I genuinely thought this book would have more "oompf" than it did. It lagged some and shed a different light on the whole story of Dorothy, her family, and the town.

This is one psychiatrist's big idea to prove Dorothy's innocence and free her, while uncovering buried small-town secrets and hypocrisy. The historical misogyny was a tough pill to swallow, as was the anti-science Chrstianity that prevailed in the face of pure facts. I did like the element of incorporating Baum into the story, though.

And a reminder that Dorothy was only 11 when she went to Oz, which I think is lost on fans who only watched the movie with all adult actors.

This was a fine book. As a big fan of The Wizard of Oz, this retelling was very intriguing and I liked the premise a lot. However, I didn’t really like format of the story and the pacing was very odd.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Maria Ru-Djen who does a fantastic job! I highly recommend the audiobook!

So Wicked is what happened before Dorothy came to OZ and The WIzard of Oz is Dorothy in Oz...this is the story of what life for Dorothy was like when she returned home to Kansas after her fantastical trip.

The story is told from the perspective of the Doctor who is trying to prove Dorothy's innocence and an unnamed resident of her small Kansas town who is convinced of her guilt. The townsperson is full of hatred and vitriol (complete with bible verses to justify both), while Dr. Wilford is a much more sympathetic character. Dorothy, Toto, and Oz are surprisingly not all that prominent in the story. Its hard to imagine Dorothy being locked away in the Topeka Insane Asylum for most of the book.

This is definitely an unusual twist on a classic tale! Maybe Dorothy should have stayed in Oz as her overly pious town residents think she is nuts.

3.5 rounded up.

I am obsessed with anything related to Wizard of Oz, so when I saw this book I requested it immediately. The premise really intrigued me...it's the story of Dorothy, but in the view of a small-minded religious town in the late 1800s. A tornado wreaks havoc in Kansas, and an 11-year-old girl goes missing. When she is found, she rambling about a magical place with talking animals and talking about having melted a wicked witch.
What makes this all the more frightening to the townsfolk is that an ill-tempered old woman in the town was found murdered in her home, "melted" by having lye thrown in her face. What follows is accounts of her hearing, psychological evaluations and a murder investigation.

Do not go into this book expecting the whimsical story of Oz. This isn't really a retelling of the classic story, but a different one altogether. This story isn't really even about Dorothy per se, but about the small-minded religious community that believes Dorothy to be a murderer and that her delusions are pagan and manifested from evil. It is also about the way religious zealots in the 1800s regarded female doctors. Is is very much a book about prejudice, mental health, bigotry and religion in the 19th century.

What I liked about this book was the fact that it presents a different perspective on Dorothy that I had never really considered before. The perspectives in the book alternate between an unknown religious townsperson, and the psychologist, Dr Evelyn Grace Wilford--her investigations, thoughts, and how she was treated by the townsfolk. I enjoyed the unfurling of the murder mystery and Evelyn's discoveries. I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, and thought the narrator Maria Ru-Djen did an excellent job.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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Have you ever wondered, What happened to Dorothy after returning home to Kansas? Inspired by Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, McAlpine dives into the time period and just what could have happened to Dorothy.
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I absolutely love the Wizard of Oz, always have, always will, so I was super stoked to read this afterword of what could have been. The story starts out strong, Dorothy return talking about this fantastic land and then the body of a nasty recluse is discovered appearing to have been “melted.” Now being that we are in the God fearing ages, the only logical explanation would be that Dorothy was guilty.
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This is more of a steady paced book. The POV shifts throughout between a member of the community (I believe) and via Dr. Wilford’s correspondents. I was excited about this premise and while I still enjoyed this book; it felt like it relied a little too heavily on religious bigotry, whereas I wanted more recollection of Dorothy’s memories of Oz and/or her time in the Topeka Insane Asylum. Alot of the characters were difficult to like, as their beliefs were forced upon so many others.
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After Oz is still a mystery and I loved how that mystery was solved and the twists that were placed throughout the story. I also loved a very specific part of the story which pays homage to Baum.
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Overall, I enjoyedd this one, I just wuish there were less religious aspects (though I am aware it was the time period)… It’s a good mystery and a solid possible outcome as to what happened to Dorothy Gale. Recommending to my mystery fans!
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I was able to listen to this one via audio while reading along with my ARC. Maria Ru-Djen was a phenomenal narrator. I loved how she brought this to life for me. Highly recommend the audio if you plan to pick this one up!
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After Oz is releasing 8/6, huge thank you to @netgalley, Gordon McAlpine, @dreamscape_media and @crookedlanebooks for the ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest review!
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What is your favorite classic movie?

