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After Oz
Gripping and emotionally riveting, this whimsical tale is an empowering and timely retelling of The Wizard of Oz where one little girl is forced to face head-on the prejudices of the Midwest in the late 19th century.
Kansas, 1896. After a tornado destroys the Gale family farm, 11-year-old Dorothy goes missing. As the days pass by, the Gales are increasingly terrified the worst has happened. But when the girl turns up unharmed four days later, the townsfolk breathe in a sigh of relief. That is, until Dorothy herself relates her account of the events that took place after her disappearance.
In vivid detail, Dorothy describes a fantastical land and its magical inhabitants, from the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion to the wizard and the witch. Her recollections are not only regarded as delusional, but also as pagan and diabolical in nature, especially when the body of a local spinster is found.
Making connections between the evil witch Dorothy claims to have defeated and the ill-tempered old crone, authorities find what they believe to be incriminating evidence, sentencing Dorothy to the Topeka Insane Asylum.
When 28-year-old psychologist Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford arrives at the asylum to interview Dorothy, she begins to wonder if Dorothy truly committed the crime or if something unfathomable has really occurred.
In a small town full of insidious secrets, will Evelyn be able to save Dorothy from her terrible circumstances? Or is something menacing lurking just out of sight?
Kansas, 1896. After a tornado destroys the Gale family farm, 11-year-old Dorothy goes missing. As the days pass by, the Gales are increasingly terrified the worst has happened. But when the girl turns up unharmed four days later, the townsfolk breathe in a sigh of relief. That is, until Dorothy herself relates her account of the events that took place after her disappearance.
In vivid detail, Dorothy describes a fantastical land and its magical inhabitants, from the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion to the wizard and the witch. Her recollections are not only regarded as delusional, but also as pagan and diabolical in nature, especially when the body of a local spinster is found.
Making connections between the evil witch Dorothy claims to have defeated and the ill-tempered old crone, authorities find what they believe to be incriminating evidence, sentencing Dorothy to the Topeka Insane Asylum.
When 28-year-old psychologist Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford arrives at the asylum to interview Dorothy, she begins to wonder if Dorothy truly committed the crime or if something unfathomable has really occurred.
In a small town full of insidious secrets, will Evelyn be able to save Dorothy from her terrible circumstances? Or is something menacing lurking just out of sight?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
273 people are currently reading
8007 people want to read
About the author
Gordon McAlpine
32 books95 followersGordon McAlpine (who sometimes writes as “Owen Fitzstephen”) is the author of Mystery Box (2003), Hammett Unwritten (2013), Woman With a Blue Pencil (2015), Holmes Untangled (2018), and After Oz (2024) –- all shape-shifting novels that play fast and loose with the mystery genre, as well as a middle-grade trilogy, The Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe. He’s also the co-author of the non-fiction book The Way of Baseball: Finding Stillness at 95 MPH. He has taught creative writing and literature at U.C. Irvine, U.C.L.A., and Chapman University. He lives with his wife Julie in Southern California. “Owen Fitzstephen,” by the way, is the name of a character, a dissolute, alcoholic writer, in Hammett’s The Dain Curse.
Gordon McAlpine has been described by Publisher’s Weekly as “a gifted stylist, with clean, clear and muscular prose.” A native Californian, he attended the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at the University of California, Irvine.
Once Upon a Midnight Eerie is Mr. McAlpine’s latest book and is the the second volume in his middle-grade trilogy, “The Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe”. Publisher’s Weekly describes the book as a “gumbo of jokes, codes, treasure, history, mystery and assorted literary references.” It was published by Viking in April, 2014.
The Tell-Tale Start, published in 2013, is the first book in “The Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe”. Publisher’s Weekly writes in a starred review of the award winning audio version of The Tell-Tale Start: “Entertaining and original….Endlessly fun and ultimately very satisfying on every level.”
In February 2013, Seventh Street Books published Hammett Unwritten, a literary mystery novel that revolves around the life of the great detective novelist Dashiell Hammett. Reviews of the novel have been stellar and the novel has appeared on top ten lists for the year.
The Los Angeles Times called Mr. McAlpine’s first novel, Joy in Mudville, an “imaginative mix of history, humor and fantasy…fanciful and surprising”, and The West Coast Review of Books called it “a minor miracle.” Joy in Mudville was re-released in a new e-book edition in late summer 2012.
The Way of Baseball, Finding Stillness at 95 MPH, is a non fiction book and was published by Simon & Schuster in June 2011 to outstanding reviews. Written in collaboration with Major League All-Star Shawn Green, the book illuminates the spiritual practices that enabled Green to “bring stillness into the flow of life.”
The Persistence of Memory, his second novel, was published by the distinguished British publisher Peter Owen Ltd., and his young adult novel, Mystery Box, was published by Cricket Books to critical praise.
Mr. McAlpine has published short stories and book reviews in journals and anthologies both in the U.S.A and abroad. His short story “The Happiest Place” appears in the Akashic Press anthology, Orange County Noir. He has chaired and taught creative writing in the Master of Fine Arts Program at Chapman University in Orange, California, as well as fiction writing classes at U.C.L.A and U.C. Irvine. In his twenties, he developed video games and wrote scripts for film and television.
He is a member of the Author’s Guild and PEN, and he is president of the board of directors of the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. He lives with his wife Julie in Southern California.
Gordon McAlpine has been described by Publisher’s Weekly as “a gifted stylist, with clean, clear and muscular prose.” A native Californian, he attended the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at the University of California, Irvine.
Once Upon a Midnight Eerie is Mr. McAlpine’s latest book and is the the second volume in his middle-grade trilogy, “The Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe”. Publisher’s Weekly describes the book as a “gumbo of jokes, codes, treasure, history, mystery and assorted literary references.” It was published by Viking in April, 2014.
The Tell-Tale Start, published in 2013, is the first book in “The Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe”. Publisher’s Weekly writes in a starred review of the award winning audio version of The Tell-Tale Start: “Entertaining and original….Endlessly fun and ultimately very satisfying on every level.”
In February 2013, Seventh Street Books published Hammett Unwritten, a literary mystery novel that revolves around the life of the great detective novelist Dashiell Hammett. Reviews of the novel have been stellar and the novel has appeared on top ten lists for the year.
The Los Angeles Times called Mr. McAlpine’s first novel, Joy in Mudville, an “imaginative mix of history, humor and fantasy…fanciful and surprising”, and The West Coast Review of Books called it “a minor miracle.” Joy in Mudville was re-released in a new e-book edition in late summer 2012.
The Way of Baseball, Finding Stillness at 95 MPH, is a non fiction book and was published by Simon & Schuster in June 2011 to outstanding reviews. Written in collaboration with Major League All-Star Shawn Green, the book illuminates the spiritual practices that enabled Green to “bring stillness into the flow of life.”
The Persistence of Memory, his second novel, was published by the distinguished British publisher Peter Owen Ltd., and his young adult novel, Mystery Box, was published by Cricket Books to critical praise.
Mr. McAlpine has published short stories and book reviews in journals and anthologies both in the U.S.A and abroad. His short story “The Happiest Place” appears in the Akashic Press anthology, Orange County Noir. He has chaired and taught creative writing in the Master of Fine Arts Program at Chapman University in Orange, California, as well as fiction writing classes at U.C.L.A and U.C. Irvine. In his twenties, he developed video games and wrote scripts for film and television.
He is a member of the Author’s Guild and PEN, and he is president of the board of directors of the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. He lives with his wife Julie in Southern California.
