Things in Jars

A Novel

By: Jess Kidd

Narrated by: Jacqueline Milne

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In this "miraculous and thrilling" (Diane Setterfield, number one New York Times best-selling 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.

©2020 Jess Kidd (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

Fun story.

I very much enjoyed this story. The story is sweet and interesting. If you enjoy Jess Kidd you will like this book.

Full of wonderment and fantasy

A very interesting mystery set in Victorian times. Not really a mystery more of a chase.
I enjoyed the looks into the heroine’s past more than her current pursuit.

Perfect!

Written in a Victorian style, it's alive with complex characters and dozens of amazing story lines. A must listen for Tim Burton fans.

Excellent story, distracting narration

Jess Kidd is a consummate storyteller and a fine writer, and her books are even more enjoyable when paired with the right narrator (as with “Himself”, which I highly recommend as an audiobook — just stellar). There are plenty of Irish actors who have mastered English accents, so I’m not sure why they chose one who hasn’t, especially for a story set in England. The narrator can just about manage a lispy Essex, but her RP sounds more like an American who’s had a stroke, and the multiple mispronunciations of words are an added distraction. So I might recommend reading this one instead—it’s a cracking tale.

Good book

Cute book, time lines jump around alot, you have to pay attention to the years and who the story is about. I wouldn't read it again but I am glad I did.

Not for those who swoon at the mention of blood.

The title was the hook that caught me. As children, my now deceased brother and I were fascinated by objects in jars of formaldehyde and would search for them in old museums. I have little interest in mystery novels. The narration of the first paragraph was so different and intriguing. Stories and dreams and memories interspersed holds the reader/listener tightly....for one would not want to miss even the most subtle information. Set in a world designed of dark and dangerous macabre. The setting itself is a character and unique as those who are named and nameless.

Refreshingly different!

I found this book on a post of February must read books and decided to give it a go. Definitely worth it. There was one loose end in the story that didn’t get tied up and I think the story was better for it. If you’re looking for a different sort of listen and enjoy a mystery then I definitely recommend this book!

Wondrous

I adore this book. Jess Kidd skillfully intertwines stories from different times in Bridie's life, with an delicious sense of dread that had my on the edge of my seat. Characters are quirky and well-developed, and Ms Kidd wields descriptive phrases like a paintbrush. The narration was excellent, with easily recognizable voices and artistic flair that was not overdone. I occasionally struggled with understanding a couple thick accents, but this didn't detract from the book for me. I love this book, and am hoping we will hear more from Bridie in the future. I will definitely listen to it again.

Entrancing Victorian novel

I was a little unsure of this book at first, but I was drawn in by the authenticity of the period language and the unraveling of the story’s details. Jaqueline is the perfect narrator for this book and does an amazing job with all the characters.

Fantastic Read

Couldn't stop listening. Fantastic Story. The Macabre, the interaction of characters, best story i havenlistened to in a long time. You could actually picture the characters and it read like a movie.