Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

Such wonderful things come in jars.  Pickles, jalapeno peppers, a living heart, malformed sea creatures . . .  Can you hear the giggling wine bottles?  Stop for a moment and catch the waft of human misery, take note of the rats without eyes, and the sweet face of a little girl with an innocent smile that masks her pike teeth.  Grotesque is done to a tasty turn here. 

Bridie Devine is a most unusual investigator.  She reads corpses and can also perform simple surgeries.  A secret child has been taken, and the pipe-smoking Bridie is hired to find her.  She is assisted by a bearded giantess and a ghostly apparition with a top hat, baggy drawers, and moving skin illustrations.

Jess Kidd’s “Things in Jars” is a dark tale spun with magic, intrigue, and a hint of the bizarre.

Bridie is a tiny, yet fierce female detective in Victorian era London. She smokes a pipe, is well-versed in human anatomy; and is often accompanied by her extraordinarily tall, bewhiskered housemaid and a mysterious ghost.

Her last case didn’t go too well, so she’s rather anxious to solve this next mystery surrounding a kidnapped girl. This girl isn’t any ordinary child though; rumor has it she’s a merrow—a creature similar to a mermaid but with needle-like teeth.

Bridie’s past returns to haunt her as she goes about attempting to retrieve the missing girl, and unearthing clues as to her true identity. At the same time, she slowly begins to piece together the identity of her faithful ghost companion who she’s rather fond of without knowing why he’s so familiar.

This book was phenomenal. Each character was brought to life in the most vivid way. I don’t know which character I loved most—Bridie, the ghost (Ruby), the housemaid (Cora), or even Prudhoe with his ravens.

It was dark and at times disturbing, but there was just enough humor and tinges of hope to make this one of those rare books that one won’t easily forget.

This story has the same gritty, dark charm that carried The Doll Factory. Set in the late 1800’s in London, this dark tale follows the determined Bridie Devine. She is called upon to solve the abduction of a mysterious girl named Christabel Berwick. Purported daughter of a Baronet, Bridie finds more secrets than answers from the Berwick household. Tales abound of the unique characteristics of the missing girl. With the aid of her 7 foot tall housemaid, and Ruby, a top hat tossing ghost, Bridie sets out to solve not only the mystery of who took Christabel, but also the mystery of what Christabel really is. An expert blend of mystery and fantasy fiction. A genuine delight to read. Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy. Review posted to Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Macabre,thrilling Victorian.These are the words that come to mind when asked to address this novel. You can almost smell the brocade and velvet. Birdie the main character is both hero and villain . Her long seeded hatred of Gideon takes a long time to reveal itself. Set in a time in England when oddities were spotlighted in exhibits and an underworld of seedy medical staff were every day adventures. The plot centers around a mythical creature come to life. It is Birdies ability to slip in and out and on the fringe that captured my attention. The cast of characters in this story is complete with a ghost not quite sure why he’s here but colorful all the same. Birdie is a keen observer and a help to the local law even as she makes their life miserable at times. I was taken with the writing both informative and interesting. Happy Reading

A girl was kidnapped. But she was no ordinary girl. She has pike's teeth, she 'stirs up memories and thoughts, makes you feel angry, and has stony, changeable eyes', and she feeds on snails and newts.

And so, Bridie's services and expertise were called upon. After her having failed to save a child in her previous case, she was determined to not fail this time.

With a loyal 7-foot tall housemaid and a dead pugilist by her side, she threaded her way through a labyrinth of clues. We'd know from the beginning who kidnapped the child, Christabel. But along the way, business deals were made, as a child peculiar like Christabel was a prized possession, especially during a time when collecting anything exotic and curious was lucrative business.

When one more body was found, Bridie knew she was running out of time. One child, many suspects; who were in cahoots with whom? Are there any wolves in sheep’s clothing? Will Bridie be able to track down the mastermind of this kidnapping and save the girl?

