I’m looking forward to seeing Wicked so I thought this would be a good time to read this! It was a little too religious for my liking but it was an interesting mystery/thriller like take on The Wizard of Oz

As a big fan of the Wizard of Oz and it's related stories, this was such a fun book to check out! I love seeing a new take on some aspect of this story/characters. The dark focus around Dorothy and her experience after her return to Kansas was such an interesting and missing addition to the stories around this tale.

I highly recommend this to fans of the Wizard of Oz who are interested in reading about Dorothy's dark experience after returning from Oz. As some other reviewers mentioned, I also think this would make a great movie too!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

In L. Frank Baum's Oz series (yes, there are more books in the canon than the ever popular The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), Dorothy Gale returns to Kansas after her incredible and wonderous journey through Oz with a fantastical tale of her adventures, and later makes subsequent trips to the fairyland, eventually bring her family back with her to Oz to live there for good. Baum's Dorothy is not treated like a young girl suffering from delusions ... but what if she had been?

Gordon McAlpine's final novel (he passed away in 2021 before the publication of this book) After Oz is no fairytale. Firmly rooted in the real world, McAlpine takes the Dorothy story and turns it on his head. How would a God-fearing community in late 1800's Kansas treat a child if they began speaking of a magical land that they visited where they melted a witch? Perhaps you might chalk up such proclamations to an overactive imagination, but what if the town's unlikeable spinster was found dead with her face melted off by lye? Would you believe the child then ... and perhaps accuse her of murder?

Such is the stuff of After Oz, which treats Dorothy not as a Princess of Oz as she comes to be in Baum's later works, but rather a social pariah and murder. Being that the book is titled "After Oz," the story follows the work of a NYC psychologist who comes to Kansas to interview Dorothy at the Topeka Insane Asylum after her trip to Oz and the subsequent unfortunate events. There, she tries to make sense of Dorothy's story and past, and in doing so, uncovers some deeply hidden dark secrets.

I love the ingenuity and creative license that went into writing this intriguing reimagining of the classic Oz tale. As an Oz fanatic (I own the entire canon complete with the beautifully illustrated vintage covers), I appreciate McAlpine bringing something new and thought-provoking to the original Oz story. When viewing Dorothy's tale of scarecrows, tin men, and cowardly lions through a real-world 19th century lens, the magic is stripped away and we are left with a child who would certainly be classified as offbeat and fanciful, if not demented. McAlpine expertly grounds Dorothy's journey to Oz with a narrative not about a girl who journeys to a magical fairyland, but rather one who finds herself imprisoned for telling tall tales that eerily mimic reality.

While the concept of After Oz is stellar, the delivery of the storyline is not the most enthralling or compelling. Spending much of the book in the head of a psychologist as she analyzes a child and puts together pieces of a small town mystery will appeal to some, but not to all, especially those who are looking for a greater focus on Dorothy, who surprisingly plays a minor role in this darkly ominous novel of life on the prairie in 1896.

While I didn't love this one it was indeed an interesting take on The Wizard of Oz. It's a retelling that makes the most sense. And really explains why Dorothy might have made up such a wild story. Though I think it would make a better movie than book. But it was still a good read.

This retelling of Wizard of Oz is a dark tale. I loved reading about what happened to Dorothy and Toto when they came back to Kansas. You gotta love small town politics and attitudes. I highly recommend this book.

This was a really fun and suspenseful continuation of The Wizard of Oz. I really liked the historical aspect of this book. I will definitely be recommending this book to our patrons!

Have you ever wondered what happened to Dorothy and Toto after their return from the land of Oz? In this thriller retelling of The Wizard Of Oz, Dorothy, a bright eleven-year-old, is not only proclaimed insaine, but is also accused of a murder following her unexplained reappearance.

What a unique and unexpected read! I loved the great mix of historical fiction and mystery. The novel places you in Kansas, 1896, in a small rural close-minded community that perceives anything different, fantastical and unexplainable as evil and heretical.

The author did an amazing job creating and developing the characters. It was so fun to learn more about Dorothy and how bright and imaginative she was for her age! I am so happy the girl had Dr. Evelyn looking out for her and investigating the crime she didn't belive Dorothy committed. The story really shows the prejudice against women and non-conformists in those days. The suspense was quite intense at times and the classic mystery was a real treat.

