I've been a diehard Oz fan since I was a kid back in the 90s. I've read all the original books, some of the other spin offs, the entire Wicked series, etc. Plus, I love a good retelling of a classic tale. I went into this book with probably higher-than-average hopes. Even though murder mystery type of books are not usually what I gravitate to, integrating it with the Oz universe so many of us know an love was an interesting premise. I was surprised at how little Dorothy was actually in this, though. I found that aspect a little disappointing. Overall it was a fun read with decent narration, and I'm grateful I was given a chance to listen to this advanced copy of the audiobook.

Definitely a different concept for a book, looking at what happened when Dorothy got home from Oz and the town that she lived in. The book starts with the tornado and that Dorothy is missing once it’s passed. They find her several days later and that’s when things take a bit of a turn. No one believes her story of what happened to her and then they find one of the townspeople dead and her face has been melted off. Dorothy is blamed and sent to an Asylum. A doctor gets involved and decides to solve the murder that she doesn’t believe Dorothy committed.

I liked the idea of this and the mystery surrounding her disappearance and return. The ending felt a little rushed to me and kind of lost me a bit. However I still enjoyed the book.

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.

“After Oz” by Gordon McAlpine is a compelling reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” set against the stark backdrop of late 19th-century Midwest America. This novel is not merely a retelling but an exploration of the societal prejudices that were prevalent during that era. Through the eyes of its young protagonist, Dorothy Gale, and the analytical perspective of Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, McAlpine weaves a narrative that is both whimsical and deeply thought-provoking.

The story begins with a familiar premise—a tornado ravages Kansas in 1896, leaving the Gale family farm in ruins and their daughter, Dorothy, missing. The community’s relief at her safe return is short-lived as Dorothy recounts her journey to a fantastical land filled with magical beings. Her tale, however, is met with skepticism and fear, leading to her confinement in the Topeka Insane Asylum under the accusation of being involved in the death of a local woman.

McAlpine’s choice to present the story through letters and the musings of a mystery narrator from the town adds layers of intrigue and depth to the narrative. This format effectively captures the reader’s attention, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy. However, one cannot help but wish for more direct insights from Dorothy herself. Her voice, though central to the plot, seems somewhat overshadowed by the other characters’ perspectives.
The enigma surrounding the identity of the town’s narrator serves as a tantalizing thread throughout the book, keeping readers guessing and engaged. While the revelation of this character’s identity would have provided a satisfying resolution, its omission also invites readers to draw their own conclusions and perhaps reflects on the nature of storytelling itself—where not all threads are neatly tied.

“After Oz” excels in its portrayal of small-town life, capturing the intricacies of community dynamics and the insidious nature of prejudice. McAlpine does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities faced by those who dare to challenge societal norms. The novel’s setting acts as a microcosm for the broader issues of the time, making it relevant to contemporary discussions about acceptance and diversity.

The narration is another strong point of the book, with McAlpine’s prose striking a balance between descriptive imagery and concise storytelling. The pacing is well-managed, ensuring that the mystery unfolds steadily, keeping readers invested in the outcome.

In conclusion, “After Oz” is a novel that succeeds in rekindling the magic of a beloved story while simultaneously challenging its readers to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and society. It is a testament to the power of narrative to both enchant and enlighten. Though there are elements that leave us yearning for more, the overall experience of reading “After Oz” is undeniably enriching and leaves a lasting impression.

After Oz was a thrilling read. I liked the character exploration and the writing was propulsive. I would read more from this author.

After Oz takes a look at how Dorothy might actually fare in the real world after her experience in Oz. It sounded like an intriguing concept, but it ended up feeling a bit like taking the magic out of The Wizard of Oz. And for me, that fell a bit flat in the end. It may just be me- but when it comes to Oz, I prefer the magic- or even the darker magic of Return to Oz. After Oz is still a well-written thought experiment, just perhaps not for me.