What a wondrous read! I loved the dark slums of Victorian London depicted in Kidd's Things in Jars, which set the tone of the book. I absolutely loved this:

'Just beyond you'll detect the unwashed crotch of overworked prostitutes and the Christian sweat of the charwoman. In every inhale a shifting scale of onions and scalded milk, chrysanthemums and spiced apple, broiled meat and wet straw, and the sudden stench of the Thames as the wind changes direction and blows up the knotted backstreet. Above all, you may notice the rich and sickening chorus of shit.'

If you love the writing above, just add this to your TBR, because it only gets better from there!

And the characters were just amazing! Cora, the over-protective 7-foot tall housemaid whose face adorned by muttonchop whiskers; Rudy the loyal, dead pugilist whose tattoos can come alive; dear little Myrtle whose only friend was a doll; Lufkin the conniving circus king, and the many memorable, if not amusing moments between Rudy and Bridie, Cora and her infatuation for Euryale the Queen of Snakes, and just the witty banter between the characters. These colorful characters made up for the muddy, murky, London.

If you’re looking for a good winter's read on a chilly night, this would be perfect! Get all curled up under a blanket with a warm cup of beverage and you’re ready!

If like me, you love dark Victorian tales with strong, colorful characters, this one's for you too!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I've heard from lots of people that they loved this book. Something about it just does not jive with me... I tried to get into this story multiple times, but it just isn't working for me.

Perhaps I just wasn't in the appropriate frame of mind to truly take in and enjoy this book. Judging from the praising feedback, I appear to be in the minority but I thought this was just okay at best. At worst, well, it was overly flowery in language, extremely slow-paced, and I never connected with what should have been a break-out character in Bridie Devine. The story takes place in a dangerous and dirty Victorian England (was/is there any other?) and boasts not only an offbeat female "detective" character along with her cast of strange assistants but also follows the folklore of mermaids (think less Ariel and more man-eating). And still I found myself bored through most of the book! This just wasn't for me at this time.

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!

Thing in Jars by Jess Kidd is difficult to describe. Thing in Jars deals with history, life in the 1800's in London, but also deals with a sci-fi story line. Some edge of your seat moments. I want to thank Atria Books and Net Galley for the early copy to review.

Bridie Devine—female detective extraordinaire—faces a baffling assignment. She's hired to find Christabel Berwick, the secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick. This child isn't normal, though. She's peculiar with reputed supernatural powers that make her attractive to collectors of curiosities. Will Bridie be able to find the missing girl and succeed in this case, or is she in over her head?
Thankfully, Bridie has help. Valentine Rose works for the police department, Cora serves as Bridie's seven-foot-tall housemaid, Rudy appears as a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost, and Prudhoe is the avuncular apothecary. These individuals help Bridie navigate her search, confront her past, and unravel the secrets surrounding this case.
This Gothic mystery is dark but funny--I laughed out loud in several places. It also includes history and folklore that kept me guessing about what is real and what is imaginary. There were too many characters to keep straight, though.
In general, the content of "Things In Jars" isn't my cup of tea. However, it's a well-written book I would recommend to readers who enjoy Gothic mysteries with a touch of paranormal.

WOW.... can I just say Jess Kidd where have you been all my life?!

What a masterpiece my friends! What a brilliant storyteller with elements of supernatural, fantasy, and mystery. I was hesitant about reading this one but saw all the raving reviews and am so glad that I took the chance!

I was quickly hooked with the fascinating characters and the gothic vibe in this story. The imagination and vivid details of this tale was quite brilliant! And can I say I couldn't get enough of Birdie Devine... what an investigator.

This was such a fun journey to take and am so glad I was able to read this little gem of a tale!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 strong stars!!

Publication date: 2/4/19
Published to GR: 12/8/19

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC. I enjoyed this book, from Bridie the sleuth to the ghost she only can see to the "pike teethed baby" to the seven foot maid, Cora. Charming and full of curiosity.

I absolutely love reading anything set in Victorian Lindon, so I couldn't wait to read this one! Birdie is such a unique, lovely character that I couldn't wait to see what else she would do.
Well developed characters & storyline. I couldn't wait to finish it. List of twists and turns. Would recommend to others who would enjoy this book.

