Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for offering me an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 💫

5 star all the way! This book had a hold on me from start to finish! When I was reading it, I couldn’t read fast enough as when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about when I would have time to see what the outcome of the story would be.

This book was focused on dissociative fugue (a psychological disorder that I wasn’t at all familiar with). This is a work of fiction, but read quite similarly to a work of non fiction. You could completely imagine this happening in today’s world.

A woman uses a sperm donor to have a baby and after the baby arrives she starts to loose a bit of time, but the blackouts continue and with them also comes hallucinations. She associates this a bit with the struggles of a new single mom, no sleep, and exhaustion. This is until she has a blackout where her son is left overnight at day care and she is found face down in a park.

The cops and her psychologist are able to rule out criminal activity.

The book gives the perspective from the psychiatrists notes and Jane’s letters she has written to her son.

As the blackouts continue, she has an episode where she disappears for 9 days and this time her son is with her. The entire state of New York is looking for her, her parents are bereft and her psychiatrist is sick with worry. She comes out of the blackout just as quickly as she entered the state, somehow the entire blackout still taking care of her son.

The book stars alluding to the possibility of Jane experiencing a parallel universe as she is experiencing (has experienced) things that haven’t occurred in our current world ie. Seeing her psychiatrist in 1998 (knowing details about his office, but the dates she said she saw him he was out of the country), thinking her baby has a terrible virus that has swept the country, but no such virus is in a contagion only small outbreaks.

I think the idea of parallel universes is quite fascinating! This book seems so well timed with the news even talking of such universes with the mysterious drones.

Also, the dissociative fugue is extremely alarming. I just can’t imagine what Jane went through.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychology and a good read.

The Strange Case of Jane O. was nothing like what I expected, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. It read more like a psychiatrist's case file than a novel, but it's what I liked most about the story.
Although there were only a few characters, they were well thought out, and their voices were easily distinguishable.
This was my first book of Walker's but I'll definitely be looking into others.
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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

I adore books that stir me up and make me think about our world differently. In this novel we witness a doctor of psychiatry doing some existential exploration as well. Months after giving birth Jane experiences bizarre episodes of amnesia. Without any clear diagnostic answer . . . overwhelm, sleep deprivation, and postpartum conditions are all being considered by Dr. Henry Byrd. After observing Jane on several occasions, her reality seems as delicate and thin as a lace curtain that can easily be pushed aside; a fragile veil between an alternate multiverse. It is easy to be skeptical of her unusual experiences and chalk it all up to the magic of imagination, but what if she's not delusional?

I highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries and speculative fiction.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Strange Case of Jane O. for my unbiased evaluation.  4 stars

Wow! My second book of the year and already a potential favorite of 2025. I requested this from NetGalley because it sounded interesting then I realized I had read the author's previous novel, The Dreamers, and that dimmed my excitement for this book. I didn't love The Dreamers, but I am so glad I picked this one up anyway - I am even considering giving The Dreamers a re-read because I loved this so much.

Jane is a new mother who starts experiencing some odd symptoms including hallucinations and blackouts. She starts seeing Dr. Byrd, a psychiatrist who has recently faced some challenges in his work. The book switches back and forth over six parts, alternating between Dr. Byrd's notes on Jane's case and letters Jane is writing to her son to document the difficulties she's experiencing.

This was so beautifully written, I highlighted so much as I was reading and kept going back to read parts that stood out. It's a beautiful exploration of grief, parenthood, and connection. It has elements of a thriller and a sci-fi, but it's not quite either. I cannot recommend this enough; this is definitely a book I'll be thinking of for a long time.

"We are all of us hiding parts of ourselves."

"There are so few people in this life who we can love."

I absolutely adored this new novel from Karen Thompson Walker. Having read her previous two works, I had high exceptions, but this even exceeded that. I think it's best to not know much going in, as part of the fun is having no idea what is going on. We follow a psychiatrist and his patient "Jane O." as she experiences strange psychological symptoms. The story slowly unfolds in an extremely suspenseful way - I can't remember the last time I was so riveted by a book. I wasn't sure if she was going to be able to end the book well, and while it wasn't a perfect ending (some plot points only worked if you don't think TOO hard about them), I still loved the whole experience of Jane O.

This interesting story, which read like a true story, follows the perspective of two people: Jane O. (From diary/letter entries) and her therapist, Dr. Byrd. Dr. Byrd is approached by Jane to help her with “blackouts” she is experiencing. Dr. Byrd’s point of view is written as if he is composing case notes that he wants to publish, but this is never made clear. Dr. Byrd’s POV gives us his account of what has happened to Jane and what he believes is her diagnosis as well as some background on him. As we follow Jane’s diary/letters to her son we get an inside look at the complexity of her situation and are ultimately left with a lot of questions.

Both characters are written excellently and have two very distinct voices. Walker even added little nuances to show when these “blackouts” occurred in Jane O.’s narrative. This was a strange case as the title suggests, and for 90% of the story, felt very real, like this could have been a true story. This wasn’t really suspenseful or intense, but there was a constant sense of foreboding as the narrative continued. I thoroughly enjoyed almost the entire book. And then Dr. Byrd’s conclusion to Jane O’s case is revealed.

