The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker is the story of a mother who is experiencing a mysterious psychological affliction. She keeps experiencing dissociative fugues with no memory of what has happened to her when she comes out of the fugue. Is there something physically wrong with her, or is something stranger going on? This story was fascinating to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

📚 PRE- PUBLICATION ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Strange Case of Jane O
By Karen Thompson Walker
Publication Date: February 25, 2025
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

I cannot believe how quickly I read this book and how much it blew my mind with its unique brilliance! The Strange Case of Jane O was not my typical genre and wasn't the type of book I'd generally gravitate toward. In fact, I'm not even sure I realized it wasn't a thriller until I was done reading it. I went in blind and I'm so glad I did -- this book was so incredibly good!

I think the main reason I devoured this book so quickly was that it had a similar pacing to my typical thriller reads. Some of the chapters were really short, which made for quick reading. Additionally, this book featured two main characters who both seemed completely unreliable and potentially unhinged - which is always my favorite type of character. And finally, there was a sense of an ominous foreboding throughout the book that captivated me and kept me on the edge of my seat.

But what was so incredible about this book is that it's listed as literary fiction and sci-fi/fantasy, but could almost be considered a psychological thriller too. And by psychological, I legitimately mean 'psychological' - like diagnoses, mental health, psychiatrist, all of that. As a psychology major in college and someone who has always been fascinated by the why behind people's behaviors, this entire story was absolutely fascinating to me.

I don't want to give too much away, because I think I loved the book even more because I went in blind. So I'll just say this: the book is about Jane, who schedules a therapy session with Dr. Byrd, a psychiatrist she hasn't seen since their one session nearly 20 years ago, and then mysteriously disappears. Is Jane a missing person? Is she experiencing a psychotic break? Is she faking everything for a nefarious reason? That's all you get. Trust me on this one - don't read more of its summary, just read the book.

If you enjoy books that make you think, that psychologically keep you on the edge of your seat, or that leave you wondering just what exactly is going on here -- you have GOT to get your hands on The Strange Case Of Jane O. It's available on NetGalley now -- and it releases on February 25th. This was a phenomenally intriguing read!

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Throughout reading this I kept thinking - this should be adapted into a movie or series. I could see the characters and locations in my head which is so cool. The Strange Case of Jane O. is a work of what I would classify as speculative fiction. It's one of those stories where my best advice is to "go with it". I thought the structure of the book was interesting and enjoyed the plot being pulled along by case notes and thoughts of the doctor in care of Jane. Clever and practical writing device. Although the story didn't resonate with me, (woman who remembers minute details like what books were on a desk from 20 years ago can't remember where she was for 25 hours missing the previous day), others will be fascinated. I never got invested in the plot or characters - never cared. Bummer. I appreciated the writing and the idea which led me to round up my 2.5 star rating to 3 even though it wasn't a hit for me. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Strange Case of Jane O, as I have Karen Thompson Walker's other novels. Like those, Jane O combines the realism of today's world with other-worldly happenings. In this case, the combination definitely balances toward realism, making this a fascinating read. I was drawn into the narrative very quickly and thought the combination of points of view was very effective, as was the movement around different time periods. Even in these narratives that have distance, I felt very close and viscerally affected by the characters' experiences. This is definitely a book I'll be recommending to readers interested in psychology, relationships, and semi-speculative fiction.

"The Strange Case of Jane O." by Karen Thompson Walker is a twisty, psychological thriller perfect for fans of "The Silent Patient" and "Sweet Fury." It's a smart read that kept me guessing the entire book; the pieces of the puzzle didn't completely come together until the very end. It's definitely not a fast-paced thriller, but more of a slow burn that leaves a reader questioning both the sanity of the characters as well as his or her own and, with its added elements of science fiction, it is definitely unlike anything I've read before.

This is definitely a book that is best to read without any prior knowledge of it so NO SPOILERS! Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this wildly entertaining and creative book.

The Strange Case of Jane O by Karen Thompson Walker

You will not be able to put this book down. One thing leads to another so beautifully, and you will be mesmerized by this five star story.

Jane O is lost in NYC and everyone is looking for her. Once she reappears, she turns to psychiatrist Dr. Byrd for help. The story, however, is much more complex than that. It is prose with a stream of consciousness feel about it that pulls you in to keep turning the pages. I was hanging on every paragraph to find out what would happen next.

What is real and what isn’t? Even Dr Byrd is befuddled. Jane suffers from dissociative fugue and has hypermnesia,excessive remembering. It’s a story you’ll not soon forget as Dr Byrd counsels Jane O through the toughest year of their lives.

