After Oz, a review by Shelley

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AFTER OZ
Gordon McAlpine

Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: August 6th, 2024
240 Pages
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Genres: Historical Fiction | Mystery | Thriller | Suspense | Fantasy | Retellings

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.

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