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July 25, 2024
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The Book Review Crew Blog
What really surprised me about this book was the fact that there was very little of Dorothy in the story. The story is told from two points of view, one being an unknown neighbour/townsperson and the female psychologist who travels to Kansas to get to the bottom of Dorothy's tale. Dr Wilfred’s sections are done in letters she is writing to her mentor to describe the situation and the discussions she has with the townsfolk. I very much enjoyed that as I love epistolary novels. And although the writing style is fairly dry it didn't disappoint me.
I love that the book reads more like a murder mystery because after Dorothy describes melting the witch a woman is found dead, killed and melted by using lye and Dorothy is blamed. I was really sucked into the mystery and doctor Wilford's investigation because I wanted to know the truth. There were a few surprises along the way and the tornado isn't the biggest twister between these pages. I was honestly surprised by the ending and the reveal in the best way possible.
The townsperson's point of view is done in a narrative style and I really enjoyed that, it felt personal that way and that’s where the dry writing is. Mental health, prejudice and religion are all themes and at the forefront. Like Baulm’s Oz, the story is dark but an utterly unique take on a story that's been redone to death.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
What really surprised me about this book was the fact that there was very little of Dorothy in the story. The story is told from two points of view, one being an unknown neighbour/townsperson and the female psychologist who travels to Kansas to get to the bottom of Dorothy's tale. Dr Wilfred’s sections are done in letters she is writing to her mentor to describe the situation and the discussions she has with the townsfolk. I very much enjoyed that as I love epistolary novels. And although the writing style is fairly dry it didn't disappoint me.
I love that the book reads more like a murder mystery because after Dorothy describes melting the witch a woman is found dead, killed and melted by using lye and Dorothy is blamed. I was really sucked into the mystery and doctor Wilford's investigation because I wanted to know the truth. There were a few surprises along the way and the tornado isn't the biggest twister between these pages. I was honestly surprised by the ending and the reveal in the best way possible.
The townsperson's point of view is done in a narrative style and I really enjoyed that, it felt personal that way and that’s where the dry writing is. Mental health, prejudice and religion are all themes and at the forefront. Like Baulm’s Oz, the story is dark but an utterly unique take on a story that's been redone to death.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
April 4, 2024
A dark and unsettling tale of what happens to Dorothy after she returns from the Land of Oz. It focuses heavily on the themes of religious bigotry and small-town prejudice, and will almost certainly make you want to punch a certain narrator in the nose by the end.
After Oz is told from two different points of view, that of the doctor who is attempting to prove Dorothy's innocence and of an unnamed resident of her small Kansas town who is convinced of her guilt (and who appears to speak for the town as a whole). The townsperson is full of hatred and vitriol (complete with bible verses to justify both), while Dr. Wilford is a much more sympathetic character. Dorothy is surprisingly not all that prominent in the story – she's talked about, sure, but she doesn't narrate any of the chapters and is locked away in the Topeka Insane Asylum for most of the book.
And I guess that's part of my biggest complaint about this novel, really. Dorthy isn't the main character in her own story, Toto is almost nonexistent, and the Land of Oz is mentioned only superficially. Even the more prominent non-Oz-related characters don't really have much of a history or a personality (other than “religious” in the case of the townsfolk). Certain events in Dr. Wilford's past are hinted at, but you never really get any of the details. If you're going to take most of The Wizard of Oz out of a story that's a spinoff of The Wizard of Oz, you really should at least have some interesting characters to make up for it.
I also felt that the ending was a little farfetched. The climatic bits are fine, but Dr. Wilford doing … what she does at the very end comes out of nowhere and is maybe just a bit of an overkill? Surely there would have been a better resolution for the matter at hand?
But, with that said, this isn't a terrible read. It's infuriating (the townspeople are really awful) and the characters are kind of cardboard-y, but the premise is great. What if Dorothy hadn't said “There's no place like home” but “There's no place that's home” because her Kansas town kind of sucks? And what if the overly pious residents of that town decide that Dorothy's talk of accidentally killing a wicked witch is really referring to something much more sinister? It's definitely an unusual twist on a classic tale and I was invested in finding out the truth of Alvina's murder from the very beginning. And I did not see that twist coming at all!
My overall rating: 3.49 stars, rounded down. After Oz has its issues, but there are certainly worse ways to spend a few hours.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. (And RIP, Gordon McAlpine!)
After Oz is told from two different points of view, that of the doctor who is attempting to prove Dorothy's innocence and of an unnamed resident of her small Kansas town who is convinced of her guilt (and who appears to speak for the town as a whole). The townsperson is full of hatred and vitriol (complete with bible verses to justify both), while Dr. Wilford is a much more sympathetic character. Dorothy is surprisingly not all that prominent in the story – she's talked about, sure, but she doesn't narrate any of the chapters and is locked away in the Topeka Insane Asylum for most of the book.
And I guess that's part of my biggest complaint about this novel, really. Dorthy isn't the main character in her own story, Toto is almost nonexistent, and the Land of Oz is mentioned only superficially. Even the more prominent non-Oz-related characters don't really have much of a history or a personality (other than “religious” in the case of the townsfolk). Certain events in Dr. Wilford's past are hinted at, but you never really get any of the details. If you're going to take most of The Wizard of Oz out of a story that's a spinoff of The Wizard of Oz, you really should at least have some interesting characters to make up for it.
I also felt that the ending was a little farfetched. The climatic bits are fine, but Dr. Wilford doing … what she does at the very end comes out of nowhere and is maybe just a bit of an overkill? Surely there would have been a better resolution for the matter at hand?
But, with that said, this isn't a terrible read. It's infuriating (the townspeople are really awful) and the characters are kind of cardboard-y, but the premise is great. What if Dorothy hadn't said “There's no place like home” but “There's no place that's home” because her Kansas town kind of sucks? And what if the overly pious residents of that town decide that Dorothy's talk of accidentally killing a wicked witch is really referring to something much more sinister? It's definitely an unusual twist on a classic tale and I was invested in finding out the truth of Alvina's murder from the very beginning. And I did not see that twist coming at all!
My overall rating: 3.49 stars, rounded down. After Oz has its issues, but there are certainly worse ways to spend a few hours.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. (And RIP, Gordon McAlpine!)
August 6, 2024
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“There’s no place like home.”
Or is there? Dorothy might want to click her heals three more times and quickly return to Oz! Three days after the tornado hits she is found, accused of murder, and sent to an insane asylum!
After Oz is a clever retelling of The Wizard of Oz, focusing on what might have happened when Dorothy returned home to 19th century Kansas. After explaining that during her adventure in Oz she killed a witch, Dorothy is considered delusional, diabolical, and a pagan. Then a local spinster is found dead in Kansas. Could Dorothy actually be responsible for her death?
At the insane asylum, Dorothy is treated by Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, a psychologist who has taken an interest in her case. She believes Dorothy is telling the truth, however fantastical it may be, and sets off to solve the mystery of who really killed the spinster.
Who isn’t a fan of The Wizard of Oz?! I still love to watch the original movie with Judy Garland. However, I never wondered what would happen once Dorothy returned. Maybe I should have because McAlpine’s reimagining is clever and intriguing.
Strangely, Dorothy is not the main character and barely appears in this plot. It’s really a story about the psychologist solving the murder mystery. It is very narrative in structure, and includes many long letters. If monologues are not for you, then this might be bothersome. There is also a very short list of suspects so the actual mystery is not difficult to figure out.
This book is McAlpine’s last before he died in 2021. Since the publisher included an afterwards explaining that he was in a rush to finish it, I will forgive some of the issues that I had with it.
