This well written novel makes you want to take a trip to Ireland. A young man researching the mystery of his abandonment as an infant takes us to the village of his birth. He is remarkable in many ways, however it is his ability to see the dead that takes us on paths not well traveled. The poetry of Irish legend and folklore are intertwined with a well paced mystery. Will read more by this author.

This was my last book read of March and it was a great one to go out on! Such a quirky and endearing book, darker than I expected-a magical murder mystery that is set in 1976 Ireland with glimpses back to 1950 and a few years in between.

Mahony is a handsome young drifter of sorts who was left at a Dublin orphanage as a baby. When one of the nuns dies, he is given a letter about his mother that implies she didn't just leave him of her own accord and he travels to the quirky village of Mulderrig to find out what happened to her. Mulderrig is full of secrets and of ghosts (that Mahony can see and communicate with) and many of the townspeople are not happy about having him there--especially when his mother caused them such trouble 26 years ago. With the help of Mrs, Cauley (a wealthy, somewhat over-the-top aged and fading actress) and a few of her friends, they set out to solve the mystery.

Wonderful writing and imagery and an eccentric cast of characters both living and dead populate the book, along with dark humor and plenty of intrigue to keep the pages turning. Hard to believe this one is a debut novel--I'll definitely be reading more of Jess Kidd's future work.

Himself by Jess Kidd is a murder mystery couched in the magic of Irish folklore. The book sets up the folklore and the background beautifully. The beginning is colorful and atmospheric. However, the pace is slow, and the characters, plot or setting don't really build. The plot ends up a little scattered and falls a little short of the build up. I do love the premise and setting and enjoy the descriptive writing.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/04/himself.html

Reviewed for NetGalley

Himself by Jess Kidd is an utterly charming darkly comic wonder of Irish magic realism. The ghosts in this small village are ever-present, but they keep their intrusions minimal, sweet, funny, and, at times, useful. An orphan whose mother lived—and probably died—in this village returns in his twenties from Dublin to find answers to the mystery of his birth. The writing is captivating. One brief example:

Bridget narrows her eyes. She has the disheveled appearance that comes from sharing her bed with cats and eating her meals out of a tin.

Father Quinn was cursed to inherit her as his housekeeper, as if he wasn’t already significantly burdened. But Bridget came with the parochial house, just as her mother had before her. Bridget is the first to admit that she isn’t a patch on her late mammy in the housekeeping department. Although she can rewire a house, drink Tadhg Kerrigan under the table, and castrate a bull calf singlehandedly, none of these are prerequisites for a (successful) priest’s housekeeper.... Unlike her daughter, Mother Doosey took exemplary care of her priests. It was common knowledge that you could eat a meal from Mother Doosey’s front doorstep without the slightest unease; nowadays Father Quinn rarely finishes his dinner without coughing up a hairball.

This was a very well written, insightful book. I really enjoyed it. (Amazon reviewed)

This enchanting novel had me by the end of the prologue during which a young girl is murdered, and while her murderer is burying her body, the forest surrounds her infant with ferns, branches, leaves and grasses so that when the man comes back to kill the child too, he cannot find him.

The baby boy, Mahoney, is dropped off at a Dublin orphanage, and we meet him as he comes back to Mulderrig 26 years later to find out what happened to his mother. His arch nemesis at the orphanage, Sister Veronica had recently died and the priest gave Mahoney a sealed envelope with the statement "for when the child is grown" on it. In the envelope is a picture of him with his mother, and written on the back "Your name is Frances Sweeney. Your mammy was Orla Sweeney. You are from Mulderrig, Co. Mayo. This is a picture of yourself and her. For your information she was the curse of the town, so they took her from you. They all lie, so watch yourself, and know that your mammy loved you." He has always known in his heart that she loved him and didn't abandon him. Now he's determined to find out what happened to her.

His presence in the town, causes a lot of uproar among both the living and the dead (who he can see, though he never has seen his mother), and soon the town is all aflutter remembering his mother, and determined to keep secrets secret. Along the way Mahoney finds some unusual allies and the search for the truth is on!

