About this item
In this "miraculous and thrilling" (Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling 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 wont rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing secrets about her past that shed 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.
About the Author
I was brought up in London as part of a large family from County Mayo and started writing in the cupboard under the stairs. Being a shy child among great storytellers it seemed like a good plan to share my stories by writing them down. I haven't stopped since. I'm currently Writer in Residence at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College where I returned to education as an adult learner.My latest book is a Victorian detective mystery called Things in Jars (Canongate, U.K. out now. Atria, U.S. out Feb 2020) . I'm busy working on Novel Four now and also developing original TV projects - watch this space!I love to hear from readers, so do get in touch viajesskidd.comTwitter @JessKiddHerself HimselfA BBC Radio 2 Book Club ChoiceShortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2016Shortlisted for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award 2017Longlisted for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger 2017The HoarderA BBC Radio 2 Book Club ChoiceShortlisted Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year 2019'Dirty Little Fishes'Costa Short Story Award 2016