The Strange Case of Jane O. is a speculative fiction book that starts out as a psychiatrists notes on his patent, Jane. Jane comes to seek the help of Dr. Byrd, a psychiatrist she had met once twenty years ago, after having a strange hallucination of an encounter with an old friend who had died years ago. I think it's best to go into the book knowing as little as possible and let it all unfold for you. It's a mystery that is beautifully told through the doctors notes and later Jane's journal entries to her infant son. Jane O. will suck you in and have you reading late into the night to try to figure out what is going on with Jane and will Dr. Byrd be able to help her. So far this is a favorite of 2025 for me.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC. Jane is a new single (by choice) mother and librarian in NYC when one day she wakes up in a park and had lost 25 hours of her life that she cannot remember. Jane seeks out Dr. Byrd for therapy since she has met him previously for a session. Jane admits to hallucinations seeing her friend that committed suicide 20 years ago on the street and had a normal conversation. What is happening to Jane as she spirals losing more time frames. This is more of a clinically written on one side and narrative from the other. Really enjoyed this this book and thought provoking views of our minds.

Mostly told from the POV of Jane's psychiatrist, we dive into the strange yet fascinating world of the mind. Readers must be prepared to open yourself up to a reality beyond what you see before you.

Karen Thompson Walker is an author I've been wanting to try out for some time and I'm very glad I got a taste for her work. I'm happy to have a copy of The Dreamers just sitting on my shelves waiting for me.

I was captivated by this speculative fiction novel that has a dash of mystery and found it deep, philosophical and lovely.

I found this novel to be both interesting and unique. It's told in two perspectives: a new mom who is experiencing mysterious blackouts and her flawed but caring psychiatrist. It's not your average mystery. It's not fast paced, it's not about murder or dastardly deeds, and best of all - it's not predictable. It's certainly a strange case, and the outcome was as odd as it was unexpected.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this novel.

This book is told between alternating viewpoints of Jane O and her psychologist Dr Byrd. Jane initially comes to see Dr Byrd because of a strange interaction she had on the street but soon goes missing. She is found 3 days later in a park with no memory of what happened. Before they make any progress at all, Jane goes missing again, this time with her young son. This one is not going where you think it will and if you’ve read this author before you know that she’s gone to some wild places.

This book was totally a breath of fresh air and a sort of genre bending novel unlike something that I’ve ever read before. For the most part, I think anyone that plans on reading this should go into it with little to no knowledge. BUT, for the sake of vibes ill give some little morsels, a psychiatrist, a single mom, NYC, a torrid past, “blackouts”, a series of letters….all leading to one of the best psychological suspense thrillers that I’ve read in a while!!!

5.0⭐️

⭐️THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O, out FEB 25th⭐️

Thank you to @atrandombooks @randomhouse for the review copy of this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Told largely through the perspective of her psychiatrist, this story follows Jane, who, in the year after giving birth to her first child, experiences unexplained hallucinations, feelings of fear and dread, and periods of memory loss and amnesia, some lasting days. What is happening to Jane? What is reality, and what is her mind playing tricks on her? Or is it something else entirely?

It is without a doubt best to go into this book as blind as possible. I was sucked in immediately by the mystery of what is happening to Jane, but as the book goes on, it becomes more than a mystery. It is book about loss, loneliness, and the need for human connection. In the end, it is also about what constitutes reality, and how simple- or complicated- that question might be.

It has taken me two days to gather my thoughts on this book. I did enjoy it and found it compelling, but the farther I get from it, the more I appreciate the skill, thoughtfulness, and imagination it took to put together a story unlike many I've read. Oddly, and completely coincidentally, it's the 3rd book I've read this month that explores time, space, memory, and even mortality. This is a brilliant work, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.
This book was not at ALL what I expected. I am not a fan of the thriller/whodunit/murder mystery genre, because I find them cookie-cutter and unoriginal. This is a not a mystery or a thriller; it defies a genre. Without giving anything away- and you should approach this book with no information- I would say that it is a wildly original novel with touches of mystery and quantum physics. I highly recommend for smart readers who love discovering that new story that makes you ask "how has no one written a book about this yet?".

As a huge fan of Oliver Sacks’ writings and a PhD in psychology (I’ve even used his books in my classes!), this premise immediately intrigued me and I didn’t want to put it down. I needed to know what was going on with Jane. I loved the unique storytelling forma- Dr. Byrd’s case notes paired with Jane’s letters to her son made for a compelling narrative structure.

I didn’t realize going in that there would be a science fiction twist, but I actually enjoyed it. While I wasn’t a big fan of the ending as professional boundaries in patient-client relationships are super important ethically, it didn’t significantly impact my overall experience with the story. I was also surprised by the references to a pandemic reminiscent of COVID (though it’s a different virus in the book), so that’s something to be aware of.