Maria Ru-Djen’s narration of the audiobook is terrific and I highly recommend this format.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 8/6/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of After Oz in exchange for an honest review.
“There’s no place like home.”
Or is there? Dorothy might want to click her heals three more times and quickly return to Oz! Three days after the tornado hits she is found, accused of murder, and sent to an insane asylum!
After Oz is a clever retelling of The Wizard of Oz, focusing on what might have happened when Dorothy returned home to 19th century Kansas. After explaining that during her adventure in Oz she killed a witch, Dorothy is considered delusional, diabolical, and a pagan. Then a local spinster is found dead in Kansas. Could Dorothy actually be responsible for her death?
At the insane asylum, Dorothy is treated by Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, a psychologist who has taken an interest in her case. She believes Dorothy is telling the truth, however fantastical it may be, and sets off to solve the mystery of who really killed the spinster.
Who isn’t a fan of The Wizard of Oz?! I still love to watch the original movie with Judy Garland. However, I never wondered what would happen once Dorothy returned. Maybe I should have because McAlpine’s reimagining is clever and intriguing.
Strangely, Dorothy is not the main character and barely appears in this plot. It’s really a story about the psychologist solving the murder mystery. It is very narrative in structure, and includes many long letters. If monologues are not for you, then this might be bothersome. There is also a very short list of suspects so the actual mystery is not difficult to figure out.
This book is McAlpine’s last before he died in 2021. Since the publisher included an afterwards explaining that he was in a rush to finish it, I will forgive some of the issues that I had with it.
Maria Ru-Djen’s narration of the audiobook is terrific and I highly recommend this format.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 8/6/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of After Oz in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2024
2.5 Stars
While the story started off promising, it took an unexpected direction and felt a bit repetitive at times. I had hoped for something different. Overall not for me, but I'm just an outlier.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Gordon McAlpine, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
While the story started off promising, it took an unexpected direction and felt a bit repetitive at times. I had hoped for something different. Overall not for me, but I'm just an outlier.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Gordon McAlpine, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
August 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐.
I've often asked myself what happens after the end of a movie? What happened after the end of Pretty Woman or Shawshank Redemption or other notable movies? It's probably why so many movies end up with sequels.
If we were to believe the ending of the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy wakes up in her bed, she recounts to her friends and family an unbelievable story, and they all smile and laugh and tell her she has had a bump on her head and she has been dreaming. But in this book, After Oz, that is not how it ends in Kansas at all!
For four days after a twister hit Henry and Emily Gale's house and farm in Sunbonnet, Kansas in 1896, their 11-year-old niece, Dorothy, cannot be found. When she finally appears in a neighbor's pumpkin patch she tells a fantasy-like tale of having visited a place called Oz. She recalls her visit to a land that had yellow brick roads, an emerald city, flying monkeys, good and bad witches, a wizard, a talking scarecrow, lion, and tin man. But it's when she insists to everyone that she killed a witch by melting her that she is diagnosed to be having hallucinations.
However, when the sheriff and others find the body of the town's mean-spirited reclusive spinster in her house with her face burned off from lye, then everyone begins pointing their fingers at Dorothy Gale for murder. To the God-fearing community of Sunbonnet, Dorothy's story reeks of "blasphemy, paganism, and sacrilege". Poor Dorothy is said to not be having a delusion, but that she has invented her wild story to cover her crime! After a mock trial, the well-meaning reverend, sheriff, town doctor, and mayor decide that it would be in the best interest of the town and Dorothy to have her committed to the Topeka Insane Asylum.
Part of the narrative is told from the point of view of the collective "we" of the town of Sunbonnet and part is told from the viewpoint of Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, a psychologist from Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital in New York, who arrives in Sunbonnet to do research, and instead becomes embroiled in a murder case. Dr. Wilford shares with us her conversations with Dorothy Gale and her own correspondence letters to her psychiatric mentor, Dr. James.
When Dorothy is institutionalized, Dr. Wilford believes there has been a miscarriage of justice and she begins the search to solve the mystery of who killed Miss Avila Clough in Sunbonnet. What she uncovers is a multitude of secrets, lies, hatred, and bigotry. The mystery and how Dr. Wilford solves it is the real focus of this book and Dorothy takes on only a small role. I would have liked to hear more from Dorothy's character.
Even though this story was entertaining and had a very interesting premise, including a cameo appearance by Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz, I think I'll stick with the movie ending instead. I liked this story; I just didn't love it.
I've often asked myself what happens after the end of a movie? What happened after the end of Pretty Woman or Shawshank Redemption or other notable movies? It's probably why so many movies end up with sequels.
If we were to believe the ending of the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy wakes up in her bed, she recounts to her friends and family an unbelievable story, and they all smile and laugh and tell her she has had a bump on her head and she has been dreaming. But in this book, After Oz, that is not how it ends in Kansas at all!
For four days after a twister hit Henry and Emily Gale's house and farm in Sunbonnet, Kansas in 1896, their 11-year-old niece, Dorothy, cannot be found. When she finally appears in a neighbor's pumpkin patch she tells a fantasy-like tale of having visited a place called Oz. She recalls her visit to a land that had yellow brick roads, an emerald city, flying monkeys, good and bad witches, a wizard, a talking scarecrow, lion, and tin man. But it's when she insists to everyone that she killed a witch by melting her that she is diagnosed to be having hallucinations.
However, when the sheriff and others find the body of the town's mean-spirited reclusive spinster in her house with her face burned off from lye, then everyone begins pointing their fingers at Dorothy Gale for murder. To the God-fearing community of Sunbonnet, Dorothy's story reeks of "blasphemy, paganism, and sacrilege". Poor Dorothy is said to not be having a delusion, but that she has invented her wild story to cover her crime! After a mock trial, the well-meaning reverend, sheriff, town doctor, and mayor decide that it would be in the best interest of the town and Dorothy to have her committed to the Topeka Insane Asylum.
Part of the narrative is told from the point of view of the collective "we" of the town of Sunbonnet and part is told from the viewpoint of Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, a psychologist from Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital in New York, who arrives in Sunbonnet to do research, and instead becomes embroiled in a murder case. Dr. Wilford shares with us her conversations with Dorothy Gale and her own correspondence letters to her psychiatric mentor, Dr. James.
When Dorothy is institutionalized, Dr. Wilford believes there has been a miscarriage of justice and she begins the search to solve the mystery of who killed Miss Avila Clough in Sunbonnet. What she uncovers is a multitude of secrets, lies, hatred, and bigotry. The mystery and how Dr. Wilford solves it is the real focus of this book and Dorothy takes on only a small role. I would have liked to hear more from Dorothy's character.
Even though this story was entertaining and had a very interesting premise, including a cameo appearance by Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz, I think I'll stick with the movie ending instead. I liked this story; I just didn't love it.
September 11, 2024
After Oz takes the familiar tale of Dorothy Gale and gives it a little twist. After a tornado hits Aunt Emily and Uncle Henry’s town their niece winds up missing. Four days later she’s discovered in a field talking about this strange new world she visited while gone and even more frightening, confessing to accidentally killing a witch. When the local curmudgeon is discovered dead apparently by way of a lye dousing, Dorothy’s wild tales of her adventures – particularly the “melting” of the witch are taken seriously and she is locked in the Topeka Insane Asylum. Then enters Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, a psychologist hoping to get an explanation behind Dorothy’s rantings.