The ending was a little out there for me and seemed rushed and easy yet very implausible and out of left field. The story went from mystery/literary fiction to science/speculative fiction in one paragraph. It just didn’t make sense and really took me out of the story. This was a fantastic story, the writing was wonderful and I really did become invested in the characters and where they were headed. But if this was intended to be science fiction, that should have been established from the beginning instead of revealed in the last 5 pages. Some are calling this speculative fiction, but again, most of the book read like a mystery or even psychological thriller, then was all explained away by some weird sci-fi theory. It just didn’t work. I would, however, recommend this book. It is written very well, and from other reviews, I am currently in the minority with my opinion.

Walker is obviously an extremely talented writer and I would love to read her other work. The ending really was a disappointment for me though.

***Thank you NetGalley, Karen Thompson Walker, and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***

Jane has an exceptional mind and a distinct skill for cataloging events and dates and remembering every detail in any space she inhabits. That's why when Jane, a young mother, begins experiencing strange episodes of amnesia, premonitions, and hallucinations, her life spirals into an unfathomable mystery.

Found unconscious in Brooklyn's Prospect Park with no recollection of the previous day, psychiatrist Henry Byrd is drawn into a case unlike any he's encountered. Jane reports vivid hallucinations of a man she knew decades earlier, now warning her to flee the city. The psychiatrist believes this is linked to a fugue state where one experiences memory loss and ends up in an unexpected place. This theory is challenged, though, as a series of revelations blurring the line between psychological symptoms and, perhaps, something far more profound.

Walker's narrative thoughtfully alternates between Jane's heartfelt journal entries addressed to her son and her psychiatrist Byrd's clinical notes, which slowly unravel a few of his own secrets. Though the psychiatrist's secrets suggest an unreliable narrator, Walker opts to keep his arc more straightforward—a choice that limits the narrative's complexity and creates a simmering mystery rather than a pulse-pounding thriller experience.

Walker exercises much restraint, choosing to lightly embed her meticulous research, which the reader can see clearly in the numerous books acknowledged at the end of her story. Her gentle twists are deeply satisfying, as is the racing heart you may feel when you worry for her child through many elements of this bumpy motherhood journey.

This novel is perfect for fans of speculative mysteries and would make a fantastic pairing with The Possibilities.

Well this was an interesting book. I had to keep reading, I was very invested in the main character and what was going on with her. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this before.

4.5⭐️

I hadn’t read anything else by this author but I read some intriguing reviews of this, so I was excited to get this arc and see what it was all about. This is definitely one of the most original plots I’ve ever read. The writing was well executed and had me hooked. It is a character study/suspense/paranormal fiction with an incredible amount of depth and thought provoking intensity. Because this book has an abundance of discussion points, it’ll be ideal for book clubs. I am excited to recommend this to library patrons.

Speculative fiction about a woman who disappears for chunks of time with no memory of what happened and the controversial psychiatrist treating her. Their lives intersect in interesting ways as her condition is revealed, but so much is left unanswered and unexplored, both plot and character wise. I really liked this and it’s beautifully written, just not as top tier as her other books which are all time favorites for me.

4 stars--I really liked it.

This book surprised me. On the surface it appears to be a domestic thriller (a genre which I read frequently and enjoy), but there's more going on underneath, and the book deftly deals with some large issues (avoiding spoilers here!).

The characters were deeply sympathetic, and despite an air of melancholy hanging over the book, the ending was satisfying and even hopeful.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

This book is crafted to feel like you're reading a combination of a doctor's case notes and a patient's journal, which I found captivating. The story unfolds through two perspectives: Jane, the patient, and her psychiatrist, Dr. Byrd. The writing is dry and clinical, reflecting the subject matter, but it’s also direct and precise—a style I particularly appreciated.

While the book is twisty, it defies conventional expectations and is incredibly smartly written. It serves as both a compelling character study and a fascinating case study. The premise is utterly unique and executed brilliantly. I strongly recommend approaching this one without any prior knowledge; the less you know, the more intriguing the experience. This multi-genre tale masterfully blends science fiction, mystery, suspense, and literary fiction into a seamless narrative.

Jane has perfect autobiographical recall and her memory never fails her. Until it does. One day, Jane awakes in a park with no memory of the past 25 hours. Concerned, she looks up a psychiatrist that she had once seen twenty years ago, Dr. Byrd, for help.
As Dr. Byrd attempts to help her piece together the time she has lost, Jane goes missing again. What follows is an interesting study of the mind and reality as we know it.
The writing was crisp and the story intriguing. I could definitely tell that the author did her research.
I liked how there wasn't a set explanation at the end, and it left me wondering what the lives of our protagonists would look like past that final page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Strange Case of Jane O.

I've read a few of the author's previous books so I sort of know what to expect; strong writing and magical realism.