The writing was strong, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 out of 5 stars

When Jane wakes up in a park with no recollection of how she got there and subsequently finds out she's been gone for 25 hours, she reaches out to a psychiatrist she had last seen 20 years before when her friend had jumped out of his dorm to his death. Dr. Byrd, for his part, doesn't remember seeing this woman before, but chalks it up to it being two decades prior. Besides, after their initial contact in the hospital after she was found in the park, she eventually comes to his office and mentions things she remembers in his office from 20 years ago.

Dr. Byrd is thrown for a bit. Jane claims, and certainly seems to be telling the truth, about having a memory that can recall dates, conversations, and things she saw, from her whole life. Almost four decades worth of not forgetting anything. In trying to prove herself, she plays Dr. Byrd's game of recalling the day of the week for whatever date in the past he gives her. Then she tells him his books on his desk 20 years ago. While he doesn't recall reading one, he does remember the other and starts to believe her wild claim about her memory.

Here starts the process of trying to recall Jane's missing 25 hours. She explains what she was doing at her last point of recall, but try as they might, they cannot drag any memories from those hours from the depths of her mind. During these sessions, we learn a little about Jane. She recently discovered the woman who lives in the apartment above her dead in her apartment after a leak in her own apartment prompted her to go see what was happening. She had her son, Caleb, with her when she walked into the woman's apartment and found her dead on the floor and her rabbit dead in its cage. She worries about how it will affect her son.

She also explains she had a hallucination. She saw her friend from 20 years ago, Nico, who she knows is dead. She couldn't keep herself from walking over to him and then they had a conversation. She said it was unnerving seeing him 20 years forward with some gray hair and scrubs as if his death had never happened.

Dr. Byrd is baffled, but for the first time in a long time, he is excited about his work. He wants to help Jane unravel this strange and disturbing mystery. But when Jane disappears a second time, this time for over a week, a search ensues, and a detective who knows a lot about Dr. Byrd's past takes up the investigation. When he tells Dr. Byrd about Jane's potential role in her friend's death, and that Jane's upstairs neighbor did not die, Dr. Byrd is forced to reconsider everything he believes about Jane.

There's another issue. The last time Jane disappeared, her missing hours started after she dropped her son off at a daycare, and one of the women trying not to make something out of nothing, just kept watching the boy at the daycare, even overnight. This time, Caleb seems to have disappeared with Jane.

Eventually, slowly, like a trickle of water, I began to suspect where this was going. I don't think that this was predictable by any means, though. I loved the story, and the author didn't disappoint. I've read both The Age of Miracles and The Dreamers and was impressed with both. I was pleasantly surprised to see this available from NetGalley and didn't think twice about requesting it.

I do wish that some of the mysteries had been answered more concretely, but I understand why the author opted not to try and speculate on certain things. All in all, I was satisfied with the entirety of the story. It was a unique spin on something. The author also seems to know quite a bit about psychiatry.

In my opinion, Karen Thompson Walker is one of the most underrated authors publishing today. I read her debut THE AGE OF MIRACLES (one of my favorite books of all time) back when it was released in 2012 and waited anxiously until her sophomore novel THE DREAMERS was published in 2019. Her writing is at once ethereal and recognizable, crafting contemporary stories with elements of literary fiction, dystopian, and science fiction for novels that are both breathtaking in the scope of their exploration yet focused on the individual, and the way earth-altering moments affect (or, sometimes, don't affect) the mundanity of everyday life. THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O. is the latest in oeuvre, and I think it's a nearly perfect novel. I was at the edge of my seat while reading, trying to piece together the mystery being revealed in between the lines, but also enthralled with the minutiae of the lives and personalities of both Jane and Dr. Byrd. I loved the dual perspective between a doctor's private notes and a patient's diary, slowly revealing the truth from both sides, with plenty of unreliable narration to make us really work for it. Based on her past novels, it's not surprising to me that she was able to weave elements as broad as time travel, multiverses, and precognition with very tangible explorations of grief, PTSD, parenthood and pandemics, but I was still utterly impressed. There is a bit of a disconnect for me when it comes to the ending...I am not sure if what is on the page should be taken at face value or if it's up to interpretation. Surely, that is intentional, and I'm still thinking about it many days later, so it was probably the right choice! But, overall, I loved this. And I hope if you did, too, you'll check out Thompson Walker's backlist!

very well written scifi (maybe???) work with some definite common tones with a lot of things that you'l priobably recognise. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Ohhh this was suchhhh a good psychological thriller. The story feels similar to another missing person case in NY that I find super unsettling. The story is told between letters from Jane to her son, and her psychiatrists perspective. There were so many twists and turns and where it ends isn’t predictable. I binged it in one sitting.

I am not the best reader for this novel, as it is more speculative than I am generally interested in, but Karen Thompson Walker's writing is so incredibly strong that I would read anything she writes with admiration and interest.