I’ll take partial blame for my not loving this one because I am an avid fan of dark retellings of super familiar childhood stories and that’s what I was expecting here (see Christina Henry if you are looking for that sort of genre). I didn’t realize this was going to end up being a whodunnit with Dorothy barely even being a blip in the pages. As far as mysteries go, what’s that old saying? If you hear hoof beats don’t look for a zebra???? Something like that. The murderer was pretty easy to peg even without the backstory providing the why. The pacing was also way off on this one too which made a real slim novel sort of a slog to get through at times. And don’t even get me started on all of the bible verses, the addition of the Greek chorus sort of narration and the last-minute info dump about Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford’s personal history. So not necessary.
This was a case of a great idea that just didn’t pan out for me.
2.5 Stars
November 30, 2025
I loved the original Wizard of Oz series growing up. I still have about ten of the original hardbacks that were my father's a century ago. I also loved Wicked and it's follow up by Gregory Maguire, and somewhat the Dorothy Must Die series, but could not finish Before Dorothy as I found it severely lacking in any credibility.
So I looked forward to another Dorothy adventure, but was mostly disappointed. The book worked by far the best when our main narrator, Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, interviewed Dorothy early on during her incarceration in a mental institution for her recounting her experience in Oz after the tornado took her there and she returned. But Dorothy is actually only in the book for a few pages here. The ending had a bit of interesting drama as well, but the entire middle was bogged down and mostly a waste of space. 2.5 stars, rounded up just because the original story is so endearing to me.
"I didn’t know there was anything wrong with me until they told me. And even then it didn’t make much difference in my life. You don’t know what you can’t see if you’ve never seen it, can you?”(p. 37). Dorothy speaking with Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford.
So I looked forward to another Dorothy adventure, but was mostly disappointed. The book worked by far the best when our main narrator, Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, interviewed Dorothy early on during her incarceration in a mental institution for her recounting her experience in Oz after the tornado took her there and she returned. But Dorothy is actually only in the book for a few pages here. The ending had a bit of interesting drama as well, but the entire middle was bogged down and mostly a waste of space. 2.5 stars, rounded up just because the original story is so endearing to me.
"I didn’t know there was anything wrong with me until they told me. And even then it didn’t make much difference in my life. You don’t know what you can’t see if you’ve never seen it, can you?”(p. 37). Dorothy speaking with Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford.
June 18, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this (as a Kansan of course)!
This is a reimagining of the end of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, following what happened to Dorothy Gale "after Oz". She's been regarded as delusional for her fantasies of talking scarecrows and great wizards, thrown in an asylum, and accused of murder.
When Dorothy confesses she unintentionally "killed the wicked witch of the west", the small-town folks of Sunbonnet, Kansas believe she is referring to the local bitter spinster who has been found dead shortly after the twister tore through the countryside.
Hoping to get the true story and solve the mystery is the very intelligent psychologist Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford. Is Dorothy dangerous and delusional, or is something fowl at play?
Though not as dark as I would have liked (I am a lover of all things horrifying after all) this was still a fun way to do a murder mystery! Would definitely recommend to mystery lovers!
This is a reimagining of the end of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, following what happened to Dorothy Gale "after Oz". She's been regarded as delusional for her fantasies of talking scarecrows and great wizards, thrown in an asylum, and accused of murder.
When Dorothy confesses she unintentionally "killed the wicked witch of the west", the small-town folks of Sunbonnet, Kansas believe she is referring to the local bitter spinster who has been found dead shortly after the twister tore through the countryside.
Hoping to get the true story and solve the mystery is the very intelligent psychologist Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford. Is Dorothy dangerous and delusional, or is something fowl at play?
Though not as dark as I would have liked (I am a lover of all things horrifying after all) this was still a fun way to do a murder mystery! Would definitely recommend to mystery lovers!
September 8, 2024
Ever wonder what happened to Dorothy once she left Oz? After Oz by Gordon McAlpine will answer those mysteries. The answer isn’t one we were expecting. Remember Aunty Em and Uncle Henry. Sweet, warm and loving? Raising poor Dorothy out of the kindness of their hearts? Think again. Everything we grew up thinking could just be a dream? The story really didn’t seem plausible. I know it was written in the mindset if the very early 1900s. In this story it is obvious by the closed mindedness and constant references to evil, devil and religious piousness. It bothered me the way Dorothy, an 11yo girl was portrayed as evil and calculating. Often referred to as someone older, either an adult. Like the author forgot Dorothy is a child of 11.
April 27, 2025
2.5
Who wouldn’t want to know what happened to Dorothy and Toto after they returned from Oz? I for one wanted to know and this book had an intriguing premise that I thought would help close that chapter in my mind. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The book does pick up after the twister in Kansas, showing the devastation that was left in its path as well as one missing girl. When Dorothy finally does show up a week later, her explanation of where she has been does not sit well with the highly religious town. The only explanation they can come to is that she must be mentally ill. She is admitted to a psychiatric hospital for further evaluation. At this point, I’m a little bit leery on if I want to continue, but it’s still intriguing so I continue on. Then a murder happens and of course you can guess who the town blames for it. This is where I really started to lose interest as it deviates from the idea of Oz to more of a murder investigation.
Of course, I’ll go into what I did like . Being that I had watched the movie a bazillion times every time the town was described I pictured it in black-and-white. Also, anytime that Dorothy spoke, the very few times that she did, I totally heard it in Judy Garland’s voice. I like the nostalgia behind the book itself. The book describes Dorothy as 11, which for some reason, I always thought she was older than that. I will admit I did not read the original book.
Now on what I didn’t like . Just the direction in general the plot went. And I do believe this is a case of a reader having an incorrect expectation of the book itself. I had the same issue with Hitchcock Hotel. I somehow conjured up a completely different avenue on which I think the book is going to go and it’s nowhere even close. This is probably a sign that I should stay away from these types of books in the future. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the betrayal of Aunty Em and Uncle Henry.
This book certainly was well written, and if you like a good mystery with some references to the Wizard of Oz and this may be worth giving a try . It is certainly a short read just under 200 pages. It just didn’t work for me.
For toto fans out there he’s mentioned briefly, but he just doesn’t seem to be the same chipper pup. Maybe the twister just knocked the wind out of him for a bit
Who wouldn’t want to know what happened to Dorothy and Toto after they returned from Oz? I for one wanted to know and this book had an intriguing premise that I thought would help close that chapter in my mind. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The book does pick up after the twister in Kansas, showing the devastation that was left in its path as well as one missing girl. When Dorothy finally does show up a week later, her explanation of where she has been does not sit well with the highly religious town. The only explanation they can come to is that she must be mentally ill. She is admitted to a psychiatric hospital for further evaluation. At this point, I’m a little bit leery on if I want to continue, but it’s still intriguing so I continue on. Then a murder happens and of course you can guess who the town blames for it. This is where I really started to lose interest as it deviates from the idea of Oz to more of a murder investigation.
Of course, I’ll go into what I did like . Being that I had watched the movie a bazillion times every time the town was described I pictured it in black-and-white. Also, anytime that Dorothy spoke, the very few times that she did, I totally heard it in Judy Garland’s voice. I like the nostalgia behind the book itself. The book describes Dorothy as 11, which for some reason, I always thought she was older than that. I will admit I did not read the original book.
Now on what I didn’t like . Just the direction in general the plot went. And I do believe this is a case of a reader having an incorrect expectation of the book itself. I had the same issue with Hitchcock Hotel. I somehow conjured up a completely different avenue on which I think the book is going to go and it’s nowhere even close. This is probably a sign that I should stay away from these types of books in the future. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the betrayal of Aunty Em and Uncle Henry.
