townsperson and their infallible beliefs was so well done. I am not a religious person whatsoever but even the biblical quotes didn't make me hesitant. It made it all the more believable for the time period in which the novel was published, communities were founded on religion, it was instilled into them and it made the turn of events later on in the book make so much more sense.

It was so interesting to read, a rather dark tale in contrast to the original, great for the adult who loved The Wizard of Oz as a child, it is such a popular classic but I never actually stopped to think about the implications of a young girl believing that something like this had happened in a time and place where such things would be seen as demonic or sinful. It makes you wonder what actual opinions of the author of the original would have been like. Whether children would have been able to enjoy stories like this, in communities were it was set. 1900 was a very different time, but sometimes you don't realise how much. Especially in regards to gender beliefs, the law and religious importance.

It's such a loved story, portrayed in so many ways, but the way the author put this completely original twist on it was mindblowing.
Seeing the POV of Evelyn and the way she would have been treated by people of the time was awful yet humbling, and her attitude towards it all, her sense of justice was great to read.

The way the story is written, using the speech and thinking of the time, wouldn't be a usual style for me, but I found it gripping. I was reading the pages so fast at one point I was shocked at how far into the book I was. But it felt so genuine, the book could have been published at the same time as the original, rather than this year, and I would have been none the wiser.

I can't believe how different this is from anything I've read, its one of the most refreshing books I've read in a long time, and it's actually reignited my love for reading as a whole, not just the specific genres I've limited myself to, historical isn't usually my forte, I read the book because of my love of The Wizard of Oz and now I feel like I want to gorge on books set in the late 1800s, rather than contemporary or fantasy books.

The murder mystery aspect of the book was very well done, some of the twists and turns I didn't see coming at all, and the postscript in the epilogue letter was a lovely added touch

I hope this book gets the hype it deserves and I'm really looking forward to it coming out in print so I can add it to my shelf. Now I'm going to recommend it to all the readers I know so I can discuss it with someone else.

"After Oz" presents a gripping mystery that reimagines the aftermath of "The Wizard of Oz" with a dark and intriguing twist. Set in a small town marked by misogyny and Christian power dynamics, the Kansas setting adds depth to the narrative. The story centers around Dorothy Gale, who disappears and later returns after her family's farm is ravaged by a tornado. Suspected of being crazy or even demonic by the townsfolk, Dorothy is confined to the Topeka Insane Asylum. Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, a compelling character, delves into Dorothy's past, uncovering the truth behind her experiences. As the plot unfolds and tensions escalate, readers are kept on edge until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the ending to be fitting. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC.

I have loved Wizard of Oz for so many years so I was hesitant to read a retelling but I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the characters and the dark elements.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. With that being said, I could have definitely don without all of the bible quotes in the book. I also would have liked if the time period was shifted forward like thirty or so years.

After Oz is a captivating mystery that delves into the aftermath of The Wizard of Oz, offering a dark and intriguing twist. Set in a small town plagued by misogyny and christian power dynamics, this small town Kansas setting adds depth and complexity to the plot. The story unfolds with the disappearance and return of Dorothy Gale after a tornado ravages her family's farm.

Is Dorothy crazy? Demonic? The town sure thinks so. That's why she's placed in the Topeka Insane Asylum. The character of Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford adds an intriguing layer to the story, as she delves into Dorothy's past and uncovers the truth behind her ordeal. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, readers are kept guessing until the very end.

I really liked this book, and I thought the ending was fitting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.