The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker review

About The Book

Book: The Strange Case of Jane O.
Author: Karen Thompson Walker
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Publisher: Manilla Press
Publication Date (UK): 6th March 2025

My Review

It’s my turn today on the Compulsive Readers tour!

I was really drawn to the premise of this book and eager to take part. The story is told from two perspectives – Jane, who begins experiencing amnesia and hallucinations, and the psychiatrist she turns to after being found in a park with no memory of how she got there.

I found the mystery element engaging and intriguing, and I enjoyed how the story unfolded through the alternating perspectives of Jane and Dr. Byrd. However, the book ended up being quite different from what I had expected. This is down to me rather than the book itself, as it is listed as literary and science fiction. Though I also saw it tagged as a psychological thriller, which led me to anticipate a different kind of story. I was waiting for that element to emerge with each page turn. While it does have psychological and police procedural aspects, at its heart, it’s a story about memory, fate and love.

Still it was nice to read something out of my usual comfort zone! There were some elements that I found really intriguing but I wasn’t a big fan of how it wrapped up.

If you enjoy reflective, genre-blurring narratives, this could be one for you! Likewise, if you enjoy love stories but weren’t sure about this one based on the description, I’d recommend giving it a try.

Thank you to Compulsive Readers and Manilla Press for the free copy in order to take part in the tour.