This book certainly was well written, and if you like a good mystery with some references to the Wizard of Oz and this may be worth giving a try . It is certainly a short read just under 200 pages. It just didn’t work for me.
For toto fans out there he’s mentioned briefly, but he just doesn’t seem to be the same chipper pup. Maybe the twister just knocked the wind out of him for a bit
March 13, 2024
This was like a dark and twisted sequel (or arguably a prequel) to the Wizard of Oz. When Dorothy turns up four days after a twister hits her small town, telling tales of talking animals and witches, her religious community believes her to be a diabolical pagan. Her claims of melting witches weren't perceived as childhood fantasy, but as sacrilegious and disturbing. When a local spinster, referred to by children in the neighborhood as a witch, is found dead a few days later, the community fully turns against Dorothy, banishing the 11-year-old to an insane asylum.
A psychiatrist takes an interest in Dorothy's strange stories and interesting circumstances. Dorothy seems like a clever girl, but is she really capable of murder?
If you're interested in cults, witch hunts, and mob mentality, you'll probably like this book. It was a quick read that had you wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery. But this was more like a 3.5 for me because it felt like there was so much of the text that could be skimmed over, and the book was short to begin with.
A psychiatrist takes an interest in Dorothy's strange stories and interesting circumstances. Dorothy seems like a clever girl, but is she really capable of murder?
If you're interested in cults, witch hunts, and mob mentality, you'll probably like this book. It was a quick read that had you wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery. But this was more like a 3.5 for me because it felt like there was so much of the text that could be skimmed over, and the book was short to begin with.
August 27, 2024
Man o man I wanted to love this.
I am a really big sucker for anything Wizard of Oz. I've read the original book, Wicked is one of my favorite musicals ever, and the film is in my top 5. I even trudged my way through the novel Wicked, and though I don't have the enthusiasm I have for the musical, I do love the world and the story. When I saw this title on netgalley and saw that it was a very historical and non-fantastical account of Dorothy's story after her return, my finger couldn't press "request" fast enough. And when I was approved, I started it quickly and with gusto. But when I got to reading it
This novel should have had my name written all over it. It takes the context of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and reimagines what would have happened after Dorothy was found after the tornado. The novel opened with the small Kansas town right after the devastating tornado rips through and we follow several townspeople as Emily and Henry have realized that Dorothy never made it home. The beginning uncovers a frantic search for Dorothy, and when she is found sleeping in a cornfield unharmed and without a scratch, everyone is relieved. Until she starts spouting off about witches and wizards and fantastical lands. Then this Bible belt Kansan town doesn't know what to think. When eleven-year old Dorothy, still overwhelmed and disoriented from her travels mentions to the town doctor that "she didn't mean to melt the witch," all hell breaks loose. When a few days later, a woman in the town is found with her face melted off with lye, the townspeople start shouting "fire and brimstone" and an official witchhunt begins. Except there isn't much hunting when Dorothy has admitted to "melting a witch." Right? Case closed.
There were things I liked about this story. I enjoyed the historical context a lot. I thought it was interesting to see how Dorothy might have been treated if this realistic portrayal of her travels actually happened. A female psychiatrist arrives from New York to visit Dorothy in the asylum she is placed in after her "trial" and begins to fight for the poor girl. This novel has a lot to say and reveal about the narrow-minded culture that existed in this part of the country at the turn of the 20th centruy. How women in male-dominated professions (such as medicine) were looked down on or not taken seriously, or still objectified by their looks or their age or their social status. The labels of "spinster" and "witch" and "hen" were used in everyday speech. I really enjoyed the premise and the promise of this novel. It was the delivery that fell apart from me. In a few words,
After about 50% of this novel not really getting anywhere for me, I began to skim. I skimmed most of the last half. The last 20% which showed Dorothy's appeal trial were the most compelling, and even then I would have only given that portion a 3/5. There was way too little action floating around in way too much book. And that was the most problematic part. And this isn't a long book by any means. The story and premise are there but I needed better execution.
2 stars.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I am a really big sucker for anything Wizard of Oz. I've read the original book, Wicked is one of my favorite musicals ever, and the film is in my top 5. I even trudged my way through the novel Wicked, and though I don't have the enthusiasm I have for the musical, I do love the world and the story. When I saw this title on netgalley and saw that it was a very historical and non-fantastical account of Dorothy's story after her return, my finger couldn't press "request" fast enough. And when I was approved, I started it quickly and with gusto. But when I got to reading it
This novel should have had my name written all over it. It takes the context of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and reimagines what would have happened after Dorothy was found after the tornado. The novel opened with the small Kansas town right after the devastating tornado rips through and we follow several townspeople as Emily and Henry have realized that Dorothy never made it home. The beginning uncovers a frantic search for Dorothy, and when she is found sleeping in a cornfield unharmed and without a scratch, everyone is relieved. Until she starts spouting off about witches and wizards and fantastical lands. Then this Bible belt Kansan town doesn't know what to think. When eleven-year old Dorothy, still overwhelmed and disoriented from her travels mentions to the town doctor that "she didn't mean to melt the witch," all hell breaks loose. When a few days later, a woman in the town is found with her face melted off with lye, the townspeople start shouting "fire and brimstone" and an official witchhunt begins. Except there isn't much hunting when Dorothy has admitted to "melting a witch." Right? Case closed.
There were things I liked about this story. I enjoyed the historical context a lot. I thought it was interesting to see how Dorothy might have been treated if this realistic portrayal of her travels actually happened. A female psychiatrist arrives from New York to visit Dorothy in the asylum she is placed in after her "trial" and begins to fight for the poor girl. This novel has a lot to say and reveal about the narrow-minded culture that existed in this part of the country at the turn of the 20th centruy. How women in male-dominated professions (such as medicine) were looked down on or not taken seriously, or still objectified by their looks or their age or their social status. The labels of "spinster" and "witch" and "hen" were used in everyday speech. I really enjoyed the premise and the promise of this novel. It was the delivery that fell apart from me. In a few words,
After about 50% of this novel not really getting anywhere for me, I began to skim. I skimmed most of the last half. The last 20% which showed Dorothy's appeal trial were the most compelling, and even then I would have only given that portion a 3/5. There was way too little action floating around in way too much book. And that was the most problematic part. And this isn't a long book by any means. The story and premise are there but I needed better execution.
2 stars.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 26, 2024
Who knew that such an engrossing historical mystery with thought provoking social commentary could be born from a whimsical children’s story?
I want to warn you from the start, though: If you’re looking to revisit the magical land of Oz, no amount of heel clicking will get you there in this book. It is, as the title indicates, after the event, and set strictly in the unexciting land of Kansas. (I am sorry, Kansas residents.) The story is grounded in reality with L. Frank Baum’s book as its influence, rather than the movie.
In this, Dorothy is a precocious 11 year old telling stories of Oz that lead the townspeople to conclude she is insane. Worse, after the town “witch” is found with her face melted off, they accuse Dorothy of murder. She is institutionalized and a mystery begins.
After Oz started off well, but managed to get even better as the story unfolded. Small town prejudices and stringent religious beliefs were at the heart of this novel, and those are two of my favorite themes in books. While these issues seemed properly addressed for that specific time period, I remain haunted by how relevant they felt, reminding me that certain attitudes have not progressed dramatically.
Initially, I did feel like Dorothy seemed a bit too adult, beyond what one would expect from a precocious child. However, after considering her difficult upbringing, as depicted in After Oz, and the general expectations of the early 20th century, I concluded that McAlpine’s version of the Gale girl seemed right.
