I really enjoyed this book it was so different and although it started slow it was a read that I just couldn’t put down. It was an intriguing mystery and had my head spinning as I tried to figure out what was real and what wasn’t making it a fabulous puzzle of what was going on in the mind of Jane the main character.
It’s an impossible book to describe to be honest and is told from two perspectives, Jane and Dr Bryd and this works really well. Twisty and mind bogglingly clever I raced through the pages as was desperate to know how it all was going to end and it was a very satisfying end I’m happy to say and very different to what I was expecting!
So an excellent and enjoyable read that I can highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve read and loved The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker and was keen to read this latest book.

Sadly I don’t think this one was for me. I found it really slow and found the psychiatrist a little frustrating.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Karen Thompson Walker book, but after reading it I will definitely be looking for her other books.

I initially thought this would be like Matthew Blake's Anna O, but apart from the addition of an "O" by her name, it was completely different.

A personal note here. At about 5% of the way through, there is a mention of Functional Neurological Disorder, which is the condition I have. It's barely known in the medical field let alone outside of it. And so to see it mentioned in a mainstream novel gave me great pleasure, which I think you'll only understand if you've gone through the same thing.

It is narrated mostly by the psychiatrist that treated her, but on a couple of occasions we get to read Jane's journal, which gives us two different perspectives of what's going on which I think was more interesting than if it had just been straight narrative from a third person's perspective.

Is Karen knowledgeable in the ways of the brain or of psychiatry? Because she's gone into so much detail that it's hard to believe it's all from research, it all sounds so detailed and real, with such understanding.

It didn't have that real fast-paced, breathless, edge-of-your-seat thrill that I was initially expecting, but it doesn't really matter. It's so cleverly written, you still get that thrill but it's softer, more contained. It's the very definition of a psychological thriller.

Because of how gentle it is and how clever it is, I wasn't expecting so many twists and turns which was a nice surprise. There was so much I didn't see coming and yet in hindsight it fits so well. I kept thinking I'd cracked it and then something would happen to turn it on it's head, but there was no way I saw the conclusion coming.

It only really has two characters. Yes there are background characters and side characters, but really we only have Jane, and her psychiatrist Dr Byrd. Which is a risky thing to do because, if for whatever reason you don't like one of them, you haven't really got any other options. It can also feel boring and repetitive if you're only reading the two names but I think it would be a detriment to have more people. It's a busy enough story as it is without having to remember who Tom, Dick or Harry are. It also adds to this sense of secrecy and the unknown

It's really moving. Most thrillers aren't, they're scary and tense. This had so much heart in it that I couldn't help but be taken in by Jane and Dr Byrd.

Psychological thriller, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy—what was it? Probably a mix of everything. It’s hard to discuss the book without giving away the plot or ending. You should definitely go into this blind, avoiding spoilers. The mystery and solving it were the most intriguing aspects of the story.

I really enjoyed the storytelling from two perspectives: Jane, the patient, and her psychologist.

The premise was intriguing, and the beginning was gripping. The author did a great job of muddling your mind, adding layers of confusion as you keep wondering and second-guessing yourself. However, it eventually became frustrating, as every clue or detail seemed to be contradicted or overturned just a few pages later. By the end, I felt tired and increasingly annoyed. The ending was disappointing—unsurprising, superficial, and leaving many questions unanswered. It started off great but ended poorly.

I enjoyed this story. Jane O visits a psychologist because she has been having hallucinations and memory lapses. It’s written from 2 POV: that of the psychologist and that of Jane. There’s also a somewhat unimaginative and pedantic police officer who seems determined that Jane and/or the psychologist are guilty of something.
It had a bit of a Sixth Sense (‘I see dead people’) vibe to begin with, and a definite mystery to Jane’s quixotic and inexplicable behaviour. it kept me guessing for quite while. Well worth a read if you like a puzzle.

I ended up reading The Strange Case of Jane O. by accident. I saw it listed on NetGalley, thought I'd read the author before, requested it and then realised I hadn't. I was actually tempted not to read it, but read the blurb and was intrigued enough to give it a try.

I'm not going to tell you anything about the book itself. Why? Because whatever I say will spoil the mysteries hidden within its pages. Yes, it really is one of those books where the less you know the better your enjoyment will be. Just read the blurb, like I did, and if it sounds interesting to you give it a read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Manilla Press and the author for an advance copy.

The beginning of this book is reminiscent of how Brett Easton Ellis opens up his magnificently creepy tale The Shards. A man, a psychiatrist in this case, begins an account of an episode in his life. It's about a woman who became his patient, under somewhat unnerving circumstances. He goes on to provide a first-person narrative, setting out how their relationship began and worked through, in all its strangeness. It’s a case that baffled him then and baffled me throughout my reading of this book. That is until an ending is provided that might just explain things. It’s without doubt one of the most interesting and compelling books I’ve read in a very long time.