This book is humorous, magical, and endearing while still solving the real mystery of what happened to Orla.

Kudos to Jess Kidd on a fine read, and many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this wonderful book!

I thorough enjoyed this book. While I typically don't read books in the fantasy category with dead people lurking around and supernatural events taking place, this book grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't wait to get back to the characters and the story. You will have many good laughs while a murder mystery is unfolding.

I received this book for free for an unbiased review. Posted this review on goodreads.

Himself is the story of Mahony, a unique young man in 1970s Ireland. Mahony has recently traveled to Mulderrig, a small town, to find out the truth about what happened to his biological mother before he was surrendered to an orphanage in Dublin. He has reason to believe that there was foul play involved and is determined to find the truth, though the town seems just as determined to stop him from finding it.

This was not my usual read. I requested it from Netgalley because something about it piqued my interest. I'm always interested in things set in Ireland, as it's basically the biggest bucket list destination for me (my grandfather grew up there). The story also sounded intriguing, and it turned out to be so. The mystery is a bit of a slow burn, and this book was not a high-action thriller by any means (though there are moments that are action-oriented). Instead, it's more the story of Mahony and what his arrival means for the town of Mulderrig, which is a town that doesn't tolerate those outside of the norm and does not want to be reminded of Mahony's mother Orla.

As Mahony immerses himself in the town of Mulderrig, the reader is treated to portraits of the varied townspeople. Many of these characters are extremely well-developed, and no one is above suspicion when it comes to the mystery around Orla's possible disappearance. Some of the older women in town aid Mahony in his quest, while others are less eager and conspire instead to get Mahony to leave. At turns, I found myself laughing out loud at Mrs. Cauley, an older woman who helps Mahony (and is a bit scandalous at times), and also smirking triumphantly when characters who pretend to be morally upstanding get their comeuppance.
There is another aspect of this book that adds to the  mystery and the atmosphere, but I'm not going to spoil it for you here. I didn't know until I read the book and I found it was an odd but pleasant surprise. Just know it contributes to an sense of otherworldliness, and adds another layer of mystery to Orla's life and disappearance, as do chapters that flit back to show her life and fill in more of the mystery for us as readers (or create more questions).

The town here is just as much a character as the people who make it up, and you get the sense that a picturesque place is not so kind or friendly. It reminds me of books that set up small town Americas something dark and shady. Overall, I recommend this book for those who like mysteries and appreciate Ireland and its myths. It's quite a nice novel and I really enjoyed it. Superb writing, a slow burn of a mystery, and some interesting surprises make for a great read.

Note: I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In 1976, Mahony receives a picture with an inscription on the back explaining his mother came from a small town in Ireland. He, himself, had grown up in orphanages, never knowing if he was abandoned intentionally or by accident. With his new information, he sets out to learn more about his past and hopefully find answers to his lifelong questions. What he finds instead is a town steeped in mystery, ghosts and the timelessness that only Ireland can provide. This is a wonderful book, written with an eye towards the magical and mysterious; both at work as Mahony grapples with his own questions while awakening the town's not-so-fond memories of his mother 26 years earlier. The author has an amazing talent that cannot be overstated. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This certainly was an unusual book, which I enjoyed immensely. It’s a tale set in the little Irish village of Mulderrig with a cast of oddball characters. It’s 1976, and the charming Mahony comes to town in search of his mother, who abandoned him at an orphanage 26 years earlier. Or did she? It appears foul play may have been behind his abandonment, and the small village has mixed feelings about his arrival. The poetic writing style pulled me in at the beginning, with Kidd’s description of the town:

For Mulderrig is a place like no other. Here the colors are a little bit brighter and the sky is a little bit wider. Here the trees are as old as the mountains and a clear river runs into the sea. People are born to live and stay and die here. They don’t want to go. Why would they when all the roads that lead to Mulderrig are downhill so that leaving is uphill all the way?