The novel looks at some important topics, including herd mentality, how women were viewed, how religion shaped behavior, and how those deemed mentally ill were treated. It’s a serious tale, unlike its predecessor, but it’s easy to imagine the reactions to Dorothy’s return from Oz as reality.
I had never heard of Gordon McAlpine before this and I was saddened to learn he’d passed away after completing this novel. After Oz was published recently, but posthumously. I will be looking into his previous works, as it is clear that he was an insightful and highly creative writer.
I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
I want to warn you from the start, though: If you’re looking to revisit the magical land of Oz, no amount of heel clicking will get you there in this book. It is, as the title indicates, after the event, and set strictly in the unexciting land of Kansas. (I am sorry, Kansas residents.) The story is grounded in reality with L. Frank Baum’s book as its influence, rather than the movie.
In this, Dorothy is a precocious 11 year old telling stories of Oz that lead the townspeople to conclude she is insane. Worse, after the town “witch” is found with her face melted off, they accuse Dorothy of murder. She is institutionalized and a mystery begins.
After Oz started off well, but managed to get even better as the story unfolded. Small town prejudices and stringent religious beliefs were at the heart of this novel, and those are two of my favorite themes in books. While these issues seemed properly addressed for that specific time period, I remain haunted by how relevant they felt, reminding me that certain attitudes have not progressed dramatically.
Initially, I did feel like Dorothy seemed a bit too adult, beyond what one would expect from a precocious child. However, after considering her difficult upbringing, as depicted in After Oz, and the general expectations of the early 20th century, I concluded that McAlpine’s version of the Gale girl seemed right.
The novel looks at some important topics, including herd mentality, how women were viewed, how religion shaped behavior, and how those deemed mentally ill were treated. It’s a serious tale, unlike its predecessor, but it’s easy to imagine the reactions to Dorothy’s return from Oz as reality.
I had never heard of Gordon McAlpine before this and I was saddened to learn he’d passed away after completing this novel. After Oz was published recently, but posthumously. I will be looking into his previous works, as it is clear that he was an insightful and highly creative writer.
I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
July 17, 2024
The year is 1896 and in the aftermath of a relentless twister, the folks of Sunbonnet are working to put the pieces of their lives and their farms back together. Shortly before the twister began, young Dorothy Gale was nowhere to be found… When she is discovered miles away four days later, the townspeople—especially Aunt Emily and Uncle Henry—are relieved. Feelings of joy quickly turn to concern when Dorothy regales them with her fantastical tales of the land of Oz.
Believed to be delusional, suffering from sacrilegious hallucinations, and suspected of the recent murder of a townswoman, she is sent to the Topeka Insane Asylum. Everyone is convinced that Dorothy is “positively demented”, everyone that is except psychologist Dr. Wilford.
This story is as fascinating as it sounds. I mean, Dorothy accused of being a madwoman plus the unfolding of a small-town mystery? Hell. Yes. My complaint is that a lot of this book—mainly the back half—doesn’t come in to deep contact with Dorothy directly but rather through the townspeople and the psychologist. The book shifts its view away from Dorothy and instead focuses its lens on the murder of the townswoman, merely using Dorothy as a vehicle to get there. It wasn't bad by any means, simply a different path than I was expecting.
I think it is fair to also say that readers will be disappointed if they expect a retelling of The Wizard of Oz. Rather, this is (as the title suggests) a continuation of the story once Dorothy is back home. That said, readers may feel disappointed about the lack of Oz in this novel but still, this “retelling” is engrossing, imaginative, relevant to the time that it is set, and absolutely worth the read.
I read this book via audio with Maria Ru-Djen as the narrator who, I believe, was the perfect fit for the job as her voice really helped bring this story to life.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Available 08/06/2024!
Believed to be delusional, suffering from sacrilegious hallucinations, and suspected of the recent murder of a townswoman, she is sent to the Topeka Insane Asylum. Everyone is convinced that Dorothy is “positively demented”, everyone that is except psychologist Dr. Wilford.
This story is as fascinating as it sounds. I mean, Dorothy accused of being a madwoman plus the unfolding of a small-town mystery? Hell. Yes. My complaint is that a lot of this book—mainly the back half—doesn’t come in to deep contact with Dorothy directly but rather through the townspeople and the psychologist. The book shifts its view away from Dorothy and instead focuses its lens on the murder of the townswoman, merely using Dorothy as a vehicle to get there. It wasn't bad by any means, simply a different path than I was expecting.
I think it is fair to also say that readers will be disappointed if they expect a retelling of The Wizard of Oz. Rather, this is (as the title suggests) a continuation of the story once Dorothy is back home. That said, readers may feel disappointed about the lack of Oz in this novel but still, this “retelling” is engrossing, imaginative, relevant to the time that it is set, and absolutely worth the read.
I read this book via audio with Maria Ru-Djen as the narrator who, I believe, was the perfect fit for the job as her voice really helped bring this story to life.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Available 08/06/2024!
August 11, 2024
i HAVE ONE THING TO ASK.
Why in the name of all things good did I ever read this?
Do you think it's a story of after she gets back from oz? NO!
I don't understand how an old story of the Wizard of Oz can lead to this. to be fair there were times in the story I had to block things out. & the sad thing about blocking some of it was that it's not even that long of a book. I was stupid checking it out from the library. I try not to be a hater of someone's work but good Lord.
Why is this bible based, now sometimes that is good in books, but that should have never happened in this book & I am a Christian, I don't mean it in a bad way by no means but in this book, it was outta place here.
Again, I am not trying to be mean and not like this guy's work but come on man. It dragged out. don't recommend this.
Why in the name of all things good did I ever read this?
Do you think it's a story of after she gets back from oz? NO!
I don't understand how an old story of the Wizard of Oz can lead to this. to be fair there were times in the story I had to block things out. & the sad thing about blocking some of it was that it's not even that long of a book. I was stupid checking it out from the library. I try not to be a hater of someone's work but good Lord.
Why is this bible based, now sometimes that is good in books, but that should have never happened in this book & I am a Christian, I don't mean it in a bad way by no means but in this book, it was outta place here.
Again, I am not trying to be mean and not like this guy's work but come on man. It dragged out. don't recommend this.
Want to read
August 8, 2024Ummm this sounds amazing?
August 11, 2024
Have you ever wondered what happened after Dorothy landed back home, was found, and relayed her story?
This story was so fun! It's told from the perspective of an outsider, one that's come after a shocking smalltown murder and a young girl institutionalized. I loved the twists, the interesting way they tied to word Oz into the explanation. I loved the fanaticism, meeting the small town as she interviewed them and seeing Dorothy from a different POV. I loved the small details of the town, the shocking twist at the end and that last chapter. This book was just such an adventure, a good homage to the original story!
I did this as an audiobook and found the narrator was wonderful! I highly recommend this entertaining read!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This story was so fun! It's told from the perspective of an outsider, one that's come after a shocking smalltown murder and a young girl institutionalized. I loved the twists, the interesting way they tied to word Oz into the explanation. I loved the fanaticism, meeting the small town as she interviewed them and seeing Dorothy from a different POV. I loved the small details of the town, the shocking twist at the end and that last chapter. This book was just such an adventure, a good homage to the original story!
I did this as an audiobook and found the narrator was wonderful! I highly recommend this entertaining read!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 24, 2024
This was an entertaining, but dark, alternative origin story for the Oz books by frank Baum. I can't say too much about what happened without giving it all away, but think of a gritty crime investigation novel, where a child gets convicted of a crime. And it's old timey, and there's feminism in the late 1800s and at the same time you get reminded of the Wizard of Oz and has some fun connections to the story.