This was an excellent story of what would have transpired after Dorothy returned to Kansas, where the fairytale ends and the real life begins. This read is perfect for anyone who enjoys a classic retelling with a thrilling twist.

Gordon McAlpine's After Oz had the potential to be an engrossing book. The idea of Dorothy trying to explain where she had been to a small, midwestern town was intriguing. The book itself was less engrossing. The great bulk of the work is about the doctor who is trying to clear Dorothy of murder. That could have been much more interesting, however the doctor's constant vague mentions of her own backstory were distracting and pulled my attention away from the story. I put the book down several times to go and do something else until I could talk myself into finishing it. The backstories of the original characters would have been infinitely more interesting. Readers who picked up this book likely did so because they were familiar with either the books or the movie. They had some sort of relationship with the places and characters original to the books and the movie, not to Dr. Wilford. The book ultimately had little to offer those readers aside from a possible sliver of a tale about how Frank Baum came to write the books. That wasn't enough to save the book. As a feminist, I appreciate that the author attempted to examine the inequities women faced and still face in American society, but I don't care to be preached at in fiction. I kept asking myself what the author was trying to do and, in the end, I'm not sure the author himself knew. It seemed as though he used Oz to lure readers in and then only glossed over the original characters the tiniest bit, to what purpose I'm unsure.

As a side note, I truly hope that an editor caught this error before the published copy was printed: Dr. Wilford stands to speak before the Bible study group and asks if "...you kind folks mind if I spoke my peace..." and that is incorrect usage. One speaks one's piece when explaining one's perspective. One holds one's peace when refraining from offering a reason two people should not marry.

I struggled to finish the book, but I did finish it. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley providing an ARC of the title for review.

Dark Oz Retelling

After Oz by Gordon McAlpine is a dark and gripping continuation of Dorothy Gale's story after her return from the fantastical Land of Oz. Set in the small town of Sunbonnet, Kansas, the book opens with a tornado that wreaks havoc on Dorothy's home and leads to her mysterious disappearance. As the townspeople grapple with the destruction, Dorothy's fantastical tales of Oz are met with skepticism and concern, especially when a local woman is found dead.

After Oz is a thought-provoking and emotionally rich continuation of Dorothy Gale's story. It is a must-read for those interested in retellings that challenge the original narrative and explore deeper societal themes.

I am sorry I didn't finish this title it was very hard for me to keep my attention, I couldn't keepy awake while reading it I am a huge fan of most wizard of oz spinoffs but this one did not keep my attention

*3.5 stars*

Dark, adult retelling of a magical children’s story…

I’ve loved The Wizard of Oz since I was a kid and reading the blurb of this story I couldn’t help be intrigued. Like many children The Wizard of Oz movie was fascinating. Bright colours galore with extraordinary, magical things happening to everyday, ordinary people (including children). What if this fantasy tale was, in fact, real? How could it be explained in the reality of the late 1800’s America? I couldn’t wait to find out…

The author took each unbelievable element and tried to explain it in recognizable terms. The telling was often harsh with religion and racism playing huge roles with humanity taking a serious hit. Intolerance, bigotry – nothing was off-limits as a town wrestled with out of the ordinary stories and happenings.

Intriguing, perplexing, this was an interesting take on a beloved story…

An interesting twist on the old classic The Wizard of Oz. What happened after Dorothy returned to Kansas. I have mixed feeling about this book. parts I really enjoyed and as I was getting in to the story it went in to the dreary life of the super religious people living in the small Kansas town and I found my self glazing over. I really expected that this cool idea was going to have a bit more meat but a lot of this story was very clever and interesting.

Both frustrating and deeply satisfying, a look into a dark time in history and into the hearts of a small town. A story in which nothing is as it seems and only one person is telling the whole truth, maybe.

I really loved the inventive extension of the classic tale and the deep character development in even such a large cast. So many wonderful choices made here. You’ll fall in love with Dorothy all over and question everything about how you believe stories from now on.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

i was expecting more Oz and Dorothy details..I read whole story but skimmed thru most of the first chapters. Any character could have gone to an imaginary place during a tornado and been accused of melting a ‘witch’. I have read and enjoyed the Wizard of Oz booth book and movie and the book and play ‘Wicked’., but this was a disapointment.

I really was excited about this book and its premise since I love The Wizard of Oz. The story and premise were fantastic, but I thought it was wordy and boring and did not keep my attention. I found myself mostly skimming the second half of this novel. The feminist themes and historical component were the best parts, unfortunately there wasn't enough story to keep me engaged and the characterization fell flat.

