Things in Jars: A Novel

Jess Kidd

Feb 2020 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

In this “miraculous and thrilling” (Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling author) mystery for fans of The Essex Serpent and The Book of Speculation, Victorian London comes to life as an intrepid female sleuth wades through a murky world of collectors and criminals to recover a remarkable child.

Bridie Devine—flame-haired, pipe-smoking detective extraordinaire—is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors in this age of discovery.

Winding her way through the sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing secrets about her past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot-tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where nothing is quite what it seems.

Blending darkness and light, Things in Jars is a stunning, “richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history” (Booklist, starred review) that explores what it means to be human in inhumane times.

Ratings and reviews

Jess Kidd introduces readers to a fascinating new fictional heroine, Bridie Devine, her primary character in her latest offering Things in Jars. This novel, by the author of Himself and Mr. Flood’s Last Resort, is a chimera of historical mystery and fantasy, with a pinch of romance added as well. Bridie Devine is a figure regarded with suspicious respect in Victorian England in her role as a female detective with an odd choice of interests and expertise. Her natural intellect and powers of deduction have become enhanced by an independent spirit and steely hardiness developed as a byproduct of her untraditional Irish background. When Bridie is brought in to help recover the kidnapped child of a Baronet, she wonders why she was selected for the assignment in lieu of the traditional authorities. It becomes clear, however, that the nature of this case involves some unsavory and fantastical elements that require a unique approach. A mystery regarding Bridie’s own past is interwoven with a main storyline that encompasses ghosts, mermaids, Resurrection Men, exploited circus “freaks,” and genetic oddities that attract the interest of unethical medical experimenters. There is a lot going on in this novel, and the stylized language and brief forays into the second person perspective exacerbate a sense of disorientation. Kidd does a fairly good job of keeping the narrative on track, however, with a steady pace and chapter/section breaks that help prevent the reader from getting too lost along the way. Although Things in Jars concludes in a satisfying way, the author leaves open the possibility of a sequel or series featuring Bridie Devine- a character that is compelling enough pique a reader’s interest in revisiting her world. Thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I received a free electronic copy of this excellent novel from Netgalley, Jess Kidd and Atria Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my Personal opinion of Things in Jars. I adored Himself, the debut historical novel by Jess Kidd, and Things in Jars is also very compelling. We visit two periods of time in the seaport in Victorian London, England - the 1860s, and then back to the 1840s, repeat. Things in Jars is peopled with a varied and inviting cast. Our storyteller is Bridie Devine, female detective extraordinaire who is most often accompanied by the shade of Ruby Doyle, a tattooed, deceased professional boxer and a man of the sea, and occasionally with Cora Butter, and often in possession of Things in Jars, curios and unnatural things perfectly preserved. In Jars. Bridie worked with her grandmother at dissecting and preserving when very young and was sold to John Eames for a guinea when she was 8 or 10 years old. Now an adult, she is very careful with her freedom. Life in old England was anything but merry in the substructure of life that Bridie was enmeshed in, but she has friends - good friends. The odd occasional raven, some medical professionals, misfits and miscreants, those wielding dark magic, and curiosities both young and old. Her focus in Things in Jars is finding the kidnapped secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, Christabel Berwick. I often lost sight of the endgame, however. Open to any page of this novel and read it aloud. It brings us very special, very colorful, very physical action on each and every page. It is a book to share with friends and family. Jess Kidd is of a different mindset than the rest of us, a very special journey into the cockles of your mind... Alive, alive oh...

Imagination! This is my first time reading Jess Kidd's book. Things In Jars storyline is amazing; mysteries, romance, dark side, heroine, magic, folktales, using your imagination, ghost, interesting characters, blast from the past, it`s a roller coaster. I love how the author have a reader`s guide, and conversation with author, because I wanted to know how this story and title came in mind! Add this to your book club list!!!!

About the author

Jess Kidd is the award-winning author of The Night Ship, Himself, Mr. Flood’s Last Resort, and Things in Jars. Learn more at JessKidd.com.