All in all I really liked this book and the writing style and I'm sad that it'll be the authors final book. Recommended for grown ups who have always loved Oz.
All in all I really liked this book and the writing style and I'm sad that it'll be the authors final book. Recommended for grown ups who have always loved Oz.
March 11, 2024
I was so lucky to receive an ARC of this book for my honest opinion, so here it is...
What an absolutely fantastic read that was. I read it in one sitting, cover to cover. I could not put it down. This is my favourite book of the year so far.
It hooked me from the first page, the POV of the unknown townsperson and their infallible beliefs was so well done. I am not a religious person whatsoever but even the biblical quotes didn't make me hesitant. It made it all the more believable for the time period in which the novel was published, communities were founded on religion, it was instilled into them and it made the turn of events later on in the book make so much more sense.
It was so interesting to read, a rather dark tale in contrast to the original, great for the adult who loved The Wizard of Oz as a child, it is such a popular classic but I never actually stopped to think about the implications of a young girl believing that something like this had happened in a time and place where such things would be seen as demonic or sinful. It makes you wonder what actual opinions of the author of the original would have been like. Whether children would have been able to enjoy stories like this, in communities were it was set. 1900 was a very different time, but sometimes you don't realise how much. Especially in regards to gender beliefs, the law and religious importance.
It's such a loved story, portrayed in so many ways, but the way the author put this completely original twist on it was mindblowing.
Seeing the POV of Evelyn and the way she would have been treated by people of the time was awful yet humbling, and her attitude towards it all, her sense of justice was great to read.
The way the story is written, using the speech and thinking of the time, wouldn't be a usual style for me, but I found it gripping. I was reading the pages so fast at one point I was shocked at how far into the book I was. But it felt so genuine, the book could have been published at the same time as the original, rather than this year, and I would have been none the wiser.
I can't believe how different this is from anything I've read, its one of the most refreshing books I've read in a long time, and it's actually reignited my love for reading as a whole, not just the specific genres I've limited myself to, historical isn't usually my forte, I read the book because of my love of The Wizard of Oz and now I feel like I want to gorge on books set in the late 1800s, rather than contemporary or fantasy books.
The murder mystery aspect of the book was very well done, some of the twists and turns I didn't see coming at all, and the postscript in the epilogue letter was a lovely added touch
I hope this book gets the hype it deserves and I'm really looking forward to it coming out in print so I can add it to my shelf. Now I'm going to recommend it to all the readers I know so I can discuss it with someone else.
What an absolutely fantastic read that was. I read it in one sitting, cover to cover. I could not put it down. This is my favourite book of the year so far.
It hooked me from the first page, the POV of the unknown townsperson and their infallible beliefs was so well done. I am not a religious person whatsoever but even the biblical quotes didn't make me hesitant. It made it all the more believable for the time period in which the novel was published, communities were founded on religion, it was instilled into them and it made the turn of events later on in the book make so much more sense.
It was so interesting to read, a rather dark tale in contrast to the original, great for the adult who loved The Wizard of Oz as a child, it is such a popular classic but I never actually stopped to think about the implications of a young girl believing that something like this had happened in a time and place where such things would be seen as demonic or sinful. It makes you wonder what actual opinions of the author of the original would have been like. Whether children would have been able to enjoy stories like this, in communities were it was set. 1900 was a very different time, but sometimes you don't realise how much. Especially in regards to gender beliefs, the law and religious importance.
It's such a loved story, portrayed in so many ways, but the way the author put this completely original twist on it was mindblowing.
Seeing the POV of Evelyn and the way she would have been treated by people of the time was awful yet humbling, and her attitude towards it all, her sense of justice was great to read.
The way the story is written, using the speech and thinking of the time, wouldn't be a usual style for me, but I found it gripping. I was reading the pages so fast at one point I was shocked at how far into the book I was. But it felt so genuine, the book could have been published at the same time as the original, rather than this year, and I would have been none the wiser.
I can't believe how different this is from anything I've read, its one of the most refreshing books I've read in a long time, and it's actually reignited my love for reading as a whole, not just the specific genres I've limited myself to, historical isn't usually my forte, I read the book because of my love of The Wizard of Oz and now I feel like I want to gorge on books set in the late 1800s, rather than contemporary or fantasy books.
The murder mystery aspect of the book was very well done, some of the twists and turns I didn't see coming at all, and the postscript in the epilogue letter was a lovely added touch
I hope this book gets the hype it deserves and I'm really looking forward to it coming out in print so I can add it to my shelf. Now I'm going to recommend it to all the readers I know so I can discuss it with someone else.
September 13, 2024
What an interesting book. This story was told with two different points of view. A towns person (or should I say the towns people), and the psychologist who is a visitor to the town. Interestingly, the psychologist's cousin is Frank Baum who is the author of "The Wizard of Oz". There were a lot of bible quotes mentioned in the story whish was a bit much for me personally. Dorothy herself is not a prominent character in the story. This book was the last book by this author before he passed away. It is well worth a read. I gave it a 4 star rating!
November 23, 2024
I was so sorry to discover McAlpine died recently, leaving us with too few books to enjoy. I've read all of his previous ones and thought he was a genius, and this one only strengthened my belief. Here was a brilliant man, who wrote fantastically clever novels that did not receive their due appreciation and fame, probably because of the author's values and lack of that narcissistic ambition that drives so much unmerited writing to the top. This is a writer whose wonderful values are apparent in every word he's ever written, and so do his true originality, complex thought and love of literature. Unique in every way. I will cherish the fun and intellectually-stimulating hours I spent with his novels.
June 6, 2024
(***3.5 stars***) Did you ever wonder what happened after Dorothy returns from Oz? This book is a dark look at what occurs after the events of The Wizard of Oz, and to be honest, I was hooked.
The small town in Kansas is distressed following a tornado where young Dorothy Gale went missing. She's found in a pumpkin patch four days later rambling about a magical land of talking animals, wizards, and melting witches. The town is scared, and Dorothy is sent away to an asylum. As psychiatrists try to reason with Dorothy, a bigger mystery is unveiled-- a nearby neighbor was found melted in her home. Is Dorothy a killer? Are these more than just hallucinations?
What I loved about this book is how the author put the story of Oz in the perspective of 1890's rural Kansas. The town is extremely religious, so of course they're going to be unsettled by the talk of this young girl. At the same time, the author has put a modern twist by adding a female doctor and dives deep into the history of mental health care.
The murder mystery really was a great layer to this story. It kept me guessing up to the very end where there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The original story is woven so intricately into the tale that it's so much fun to see here. It gives me The Scarlet Letter vibes.
The pacing was a little slow for me, especially in the first half of the book. It got a lot faster towards the end when all these plot twists started happening. That being said, I really did enjoy the plot and thought it was unique.
Before this novel, I never really considered what people might think of Dorothy when she gets back, but this novel really makes sense. Despite the dark and unsettling undertones, it truly could reflect what might have happened had these events actually taken place.
The small town in Kansas is distressed following a tornado where young Dorothy Gale went missing. She's found in a pumpkin patch four days later rambling about a magical land of talking animals, wizards, and melting witches. The town is scared, and Dorothy is sent away to an asylum. As psychiatrists try to reason with Dorothy, a bigger mystery is unveiled-- a nearby neighbor was found melted in her home. Is Dorothy a killer? Are these more than just hallucinations?
What I loved about this book is how the author put the story of Oz in the perspective of 1890's rural Kansas. The town is extremely religious, so of course they're going to be unsettled by the talk of this young girl. At the same time, the author has put a modern twist by adding a female doctor and dives deep into the history of mental health care.
