After reading Mr. Flood's Last Resort I was excited to see that Jess Kidd was coming out with a new novel. Things in Jars was very different from her previous book but yet with that same Jess Kidd flavor that was so appealing in Mr. Flood's Last Resort. There were unique and bad-ass female characters and a storyline that bordered on the supernatural but wasn't the main focus of the story. I really enjoyed this book but I preferred Mr. Flood's Last Resort for the more contemporary setting, but if you like a more Victorian setting then this book will likely appeal to anyone looking for an off-beat mystery with unique characters and an even more unique mystery.

I struggled with this book, unfortunately, I think it was me being in the wrong frame of mind to read it rather than any fault of the book though. Look at the other reviews, not just mine, as a lot of people loved the book. It just wasn't for me. I didn't engage with the main character, found the other characters numerous and confusing and the storyline was just a bit dull. As I said though look at the other reviews and decide for yourself. A book with so many 5 star reviews is definitely worth a try, right?

A wild read, with all sorts of fantastical everything woven in. Kidd is a masterful storyteller, with an incredible talent for worldbuilding. This is gothic Victorian mystery and romance at its strangest, spookiest, and finest.

This is so far from my comfort zone that I am in left field. I tried reading it twice before but both times put it down and on my third attempt just gave it up. The writing itself is beautiful and if you are into what I think is magic realism, this may be the book for you. It was not for me.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard rating, because I loved the writing style. It was so well written and the characters were so well developed.. I just didn't love the story. I wanted to.. But the story fell flat for me. I felt it was a lot of back and forth and I didn't like the way the timelines intersected. The writing was almost too good for the story. I felt the writing style, while very beautiful and vividly descriptive, really slowed down the story of the book.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

DNF'd at 49%.

I have been forcing myself to finish this book but struggling to find the motivation, so I've decided it was time to accept that it just not for me and move on. I enjoyed the time line, the premise and the character of Ruby. This story reads like a cozy mystery which I feel is the cause of my lack of motivation, as it's a genre I don't typically reach for,

I would like to thank Atria books, the author and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book answers the question as to what you would get if you mixed Sherlock Holmes, Oliver Twist, and Creature from the Black Lagoon, but with a female protagonist. It’s a 19th century London mystery, with unique and outrageous characters, both human and mythical. The author is fearless; time and again she makes you wonder if she will take the shocking leap into the taboo and macabre. I assure you, she does.

A Victorian detective novel, fantasy, and fairy tale rolled into one. Bridie Devine is a detective tasked with finding a missing child. But not just any child...she has characteristics that make her irresistible to collecters, doctors, and scientists. As Bridie closes in on the kidnappers with the help of her 7 foot tall housemaid Cora and her champion boxer friend (who just happens to be a ghost), an unexpected enemy from her past reappears.
I love the writing style. The fairytale elements are seamlessly incorporated into the detective novel. Bridie is a great main character, tough as a detective, but the flashbacks to her childhood show a different side to her. I look forward to more booksby this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Detective Bridie Devine is used to dealing with otherworldly mysteries. She’s known for solving complex cases that have a (seemingly) supernatural twist. Now she’s been tasked with finding a unique little girl who’s been kidnapped. Rumor has it the girl can read men’s minds and kill them in just one venomous bite. Sure, Detective Devine doesn’t believe in any of that nonsense, but she’s still desperate to find the missing girl before something terrible happens to her. Unfortunately, she’ll have to come face to face with some demons from her own past in the process.

MY THOUGHTS

This isn’t my usual genre, but, wow, what a phenomenal book! The first 20 pages were a little slow, but once the story picked up, I was hooked. There’s a perfect balance of mystery, fantasy, and realistic character development—even for a reader like me who never reads anything with “supernatural” elements. Just goes to show that sometimes breaking out of your routine is just what you need to get yourself out of a reading slump!

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

I haven't read a lot of gothic books, mainly because I'm a big chicken and get scared easily. (It's why I don't read or review horror books) The gothic books I've read aren't necessarily scary per se, but they can be creepy. There were times in this book when I felt a bit creeped out - which I guess is the purpose, right? SO, job well done, Ms. Kidd!

I love stories set in Victorian London. In this book, Bridie Devine, a talented female detective, is hired by Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick to investigate the kidnapping of his secret daughter and return her home. Rumors are that the girl is peculiar and has supernatural powers. This makes her a valuable commodity that other collectors would be interested in obtaining.

