Before You Knew My Name

Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz is an evocative and poignant debut novel that transforms the traditional crime narrative into a deeply human exploration of identity, connection, and the invisible threads that bind us together. The story is set against the gritty and vibrant backdrop of New York City, where two lives intersect in a haunting and unexpected way.

Alice Lee arrives in the bustling metropolis with nothing but $600 in cash and a stolen camera, hoping to escape her troubled past and carve out a fresh start. On her 18th birthday, she roams the city's streets full of hope and apprehension. But a month later, Alice becomes New York’s latest Jane Doe, an unidentified murder victim whose life and story risk being forgotten.

Meanwhile, Ruby Jones has left behind her own turbulent past, travelling across the globe in search of a new beginning. Much to her dismay, she finds herself lonelier than ever in the city that never sleeps. That is until she discovers Alice’s body by the Hudson River, an encounter that shatters her world and forms an unbreakable bond between the two women. Despite Alice's death, her presence lingers, compelling Ruby to uncover the truth and piece together the fragments of her short but vivid life.

Unlike conventional murder mysteries, Before You Knew My Name does not hinge on the question of whodunnit. Instead, it dives deeply into the life of the victim, posing the compelling questions: Who was she, and what did she leave behind? As Ruby delves into Alice’s past, she unearths surprising revelations that connect them in ways she never imagined.

Winner of the ABIA Award for General Fiction Book of the Year

"A murder mystery with a difference. Richly descriptive... a confident and courageous entry into the world of fiction and one that will earn Bublitz many fans." - Canberra Times

"Beautiful, brilliant and strangely joyous... will have you in its thrall from its powerful first page to its superb conclusion." - Rose Carlyle, author of Girl in the Mirror

"Addictive and utterly captivating. I couldn't put it down." - Sarah Bailey, author of Where the Dead Go

"This astonishing debut turns the traditional crime story on its head... Darkly funny, deeply insightful and completely heartbreaking." - Petronella McGovern, author of Six Minutes

"The most wonderful book. Unusual, beautiful, feminist, gripping, deserves to win prizes. I loved it so much." - Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups

Before You Knew My Name does more than tell the story of a dead girl; it breathes life into her memory, transforming her from a mere statistic into a fully realised character. The novel’s powerful and hopeful narrative offers a profound meditation on identity, memory, and the often unseen ways our lives interconnect.

"A wake-up call, beautifully written and unique feminist exploration of the crime fiction genre." - R.W.R. McDonald, author of The Nancys

"Unpredictable, devastating and original... marks the arrival of a compelling new voice... Thought-provoking and challenging." - Karen Viggers, author of The Lightkeeper's Wife

"Beguiling, heartbreaking and tender. Jacqueline Bublitz is a beautiful writer and in Alice Lee, she has created a vivid and sparkling narrator who mesmerised me from the very first page and still won't let me go." - Suzanne Leal, author of The Teacher's Secret

"An unputdownable debut - striking, moving, gripping throughout and so sharp on the things that unite us." - Elizabeth Kay, author of Seven Lies