Book Review: Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

What a cool, weird, eerily atmospheric tale this was! I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the description, but I was definitely intrigued. Once I started reading, I became more enthralled with each page – this is a wholly original and fascinating tale populated by a fabulous cast of characters who leapt off the page.

This is my first book by Kidd but definitely will NOT be my last. She has a marvelous ability to derive a sense of time and place from words on a page, and when you combine that stage-setting with an intricate, well-paced and slightly off-kilter (in the best possible way) plot, the result is a marvelous tale that grabs you and holds on for dear life. I can see this one as a series – there’s so much potential for future sleuthing with Bridie, she’s an excellent protagonist, full of quirks and foibles and enough personality for three heroines. The supporting cast was equally excellent, from the good to the bad to the morally indifferent.

Kidd toys with the nature of evil and of greed like a cat with a mouse; teasing readers with her revelations, misdirections, secrets, and tales-within-the-tale until it’s impossible to tell which end is up. It makes for a fantastic (literally and figuratively) tale that I couldn’t put down. Things got a little muddy near the end – not enough to change my opinion of the book but just enough to add an aura of “what the…?!” to it all. It was the only tarnish on an otherwise spotless tale, and it was mild at that. This was a great find and I’m looking forward to more from Jess Kidd!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.