Bridie is an interesting character that I really liked. She is smart, capable and fearless, but still has a big heart. There are three main characters that assist her in her investigation, as well as a few peripheral ones. The first of the main characters is her seven foot maid, who Bridie rescued from a circus. The maid provides much needed security for Bridie, as well as a person to bounce ideas off. Another character is an apothecary that provides Bridie with her favorite mixture of herbs to smoke in her pipe, and lastly, a sensitive tattoo-covered ghost that insists Bridie knows him.

I love the relationship between Bridie and the ghost. While Bridie and her maid may be hardened to the horrible things they see, the ghost's reactions to these events and sights are much the same as a regular person's reactions would be. He also helps Bridie deal with painful memories from her past which often haunt her. Overall, even though I was occasionally creeped out, I enjoyed this gothic mystery. It was well-written, compelling and had a sense of fantasy about it. It's not a book that you'll race through. The author takes her time in telling the story, but it's worth the wait.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book but sadly it just wasn't for me. I have tried on several occasions to read it and in addition I bought the audio version to try to enhance my enjoyment. I'm sorry but this one just wasn't for me.

I was very excited about this book and have been dying to dive into it for sometime. It was my very first Book of the Month pick, and I have heard some interesting buzz about it. I started reading this story, and then was trying to rush to finish it before we left for vacation. That might be why I found the story a bit slow and cumbersome towards the end.
The entire tale we are following Bridget as she tried to rescue a little girl who is also a Merrow (or mermaid.) The entire story is filled with fantastical elements including a ghost who she apparently met as a child and fell in love with while he was human. I did like how the story intricately wove the fantasy into the reality of London during the 1800s. But the ending was a bit of a let down for me. I wasn't sure where I wanted the story to take me, but I thought it would have more of a conclusion. I'm not sure if the author is planning on bringing her female lead back in a future book, but the story did end on quite a cliff hanger. I do enjoy that from time to time, but my excitement for this book was not deserving of the story I read. It was well written, but has a very quirky style at the same time. I wouldn't tell you not to read this book, but it wasn't my all time favorite.

<b>ARC READ 15 Feb 2020 (★★★★)
AUDIO 29 Feb 2020 (★★★★★)</b>

<em>**ARC provided by Atria/S&S via NetGalley**</em>

What, audio re-read even b4 posting review for ARC?

Yes, b/c I c/n decide how to rate THINGS IN JARS by NTM author, Jess Kidd. Ultimately, decided on 4★ = split-the-baby compromise.

Lemme explain why…

5★ for Kidd’s lush/lyrical prose and fantastic imagery w/in storytelling. Firmly pulled me into “dark underbelly of Victorian London” and brought to life protagonist Bridie Devine (who is PI, not police detective) and other secondary characters. Truly, a certain HS Lit teacher would be orgasmic at some of the passages.

And yet, 3★ for Gothic mystery portion. Oh, it’s definitely Gothic in tone/nature, but mystery? Not so much.

Due to 3P omniscient POV, everything is revealed to the reader w/ each page turned—the who, the how, and the why (which pretty much removes THINGS IN JARS from traditional whodunit/howdunit/whydunit, no?). To me, real mystery (aside from ending) was how various characters were connected to, or intersected w/, others in the story.

Also, Kidd’s writing, whilst one of the best that I’ve read in recent memory, undermines faster pacing usually required for straight-up mystery. Confession: I skim-read portions of ARC b/c whilst appreciative, needed to know *right now*, dammit! Hence, re-read via audio, ably narrated by NTM Jacqueline Milne (further delayed my TR schedule but worth it).

So my take-away is this: THINGS IN JARS is not a Gothic mystery so much as a Gothic *tale* heavy on folklore/superstitions and occult/supernatural notions prevalent in Victorian England. If one expects first and foremost a mystery, then likely to be disappointed.

My Melbourne cousins raved about THINGS IN JARS last Fall, so I snapped up ARC when available in US. And I was not disappointed, especially re: writing, depth of characterisations and setting/world-building. IMVHO, THINGS IN JARS could easily stand as first in series (dare I hope?). If so, sign me up! I’d love more of Bridie, Ruby, Cora, et al.

~ 1 Mar 2020 ~

NB: Link #1 for GR review. #2 for Amazon review.

This is a book about a missing child set in Victorian London. It contains mystery, fantasy, science and a strong Victorian female lead, all of which I love. This book just didn’t do it for me however.

The writing style was very flowery and it lost my interest at times. I felt like more effort was put into the writing style than the actual story line. More often than not I felt myself thinking that I wished the author would just get to the point.

There is a lot of praise for this book and I can see why, it was just not for me.