I enjoyed the premise of parallel worlds and multiverses but I wished character development had been stronger.

The narrative is primarily told by Jane's psychiatrist, Dr. Byrd, so most of the narrative is dry, almost clinical, which makes sense.

We gain some insight into Jane via her diary entries to her son but we don't really know her.

Who is Jane? Why did she want to be a single parent?

She's described as sheltered, bright, and a loner, but why should I care about her?

I had hoped the premise would let us see how Jane navigates her time in this parallel world or explain how she's able to travel/enter these multiverses.

Is her unique memory skills a factor?

It's convenient her unique memory proves she's not a liar when the shrink asks her to relay details of her experiences.

There would have been more tension and suspense if the shrink began to doubt her and did some investigating into why Jane was having these strange experiences.

As the narrative progresses, we see a relationship developing between Jane and her shrink, and her experiences sort of take a backseat.

This was disappointing and cliche and though there are many things left unresolved and unanswered they didn't bother me. The unnecessary romance bugged me.

I liked the writing but the pacing is slow, lacking suspense and tension.

I didn't like or identify with Jane due to poor character development.

I'm wondering what's the point of the story.

Is it the hope that the people we love still exist alongside us in another time and we can move on?

Intriguing story! I love the quiet mystery of finding out what’s going on with Jane. This book left me with a lot to think about.

Jane O. has a perfect memory. It's really cool or is it? She also suffers from hallucinations, amnesia and periods of fugue where she disappears without a trace for days before turning up again not remembering a single thing. She turns to Dr. Henry Byrd, a psychiatrist, who develops a keen interest in Jane's case and becomes involved in finding her. Thompson Walker uses two points of view, Dr. Byrd's narrative and journal entries that Jane writes to her son. This technique works really well to propel the story in an interesting way. We also get bits from Jane's past when a tragedy took a friend of hers and also bits of Dr. Byrd's past with his wife. Some of the concepts are speculative in nature but not so much to make it too farfetched. While the pacing is a little slow, it kept my interest and I read it in two short sittings. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Random House, for the chance to read it early. 4.5 stars rounding down to 4

Thanks to much research, Karen Walker explores the possibilities of what the brain is capable of. While there are elements that strain credulity, the reader should be prepared for an engaging read throughout. Told in two voices, those of Jane and her therapist, the story unspools at a leisurely pace that some may experience impatience with. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it.

This story was so slow, too slow. I lost interest in it at about 30% in.

I thought it sounded so interesting and possibly could have been if it wasn't such a chore to read it. If you love a slow burn, then you may love this.

It was just not for me.

Thank you to Negalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed Karen Thompson Walker’s The Age of Miracles so I was thrilled to find out that she had written a new speculative fiction book!

Psychiatrist Dr. Byrd is struggling to diagnose his newest patient, Jane O. She is unlike any other patient that he has treated before, as her symptoms include episodes of amnesia, premonitions, hallucinations, and a strong sense of dread. Jane soon begins to experience blackouts where she goes missing for days at a time and seems to have no memory of what happened. Unfortunately, the police aren’t buying her story and she finds herself the center of an investigation. In order to figure out what is really happening within Jane’s mind, Dr. Byrd must question his knowledge of reality.

Through this mind-bending journey, Thompson Walker explores themes of memory, identity, fate, loneliness, and loss. It is obvious that the book is well-researched and her characters are wonderfully flawed. However, the plot includes sci-fi elements that feel a bit rushed at the end. It would have been helpful if these were explained in a bit more detail.

This book really intrigued me the entire way through, so I highly recommend it to those who enjoy speculative fiction.

4/5 stars

Expected publication date: 2/25/25

Trigger Warning: suicide, talk of pandemic

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing group for the ARC of The Strange Case of Jane O. in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow, I did not see *that* coming until it was right on top of me. This novel was easily a 5-star read… the only difficult thing is how to review it without completely spoiling it! I guess I’ll start by saying that, like many psychological thrillers, it opens with a super-catchy hook: A woman wakes up in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, after being reported missing the day before, when she failed to pick up her baby son from daycare. The woman, Jane, has no idea about how she got there or what transpired during the time she went missing. So, what happened during that time? Will it happen again? Is it somehow connected to the death of a teenage boy Jane bonded with in NYC many years ago, when they attended a summer writing workshop, and who Jane recently saw on 42nd Street, seemingly alive and well? Oh and btw, our Jane has what’s known as hyperthymesia, basically a super-memory that allows her to recall past events in minute detail.

Jane seeks counseling to help her figure out what happened, with a psychiatrist she saw many years ago for a single grief counseling appointment, and our story unfolds from there. The book is told in a multiple POV format by the psychiatrist and in the form of letters Jane writes to her son. What starts off as a straightforward literary thriller evolves beautifully into a genre-mashup with elements of sci-fi and a sprinkling of romance… and that’s really all I can say without giving it away.

I hadn’t read anything by Karen Thompson Walker and I can’t wait to dive into her backlist.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House for my review copy!