Bridie Devine is a detective hired to find a child that was kidnapped. While investigating, she realizes that perhaps the child is something else perhaps not human especially as she gets pulled into the seedy underbelly of Victorian London and meets all sorts of shady characters along the way. The child has garnered the unwanted attention of collectors of curiosities, but secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems. Set in 1800’s London, Things In Jars by Jess Kidd is definitely a fantastical tale of historical fiction coupled with folklore. We meet some interesting characters throughout the book including a ghost named Ruby and a 7-foot tall housemaid named Cora.

I loved all the quirky characters, especially Ruby and his relationship with Bridie. I hoped for a different ending for them, but understand why the author went the direction she did. The circus setting in some parts was interesting and definitely beneficial to the story.

The book is told from two different timelines. We go back and forth from 1843 where we learn of Bridie’s upbringing and what gives her the background she has in medicine, and 1863 where we focus on the kidnapping of Christabel and Bridie’s investigation in these matters. The two timelines intersected well and helped bring the story together.

I struggled with my rating because although I think the writing was exceptional, this story just wasn’t for me. I felt like the author’s descriptions at the beginning of each chapter were beautifully written, but not necessary to move the story along. They actually slowed it down a lot which almost made me not want to finish this book. I think that Victorian England is just not the right setting for me. Overall, if you like Victorian England and the fantasy genre, I think this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.