I haven't read much by Joyce Carol Oates. YOU CAN'T CATCH ME (originally written under a pseudonym) caught my attention, and I'm glad I gave it a try. The story of mistaken identity is quite well constructed and Oates's prose is excellent. It's a strange read, though, and while I found it engaging and interesting, I don't know if I liked it. (Perhaps that's the point?)

Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of You Can't Catch Me. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Veteran author Joyce Carol Oates has penned You Can't Catch Me under the pseudonym Rosamond Smith. Tristram Heade comes to the city for an appointment with a fellow antique book collector, but ends up in a bizarre game for which he feels was born of mistaken identity. Is he living a duplicitous lifestyle, despite his lack of memory of that fact, or has he been thrust into a situation that seems to have no end?

I had a hard time finishing You Can't Catch Me, as the psychological aspects and convoluted plot were confusing to follow at times. Whether it be a case of mistaken identity or a psychological issue, the fact that Tristram is an unreliable narrator does not allow for a true connection to the character. The time period is ambiguous, with a formality to the writing that points to a late 1800's as a setting, but with a modernity that calls that fact into question. Overall, I found it difficult to get into this novel and, for the reasons listed above, I would not recommend it to other readers.

A case of mistaken identity? Tristam Heade or Angus Markam. The man wakes up after checking into a Philly hotel only discover his life is upside down. The story is as murky, dark and atmospheric as a reader would expect from author Joyce Carol Oates. If you love a book with bite, this check this one out!

Received an ARC for an honest review. Looking forward to more from JCO writing as Rosamond Smith.

Set in modern times (not sure exactly when but I'm guessing mid-1980's or so - there is a mention of an investigation "dating back to 1981") this book could easily be set around the late 1800's to early 1900's. It's written in a very proper, overly formal, somewhat stilted kind of style.

You Can't Catch Me starts out very promising with a gentleman being mistaken everywhere he goes for someone else. When he corrects people as to his identity they give him a sort of wink and a nod response as though such eccentric behavior is completely expected from the gentleman in question. The whole thing has an Alfred Hitchcock (both the old TV series and the mystery magazine) or Twilight Zone flavor to it.

As the story progressed the initial promise just fizzled and the book became a chore to finish. It seemed inconsistent and things began to make less and less sense serving to remove the overall story from any sense of reality.

You Can't Catch Me by Joyce Carol Oates was a disappointment. I don't recommend it.

Great story! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

While an interesting and entertaining read, I will have to admit that it's not my favorite effort from the author. I spent most of the book knowing what the "plot twist" was and wondering if there was any addition to it. Overall, still an enjoyable read although there are others in her catalogue I would recommend over this.

Link to the review to be added to review shortly..

I totally fell in love with the character of Tristram. This book is so good!! You can NOT stop reading it. Ms. Oates' books will make you want to call in sick to work and stay home and read her books. LOVED THIS BOOK