MYSTERY

After Oz

Crooked Lane. Aug. 2024. 240p. ISBN 9781639107858. $29.99. M
COPY ISBN
It’s 1896, and 11-year-old Dorothy Gale has been sent to a mental health facility for treatment. It wasn’t just her fantastical tale of an enchanted land with witches and flying monkeys and a wizard, who wasn’t really a wizard. No, Dorothy’s biggest crime is confessing to having killed a witch, a tale that coincides with the discovery of the murder of the town’s prickliest citizen, an isolated spinster whose body was found doused in lye, the skin of her face dripping off her skull. Psychologist Evelyn Grace Wilford is intrigued by Dorothy’s case and does not believe her capable of committing the crime. Concerned with Dorothy’s welfare, she heads to the small town where Dorothy grew up, hoping to find the real killer. The psychologist-turned-detective’s arrival is greeted with suspicion, and the townspeople don’t take kindly to her determination to stir up trouble.
VERDICT Far more than Wizard of Oz fan fiction, this novel by McAlpine (Holmes Entangled) is an exploration of the hypocritical treatment of outsiders and nonconformers. Told from alternating perspectives, the narration weaves together the firsthand account of Dr. Wilford with the collective interpretation of the townspeople. A fast and engaging story for readers familiar with The Wizard of Oz .
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?