✪ ✪ ✪: Unique story with a fascinating twist, but a ho hum ending.

The structure of this book is both interesting and somewhat challenging. Its told in a report-like style, from notes seemingly dictated or written down by the main POV, Dr. Byrd. While he explains he's being truthful, there are times he admits to omitting things in earlier passages, so his reliability as a narrator has to come into question. The titular character of Jane is as unreliable as they come, but, as we come to find out, through no fault of her own.

For much of this story I think there is a lot being said about the challenges of motherhood, perhaps single motherhood, and the challenges of being a person who keeps themselves separate from others because they feel they would be misunderstood or, even, a burden.

But that's also not what this story is about at all. Its hard to talk about this book without spoiling it, but I find the central question to be fascinating, and the way that Jane's blackouts affect not only her but Dr. Byrd through what they might mean, to be profound.

This was my first Karen Thompson Walker book, but it will not be my last! Jane O. is the patient of Dr. Byrd, a psychiatrist in New York City. Jane begins seeing Dr. Byrd because of seemingly unexplainable episodes of blackout and hallucination she's experiencing. The police are also interested in Jane's case because of inconsistencies in a story she gave to the police when she was 17 years old regarding a deceased friend.

This book is part science fiction, part coming of age, and part deep dive into the mysteries of the human brain. It's about love and loss as much as it's about diagnosing Jane's "strange case." In reading this book, I learned fascinating theories of psychiatry, but I also felt sadness, loneliness, and hope through the well-developed and empathetic characters. There are also twists and turns that kept me on the edge of me seat. I couldn't put this book down!

I highly recommend The Strange Case of Jane O. for fans of Iain Reid and Ashley Audrain.

Pretty exhilarating! The writing is sharp and I loved the structure - told mostly from the point of view of the psychiatrist working with Jane and Jane's journal entries/letters to her son.

I found this to be a compelling read largely because I couldn't imagine how the story would end and what was up with Jane. I did feel like the pacing was a bit off and I wanted more clarity at the end, though I understand the decision to keep many questions unanswered.

Overall, an intriguing psychological mystery/thriller. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Interesting premise though I found the plot a little slow moving. It did make me think though...

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this title.

I finished this book in two sittings because I absolutely couldn’t put it down to rest without understanding the psychological mystery behind Jane O. This is a story I would recommend going into blind: don’t look up the genre, don’t read a summary, don’t look at the back of the book. Stop reading this review, you know all you need to know.

(If you do choose to read more before committing, I’ve included my thoughts below as I owe it to NetGalley & the author who graciously provided an ARC in exchange for an honest & thorough review).

The storytelling reminded me of The Secret History, it’s haunting and academic (it does not take place in a school, but rather feels like reading a psychoanalyst’s case study and journals of their subject). We follow a young woman with a near perfect memory apart from mysterious gaps of hours or days in her otherwise detailed recall. After experiencing what can only be described as a hallucination of a former classmate 20 years following his death, Jane falls victim to a series of dissociative fugue states. Her case sparks the interest of a psychotherapist who obsesses over unraveling the gaps left in Jane’s consciousness.

I found the story and how the mystery unfolds so satisfying. I was wary that the ending would be too fantastical or leave too many questions, but it scratched all the right places in my brain. The questions left unanswered are thought-provoking in the best way and bring peace to some of my own losses in life.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Strange Case of Jane O by Karen Thompson Walker. It's the story of a woman who is experiencing some strange symptoms such as hallucinations and amnesia. It is told from the point of view of her psychiatrist, and the woman herself. I tried reading this and just could not connect, so am not going to finish it, at least right now. May come back and try it later.

Couldn’t put this book down! It was not at all what I was expecting and was pleasantly surprised with the sci-fi aspect of the story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O. by Karen Thompson Walker is a psychological/science fiction/paranonal novel that I felt the reader has to be in the right mindset to wrap their mind around.

Psychiatrist Henry Byrd had an appointment with Jane, but she doesn’t stay long before she leaves. And then she goes missing and is discovered a day later in a park, having gone into a disassociative fugue state.

I did like the first person perspective from Henry, but the reader finds out he has his own demons. I started doubting his narration at points, which held me back from being fully invested. He becomes obsessed with Jane O. to a degree that seemed much more than a psychiatrist should be.

Jane’s perspective is from letters to her son as she is trying to piece together what’s happening to her.

I think I expected to be more of a straight thriller than this was. It does start off that way, and then the other elements threw me more than I expected. I did end up thinking about them quite a bit, much like a movie that has sci fi elements that I try to overlay my primitive logic on to make sense of in my own brain.

This novel was unique, and I do give it props for that, but I’m not sure I was the best audience for it. I think Blake Crouch fans who also like more mainstream thrillers might be the sweet spot reader for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

3.5 stars
It publishes February 25, 2025.


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This was a totally fascinating read for me, I’ve always been drawn to things dealing with psychology and Jane’s case was super interesting. The format really worked for me, there are sections from Dr. Byrd so you feel like you’re reading his file and case notes on Jane and I’m nosy so that appeals to me. With her case being a true medical mystery I wasn’t sure what would happen and it lent to a quiet and steady style of suspense that got under my skin. The character development was outstanding and I really cared for Jane and her son as well as the doctor. Jane was so complex and endlessly fascinating for me and the ending was satisfying and made me think. Such a unique read!

