3.5

This book is really thought provoking and I really enjoyed it. Jane O is a patient of psychiatric doctor Byrd who is fascinated by her. She has a perfect memory and appears to know details about people and places she couldn’t possibly know whilst experiencing periods of total memory loss. Or is she moving between parallel worlds, speaking to people who, in ‘this’ world have died, recalling every book title on a shelf in a room she has never seen (in ‘this’ world). Lots to think about and I’m very grateful to NetGalley for an advance copy of the book.

Thank you to Manila Press and NetGalley for my advance digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this novel, it’s so fascinating how our human psyche can impact our lives, especially in extreme cases such as Jane O. This is a slow burn story, the pace never picks up, so a nice change to the high tension psychological thrillers that I favour. It’s difficult to comment on the storyline without giving too much away, but it’s so well written that it had me googling a couple of events to see if they were real! So, the suspense lies not in fast fuelled drama but in the ongoing mystery of what is happening to Jane, why doesn’t she fit into a clear mental illness diagnosis, is this all possible in real life? I’m certainly going to look into the various conditions that are mentioned here, just because it’s all piqued my interest.
I read the book in less than 24 hours, by about halfway through I began to realise there probably wasn’t going to be a neat, stitched up ending, something I usually look for in a novel. I’d like there to be a sequel, I’d like to know more. A recommended read from me.

Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars. Blindingly excellent ... This book should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away.
I have been through an emotional wringer… a tearjerker! I was completely absorbed from the first page…

Ooh so clever
This is a clever quirky unusual book which tells the story of a young woman who comes into the care of a psychiatrist after she has found unconscious in the park with no memory of what has happened to her . initially it felt that she’s had a psychiatric episode or breakdown but these periods of time where she she goes missing and then returns with no memory about what has been happening to her continue.
Whilst I’m reading the novel, I keep thinking that must be some parallel universe explanation 3/4 of the way through the book so it seems unlikely but then the last book section is written in 2018 mention a pandemic that didn’t happen the virus involved being Nipah virus they seem so weird and so specifically similar to coronavirus that my mind started wondering again about parallel universe theories initially I found this quite distracting . Ultimately, the novelist manages to tie things up nicely which I won’t explain here to prevent any spoilers I found the end quite satisfying.
The author has a beautiful flowing prose style which was easy to read. I was very engrossed in the novel throughout my reading and read it in one sitting.
The characters of the young woman and the psychiatrist are well defined and feel like real people. Their characters developed throughout the novel as does their relationship.
The book has an American setting but transfers well for a British reader .
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 6th of March 2025 by Bonnier books UK.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK.

You know when one of those books comes along that you know you will think about on and off for a long long time to come...well that is The Strange Case Of Jane O, a speculative wonder that is incredibly moving as well as intriguing and thought provoking.

Jane is an enigma, a mystery and her story is indeed a strange one, the more you read the more you wonder and it is addictive, entertaining and genuinely beautiful.

I loved this. I won't forget it. Highly Recommended.

At times, I found myself forgetting that I'm reading a piece of fiction as the beginning chapters narrated from the point of view of the psychiatrist, dr. Byrd, sounded so authentic and probable.

I wouldn't call "The Strange Case of Jane O." a thriller per se. It felt more like a psychological mystery novel with an interesting exploration of mental health struggles of Jane who is experiencing bouts of psychosis, and is being treated by a psychiatrist who himself is a wounded healer, a widower and a researcher thrown into infamy because of his controversial research.

Overall it was a suspense-filled read with 2 interesting narrative perspectives, one of which takes a form of Jane's letters to her son, that encourages the reader to pose a question whose perception of reality is "real".

I have read the Age of Miracles by this author and really enjoyed it , this one is no exception, it kept me engaged all the way through. It’s an unusual story about Jane who is seeing a psychiatrist DrByrd about her amnesia and premonitions that happen to her . It’s told through Dr Byrds diaries and letters to her son Callum. It’s about memory and how we can disassociate with reality. Jane sees people who she has had connections with in the past , who have died , she goes missing for days with no recollections at all. I found it very engaging and interesting , especially the virus element of it. I had no idea where it was going but never lost interest. Dr. Byrd is an interesting character , recently bereaved and looking after his daughter. I’m not sure how I would describe this novel , maybe part mystery , part psychological drama ,it is however a good read.

The Strange Case of Jane O. is a quietly captivating speculative novel that explores the deep recesses of the mind. It’s an eerie and thought-provoking story that will sweep you the instant you begin.

Jane is a young mother who begins experiencing bizarre episodes: amnesia, hallucinations, and a constant sense of foreboding. Following a distressing incident she meets with Dr. Byrd, a psychiatrist who has fallen out of favour with his peers. As they continue their sessions it becomes clear that Jane’s problems could be a result of more than childhood trauma or the pressures of motherhood.

You will be questioning everything at each turn as we slowly unravel the mystery of Jane’s mind.

Walker captures the intense emotional isolation Jane experiences, and Dr. Byrd’s deep connection to her while he strives to untangle her psyche.

Equal parts mystery and introspection, The Strange Case of Jane O will have you enthralled and the ending will blow you away.

Walker has written a novel that feels both like a suspenseful thriller and a literary puzzle. I loved every minute of it.

Thanks to Bonnier Books, Manilla Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Such an engrossing read that really makes you think. Jane's sense of reality is so clear at times, that you are transported into her world. Her psychiatrist's attempt to help her brings up many thoughts of parallel universes.

Gorgeous strong prose and a fascinating protagonist that holds you captive until the final reveal.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and was blown away by how the mystery of Jane unravelled. So thought provoking and poignant that on occassion it took my breath away.

I would to love read more of their story..

A strange case indeed.
I spent so much time trying to work out where this was going, and wondering at the mystery of Dr Byrd too.
All the books I've read by Walker have been solidly good reads, and this is no exception.
It has a slightly eerie feeling at times, but it's is never less than intriguing.
Very enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very interesting read. It is a well-written, suspense-filled psychological thriller that incorporates a bit of everything from suspense to science fiction. It is a recommended read.

Jane visits a therapist to help with her loss of memory. then she goes missing and is found unconcious,,

Jane is a complex character and the author has done a good job of making this a deep darkosh novel taht made me think.... I am sure I found myself asking qustions about jane and the issues she faces.

I loved this book. It is well written and quite a 'grown up' book. It is not one to read in one sitting.. it has to savoured and thought about..

I loved it

I enjoyed this book so much!! The premise was so intriguing and I found myself trying to find odd minutes here and there to read more of it. The characters are interesting and likeable, and I never knew what was coming next. I’ve never read a book like it before and I loved it.

Karen Thompson Walker writes very special prose that I can only describe as “dreamy”. “The Strange Case of Jane O.” is another one of her books and did not disappoint. A New York City psychiatrist treats a patient with troubling blackouts and hallucinations – this should already ignite your interest! But to avoid any spoilers (and it is pretty easy to spoil this book! Beware!) I can just say that this is a great psychological thriller that broaches on the verge of sci-fi. The best part – we are never really sure, there are one two many of unreliable narrators (there are two) and both of their stories will get you hooked from the beginning! I did not know what (and who!) to believe and had several theories before they all came crashing down at the book came to its conclusion (but was there really a conclusion?!). I can see this could be made into series but sometimes one season is enough – this strange case left me longing for another world.

This book can be read in one evening and then re-read again.

I absolutely loved “The Dreamers” and “The Age of Miracles” and happily recommend these books if you enjoyed “The Strange Case of Jane O.”