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the digital audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

True story: I’ve never read or listened to the OZ books by L. Frank Baum. My only experience with the yellow brick road has been the MGM masterpiece, which we watched every Easter season. I knew that it varied greatly from the books, which were much darker in tone. After Oz is a continuation of the time after Dorothy returns from Oz and tells a fantastical tale about killing a witch.

No offense to the dead, but I’m not a big fan of what Gordon McAlpine brought to the Oz universe. Dorothy only appears for a few brief chapters, and then the rest of the book turns into sort of a police procedural, but in a psychological study. It’s an interesting take, that’s for sure.

At its heart, this book is a condemnation of small town, conservative, religious living and their failure to accept one person’s truth. I’m sure that’s an allegory for today’s climate. Maybe that’s why the book is so dark and foreboding?

I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the book. It was outside my wheelhouse and I enjoyed it for what it was, but if you’re expecting a lot of Dorothy and the merry old land of OZ, you’ll be disappointed.

I received an advanced audio copy of this from Net Galley, in exchange for my honest opinions.

I loved this one! I originally read this description and then couldn't get it out of my head and had to go back and request it- I'm so glad I did. When I was much younger I read thru a good many of the Oz books, was traumatized by the 1986 movie Return to Oz, and as an adult read Wicked. There are so many stories that could still be told about Oz.

For me this one harkened back to the movie Return to Oz. And I'm there for it! This story is less Oz centered, and in a way more Dorothy after oz centered (although, the story isn't really told from her perspective either). Dorothy wakes up in a pumpkin patch 4 days later with a fantastical tale about talking animals, good and bad witches and especially melting a bad witch. Sunbonnet Kansas is that small community (with the emphasis on SMALL) and when the local old woman is murdered, Dorothy is easiest suspect and winds up in the asylum. Book is told from the perspective of the doctor, and the town's people.

I loved this one! highly recommend

This was an intriguing concept that fell a bit flat for me. (Although, that could have been because I listened to the audiobook and found myself zoning in and out.) The religious nonsense and sexism was vomit-inducing, but I gave it all a pass since, well, it's exactly how things would've gone down if a girl returned to her home in the Bible belt in the late 1800s saying she had seen a magical land with witches and flying monkeys. Straight to the asylum! Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

I think I would've enjoyed this a bit more if I opted for the physical book instead of the audiobook, but some of the twists got me, and I always enjoy a good small-town scandal. Overall, it was average to me. Not great, but not terrible either. A thought-provoking look at what would've/could've happened if a girl named Dorothy really did see Oz and then come home to the Bible belt where everyone accused her of being a witch/ murderer/ witch murderer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced version of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I would consider this book a solid 3.5 stars, especially enjoyable for those who like The Wizard of Oz!

After Oz is a sort of spinoff of the events that followed the Wizard of Oz, posing the question: what happened following Dorothy's return to Kansas? According to the author's interpretation displayed in this book, upon Dorothy's return and her stories of witches, wizards, and talking animals that accompanied her through a magical land, and accidentally melting a witch, people are quick to declare her as insane. Coincidentally, a resident of the town was found deceased in her home, "melted" by a chemical, and the fact that she was a spinster and some joked resembled a witch seemed to lead the town to incriminate Dorothy in this heinous act.

