Himself

A Novel

By: Jess Kidd

Narrated by: Aidan Kelly

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

Having been abandoned on the steps of an orphanage as an infant, lovable car thief and Dublin charmer Mahony assumed all his life that his mother had simply given him up. But when he receives an anonymous note suggesting that foul play may have led to his mother's disappearance, he sees only one option: to return to the rural Irish village where he was born and find out what really happened 26 years ago.

From the moment he sets foot in Mulderrig, Mahony's presence turns the village upside down. His uncannily familiar face and outsider ways cause a stir among the locals, who receive him with a mixture of excitement (the women), curiosity (the men), and suspicion (the pious).

Determined to uncover the truth about what happened to his mother, Mahony solicits the help of brash anarchist and retired theater actress Mrs. Cauley. This improbable duo concocts an ingenious plan to get the town talking about the day Mahony's mother disappeared and are aided and abetted by a cast of eccentric characters, both living and dead.

Himself is a simmering mixture - a blend of the natural everyday and the supernatural, folklore and mystery, and a healthy dose of quintessentially Irish humor. The result is a darkly comic crime story in the tradition of a classic Irish trickster tale, complete with a twisting and turning plot, a small town rife with secrets, and an infectious love of language and storytelling that is a hallmark of the finest Irish writers.

©2017 Jess Kidd (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio

Masterful narration of a clever story

Jess Kidd has written a very funny, very colorful mystery set in a small town in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland. Mahony is a 26-year-old man living in Dublin who was raised in an orphanage there. He receives a clue about his birth parents, and heads to Mulderrig to try to unravel the mystery.

The story alternates between the present (1976) and the time of his birth (1950 and earlier). The characters are brilliant, with Mrs Cauley, a geriatric actress masterminding the investigation. The cast includes many ghosts who also populate the village alongside the living. Jess Kidd's dialogue captures the lyrical slang of Ireland (often a bit salty, so don't get your bollix in a twist!) and her constant similes had me laughing out loud. I do have to say that the story gets to be almost overwhelming about 3/4 of the way through the book and I found myself often skipping back a minute or two to make sure I didn't miss something. There is an incredible amount of action and many characters involved in it. As a warning, there are several gruesome descriptions of killings throughout the story: while this book has much humor throughout, it is a dark mystery at its core.

This story is brilliantly brought to life by Aiden Kelly's narration. He has a different voice for each character, and seamlessly switches from the dead impish little girl, Ida, to the laid-back Mahoney, or the sanctimonious false piety of Father Quinn and Mrs. Kelly. This book was meant to be heard in an Irish brogue.

Lush and imaginative and well performed

Aiden Kelly does a superb job performing and narrating this imaginative novel, lushly and brazenly written about basically the stranger who comes into a small town and cleans up its little bit of corruption for it. There is a bit of horror, fantasy, mystery, and some Clint Eastwood Wild West genre going on to tell this story set in a little town in Ireland with a delightful array of characters that Aiden Kelly masterfully distinguished and embodies. This novel thrills, amuses, and entertains.

Morbid

This is not my style book. Because of all of the reviews and description is the reason why I bought it. Just a warning to others this is really for people who love exploring the many ways to kill and be killed. Unsettling and unpleasant but I listened to it through because I did want to know who did it. I hope I never stumble on a book like this again since once I start a book I have a hard time stopping.

Clever, darkly humorous mystery

I really enjoyed this book. Sly humor and dark mystery abound when a young man returns to village of his birth seeking answers as to what happened to his mother.
This novel is difficult to sum up. It’s style is unique. It is a who-dunnit twenty years ago, and who’s doing it now, with a spiritualist twist. Really great character development. I listened to it twice straight through, because I wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.

Fantastic

Incredible book, lyrically written. Told like a story passed down like a myth from a trusted grandmother. The Irish narration makes me want to cross the sea and begin a new life. Pain, friendship, discovery and growth are all explored like a new doctor picking through an infected wound, but shot through with colour and life and poetry. Highly recommended!

Not Family Friendly - but an engaging story

Any additional comments?

The story is interesting. The characters are hard to keep track of if you are listening over the course of a couple of days. The language is novel and therefore engaging, but it gets really florid at times. The ending is good. Overall I don't regret listening to it but I'm not sure I will seek out other works by the author.
I started listening as part of a family trip and it is worth note that even though my kids are 16 and 18, this is some pretty rough stuff that I didn't feel comfortable sharing as a family. The book begins with a very graphically described gruesome murder and there are a number of sex scenes.

A good story well told

I found the combination of mystery and just a bit of magical thinking very refreshing.
The narration was superb.

Great read

Looking for a well told, easy listen, entertaining story? This hits the spot. Beautifully descriptive, funny, and charming.

More like this, please.

Secrets upon secrets, a missing person mystery, all with some magic sprinkled though out.
Yes, please!
Jess Kidd is masterful at combining the real and surreal in this book. And, Aiden Kelly does a superb job with narration. One of my all time favorites on audible.
I couldn't agree more with the publishers review below:
"Himself is a simmering mixture - a blend of the natural everyday and the supernatural, folklore and mystery, and a healthy dose of quintessentially Irish humor. The result is a darkly comic crime story in the tradition of a classic Irish trickster tale, complete with a twisting and turning plot, a small town rife with secrets, and an infectious love of language and storytelling that is a hallmark of the finest Irish writers."

Unique and entertaining

Great story. Full cast of characters. Wonderful narration. I enjoyed every moment of this book.