The woman, referred to as Jane O., had been found unconscious early one morning in Prospect Park in Brooklyn by a maintenance worker. She was taken to a nearby hospital where upon waking, she could not recall how she’d come to be in the park or, initially, where she lived. She was dehydrated but otherwise uninjured. Eventually, her confusion began to clear, and she gave her name as Jane and provided the name of the psychiatrist – Dr. Henry Byrd – as her doctor. In fact, Byrd had only had one brief interaction with Jane: an appointment she’d made with him three days previously, in which she’d sat in his office looking at him for a few minutes before abruptly leaving.

After this second meeting, Jane did become a patient of Byrd’s and began regular visits to his office. The psychiatrist attempted to explore the reasons for her episode in the park, but hit a brick wall as Jane could recall nothing beyond an earlier point in time when she was in her house alone, events beyond that remaining a mystery. Exhaustive medical checks had identified no obvious trigger and no signs that she’d ingested drugs or alcohol that might have caused something. Jane had a young son who she should have – was possibly about to – collect from daycare. Luckily, the son had been looked after through the night by one of his carers.

A good deal of the narrative beyond this point explores possible reasons for the event, but again, no obvious cause is identified – though various theories are espoused. Another element that comes into play is the fact that Jane appears to have something called hyperthymestic syndrome, a condition that means she can remember an abnormally large number of her life experiences in vivid detail. Lots of fun is had with this diagnosis. But one of the most compelling aspects is the relationship between the two of them, which develops over time. It’s always maintained at a professional level, but it’s clear that as well as being fascinated by Jane’s case he’s continually being drawn closer to her. This is something he’s determined to control, at all costs.

Jane subsequently has a number of experiences that are traumatic, possibly hallucinatory, but ultimately unexplained. Other people enter the frame: a policeman who seems to have aggressive intent towards Jane and Jane’s parents, who travel to New York from their home thousands of miles away on the other side of the country. Mysteries abound. there are also any number of technical theories and thoughts that Byrd explores. Along the way, while discussing the mysteries of science and the brain, he posits the concept that general anaesthesia continues to mystify and that it’s main effects may only actually be to induce amnesia and paralysis. Wow, imagine that! But still it’s that central relationship between doctor and patient that holds centre stage.

In the end, a conclusion of some sort is reached, both to the relationship between the two and also a rationale for the mysteries behind Jane O’s experiences and behaviour. It’s something that some might not fully accept, but I have to say that it really worked for me. This is a story, brilliantly told, that really made me think a great deal about things I’ve never really considered before. It is a fantastic way to start my reading year.

The story is told through Dr Byrds journals and letters from Jane written to her son for him to read in the future. This way you get to hear the story from two different perspectives.

Jane is a single mother of a baby boy. She is quite isolated and doesn’t have any friends or family around her . She attends the psychiatrist, Dr Byrds office for a session with him but she leaves without fully explaining what her problem is.

She then disappears for a whole day with neither her workplace or her sons nursery being able to contact her. When she eventually reappears she has no recollection of where she has been and what she has been doing when she turns up. Dr Byrd is summoned to the hospital where Jane is as she asked for him. Dr Byrd diagnoses dissociative fugue. The question of the book is really does Jane have a medical condition or is she making it up for attention.

The story is very mysterious with lots of twists. I would describe it as a slower paced mystery which kept me interested all the way through. It is a book that I still think about many weeks after finishing reading it

Going into this book completely blind was the biggest blessing ever. If I knew even a little bit about the story, this would have been a 3 or 4 stars. As things happened, I was absolutely sucked in and blown away. A wild ride and a surreal experience of a book.

"Telling stories, says Dr. Byrd, can have a therapeutic effect. Something about the shaping of experience into a narrative. Something about control..."

This is one of those books best read blind, with little idea of the synopsis or other readers' opinions in your mind (I'll keep it vague). Knowing very little upfront really enhanced my enjoyment of the reading experience. The 'Strange Case of Jane O' feels quite unique as a fiction novel- it reads like a literary puzzle to solve (it was inspired by Oliver Sack's 'The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat'). It's a very smart, thoughtful read; I'd describe it as a mix of psychological thriller and science fiction. This isn't a fast paced thriller, but a slow burn journey through one woman's perception of reality - both from Jane's perspective and her slightly unconventional psychiatrist, Dr Byrd. Definitely one to keep an eye out for in 2025, especially if you enjoy more cerebral thrillers with slow burn narratives and rich prose.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced digital copy, in exchange for a review.
Publication date: 6/3/2025

Karen Thompson Walker’s The Strange Case of Jane O. is a deeply unsettling and profoundly moving exploration of the fragile boundaries between reality, memory, and identity. Drawing on her signature blend of speculative mystery and literary finesse, Walker crafts a haunting narrative that delves into the complexities of the human mind and the enduring bonds of love.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Jane, a young mother grappling with a series of inexplicable psychological episodes, and her psychiatrist, who is determined to untangle the enigma of her condition. Jane’s episodes—marked by amnesia, hallucinations, and a mysterious fugue state—culminate in her disappearance and eventual discovery in Prospect Park, with no recollection of how she got there. Her visions of a young man who died two decades earlier and ominous warnings of impending disaster deepen the mystery surrounding her condition.

