This book is definitely a slow burn, but it has to be to get all the information you need. It’s written beautifully with a lot of respect to an unknown murder victim, who also happens to narrate the story. She tells us mostly about her as well as mother woman, who moved to The city on the same day, both trying to escape their very different lives. I love that the backdrop is New York, it adds an extra element for me, having lived there.

Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher date - 11/1/22
Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for this arc copy. Wow! I was blown away by this one! An outstanding debut! A murder mystery where the focus is on knowing the victim rather than finding the killer. I almost read it in one sitting, so engrossed in the story and needing to see what would happen next.

"Strangers can change your life. Isn't that the truth."

This is an amazing, heartbreaking journey of two women who make it to NYC on the same day with the goal of better things in their lives.
They don't know each other on that day, but they will.
Why? One is murdered and the other discovers her body!
Alice has no idea who this person she finds brutally killed is, but she will do everything to learn about her!

Jane Doe (the deceased) is the story teller for this incredible story and it so well done, exploring her feelings as well as attempting to assist Alice in her search for answers.
I took my time to fully absorb the pages and I truly loved it!

Do yourself a favor and settle in with this book. You will not regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Atria for this ARC and allowing me to provide my review. Excellent!

This book is about two women: One who came to the city and perished. The other is also in the city but on a different timeline in trying to figure out the murder of the first. I think this is a very interesting concept and I really actually liked the idea of it.

This was a highly emotional book to read and you would not know it based on the synopsis. We are following two different women as they are escaping their current lives, to live new ones in New York! Little do they know, that one of them is about to find the other one dead. Only problem is that her body is a Jane Doe. Since she's just arrived in NY nobody knows her. This leads our main character to go on a mission to find out who this girl is at all costs.

I was so invested in the stories and lives of both of these girls. I wanted to know everything about them, and felt all the heartbreak, love, and emotions that these two were going through. It is definitely a thriller, but I feel like it leans more drama thriller, since we are bonding so close with the girls. I loved this one!


Thank you to Netgally and Atria for allowing me to read this copy early!

I really enjoyed this book! It hooked me from the very first chapter, and kept me hooked the entire time!

This book.

Alice you are a wonderful narrator. Noah and his gems of wisdom. The knot in my stomach, the literal feel of the crush of NYC that's both exhilarating and stifling and the threat that lingers in each corner, doorway and staircase. The feeling of being a single young woman in NYC and the relief when you click the door closed as if you made it another day; esp when youre surrounded by safety alerts and Law and Order episodes. The hopefulness and horror are captured here in equal measure. This reminded me a bit of how I felt after I read the Lovely Bones; it's a weird in betweenness.

We are all made of stardust; thank you for the ARC

What a heart wrenching story that ripping your heart out, making you feel sad face of the true depression, loneliness and ugly face of abuse, hurt, violence!

Two different women who are running from their tragic lives to make a fresh start choses the exact same day to arrive to Big Apple!One of them is 18 years old Alice Lee, not carrying so much with her, just $60 cash and Leica camera to change her entire life perspective. Other woman is Ruby Jones, in her thirties, leaving her life in Melbourne, Australia behind to start a new life.

Their fates are intercepted at the day when Ruby finds Alice’s corpse during her morning jogging. Nobody knows that girl. She’s another Jane Doe, left in the mortuary stretcher, without past with stolen future.

Throughout your reading adventure, Alice’s spirit accompanies you to tell her own story. Ruby also feels her existence deep in her bones and she’s adamant to find the true identity of this girl. Her investigation takes her to the different places, meeting with new people to form intimate relationships.

This book is definitely intense, emotional, thought provoking, moving! It’s more than a mystery and thriller. Some parts of two women’s stories are truly hard to digest. The violence of men and their mistreatments to the women couldn’t be told so effectively.

This is well written, highly poignant, strong story I highly recommend you not to miss!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

This was a unique, fresh story about a murdered young woman. Two women arrive in NYC on the same day, fleeing bad relationships. One is Alice, an 18 year old aspiring photographer. The other is 36-year old Ruby from Australia. One day while jogging Ruby discovers Alice's body. In the news they are simply known as "Jane Doe" and "the jogger". Rather than focusing on who killed Alice, the novel focuses on who Alice was, and on how finding her body affects Ruby. Alice's spirit lives on to narrate the tale, giving us her perspective, but she is also able to inhabit the thoughts of others and bring them forth. There is a thought-provoking theme about violence towards women and the pains women go through to ward off danger, but the novel is nuanced, not black-and-white "all men are evil".

This novel is a total knockout!
Before You Knew My Name is one phenomenal written story.
I don't think I've read A book this amazing in some time.
The writing was captivating, mind blowing.
It was like I was in a trance. I couldn't look away.
I found myself totally engaged from start to finish
Jacqueline really outdid herself here with this one.
Bublitz has a great capacity for weaving intensely knotted, complex stories
I thought this story was beautiful as it was remarkable.
Her characters told a story I won't ever forget.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Atria/Emily Bestler Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.