A haunting, intriguing sci fi/mystery written in a LitFic style, this book came onto my radar as an Aardvark Book Club Selection. The Strange Case of Jane O is one of my top Sci Fi books of 2025, a book that I loved. It is Sci Fi for people who don’t usually like Sci Fi, very accessible and such a page-turner!
Jane O had a blackout after dropping her infant son, Caleb, off at daycare. She woke up being roused by a Brooklyn park worker, and did not remember the prior 24 hours. This may be because the day before, she ran into her friend Nico on the street. Which is odd, because Nico died 20 years earlier at 17. Nico is around 37 now and a doctor, which was always his career goal. Nico warns Jane to get out of the city. But why? And is this related to her blackout? How can she prevent it from happening again….and should she?
This is a multi-POV book and alternates with Jane and her doctor, Dr. Henry Byrd, a widower. Henry is writing case notes about Jane, so it has a medical feel, not your typical mystery twists with murders or kidnappings and red herrings. We are, along with Dr. Byrd, determining a diagnosis for Jane. In Jane’s viewpoint chapters, she is writing a letter to her son Caleb. Soon it becomes apparent that we may have 2 unreliable narrators.
I think I loved this book because it is just so unique. I would compare it to [book:The Night Guest|127306444] except with a much more satisfying ending. There is great character development and keeps your interest with lots of dialogue and descriptive setting. The ending is not at all what I expected, but I found it to be truly fascinating. Although Jane is a troubled individual, the reader will find themselves rooting for her.
A great book to get you OUT of a reading slump.
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