This is a good book, but just not for me.
There is ALOT of description. I also know very little about Victorian London so a lot of scenery description mixed with fantasy I felt confused at times.
Let me preface with the fact that I don’t like fantasy so someone else would like this book much more than I. They use a lot of time period appropriate language which had me googling often.

Absolutely loved this novel! It was dark, Victorian-gothic goodness, right from the start - with components of magical realism, tightly written dialogue, a propulsive storyline, and a fierce female detective at the helm, this book would be a great choice for fans of Alice Hoffman's The Museum of Extraordinary Things, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, or The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (all of which I enjoyed).

I've already decided to go back and read this author's previous work, and I can't wait for her next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing house for providing a review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I fell in love with Jess Kidd's writing after listen to, "Himself," on audiobook (full review here) last year. There was something so unique about her storytelling that blended a great Irish ghost story with an incredible amount of heart and humor.  This is why I knew that I was in for something good when I snagged an advanced reader of, "Things in Jars."

Kidd takes a darker turn with a female detective, Bridie Devine, who is trying to solve the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, the secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick. 

The child has been kept away in secret from society because of her peculiarities and supernatural powers. At this time, in Victorian London, peculiarities are displayed as marvels in traveling circuses (or worse) children are killed to display these oddities in jars for collectors and for profit. 

Bridie is determined to find this girl even if it means putting her own past at risk. 

She isn't alone though, she is aided through this story by a tattooed ghost who doesn't leave her side as she investigates. 

Kidd does a great job adding her signature humor into this dark story and weaves in history and folklore that anyone can appreciate. Fans of magical realism will love this Dickensesque story that finds great beauty in the oddities.

This is much darker than her previous work and is a very macabre telling of our curiosities with collecting and displaying the peculiarities of others for profit.

For me, this one leaned a little too heavy into the magical elements that made the story feel a lot less grounded toward the end.

Overall, I was still completely swept away and would still recommend this one for your stack!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Things in Jars by Jess Kid! I absolutely adored this book. It initially appealed to me because I'm a big fan of the British mystery genre, however, this book was so much more than that. I don't normally like historical novels but the setting and time period of this novel gave it a very dark, Gothic atmosphere which really absorbs you into the story. I also found the background information about the medical field in the late-1800's to be extremely interesting and an amazing angle on the mystery genre. The main character, Bridie, is lovable, hilarious, and smart and her secondary plot line about growing up in the care of Dr. Eames is extremely engaging. A high point of this novel was also the dialogue. It was incredibly well done and was reminiscent, in my opinion, of Shakespeare. The lyrical nature of conversations and the slight humor tinged on the edges remind me so much of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery, anything slightly off-kilter, or books with amazing heroines.

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd is part mystery/detective part historical fiction novel that has a dash of fantasy with a mystical/other worldly tone that makes this a very interesting and immersive read.
This is one of those gritty, dark Victorian murder/mystery novels that has a fascinating and powerful female protagonist at its center. The author does a fabulous job drawing the reader in to the past, but yet opening a window to another world. The result is nothing but extraordinary and all-consuming that will leave one wanting more.
I also enjoyed meeting many of the eccentric cast of characters. This book is slightly out of my normal genres, and I am glad I took this chance.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am submitting my review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Jess Kidd loves words. The words seem to spill out of her--whirling around, creating vivid images and wonderful prose with unexpected juxtapositions and all kinds of figurative language. They don't feel like deliberate choices as much as thoughts emerging from someone whose use of language is so imaginative, fresh, and creative that she can't contain it.

I loved Himself for those reasons and more, but liked Mr. Flood's Last Resort (also titled The Hoarder) less. Kidd's characters, however, are wonderful even when the plot is a little iffy.

Her latest book, Things in Jars--especially with Kidd's amazing prose--is a mystery, a fairy tale, a nightmare, magical realism, a ghost story, social commentary, a mysterious amalgamation of genres that does not fit any one category.

Set in 1863, Bridie Devine, private investigator with a connection to the police, smokes her pipe on her way to inspect a crypt with the skeleton remains of a mother and child...and finds the transparent figure of former boxer Ruby Doyle lounging on his grave. She doesn't believe in ghosts, yet the marvelously tattooed Ruby Doyle (The Decorated Doyle), definitely dead and transparent, seems to know her. And so the story begins.