See my full goodreads review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6438317845

I love fairy retellings, not that OZ is a typical fairytale, but it does have some of those qualifications. And this book delivered for me. I love the fact that we actually know what happened to Dorothy after the twister and how she because who she was in the town that was never answered in the first book. I also loved the fact that there was that throwback to Frank! I love all things Dorothy and while the book was slow at some parts, it kept me interested in enough that I needed to find out more! I still need more, but alas, that is probably not going to happen.
Great story.

There were parts of this story I really loved and others I was wondering what the helicopter I was reading. The ending felt rushed but overall a good read.

After Oz by Gordon McAlpine tells of what happens to Dorothy Gale after she returns from Oz with a remarkable story. Mr. McAlpine is a published, award-winning author and educator.

A tornado destroys the Gale farm, and much of the town of Sunbonnet, Kansas, 1896. Dorothy Gale is missing for days, worrying Aunt Em and Uncle Frank, when she mysteriously appears, unharmed, in a pumpkin patch with an incredible story.

When a rich, elderly single woman is murdered in the same way which Dorothy described killing a “witch” in her fantastic tales, it is assumed Dorothy is guilty and is put in an asylum. Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford comes from the East Coast to interview the 11-year-old-girl, wondering if she really committed the crime.

I’ve read all of L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz fantasy books, and while I enjoyed them, they did not age well. The movie, of course, is a timeless classic still enjoyed to this day.

After Oz by Gordon McAlpine is not what I expected it to be. I thought the book would be an examination by a psychologist of a young, seemingly delusional girl, only to realize that she might be telling the truth. Instead, I got a little of that but more of a murder/mystery story. Unexpected but nevertheless still enjoyable.

Despite the story taking place in the late 1800s, it’s still relevant. Unfortunately, hatred and bigotry didn’t go away, and the liberal vs. conservative mindset is on prominent display. Cult personality, mob mentality, and figurative/literal witch hunts are still part of our society. Those in power can decide, arbitrarily and with little evidence, to take someone’s freedom away can still happen.

The story is told through two points of view, the psychologist/amateur detective, and that of an anonymous resident of the town. Educated and liberal vs. closed minded conservative. One justifies their views through their learning, the other through Bible verses.
It’s strange choice and too one sided, especially considering European, left-wing academia during that time (which sadly is repeating itself).

Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford is the only fleshed out character. Dorothy is barely in the book (but mentioned often) and the town’s people encompass every stereotype one could think of. The most interesting parts, the conversations between the doctor and the Dorothy are short and, frankly, are barely relevant to the plot.

I did enjoy this unusual twist of a classic story, it’s well written and with a fantastic premise. It’s a quick yet interesting read. I did wish that Dorothy’s conversations with the psychologist were in the center of the novel, nevertheless it was entertaining and a refreshing take on a familiar classic.

What a surprise! I picked up "After Oz" because the premise was intriguing—what was life in Kansas like before and after Dorothy “returned” from Oz? But honestly, beyond that, I didn’t have many expectations. Perhaps that’s why I ended up enjoying this book so much.

From the very beginning, the story pulls you in and sets the tone for the small, pious town where Dorothy lives with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Emily. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else’s business. After a tornado devastates parts of the town, Dorothy Gale goes missing, and when she returns, claiming to have accidentally killed a witch in a magical land, the town is baffled. But things take a darker turn when a local woman turns up dead, and the town quickly turns on Dorothy. Is she a liar? Is she insane? Or has something more sinister taken hold of the 11-year-old girl? Whatever the reason, the town is convinced she is a murderer. Only one woman believes in her innocence and is determined to free the imaginative girl, hoping to uncover the real murderer.

I couldn’t put this book down. I felt infuriated on Dorothy’s behalf and actually had the urge to physically harm some of the more “important” men in town. Gordon McAlpine’s writing delivered on every level, making me feel so immersed in the story that I found myself emotionally reacting over and over again. I’ve never read McAlpine’s work before, and even though this was his final book before his death, I’m definitely planning to explore more of his existing work.

"After Oz" was just a good story, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written book with clever plot lines and vivid characters. It’s an easy five out of five stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

A delightful twist on a classic. It was a very engaging read that kept the pages turning. I recommend it.