The Strange Case of Jane O.

A Novel

De: Karen Thompson Walker

Narrado por: Jay Myers, Alex Sarrigeorgiou

In this spellbinding and provocative novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Miracles, a young mother is struck by sudden and puzzling psychological symptoms that illuminate the mysterious dimensions of the human mind—and of love.

A Belletrist Book Club Pick

A year after her child is born, Jane suffers a series of strange episodes: amnesia, premonitions, hallucinations, and an inexplicable sense of dread. Three days after her first visit to a psychiatrist, Jane suddenly goes missing. A day later she is found unconscious in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, in the midst of what seems to be an episode of dissociative fugue; when she comes to, she has no memory of what has happened to her.

Are Jane’s strange experiences the result of being overwhelmed by motherhood, or are they manifestations of a long-buried trauma from her past? Why is she having visions of a young man who died twenty years ago and who warns her of a disaster ahead? Jane’s symptoms lead her psychiatrist ever deeper into the farthest reaches of her mind and cause him to question everything he thinks he knows about so-called reality—including events in his own life.

Karen Thompson Walker’s profound and beautifully written novel is both a speculative mystery about memory, identity, and fate and a mesmerizing literary puzzle about the bonds of love—between mother and child, between a man and a woman, and among those we’ve lost but who may still be among us.

©2025 Karen Thompson Walker (P)2025 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Quiet, cool-toned. . . . Scenes vibrate with the high-key hopes and anxieties of adolescence, the inherent loneliness of being a person in the world.”—The New York Times

“A mesmerizing tale about the mysteries of the brain, the limits of rationality and the magic of love.”—People

“Engrossing . . . Sculpting a novel that conveys vastness through inner lives alone is a tremendous challenge. Making that same novel a page-turning mystery that’s simultaneously moving and often nail-biting is another challenge altogether. With The Strange Case of Jane O., Karen Thompson Walker rises to meet both of these challenges head-on, and succeeds.”—BookPage

Great story, pacing, and characters

I loved this book! The story is a mystery and the truth behind Jane O is just as interesting as the mystery itself. Excellently read by two actors so that the two perspectives were easy to relate to. Highly recommend.

The performances were soul-reaching

What a beautiful story, thoughtfully worded, each phrase carefully crafted. Instead the usual rollercoaster of a mystery, Karen Thompson Walker allows us to float on a river along with the characters. We follow a few boats behind in order to protect their private moments.

Compelling psychological mystery

This story was riveting and nuanced and went in ways that I did not except! I highly recommend this book.

A spellbinding page-turner

This is a spellbinding story about a young woman with a fascinating and elusive mental health diagnosis. The story is told through a journal written by Jane, with the purpose of showing it to her infant son when he is older; and a journal written by Jane's psychiatrist as he puzzles over one enigma after another in her symptoms and behavior. Gradually, he begins to suspect that Jane, who has evidenced a comprehensive photographic memory, might have conveniently (or unwittingly?) omitted certain memories from her revelations during psychotherapy. This story is such a graphic account of a variety of mental health conditions and psychiatric interventions that it is difficult to imagine that the author is not a mental health professional herself. However, a brief review of her biography indicates no mental health training of any kind. A masterful, amazing and gripping book!

Best read of the year so far

Just read it. You won’t be disappointed. Such a good story I want to listen again.

Extraordinary in all ways.

I'm not going to cite a single moment of the plot in this outstanding book, but if psychology interests you, if what might be described as paranormal interests you, then this is a book for you. There were koments near the end that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
The book is is intricately plotted, beautifully written, and gorgeously narrated. It's also spooky to the point that you might have to remember to breathe.
Highly recommended.

Great Concept to Share with the Public

The narrators did a stellar job. Their nuances and cadence captured each of the characters very well.

The storyline is great. It delves into the larger aspect of reality which I feel we all should examine and explore. The author has obviously considered many concepts which are considered outside the normal realm of reality and placed into a great storyline. I would recommend this book.

Strange twilight zone feeling to the book

Didn’t care for all the paranormal talk which I didn’t buy into. I did like the ending.