Ruby Doyle, the decorated pugilist whose tattoos move and react to situations, becomes Bridie's (initially) unwanted partner. Doyle knows Bridie, but Bridie cannot remember ever knowing Doyle. He accompanies her home and on her adventures, waiting for Bridie to remember him and their connection, and Bridie's feelings for Ruby Doyle confuse her as she begins to appreciate his company.

The main story line begins when Bridie is engaged to find the kidnapped daughter of a baronet. Christabel Berwick, a strange six-year-old with unusual powers and strange needle-like teeth, is a mystery in and of herself. Is Christabel the embodiment of the Irish myth of the merrow? Bridie suspects a possible reason for the little girl's kidnapping...and she doesn't like it at all.

Interspersing chapters reveal more of Bridie's past and diverge to examine the activities of other characters. Each character is the delightful result of descriptions amplified in the style of Dickens as in this description of Cridge, the curate:

"He is a young man with an unfavorable look about him. Slight of stature and large of head, with light-brown hair that cleaves thinly to an ample cranium with bumps and contours enough to astound even a practiced phrenologist. His complexion is wan and floury as an overcooked potato and his mouth was made for sneering."

Moving from past to present and back again, threads that are begun in the past are gradually woven into the present. Aside from such wonderful characters as Bridie herself, we meet Ruby Doyle, Cora (Bridie's seven foot tall housemaid), Bad Dorcas, the Prudhoes, Valentine Rose, and wicked Gideon Eames. London becomes both setting and character in this fantastical adventure.

It is difficult not to become enchanted by Kidd's prose, although it occasionally interrupts the plot. :)

Read in November; blog review scheduled for Jan. 19, 2020.

NetGalley/Atria Books
?Historical Mystery/Fantasy? Feb. 4, 2020. Print length: 384 pages.

If Charles Dickens and Neil Gaiman and Conan Doyle had devised a Victorian Era Gothic mystery with a female detective partial to 'medicinal' tobacco who is hired to find a kidnapped girl who is perhaps not quite human, aided by a dead man and former circus freak, it would not be outdone by Jess Kidd's Things in Jars.

The coal smoke and fog of London, complete with its olfactory smorgasbord of industry and market, the filthy Thames and its dung-filled streets, the miasma blamed for cholera and other deadly diseases is vividly described.

The novel is Victorian in writing style, with Dickensian descriptions and sensational penny dreadful worthy murderous villains. It is populated with Resurrectionists, mudlarks, people with false identities, and avid collectors of curiosities--things in jars.

Sir Edmund has an extensive collection of aquatic life--aberrations--things in jars, including the Winter Mermaid, the Irish merrow specimen that went missing long ago. The fishy merrow could take on female human form, beautiful but dangerous killers. Sir Edmund's reclusive, 'singular daughter' has disappeared, along with her nurse and the doctor. Sir Edmund won't share details, but he is desperate to find Christabel.

Here is time held in suspension. Yesterday picked. Eternity in a jar. ~from Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

Sir Edmund has called detective Bridie Devine to find the missing girl.

Bridie's early childhood was spent with a resurrectionist--once a man of science before ruined by drink and gambling--who taught her how to determine how long a body had been dead. Then a gentleman doctor took her from the streets to groom as his assistant. Now, she helps the police, "working out how people died." She failed to find her last kidnapped child case, and perhaps that failure was why she was chosen for this case.

Bridie is a wonderful character. Like Sherlock Holmes, she dons disguises, she is identified by her choice of hat, and smokes a pipe. She is also quite modern, railing against societal restraints on women, the 'market price' of their value. Middle age is creeping up--is it too late for a lover? Ruby Doyle's ghost has been following her, claiming they had a history; there is an affection between them. Who was he?

Kidd captures a time when Darwin's theory is breaking news and science and pseudoscience is all the rage. I love the novels and era that inspired this novel, and I love this novel, too.

I was given access to a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.