The novel takes place in 1896, so naturally there are themes of religion and small-town prejudice that play a large part in the town's feelings toward Dorothy and outsiders alike. The book is told by two narrators, one being the doctor trying to prove Dorothy's innocence and one unnamed resident of the town who is convinced of her guilt. The townsperson is full of hate, accompanying many of their thoughts and opinions with bible verses to justify themself, while Dr. Wilford is a much more sympathetic character who wants to see the events without bias. I was invested from first mention of Alvina's murder to find the real culprit alongside Dr. Wilford, and did not see the twist coming!

Sadly, Dorothy is not all that prominent in the story, nor are her telling's of Oz, and most of the inclusions of her in the book are from Dr. Wilford's conversations with her in the Topeka Insane Asylum (where she was banished to after the decision of her guilt). All this is to say, I still found the story to be very enjoyable, despite the lack of detail from the original Oz story. I really enjoyed the author's take on the classic, adding a whodunnit twist and really leaned into the realistic outcome of what could have happened to Dorothy when she returned to her small town in Kansas speaking of this magical land she visited.

I also wanted to mention that the narration of the audiobook by Maria Ru-Djen was wonderfully executed. I am newer to the audiobook format and found her distinction of all the characters to be done really well.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

This was a really interesting take on the Wizard of Oz. I thought it would be more of a thriller but it was definitely a mystery. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good. I just thought the story was a bit disjointed and repetitive at time. That being said, it stuck with the theme of the Wizard of Oz (the movie, not the original book) and gave a different insight on the events of the tornado and Dorothy's disappearance.

3 star's. This is a retelling of the wizard of oz but what happens after Dorothy returns home. I have mixed opinions on this. on one hand, it was a really good idea and concept for a book but it got really boring and drawn on at times. some chapters were an hour and a half, like that's a whole movie.

The author also made this book really religious, mentioning bible verses every 10 minutes. I'm a Christian so I never have an issue with that but other people might. it also felt at times like the author was mocking the bible though so I don't know.

Overall, amazing concept but could've been done a little better. thank you to netgalley for providing me with this ARC

I have always been a fan of the Wizard of Oz so I was super excited to stumbled across this book that takes the reader through the aftermath of Dorthy’s return to her small town and how the people in the town view her after her confession. The story is told by two different perspectives, an unnamed town person and the other the psychologist who is visiting Dorthy. Overall I thought this was well written and had an interesting and entertaining mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC

After Oz is a dark twist on the Wizard of Oz, but also very different. Yes some characters are similar, but the story is a whole lot different. I don't want to dive too deeply into it so as to not ruin the experience for someone else. It was definitely a fun ride, it does start off on the slower side. There are some twists and turns that make things become clearer but some things still are left unclear to me. Although I know the author was in a rush to finish the book as he was very sick and unfortunately passed in 2021. If you want a different take on Oz this might be the one for you !

🎧 The narration by Maria Ru-Djen was great. I really enjoyed listening to her, she was easy to understand and had a great tone of voice. I thought it was a good audio performance.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia & Gordon McAlpine for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining, but dark, alternative origin story for the Oz books by frank Baum. I can't say too much about what happened without giving it all away, but think of a gritty crime investigation novel, where a child gets convicted of a crime. And it's old timey, and there's feminism in the late 1800s and at the same time you get reminded of the Wizard of Oz and has some fun connections to the story.

All in all I really liked this book and the writing style and I'm sad that it'll be the authors final book. Recommended for grown ups who have always loved Oz.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

I love all things OZ. When I saw that this audiobook was on NetGalley, I knew that I needed to request it.

Dorothy Gale goes missing after a tornado touches down in her small Kansas town. She shows up a bit later in someone's pumpkin patch telling wild stories of killing a witch, scarecrows, and other animals that talk. A disliked woman in her town ( some call a witch) turns up dead and the town Blames Dorothy.Is Dorothy a murderess? When Dr. Wilford comes to talk with Dorothy, she gets very involved in her story. Can she help unravel the mystery of what happened in this small town?
This was not exactly what I was expecting, but I did really enjoy it. I really liked the murder mystery plot and thought that they story wrapped up in a neat way. I also loved the nods to L. Frank Baum and the original OZ books.