Maria Ru-Djen did a good job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Gordon McAlpine, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I had a bit of a rough go with this one. The blurb sounded promising. The cover was phenomenal. Just the whole premise sounded amazing. I was a bit disappointed with the actual storyline. The narrator was fine. It was the book itself that I struggled a bit with. Dorothy, first off, did not sound her age. And I get that she was supposed to be very mature for her age. But she almost seemed psychic. The doctor could say a very simple phrase and the amount of inferring that Dorothy did from that one phrase was way past her age in maturity. Which left it difficult for her character to grow. In general, it was so depressing.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. Just my taste and preference. A 3 star for me indicates that it was still enjoyable in parts, but there wasn't enough Wow moments for me. I liked it, but I was short of loving it.

After Oz by Gordon McAlpine
⭐️⭐️ 2/5

As a dedicated fan of The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, I was excited to explore this new take on the classic tale. While the book offered an intriguing perspective, it left me with mixed feelings.

The story aimed to provide a fresh spin on familiar elements, but I found it challenging to follow, especially during the doctor’s investigative scenes. The plot sometimes felt convoluted, and I had to revisit sections to fully piece together the narrative. The ending also felt a bit rushed, leaving me scrambling to understand the resolution.

One notable aspect was the limited exploration of Dorothy’s point of view. Her inner thoughts and experiences were not deeply delved into, which was a missed opportunity to add richness to her character. Additionally, the portrayal of Oz as a figment of Dorothy’s imagination was an interesting choice, but it didn't fully resonate with me.

Despite these issues, the book offered a unique interpretation and certainly had moments that piqued my interest. For those who enjoy creative retellings of classic stories, it might still be worth a read.

I liked the idea of a thriller following Dorothy’s return after the events of Oz. It was dark and sad considering Dorothy ends up being thrown into an insane asylum at age 11.

I enjoyed the mystery of this and found it interesting. The story followed Dr Wilfred who talks to Dorothy and learns about how she got there and learned about her.

I was listening to the audio and while I liked the story, one thing I didn’t like was one chapter being over 1 hour. It was too long for me, but I still enjoyed the story. Another thing that bugged me was the speed of the narrators voice sometimes changed to quick for a few sentences and then went back to the normal speed.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After Oz is a historical fiction imagination of what happened to Dorothy Gale once she reappeared after missing for four days following a destructive tornado with far-fetched tale of a magical land. In the 1896 conservative Protestant town of Sunbonnet, Kansas, even the mention of witches is sinful but when Dorothy admits, “I didn’t mean to kill the witch” she unintentionally confessed to a real murder. Dr Evelyn Grace Wilford visits Dorothy in the deplorable conditions of the Topeka mental hospital and sets out to free Dorothy by uncovering the true murderer’s identity.
Fans of the Wizard of Oz and historical fiction will enjoy this mystery. Gordon McAlpine uses various narrators and writing styles to create a vibrant setting. The audiobook is well done, easily bringing Dr Wilford to life. This book is suitable for young adult readers.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I want to say that I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could. It was a unique addition to the many retellings or re-imaginings of the Wizard of Oz for an adult audience. I love the plot which focuses on what happens to Dorothy when she returns from Oz and everything thinks that she is insane. The way she was vilified (you'll have to read to find out more about why she was vilified) was disgusted and unfortunately realistic. Lots of that mob mentality going on. My favorite parts of this story were actually the scenes where the psychiatrist is working with Dorothy. I found this version of Dorothy to be interested. Unfortunately we did not get to dig into her character as much as I would have liked. I didn't necessary love the 'shocking revelation' at the end of the book and felt ho-hum about the final resolution. I'm not in any way sorry to have read this book but I don't think it lived up to its potential.

I just finished After Oz by George McAlpine and here are my thoughts.

Did you ever wonder what happened to Dorothy after she returned from Oz?

Dorothy can describe her whole adventure in exact detail. Trouble is, she is coming across as delusional and witchy. It does not help that her memories of killing the witch coincide with the death of a recluse that lives not too far from the farm Dorothy was living on.

Her story and the death of her neighbor, earns her a place in an asylum. Dr Evelyn Wilford, a psychologist, goes to the asylum to talk with Dorothy and she doesn’t believe for one second Dorothy committed the murder.

It’s one heck of a reimagining that focuses less on her adventures in Oz but on the aftermath of coming home. It was a really interesting story that worked pretty well as a follow on from the original tale.