What if there were people in the world who were able to live various timelines. To those around them these people would look insane. This is such a unique story, and I love that it is told from two different perspectives. The world building and interactions leave you wanting more. This is a unique book and such a fun read. I think that it will engage and enchant readers.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I fell in love with Karen Thompson Walker thanks to The Age of Miracles and am so glad she has a new one out! This one inspired by the nonfiction case histories of Oliver Sacks (says the author). Here we have another speculative novel, this time a mystery about motherhood, love, memory, and identity. Fascinating (and a fast read!) with a perfect ending.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book early in return for an honest review!

I went into this which huge hopes, as the summary sounded very promising. It was slow, not gripping me until about 45%, but after that I was sold. It wasn't until the end that I felt it eventually lost the plot. I ended up being more distracted with jargon than the story itself. I was really liking the direction of mystery it first started to present with the Nico sub-plot, but I feel like that whole part of the boom could disappear and it wouldn't add much to the story.

Overall it was beautifully worded, but seemed too professional to end in such a supernatural theoretical way.

4-4.5 stars
A psychological mystery (I wouldn't really call it a thriller) about a young woman who begins experiencing episodes of amnesia and a pervasive sense of dread. The book is told through letters she writes to her infant son, for him to read in the future, and through the case notes of the psychiatrist she starts seeing. I found this book to be quite interesting and I really liked the way the author developed the story. Intriguing and mind-bending!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I was drawn to this story because memory related stories always fascinate me, and the reviews mentioned how it was an amazing psychological sci-fi thriller. There were plenty of passages that intrigued me, but the plotting fell flat for me. I wouldn't call this sci-fi, and it's not a thriller either. My attention was exceptionally piqued by the reference that police had to get involved, which added suspense and tension, but this wasn't actuaklly an integral part of the story. The end fell really flat for me. I think if you like slower character studies that meander through psychology, you'll enjoy this one.

I did not expect for this book to leave such an impression on me, but I've continued thinking about this story days after finishing. The basis of the story is a woman begins experiencing hallucinations and subsequently starts black out, leaving her with no memory of what occurred. The story is told from the point of view of her therapist and also through letters from the woman to her son. The main point of view, from her therapist, was written in a way one would expect of clinical notes: detached and emotionless. It definitely made it hard to connect with Jane's story, but the mystery of Jane would make anyone curious to keep going. Beautifully written. This is another solid read from Karen Thompson Walker.

This was not the sci-fi I was expecting..

It was very slow paced for such a short book and until 90% of the way in, it was just mystery without any sci-fi elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Karen Thompson Walker’s The Strange Case of Jane O is a mesmerizing exploration of memory, identity, and the mysterious dimensions of the human mind. At first, I thought this might be my least favorite of her novels, but it quickly became a story I absolutely loved. The concept of parallel universes and the idea of our psyche existing in two places at once, though fictional, felt hauntingly real and thought-provoking. Walker’s signature writing style shines, blending beautiful prose with an intricate, speculative mystery that kept me captivated. Jane’s strange affliction and her psychiatrist’s quest to uncover its roots create a narrative that is as poignant as it is puzzling. The novel delves into themes of love, loss, and the bonds that transcend time, making it both deeply human and eerily otherworldly. Walker has once again delivered a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book..

Therapy as Mystery

This gripping novel is a fascinating, fictional account of a single women dealing with psychiatric symptoms while raising a very young son. Attempting to help her is a widowed psychiatrist with his own issues, and a pre-school daughter. Alternating in first person narratives, there is suspense as well as mystery as they explore her experiences and his efforts to understand and help her.

Jane O. is a 38-year-old New York City librarian who begins to have hallucinations and blackouts. Dr. Henry Byrd is a 40-ish, traditional psychiatrist, whose unauthorized experiments into paranormal occurrences led to losing his job at a distinguished institution and tarnishing his reputation. This only emerges as his personal notes track Jane’s symptoms and his efforts to understand them. In fact, much of the story unfolds after seemingly side comments open questions about what is happening.

Jane has a prodigious memory – once she sees something, she can forever recall it. But this is a weakness, as well as a strength, as it becomes clear that she has distinct, detailed memories of events and objects she has never encountered. These are recorded in the letters she writes to her one-year-old son, Caleb, as a journal of the confusing, often frightening experiences she is having.

Jane knows more, especially about Henry’s life, than she could through “normal” perception. Their relationship becomes a part of the story, and its ambiguous but moving end.

The writing is thoughtful as well as subtle, making this book and its characters very believable, although Jane’s perceptions are not explainable by any reality we share. The novel also raises a larger question for me: What would make it possible for an intelligent, loving, but socially isolated single parent, with a complicated grasp of reality, to be responsible for a very young child? Clearly, that is beyond the scope of this book, but not of the imagination.

Definitely strange and yet familiar, which is why I think this bizzare book will do well. Walker just seeks to look at things differently than others who might have talked about this patient.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

In THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O, written by Karen Thompson Walker, Jane O visits a psychiatrist, Dr. Henry Byrd, but leaves his office before explaining the reason for her visit. A few days later, Jane is seen by Dr. Byrd in the hospital because she is experiencing an episode of amnesia. What is the cause of Jane’s amnesia. I read on to find out.

I am hooked from the first scene in Dr. Byrd’s office. The fact that Jane is found unconscious in the park intensifies my desire to find out more about her. I think Jane’s epistolary-styled journal entries are an interesting way to propel the story forward. The development of the plot keeps me riveted to the narrative, and the dialogue is realistic. I am glad to read THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O, and leave the book thinking the human brain is an incredible organ. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Random House and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.