I thought the narrator was perfect for this book and did a fantastic job!

Thank you to NetGalley, Gordon McAlpine's publishing team, and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review (unpaid).

I would also like to pay respect to Gordon McAlpine, who sadly passed away in 2021 to cancer. While I had not heard of him before this work, I am sad that it is his last and plan on working through his backlist as his writing captures the human mind in a way I have not read before.

I was enraptured by the first half of this book which consisted of mostly ruminations of Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford and her conversations with Dorothy Gale and I do wish we had gotten to see more of that. Evelyn's main goal was to assess Dorothy's psychological state and yet we hear so little about or from Dorothy and more about how Evelyn simply believes Dorothy could not have committed the murder.

About halfway through, Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding the actual murderer and we become focused on her perceived psychological state(s) of the murder suspects ( and none of her thoughts on the actual murderer). I think this would have worked better as 1) a psychological assessment of Dorothy or 2) Evelyn spiraling into her insanity as she obsesses over Dorothy and the murder (or both), and not simply a commentary on religious groupthink. As is, I find it a little disappointing.

I really enjoyed this book. I will be honest and say that I might be biased as I will read anything Wizard of Oz related but this was one of the better ones I have read. As a lifelong fan of Baum's classic I never wondered what happens to Dorothy when she returns to Kansas but McAlpine answers questions I never knew I had, and answers them well. Dorothy returns home with stories of a fantastical land where she accidentally killed a witch by melting her only for the town "witch" to turn up dead in the same fashion landing Dorothy in an asylum. It is a very interesting new take on a old story.

This book is dark and explores themes of prejudice and religious bigotry. While it takes place in a historical setting the themes of religion justifying horrendous things and allowing prejudice is very timely for today's audience. It is interesting to see the story told via dual perspectives, one being a member of the small Kansas town Dorothy is from and the other a psychologist who has come to help Dorothy.

This was a great read and I highly recommend!

This book had a captivating plot - Dorothy’s life AFTER Oz- where she is essentially framed (or did she do it?) for murder. Did she really melt a witch? And confess to it during rural Kansas in the 1890s?

I enjoyed the perspectives from this book, from the psychologist trying to help Dorothy after she’s commuted to an asylum and to an unnamed townsfolk who provides perspective into the small town.

I enjoyed the overall plot, the book did move slowly but it let the events unwind. I do wish the ending had even more “after the reveal” to answer all my burning questions. However I did love the overall tie into the original tale of the Wizard of Oz

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review

Publication date set for August 6, 2024

What would really happen to Dorothy after she regaled her small, Bible Belt town with the tales of a wizard, witches, flying monkeys, and a talking scarecrow?

After Oz takes on the interesting and realistic perspective of what it would have been like for her in a small, conservative, very religious community.
You definitely need knowledge of The Wizard of Oz to understand but you’ll be disappointed if you expect all of the beloved characters to make an appearance or even a significant appearance outside of Dorothy and her aunt and uncle, so keep that in mind as you go on to it.

I would have given the story 5 stars except the end left me feeling a little disappointed. I guess McAlpine set it up throughout the story but I felt like it was mentioned so briefly and such in an insignificant manner that not having a solid motivation was disappointing. Otherwise it was a fantastic twist on an old favorite.

A retelling of Oz sort of. This is a tale of what happens to Dorothy after Oz. When I read the synopsis or this book it sounded so intriguing and I couldn’t wait to read it.

Though the book is interesting and I did enjoy it, I was sad that Dorothy wasn’t really even the main character in her own story. Yes it’s about proving Dorothy’s innocence but we barely get her POV.

I really would have loved to learn more about what really happened after the tornado. But it’s a take for sure.

3.5⭐️ rounded up.