Before You Knew My Name

A Novel

De: Jacqueline Bublitz

Narrado por: Penelope Rawlins

Winner of Crime Debut and Readers’ Choice Awards—Sisters in Crime
Editors’ Choice/Staff Pick by The New York Times Book Review

“A brave and timely novel.” —Clare Mackintosh, internationally bestselling author of Hostage

This is not just another novel about a dead girl. Two women—one alive, one dead—are brought together in the dark underbelly of New York City to solve a tragic murder.

When she arrived in New York on her eighteenth birthday carrying nothing but $600 cash and a stolen camera, Alice Lee was looking for a fresh start. Now, just one month later, she is the city’s latest Jane Doe. She may be dead but that doesn’t mean her story is over.

Meanwhile, Ruby Jones is also trying to reinvent herself. After travelling halfway around the world, she’s lonelier than ever in the Big Apple. Until she stumbles upon a woman’s body by the Hudson River, and suddenly finds herself unbreakably tied to the unknown dead woman.

Alice is sure Ruby is the key to solving the mystery of her short life and tragic death. Ruby just wants to forget what she saw…but she can’t seem to stop thinking about the young woman she found. If she keeps looking, can she give this unidentified Jane Doe the ending and closure she deserves?

A “heartbreaking, beautiful, and hugely important novel” (Rosie Walsh, New York Times bestselling author), Before You Knew My Name doesn’t just wonder whodunnit—it also asks who was she? And what did she leave behind?

Incredible story

This book will stay with me a long time. One of the best I’ve read recently!

Good book

It took awhile for me to get into but halfway through I got into it. Enjoyed the book.

Beautifully Written

Beautifully written novel. The story was seamless from beginning to end . The voice of the storyteller and narrator complement each other well. The characters are complete and easy to love. Would recommend 100 percent.

This was a great story to follow

I enjoyed this book! I enjoyed the focus of the main characters and their stories and how they flowed together.

Beautifully tragic

Amazingly tragic and equally beautiful. I will re-read it again and again and will be getting the hard cover for my trophy shelf. Beautifully written story that for once focuses on the victim and not the murderer. The focus is on the women. On the injustices of life.

Really good

Could have been great except it felt like it lost steam at the end after the arrest of the killer. Maybe a little better editing

Entertaining book

The book was interesting, but a little odd that a “ghost”is telling the story. I would recommend it.

Really good!

Well thought out. I enjoyed this story I think it was well written and from a perspective from someone who understands what it’s like to suffer from abuse but still have the instinct to trust and look for the good in people

2/3 in Don’t want to finish it

A few things : the narration doesn’t work for me at all . Big casting failure or big direction failure imo . cartoonish from the voice of Alice to the dreadful art teacher and the ridiculous Archie ( even if Archie is ridiculous) .
I’ve also realized that any novel of regarding missing and murdered women or children will need to be considered necessary and brilliant by at least 3 of my favorite writers. The writing is ok, but story is dragging on and I don’t think I can listen to these caricatures much more . There’s still a chance this could improve but not enough to waste 3 more hours .

Gripping, disturbing and amazing!

This is one of the best mystery/suspense novels that I’ve read in a very long time. Although it is vaguely reminiscent of Sebold’s novel, The Lovely Bones, it is in no way derivative. It is a well written, deeply moving story about the intersection of 2 women’s lives in NYC although they never actually meet each other. The characters are well developed and you can’t help but form an emotional bond with them. The mystery itself is compelling, as well as its timely exploration of misogyny and violence against women in our society. I loved this book but be aware that it is heartbreaking.