The murder mystery really was a great layer to this story. It kept me guessing up to the very end where there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The original story is woven so intricately into the tale that it's so much fun to see here. It gives me The Scarlet Letter vibes.
The pacing was a little slow for me, especially in the first half of the book. It got a lot faster towards the end when all these plot twists started happening. That being said, I really did enjoy the plot and thought it was unique.
Before this novel, I never really considered what people might think of Dorothy when she gets back, but this novel really makes sense. Despite the dark and unsettling undertones, it truly could reflect what might have happened had these events actually taken place.
August 22, 2024
I just finished After Oz by George McAlpine and here are my thoughts.
Did you ever wonder what happened to Dorothy after she returned from Oz?
Dorothy can describe her whole adventure in exact detail. Trouble is, she is coming across as delusional and witchy. It does not help that her memories of killing the witch coincide with the death of a recluse that lives not too far from the farm Dorothy was living on.
Her story and the death of her neighbor, earns her a place in an asylum. Dr Evelyn Wilford, a psychologist, goes to the asylum to talk with Dorothy and she doesn’t believe for one second Dorothy committed the murder.
It’s one heck of a reimagining that focuses less on her adventures in Oz but on the aftermath of coming home. It was a really interesting story that worked pretty well as a follow on from the original tale.
I thought Dorothy came across a lot older than her age in this book and she felt like she may have been a borderline sociopath maybe. It’s just how she came across to me. She didn’t seem scared of where she was but annoyed at having to be there. She wasn’t even really the main attraction. Evelyn was and it was a real gamble writing a book about Dorothy and not having it from her POV. I kinda liked it personally.
The narrator was good and I enjoy the overall tone of the book.
Definitely glad I read it!
4 stars. Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscapemedia for my gifted ALC
Out now! Run, don't walk!
Did you ever wonder what happened to Dorothy after she returned from Oz?
Dorothy can describe her whole adventure in exact detail. Trouble is, she is coming across as delusional and witchy. It does not help that her memories of killing the witch coincide with the death of a recluse that lives not too far from the farm Dorothy was living on.
Her story and the death of her neighbor, earns her a place in an asylum. Dr Evelyn Wilford, a psychologist, goes to the asylum to talk with Dorothy and she doesn’t believe for one second Dorothy committed the murder.
It’s one heck of a reimagining that focuses less on her adventures in Oz but on the aftermath of coming home. It was a really interesting story that worked pretty well as a follow on from the original tale.
I thought Dorothy came across a lot older than her age in this book and she felt like she may have been a borderline sociopath maybe. It’s just how she came across to me. She didn’t seem scared of where she was but annoyed at having to be there. She wasn’t even really the main attraction. Evelyn was and it was a real gamble writing a book about Dorothy and not having it from her POV. I kinda liked it personally.
The narrator was good and I enjoy the overall tone of the book.
Definitely glad I read it!
4 stars. Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscapemedia for my gifted ALC
Out now! Run, don't walk!
January 17, 2025
“After Oz” is an Agatha Christie style murder mystery set in the town of Sunbonnet Kansas in the aftermath of Dorothy Gale’s adventures in The Emerald City. I really think I enjoyed this book, but it was so damned frustrating. Is there a word for that? When you like something and simultaneously want to throw it out of moving vehicle? I digress…
This story has a really cool concept. I like the idea of taking a well known fantasy and adapting it in a more reality based genre. I wasn’t expecting the “who”, who done did it and the ending was satisfying.
That said, the “hard working, god fearing” townsfolk of Sunbonnet were delusional and just plain dumb. There are like three people in the town who were moderately intelligent, sympathetic and likable. The rest would stand under a bright blue sky and tell you it was orange if the lord’s good news told them it was. It’s actually frightening how much a story that takes place in the late 1890’s reminded me of the current climate. Like, if the narrator had casually dropped in a reference to Jewish space lasers or mentioned a genuine fear that Haitian immigrants were going to eat Toto, I probably wouldn’t even have noticed.
*sigh*
Anyway… I can’t decide if I like or loath this book. Three stars.
This story has a really cool concept. I like the idea of taking a well known fantasy and adapting it in a more reality based genre. I wasn’t expecting the “who”, who done did it and the ending was satisfying.
That said, the “hard working, god fearing” townsfolk of Sunbonnet were delusional and just plain dumb. There are like three people in the town who were moderately intelligent, sympathetic and likable. The rest would stand under a bright blue sky and tell you it was orange if the lord’s good news told them it was. It’s actually frightening how much a story that takes place in the late 1890’s reminded me of the current climate. Like, if the narrator had casually dropped in a reference to Jewish space lasers or mentioned a genuine fear that Haitian immigrants were going to eat Toto, I probably wouldn’t even have noticed.
*sigh*
Anyway… I can’t decide if I like or loath this book. Three stars.
July 24, 2024
After Oz is a dark twist on the Wizard of Oz, but also very different. Yes some characters are similar, but the story is a whole lot different. I don't want to dive too deeply into it so as to not ruin the experience for someone else. It was definitely a fun ride, it does start off on the slower side. There are some twists and turns that make things become clearer but some things still are left unclear to me. Although I know the author was in a rush to finish the book as he was very sick and unfortunately passed in 2021. If you want a different take on Oz this might be the one for you !
🎧 The narration by Maria Ru-Djen was great. I really enjoyed listening to her, she was easy to understand and had a great tone of voice. I thought it was a good audio performance.
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia & Gordon McAlpine for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
🎧 The narration by Maria Ru-Djen was great. I really enjoyed listening to her, she was easy to understand and had a great tone of voice. I thought it was a good audio performance.
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia & Gordon McAlpine for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2024
this is a retelling of wizard of oz but what happens after Dorothy returns home. I have mixed opinions on this. on one hand, it was a really good idea and concept for a book but it got really boring and drawn on at times. some chapters were an hour and a half, like that's a whole movie 😅
the author also made this book really religious, mentioning bible verses every 10 minutes. I'm a Christian so I never have an issue with that but other people might. it also felt at times like the author was mocking the bible though so I don't know.
overall, amazing concept but could've been done a little better. thank you to netgalley for providing me with this ARC
the author also made this book really religious, mentioning bible verses every 10 minutes. I'm a Christian so I never have an issue with that but other people might. it also felt at times like the author was mocking the bible though so I don't know.
overall, amazing concept but could've been done a little better. thank you to netgalley for providing me with this ARC
May 20, 2024
Interesting twist on the Wizard of Oz. Definitely a dark novel! There are two different POVs, neither of which are Dorothy. One believes Dorothy is innocent and one believes shes guilty.
This is set in the late 19th century and has a lot of small town prejudice and bigotry.
This is a great read for anyone who is a fan of the Wizard of Oz!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This is set in the late 19th century and has a lot of small town prejudice and bigotry.
This is a great read for anyone who is a fan of the Wizard of Oz!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
October 23, 2024
I liked this! If you're a fan of Wizard Of Oz, I would recommend this. This story takes place after Dorothy returns from Oz which was really interesting. Special Thank You to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Rest In Peace Gordon McAlphine.
November 18, 2025
I absolutely loved this, it's such a unique perspective to write about when it comes to the tale of The Wizard of Oz. I need more unique sequels to classics, though I fear none of them will be as amazing as this one.
July 30, 2024
This is a dark tale about what happens to Dorothy when she returns from Oz. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of Dorothy in the story, more focused on religion in a small town in 1896 Kansas.
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