At its heart, the novel explores whether Jane’s symptoms stem from the overwhelming demands of single motherhood or a long-suppressed trauma. Through her psychiatrist’s probing—and his own increasingly tenuous grip on reality—the novel examines profound questions about the nature of memory, the interplay between past and present, and how grief and guilt shape our perception of the world.

The narrative structure alternates between Jane’s poignant letters to her infant son and the clinical detachment of her psychiatrist’s case notes, creating a dual perspective that is both intimate and analytical. This juxtaposition allows the reader to experience the raw emotion of Jane’s turmoil while engaging with the philosophical and psychological questions raised by her case. Walker’s prose is elegant yet accessible, making the novel’s complex themes approachable without sacrificing depth.

The speculative elements—Jane’s premonitions and her visions of the past—add a layer of intrigue, blurring the lines between psychological affliction and something more metaphysical. The novel’s pacing, combined with Walker’s skill in building suspense, ensures that readers are both emotionally invested in Jane’s fate and intellectually engaged with the story’s broader implications.

The Strange Case of Jane O. is a masterful blend of psychological drama and speculative fiction, offering a poignant meditation on motherhood, identity, and the enduring echoes of trauma. It is both an engrossing mystery and a profound exploration of the human condition, leaving readers questioning the nature of reality and the ties that bind us to those we love. Highly recommended for fans of thought-provoking and emotionally resonant fiction.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

From the moment I started reading, I couldn’t stop turning the pages, caught up in a whirlwind of tension and mystery. The story kept throwing surprises at me, making it impossible to predict what would happen next. By the time I reached the end, I was stunned—this thriller left me thinking long after I’d finished, it’s a seriously good book!!

Warning: this book will seriously damage your time/space perceptions. Utterly absorbing, this reads like a case history of a woman having fugue episodes but becomes increasingly disturbing and unsettling. It’s almost what isn’t written about that is the most important. It’s quiet and controlled and unsensational but it left me reeling and wondering what the future holds. I loved it.

Disclaimer: e-Arc provided by Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press via Net Galley for Review. All thoughts are my own. My thanks to Bonnier Books UK, for providing me with the arc for review.

UK/IRE Release Date: 06 March 2025
US Release Date: 25 February 2025

Plot
This book is told in split perspective between letters from Jane to her son, and the notes of her psychiatrist about her. Jane shows up in his office reporting that she had a conversation with someone long dead, then a few days later she shows up in the park with no memories of the previous days.

Thoughts
This book is so interesting, it deals with a warped reality.

Jane has an incredible memory and remembers moments from years prior, but her psychological issues makes her an unreliable narrator at times.

Meanwhile the Doctor grows too invested in her case, doing research and taking calls from her whilst alone with his daughter.

KTW’s writing style continues to shine through as it did in both The Dreamers (which I adore) and The Age of Miracles. You get drawn into her characters and writing and almost forget what’s happening in the book.

Overall, I would highly recommend this unique book!

A young mother visits a psychiatrist suffering from hallucinations and apparent dissociative fugues. I was immediately drawn in by this one, a literary thriller/mystery of sorts, with a little added science fiction. A very enjoyable slow burn, though also a fast read as I didn't want to put it down, an intriguing and unusual 4 stars. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I read Thompson Walker's strange, hypnotic pandemic novel, The Dreamers, in the early days of the Covid-19 lockdown, which made everything in the book feel weirdly prescient. The Strange Case of Jane O. also speaks to pandemics and to strange happenings and, like The Dreamers, leaves much for the reader to ponder. Those who enjoy a narrative which is neatly tied up in a bow will no doubt find it frustrating, but I enjoyed the questions raised but not entirely answered and the unreliability of the narrators. It's a quick read but a compelling and gripping one.

I loved the themes and tone of this book. The narrative voice felt remote and businesslike and reminded me of Kazuo Ishiguro, which worked perfectly given the story and themes.

The storyline was propulsive, and I was intrigued as to where this was going. I liked the gradual reveal of the two narrator's secrets. I also loved the way the author managed to seamlessly slot in lots of factual information about psychiatric and quantum physics which was well presented and interesting. The setting was evocative and I was utterly absorbed in this.

Ultimately, the ending left me slightly unsatisfied. It felt a little abrupt and odd but has left me thinking about the book.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic book.

This is a brilliant story. Original and beautifully written. I absolutely adored Jane and did d not work out the ending. It’s clever. It’s exquisite. It’s going to be a massive seller.

An interesting book with a slightly flawed ending.
After experiencing a blackout, Jane O turns to Dr Byrd for help and the book explores the patient/Psychiatrist relationship as her condition worsens.
I loved the writing style, Dr Byrds voice in particular reminded me of Douglas Kennedys dry, matter of fact tone. You also wanted to keep reading to find out just who Jane O was. Dr Byrd focus at all times was Jane but with very few words the author captured his character beautifully.
It's hard to write about what I didn't like without spoilers, but one of the main events of the final chapters really put me off. I also thought the diagnosis for Jane's psychosis was wound up too quickly given how slow paced the rest of book was and would have liked another chapter or two to explore this fully.
If your looking for something to intrigue your brain definitely worth a read a strong 6/10