The tale is a blend of sleuthing, paranormal activities, humor and, of course, a love interest for Himself. While this is Irish storytelling at its best, it is overall a dark tale of violence and some gruesomeness, but perfectly blended with humor and whimsy. Mahony sees ghosts and, like I said, some images are gruesome. Yet there is Johnnie, the ghost who never leaves the side of his love, and kisses her cheek softly. The characters are so well-developed (even the ghosts), they come to life with each turn of the page.

I was impressed by this debut novel, and recommend it highly. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book this good. Be forewarned, this is one you really can’t put down once you start!

What a fun mystery with paranormal characters, Irish setting and the mystery of a missing mom. Mahoney arrives in town certain that the answers to his past will be discovered only to find the dead roaming and a certain resistance to his presence from the living. I really enjoyed stepping outside the norm and meeting the citizens of Mulderrig.

Mahoney was dropped off at a Dublin orphanage when he was just a baby. Now, 26 years later, he has come into possession of a note that tells him of his mother's name and where she was from. Mahoney decides to return to the small, west coast Irish town of Mulderrig to see if he can figure out the truth of his mother. However, Orla Sweeney was a blight on the town of Mulderrig and most of the folks are glad to have her gone, by whatever means. Orla and her son share the gift of ghosts-and the ghosts tell secrets about the townsfolk. When Mahoney returns and reveals his parentage, many of the townsfolk are put out and don't want the memories of Orla to return. With the help of an aging thespian, Mrs. Cauley, Mahoney will use his gifts and the town's fear to find out what happened to his mother.



Himself is an amazing story of mystery, secrets, acceptance and a bit of magic. I was immediately pulled in from the beginning when we see Orla's murder and Mahoney's return to the strange town. I was especially interested in all of the ghosts that Mahoney is able to see and loved his interactions with them, especially Ida. Mahoney's journey took me to a beautiful and haunting Irish town in 1976. From an enchanted forest to a low-tide island and magnificent old buildings, reveal Mulderrig's appeal. Even more than the setting, the cast of characters is expertly drawn. Both the living and the dead receive full attention in the hunt for revealing Orla's fate. For me, Mrs. Cauley stole the show with her straightforward attitude and unrelenting will. I am in love with her comebacks and her promptly placed farts in church. The mystery of who exactly killed Orla kept me reading. I really wanted Mahoney to connect with his mother's ghost. I do wish there was more of a resolve there, but the ending was still satisfying. The mix of history, mystery, and grand characters sprinkled with a bit of supernatural created a wonderful world that I absolutely could not put down.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

I featured this title in a round-up here:
http://www.bethfishreads.com/2017/03/8-books-by-women-to-read-this-month.html

A smart, witty, intriguing, and mysterious story that pulls you in right off the opening pages. With her sophisticated blend of history, culture, mystery, and a touch of strange, Jess Kidd writes a beautiful magical tale that will entice any reader.

Set in Ireland, Kidd immerses readers to the sights, sounds, and beauty of a small town of Mulderrig. Mahony will retrace and discover what happened to his birth mother and her disappearance. It is there in Mulderrig where the beauty of Kidd’s prose are exposed as she slowly unfolds the truth, lies, and secrets. As these revelations comes forth, Kidd never derails from Mahony’s main objective. So if you are looking a tale that was strangely beautiful and well-written then I urge you to take a chance on this book that was a blend of mystery, magic, and Irish charm.

I seem to be on a kick for reading books which take place in Ireland lately. Not that I'm saying that's a bad thing, but it's amusing that after reading CITY OF BOHANE, my mind seemed much more well-put-together for this particular book. The two don't share much else in common, but honestly, the charm of Irish writing is more than enough to keep me paying attention.

And Kidd definitely knows how to tell a story.

HIMSELF follows the story of a man named Mahony, left as a young lad and sent to an orphanage--now come back from Dublin to his small hometown of Mulderrig. He's assumed all these years that his mother just gave him up, but now he's got reason to believe that there was foul play amuck, and the only place to have answers is Mulderrig. But his mother's name isn't a welcome one in the little village, and the bastard son of the town's wayward child reappearing doesn't make him the most popular in town. But in conjunction with the town's notorious retired theatre actress (and a bit of a rabble rouser) Mrs. Cauley, Mahony is determined to get answers, whether the townspeople like it or not.