So, I LOVED Himself by Jess Kidd. and when I say Loved I mean that it was one of the best books I've ever read in my life. The Story, the plotting, the setting, the characters and the writing style were Amazing. I really liked the setting and the characters in Things in Jars, but the ending was predictable and the writing style, gorgeous in so many places, didn't help because it slowed down everything.

During the 1800's in dreary London, a female investigator/doctor's assistant and a ghost only she (and animals) can see, try to solve the mystery of a kidnapping of a strange child whose origin is unknown.

Birdie Devine is called into service to locate a child, Christabel Berwick, the secret child of Edmund Berwick. Having just come off a case where she was unable to save the child she was looking for, and having just run into a ghost, Rudy, who says they have met in the past but refuses to tell her how they know each other, she is hesitant to take the case.

But she does decide to look for the kidnapped child, and through a series of (mis)adventures begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together as to what happened to Christabel.

Throughout the story, we get glimpses of Birdie's past. As an orphan, she was sold from one person to another, ending up in the family of a doctor. Although life was good and she learned much as his assistant, some family members and staff had cruel intentions.

As Birdie moves around London with her band of merry, quirky, characters, her maid Cora with a beard, Rudy her ghost and other oddball circus types, she begins to uncover what exactly happened to Christabel and perhaps more important, where she came from.

In the spirit of Diane Setterfield and her novel Once Upon a River, Kidd creates a world of real life intrigue with creative fantasy and imagination. She explores human's flaws and shortcomings and how people treat others who are different from them. The story is filled with mystery and imagination and incredible plot twists.

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #ThingsinJars #JessKid for the advanced copy.

This books is completely different from my typical reads! The writing is superb, beautiful and magical. I was in love with this book from page 1.

A supernatural mystery book, with a female detective, Birdie Devine. Birdie is determined to find out what happened to a young missing, illegitimate child. As long as you can suspend reality, this is well worth the read.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Bridie Devine is a detective hired to find a child that was kidnapped. While investigating, she realizes that perhaps the child is something else perhaps not human especially as she gets pulled into the seedy underbelly of Victorian London and meets all sorts of shady characters along the way. The child has garnered the unwanted attention of collectors of curiosities, but secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems. Set in 1800’s London, Things In Jars by Jess Kidd is definitely a fantastical tale of historical fiction coupled with folklore. We meet some interesting characters throughout the book including a ghost named Ruby and a 7-foot tall housemaid named Cora.

I loved all the quirky characters, especially Ruby and his relationship with Bridie. I hoped for a different ending for them, but understand why the author went the direction she did. The circus setting in some parts was interesting and definitely beneficial to the story.

The book is told from two different timelines. We go back and forth from 1843 where we learn of Bridie’s upbringing and what gives her the background she has in medicine, and 1863 where we focus on the kidnapping of Christabel and Bridie’s investigation in these matters. The two timelines intersected well and helped bring the story together.

I struggled with my rating because although I think the writing was exceptional, this story just wasn’t for me. I felt like the author’s descriptions at the beginning of each chapter were beautifully written, but not necessary to move the story along. They actually slowed it down a lot which almost made me not want to finish this book. I think that Victorian England is just not the right setting for me. Overall, if you like Victorian England and the fantasy genre, I think this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for my review copy! This was an intriguing story told in Victorian England, and it caught me from the very beginning. I took longer reading this book than I usually might, as I wanted to savor it! I don't want to give too much away, but it was an enjoyable, well-written story!

Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 bizarre stars

This book is wild, crazy, and inventive. It is a blend of Historical Fiction and Fantasy. The writing is superb. The story is set in Victorian England and the author, Jess Kidd, portrays the ugly underbelly of London with its slums and inhabitants struggling to keep body and soul together the best way they can. The hero, Bridie Devine is a strong woman in a society that does not value that.

Intermingled in the historical fiction is a large vein of fantasy. Bridie is hired to find a fantastical child whom many people want to control. This is Bridie’s quest, and a cast of strange characters including her 7-foot tall maid, and a pugilist ghost aids her.

It took me awhile to get into the story. It is probably the strangest book that I’ve read in a while. There is unexpected violence, and horrid descriptions of exploitation. The story line about the legend surrounding the stolen girl, and how the world reacts to her is wholly fantastical. That is not my normal reading genre. However, after I suspended disbelief about the fantasy elements and got immersed in the story, even the girl’s story made sense in the context of the book.

I rooted for Bridie and her band of crusaders to find and liberate the child from the clutches of the various bands of baddies who wanted to control her. It is a quest story embedded in a framework of historical fiction. I would recommend that you give this book some time to grow on you. The writing is inventive and the story is unique.


‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Atria Books; and the author, Jess Kidd; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.