Before You Knew My Name: A Novel

This unusual and poetically written novel about two lives or death that intertwine in New York City is s page turner . Each paragraph makes you question why Ruby is so driven to find a murderer of a body she discovered. Her quest and those who help or hinder her is beautifully unraveled and makes the reader walk alongside the two protagonists. A never ever boring read is guaranteed.

The author wrote a believable story, now that there is many people who have the gift or curse of seeing other conscious spaces. The detailed accounts as heard from the victim is honest and caring. The premise is not a new topic and the characters are not unique. This adds believable substance to the characters descriptions of events. This author was able to move the words on the pages through the spirits of the connected women. Some things cannot be explained but are absolutely true.For the many people, who may have this gift or curse of 'time warp', it is refreshing to read that being able to see into a parallel universes or String is real.I look forward to Bublitz's next book.

This debut novel, set in New York (and by a NZ/Australian author who lived in New York) is extraordinarily good; unique almost I would say in the genre of 'murder mysteries'. It is the story of two women, one 18 and the other in her thirties, who have fled to New York to get away from toxic relationships. They never meet in person but they do 'in spirit'. But this is no 'ghost' story but a story about the dead girls who remain unknown and labeled as a 'Jane Doe' because no-one comes forward to identify them. It is equally the story of the second woman who takes this into her very being and until she finds out who this Jane Doe is, will never herself feel safe and ready to move on with her life.

Violence against women, personalized and deeply moving. An astute study that this male took many things from. The perspectives are deftly shown and leaves a deep impression.

I am buying a hard copy of this book. I want to read it and mark it. I want my tears to warp the pages, I want my heart to break and soar with feeling over and over.This book has touched me like no other has in such a long time.Thank you Jacqueline Bublitz. 💥 (are you of this world) 💫💫

This is the best book I’ve read all year, I just finished it and I’ve been sitting here thinking about it unable to think about anything else. It’s devastating and beautiful, I don’t know how to describe it any other way. It’s not a thriller or a murder mystery, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever read. Trust me and get it.

I could not put it down. It draws you in from the moment you meet Ruby and Alice to the last page. The murder mystery keeps you turning the pages, but it does delve a little deeper into the power dynamics behind sexual exploitation of women. I finished it in one day.

I enjoyed this book. Too a few pages to get into it but then away l went. What's not to like about it.

２０１４年 ウイスコンシン州ミルウォーキーで早く母を亡くしたアリス・リーは何の望みもないまま写真家ミスタ・ジャクソンのところでヌードモデルをしていたが、アリスの「まもなく１８歳になります」というのを聞いてミスタ・ジャクソンは「未成年者を脱がせていた！」と驚き アリスを追い出した。行くあてもないままアリスは事務所の金６００ドルと大事なカメラ ライカを盗んでバスに乗りニューヨークに旅立ち 運良く親切な下宿主ノアさんに助けられて楽しいNY生活を始めた。同じときにオーストラリア メルボルンから３６歳のルビー・ジョーンズがNYにやってきた。じつはアリスが一月後にハドソン川辺で絞殺され、生前会ったこともないルビーが死体を発見するのだが、ここから少々ややこしくなり、死後のアリスが一人称で語りを続け、ルビーのことは三人称で記述されるがルビーの心情を（死後の）アリスが掘り下げて舞台回しを続ける という なんとも厄介な話となる。ミステリ仕立てではあるが犯人捜しはどうでもよく サスペンスを求めたのは間違いで山場はでてこず アリス、ルビーの生き様を追い、アリスを見守り心配するノアさんの暖か味がページから零れ出すという丁寧な作品になっている。

I grabbed this book at big w ages ago and just left it on my TBR.With my TBR sitting at 176 deep I thought I better start on it. This was no. 1.I actually really enjoyed this book. Its by an Australian author and I has an Aussie character in the book who moves to the US.I grabbed the audio version to go along with the book and I was very shocked to find the Narrator did an ok job at an Australian accent. Sometimes I feel like Australians are the only people who can do them right. But She did ok and it was ok to listen to.The only issue I had with the whole book was I felt a tad bit confused in the last few chapters and felt like ti was wrapped up a bit to quickly.Other then that kit was really enjoyable.

This was SO good !! What a terrific story and something a bit different as well. It relates the tale of 2 very different women who rock up in New York on the same day, though they don't know each other. Sadly one is killed and the other finds her body......what a unique premise !! I even paid for it and I rarely do that with an author I've never read before. Totally sold it to me, along with the tremendous cover.It had its humorous moments, which you'd not expect, along with the expected sad incidents that were upsetting, too. It was nice (though shocking) that English spellings were used when we were based in America as well.My favourite character was Noah.....I want to know this man !! It's rare someone creates somebody so very likeable and kind and he's just my sort of person. We all need a Noah in our lives. It was mainly the latter passages featuring him that had me sobbing. One simple word that Alice uttered in a phonecall also did for me.....I was pleased I was reading alone as the tears streamed down my face.....And for me, which is always a massive bonus, there weren't many mistakes. She did write Malborough lights when it should be Malboro Lights and ticks not tics then softy not softly and Dewy Decimal System and not Dewey. I spotted one misplaced comma and a missing question mark but that was it. There was one line she used twice that totally threw me as well. I just didn't understand it, however many times I re-read it, even trying it out loud: "It isn't always, only ever, bad"....I just don't get it !!I have to point out here (cos' I was THAT proud of myself) that I spotted Alice's first clue she left for Ruby.....and I never normally spot anything too pertinent !! I am writing this review and playing 'Try a Little Tenderness' in the background as I complete it since it was referenced, very appropriately. I usually associate that tune with Ducky in Pretty In Pink as a rule but now I'll always remember Alice as well when I hear it....So I highly recommend you give this one a go as it is terrific, trust me.

It took a little while to warn to this book, partly as I was still wrapped up in 2 Meg Mason books that I'd read back to back.Then I loved it. Something about the the portrayal of Alice always near, I felt very comforting - despite the subject matter.A beautiful story and insight into a life lost.

Recommend by a friend this book is a lovely tale of life and death, mystery, fate, what ifs and chance encounters…. Loved the well rounded characters. Perfect in imperfection.