I thought Dorothy came across a lot older than her age in this book and she felt like she may have been a borderline sociopath maybe. It’s just how she came across to me. She didn’t seem scared of where she was but annoyed at having to be there. She wasn’t even really the main attraction. Evelyn was and it was a real gamble writing a book about Dorothy and not having it from her POV. I kinda liked it personally.

The narrator was good and I enjoy the overall tone of the book.

Definitely glad I read it!

4 stars. Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscapemedia for my gifted ALC

Out now! Run, don't walk!

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.

This was an unusual book and yet I found myself surprised nobody had written it years ago. It was a slow starter for me and I was somewhat irritated with the narrator at first; but as the book went on, I got into it more and started enjoying it.

I did guess who the real killer was before the ending revealed it, but it was fun putting all the keys together.

This was such an atmospheric listen. I loved the vibes and couldn't get over how much Dorthey was looked down as being crazy. The Wizard of OZ was a childhood favorite of mine so this was so nice to have a variation of it as an adult

This should have wide appeal based on subject, but I could not get into it. I made it about half way.

"After Oz" by Gordon McAlpine is a book that landed somewhere in the middle of my reading experiences—it wasn’t the worst, but it certainly didn’t reach my expectations. As a big fan of "The Wizard of Oz," I had high hopes. The townspeople depicted in "After Oz" are incredibly frustrating, making me feel like I might want to toss my reading device aside. Additionally, the religious bigotry presented in the book was difficult to digest, although that is just my personal take.

One of the most surprising elements of this retelling is that Dorothy is not the central character, which left me puzzled. I was also looking forward to Toto’s portrayal, but unfortunately, the little guy was rarely mentioned. Despite these aspects, I hold nothing against the author. Rest in peace, Gordon McAlpine.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a fantastic retelling of the Wizard of Oz! I am in love with the narration choices made throughout the book, and I can't wait to pick up more by this author.

Have you ever wondered what happened after Dorothy landed back home, was found, and relayed her story?

This story was so fun! It's told from the perspective of an outsider, one that's come after a shocking smalltown murder and a young girl institutionalized. I loved the twists, the interesting way they tied to word Oz into the explanation. I loved the fanaticism, meeting the small town as she interviewed them and seeing Dorothy from a different POV. I loved the small details of the town, the shocking twist at the end and that last chapter. This book was just such an adventure, a good homage to the original story!

I did this as an audiobook and found the narrator was wonderful! I highly recommend this entertaining read!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Who knew that such an engrossing historical mystery with thought provoking social commentary could be born from a whimsical children’s story?

I want to warn you from the start, though: If you’re looking to revisit the magical land of Oz, no amount of heel clicking will get you there in this book. It is, as the title indicates, after the event, and set strictly in the unexciting land of Kansas. (I am sorry, Kansas residents.) The story is grounded in reality with L. Frank Baum’s book as its influence, rather than the movie.

In this, Dorothy is a precocious 11 year old telling stories of Oz that lead the townspeople to conclude she is insane. Worse, after the town “witch” is found with her face melted off, they accuse Dorothy of murder. She is institutionalized and a mystery begins.

After Oz started off well, but managed to get even better as the story unfolded. Small town prejudices and stringent religious beliefs were at the heart of this novel, and those are two of my favorite themes in books. While these issues seemed properly addressed for that specific time period, I remain haunted by how relevant they felt, reminding me that certain attitudes have not progressed dramatically.

Initially, I did feel like Dorothy seemed a bit too adult, beyond what one would expect from a precocious child. However, after considering her difficult upbringing, as depicted in After Oz, and the general expectations of the early 20th century, I concluded that McAlpine’s version of the Gale girl seemed right.

The novel looks at some important topics, including herd mentality, how women were viewed, how religion shaped behavior, and how those deemed mentally ill were treated. It’s a serious tale, unlike its predecessor, but it’s easy to imagine the reactions to Dorothy’s return from Oz as reality.

I had never heard of Gordon McAlpine before this and I was saddened to learn he’d passed away after completing this novel. After Oz was published recently, but posthumously. I will be looking into his previous works, as it is clear that he was an insightful and highly creative writer.

I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.