What's interesting is that there's a strong thread of supernatural elements that traces through this entire book, and it makes up a good chunk of plot bits...but it never really feels like it's trying to make a big deal out of it. Ghosts are just kind of a thing that happen, and the ability to see them is about as noteworthy as having heterochromatic eyes or being able to speak a dead language. It's a nice change from most of the other supernatural tales we see, with their heavy-handed nature and over-the-top necessity for making Everything Supernatural Very Important And You Should Pay Attention. It's tiring and takes away from the believability of the story. This lets it be an underscore--an important one, but a low-key one--and manages to walk the line beautifully.

The ending is a little Greek theatre; there's not a great deal of clear resolution. Oh, the fact that the resolution happens is very clear, but who's being affected by what gets a little lost in vague wording and ambiguous pronouns. (This was the case for CITY OF BOHANE as well, which makes me wonder if it's a common theme in Irish writing.) It didn't so much take away from the end, and more just left me a little unsatisfied. I hadn't really expected a clear-cut ending, but this was only a hair's breadth shy of one, and I felt like it got taken out from under me. That may just be my reading, however. I am somewhat noted for missing a word or two as I read, and then being told later that I'm just bad at paying attention. You'd think I'd be better at that by now, but I do it everywhere else in my life too, so I don't know why my reading should be any different.

The characters are believable, as outrageous as they are. This is a small town; I grew up in a small town and I know how big and ridiculous the local characters can be. Any large idea, anything blown out of proportion, and particularly any deep-set religious belief is entirely fair game. It just leaves you shaking your head, wondering how these people could be so incredibly blind...and knowing in your heart that there's no other way this story could have gone.

There's nothing truly overwhelming about the book, but I don't mark that against it so much. Not every book is going to knock your socks off and leave you looking for them in the next county over, and I'm not sure I would want every book to. Sometimes you just want a calm, quaint little story, filled with good writing and dark humor, to carry you along and tell you a tale, stepping down the streets along an Irish river. And that's exactly what this book delivers. Well worth the read, and I'd be interested to see what more Kidd does in the future.

Rating: **** (Recommended)

[Rating: 4.25]

A crime novel that reads like a spooky fairytale... with one of the most unforgettable characters that I've read in a long time. A village with many dark secrets... lurking just around the corner make for luscious storytelling.

Going into this book, I got extremely startled by the intensity and graphic violence of the prologue, where we witness a scene of death that is a leading force in this "investigation." After that cold splash of water woke me up, I was again surprised by our MC, Mahoney's "magical" ability in the supernatural world. Every chapter, long or short, kept on adding layers to the mystery that aired in this quaint village in Ireland (aka Mulderrig)

This book was darkly atmospheric, with the unknown woods as the main setting where things went down. It has a very whimsical and charming feeling in some parts, yet there is always a dark corner of the world lurking beneath the surface. Kidd really knows how to reel you into this Grimms-like fairytale but that doesn't make it seem completely unreal, more like a bonkers dream that you have when you're asleep.

By all means my favorite character was the "grandmotherly" figure in this story, or the guiding hand shall I say, Mrs.Cauley. She was a comical relief that was sorely needed, and lived in a room with books literally stocked with piles of books from the floor to the ceiling, so that it was hard to get to her bed. She's fierce and determined investigator that absolutely won't give up until the truth is revealed.

My only complaint was that the "bad villainous" characters seemed like a stereotypical mold/character type that didn't strike me as well-developed enough. The "good" people were well-developed, in a way that felt like they could be my neighbor. Other than that, this debut is a dazzling original with refreshing lyrical, poetic, and touching prose that will stay with me for a long time.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

Himself is Jess Kidd’s debut novel, and it clearly identifies her as a rising star in the literary world. Ms. Kidd’s lyrical writing insists the words be heard with an Irish lilt in your mind. The story is told in a third person narrative, and the storyline alternates between two time periods. This allows the reader a little more insight into the mystery than the characters have. It also adds more intensity to the sense of foreboding as the story progresses.

