Things In Jars by Jess Kidd

4.25 Stars Source: Friend book loan

Brief Synopsis: Bridie Devine is an exceptional woman for her time: a single lady (although she pretends to be a widow so as to be left alone) who works as a detective in Victorian times. When Bridie is hired to help find a missing child, one reported to have strange characteristics, Bridie finds herself transported to her own traumatic past. Part historical fiction, part folklore, all Gothic mystery.

Thoughts: I was not expecting, well, any of this! The title and book cover are just terrible in relaying what this tale is about--I've decided it should be called something like Dark Victorian Mysteries with a picture of actual specimens in glass jars (who puts the word "things" in a title?!). Once I got over my disappointment with the title, I was quickly sucked in to this tale. These were definitely dark times and descriptions of surgery, anatomy and even the special child's abilities are quite graphic. There are some truly terrible people in this book but Bridie is a gift, such a compelling and heroic female character. Overall, I think the reason I enjoyed this story so much is that it's not like anything I've read in some time and these days I just love being surprised by a good plot.