Things in Jars (Kidd) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
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.
London Times (UK)


This pacy piece of Victorian crime fiction delivers chills galore…done one with panache…. Her imagination runs wild, in tightly controlled prose. Her concision makes the book feel like a high-pressure jar.
Guardian (UK)


A twisting, precis-defying plot…. Arresting, funny and well-written.
Sunday Times (UK)


Kidd has fashioned enjoyable, indelible characters and a plot that keeps readers guessing, smiling and maybe even flinching.
Minneaolis Star Tribune


An enchanting mix of fact and fairytale for those looking for an out of the ordinary mystery.
Huffington Post


Set in 1863 London…. Vividly sketched, larger-than-life characters…compensate for the glacial pace and the underdeveloped plot. Penny-dreadful fans will delight in this stylish tale, but readers seeking a satisfying puzzle should look elsewhere.
Publishers Weekly


Kidd's prose is a river of detail, metaphor, and jarringly apt turns of phrase, bringing to life all too vividly the grotesque maze of human wickedness that Bridie threads…. Fans of the macabre will be mesmerized by this horrific gothic tale, but some may be disturbed by the overt, grisly details. —Sara Scoggan, Fishkill, NY
Library Journal


(Starred review) [A] captivating cast of characters and delivers a richly woven tapestry of fantasy, folklore, and history. The atmosphere is thick with myriad unpleasant smells on offer, and readers may find themselves wrinkling their noses, but they will keep turning the pages.
Booklist


(Starred review) Kidd is an expert at setting a supernatural mood…. 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