Perfectly paced and loaded with charming and quirky characters, Himself is engaging and enchanting even with the constant sense of dread. The dead are equally important characters as the living in this tale. They are ever-present, and some provide clues to the secrets of the seemingly bucolic and boring small village, and the village of Mulderrig has plenty of dark secrets to hide.

Main character, Mahoney, has returned to his home town to follow up on the mysterious note given to him after leaving a Dublin orphanage. He wants answers to the questions of why he was given up and where his mother is currently. Mahoney is plagued—or graced—with the ability to see the dead, so on his first walk into town, he is greeted by both living and spectral characters. Two of the most interesting townsfolks are Mrs. Cauley and Bridget Doosey. Both women had met Orla—Mahoney’s mother, and both had long questioned her disappearance. The three form a formidable and tenacious team. Their efforts to determine Orla’s fate stir up all sorts of emotions as well as supernatural spirits and happenings.

From start to finish the story is eerie, suspenseful and yet, hopeful. I had very specific hopes for how the story would unfold. Some of those hopes were realized and many were dashed, and isn’t that so much like real life? You can’t always predict the end, you certain don’t always get what you want throughout the journey, but things get sorted out in a fashion. The story zenith is shocking and frightening; I was left fearing the worst possible outcomes for all involved. It was a very good fright! Himself is the perfect blend of folklore, ghost story, and murder mystery, with the tiniest pinch of romance thrown in the mix. It is a fantastic tale of what is and what could have been that I highly recommend.

HIMSELF is one of the most unusual mysteries I’ve read; the experience was like getting pulled into a vivid 20th century Irish folk tale. Set in the small village of Mulderrig, this wild story alternates between the 1970s and 1940s/50s. Mahony grew up in a Dublin orphanage, with very few clues about his beginning. When he finally gets a lead, 26-year old Mahony travels back to Mulderrig determined to find out what became of this mother, stirring up all kind of chaos in the process. The book is full of quirky, funny, tragic characters, both living and dead. Mahony can communicate with the dead, sometimes they’re helpful, other times not so much. Loved that Mahony was referred to as “a [County] Mayo Heathcliff.” I enjoyed the blending of magical realism into the twisted mystery. The lyrical language and dark humor were also a delight. Impressive debut!

I sincerely believe that this is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read.

The prose is luxurious. You can just wrap yourself in it as the scenes play out in front of you. I liked every single character, even the evil ones, because of their depth and complexity. The town in which it takes place, Mulderrig, reminded me a lot of Brigadoon, a hideaway hamlet untouched by reality but also home to a sinister set of secrets. I have never been to Ireland but reading about Mulderrig took me there. The lyrical way that the characters talk with local slang was a very fun touch.

There is a magical, fantastical quality to the story. The way the language flows is beguiling, enthralling in its beauty. But there is an eeriness that comes from the story's purpose and the constant influence of the dead on the living characters. The flashback chapters to how they met their individual demises were deliciously wicked and heart-wrenching. This mixture of the beautiful and the macabre makes for a captivating experience. It truly is a book I didn't want to end and my favorite read of 2017 so far. I would (and will) recommend to anyone and everyone.

Favorite quotation: "For the dead have secondhand stories to share with you, if you'd only let them get a foot in the door. But the dead can watch. And they can wait."

Note: I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author Jess Kidd for the opportunity to do so.

Enjoyed every minute of this book about Mahoney (not his real name) and his search for his missing mother. Left on the doorstep of a Dublin orphanage as an infant, Mahoney has returned to the town of his birth searching for answers. What happened to his mother? Did she 'catch a bus' out of town as the townspeople insist, or did something more sinister...more violent...occur? Who (and where) is his father? With the help of a handful of accomplices, not all of this world, the truth gradually comes to light.
Not a dull moment in this debut novel! I would highly recommend.