The first half of this book held my interest. I wish I could say the same for the 2nd half, but not so much. My eyes glazed over from so much DNA details. Guess I just wasn't up for this type of a read now.

"Brooklyn’s Jane Doe," authored by S.A. Mathers, presents a poignant narrative centered on a woman identified solely as Jane Doe, who was sexually assaulted in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, in 1994. The account reveals how journalist Mike McAlary disparaged her allegations as a "hoax," exacerbating the victim's trauma. Years later, Mathers, a former NYPD detective, ultimately exonerates Jane Doe when new DNA evidence unveiled a suspect. Each chapter of the narrative uncovers layers of bureaucratic indifference and negligence. This book transcends this individual case to address systemic issues within law enforcement. This book is a powerful critique of systemic failures and a call for justice and accountability. This book has an empathetic tone, and recounts Jane Doe’s experiences in an unbiased way. This novel is a true account of highlighting a failure to protect some of the most vulnerable people. This book is a great contribution to discussions surrounding sexual assault and justice. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

Brooklyn’s Jane Doe is the retelling of the traumatic story of a woman, know only as Jane Doe, who was raped in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park in 1994, in which a newspaper columnist labeled the accusation a “hoax”, and the aftermath of that storyline. The author is a retired NYPD detective who reopened the investigation after she was instrumental in forming a sexual assault cold case squad. The author devotes a great deal of the book eviscerating celebrated columnist Mike McAlary who, citing “inside sources” accused Jane Doe of fabricating the rape. Many years later new DNA testing identified a suspect, vindicating Jane Doe. Unfortunately the book is a bit dry, with a lot of repetition and mundane details whereas the subtitle spotlighted a “mishandling” of the investigation, but instead focused on McClary’s poor reporting. A powerful and disturbing story indeed, but the tile is extremely misleading. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

S.A. Mathers’ Brooklyn’s Jane Doe is not just a book—it’s a reckoning. With the precision of a seasoned journalist and the empathy of a survivor-centered advocate, Mathers exposes the harrowing collapse of justice in a case that should have galvanized protection, not silence. This is a story about a young woman brutalized twice: first by her assailant, and then by the very institutions sworn to protect her.

🧩 Mathers structures the book like a forensic dossier that breathes. Each chapter peels back another layer of bureaucratic indifference, police negligence, and prosecutorial apathy. The pacing is taut, yet never sensationalized. Instead, Mathers allows the facts—painful, infuriating, and often surreal—to speak for themselves. The result is a narrative that reads like a thriller but lands like a gut punch.

💔 What makes Brooklyn’s Jane Doe so devastating is not just what is said, but what is left unsaid. The anonymity of the survivor—referred to only as “Jane Doe”—becomes a haunting symbol of how survivors are erased, anonymized, and ultimately forgotten. Mathers never exploits her subject’s pain; instead, she restores her dignity by refusing to let her story be buried under red tape and procedural failure.

⚖️ This book is not just about one case—it’s about a pattern. Mathers deftly connects Jane Doe’s story to broader systemic issues: the backlog of untested rape kits, the culture of disbelief within law enforcement, and the racial and socioeconomic biases that determine whose pain is prioritized. The book becomes a damning indictment of a justice system that too often protects power over people.

🎙️ Mathers writes with a controlled fury that simmers beneath every sentence. Her voice is clear, authoritative, and unflinching. She does not posture as a savior or a voyeur; she is a witness, and she demands that we become witnesses too. Her meticulous sourcing and refusal to sensationalize lend the book a moral clarity that is rare in true crime.

Required Reading for a Culture in Denial - Brooklyn’s Jane Doe is not an easy read, nor should it be. It is a necessary one. For readers who value investigative rigor, social justice, and survivor-centered storytelling, this book is essential. Mathers doesn’t just tell a story—she issues a call to action.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

This is a powerful and deeply moving account that sheds light on the painful journey survivors face—both during and long after their assault. It highlights how our justice system too often fails those it should protect, especially when the survivor is someone society tends to overlook.

Telling the true story of a queer woman of color whose rape was ignored, distorted, and mocked by the media and police, this book does more than recount a crime—it exposes systemic injustice. The trauma inflicted was permanent, but years later, author S.A. Mathers revisited the case, helping to give Jane Doe the voice and apology she always deserved.

Everything is laid out clearly and compassionately, making difficult topics accessible and impactful. This isn’t just a true crime story—it’s a call for justice. A painful yet powerful reminder of how often survivors are doubted, silenced, and discarded—and how truth can still rise, even decades later.

This book is an essential read. Read it. Remember it. Share it. It’s not just important—it’s necessary. I was blown away by this book - an easy 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my review.

Brooklyn’s Jane Doe is one of the most important and devastating reads I have picked up this year. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about justice, LGBTQ+ advocacy, true crime, or the power of investigative journalism to both harm and heal.

S.A. Mathers revisits the heartbreaking case of a queer woman of color who was raped in 1994 and then retraumatized by the media and law enforcement. Her story was cruelly twisted by journalist Mike McAlary, who doubted her credibility and turned a survivor’s trauma into tabloid fodder. The case became a symbol of everything wrong with the system: disbelief, silencing, and the erasure of marginalized voices.

Mathers reopens the case decades later and finally brings the dignity, truth, and justice Jane Doe deserved all along. This is not just a true crime story; it is a reckoning. The writing is clear, passionate, and full of integrity. The fact that the author was the lead investigator adds weight to every page.

It is not an easy book to read, but it is necessary. I hope this story is never forgotten.

S.A. Mathers’ Brooklyn’s Jane Doe is a devastatingly honest, deeply compassionate, and ultimately hopeful account of one woman’s brutal mistreatment—not only at the hands of her attacker, but by a justice system and media machine that should have protected her. This is not only the story of a horrific assault, but of a reckoning, a restoration, and a powerful testimony to the resilience of survivors.

Written with both investigative precision and immense empathy, Mathers reopens a case long buried under misinformation and media bias. At its heart is Jane Doe, a queer woman of color whose voice was cruelly stripped from her by the very institutions meant to support her. The book does what few ever manage—it restores dignity to a silenced woman, and accountability to those who wronged her.

Mathers writes not just as a detective, but as a human being deeply moved by the injustice he uncovers. His care in reconstructing what happened—and why it was ignored—is a masterclass in trauma-informed storytelling. Without sensationalism, Brooklyn’s Jane Doe walks the reader through the damage caused by disbelief, the insidiousness of media narratives, and the strength required to speak the truth again, and again, and again.

This is an essential read for anyone invested in justice, in the integrity of journalism, and in believing survivors. While painful at times, it is also redemptive. It reminds us that it is never too late to listen, to act, and to make things right. Jane Doe's courage and Mathers’ unwavering pursuit of the truth make this book not only important, but unforgettable.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. This is an eye opening look at what a victim has to go through during and after their assault. It is something that occurs still to this day and this book did an amazing job of explaining the flaws of our systems that make it so hard to get justice with crimes like this. Everything was laid out so well and explained in a way I could understand. This is a very important story and this book is an absolute must read!