Things in Jars: A Novel - Hardcover

Jess Kidd is an award-winning author with a PhD in creative writing from St. Mary’s University in London. She grew up as part of a large family from Ireland’s County Mayo and now lives in London with her daughter. Her first book, Himself, was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards. Learn more at JessKidd.com.

“Miraculous and thrilling . . . A few pages in and I was determined to read every word Jess Kidd has ever written. “ —Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Tale and Once Upon a River

"A perfect mix of hilarity, the macabre, and a touch of romance, THINGS IN JARS is ridiculously entertaining, all as it sneaks up and makes you feel things. Would that more books had such daring. The language is perfection. Simply: Jess Kidd is so good it isn't fair." —Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation and Light from Other Stars

"Things in Jars is an extraordinary tale full of dark magic, wicked humour, and hugely entertaining characters all of whom are beautifully drawn. An absolute treat!." —Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things

"Kidd (Mr. Flood's Last Resort, 2018, etc.) is an expert at setting a supernatural mood perfect for ghosts and merrows, but her human villains make them seem mundane by comparison. With so much detail and so many clever, Dickensian characters, readers might petition Kidd to give Bridie her own series. Creepy, violent, and propulsive; a standout gothic mystery." —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"Jess Kidd’s stories are so magical, she should be a genre all to herself ... Things in Jars is exquisite. Perfect storytelling.” —Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

"This unusual Victorian detective tale is hugely satisfying and beautifully written . . . Kidd gives the world what is instantly one of fiction's great spectral double acts." —The Times (UK)

“This pacy piece of Victorian crime fiction delivers chills galore ... done with panache ... Her imagination runs wild, in tightly controlled prose. Her concision makes the book feel like a high-pressure jar.” —The Guardian

"Thrilling, mysterious, twisted but more than anything, beautifully written and filled to bursting point with heart." —Graham Norton, New York Times bestselling author of Holding

“The murky grotesqueries of Victorian London. The misfits, miscreants and monsters. The tenderness found in the most unexpected of places. I savoured every page of Things in Jars.” —Claire McGlasson, author of The Rapture

”Things in Jars drew me in from the first sentence and held me, transfixed. Utterly beguiling and original, Jess Kidd writes so beautifully that every sentence was a delight. This novel deserves to soar.” —Holly Cave, author of The Memory Chamber

"A twisting, precis-defying plot . . . Arresting, funny and well-written." —Sunday Times

"A masterclass in storytelling. One of those books that truly does make you laugh out loud, that shakes and remakes what you think a story can be. It's rare to find a book so satisfying." —Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of Vardø