-A highly unusual tale set in a highly unusual Irish village full of dark secrets...Lushly imagined, delightfully original, and very, very funny, it hurtles along from the very first page- (M.L. Stedman, author of The Light Between Oceans). Having been abandoned on the steps of an orphanage as an infant, lovable car thief and Dublin charmer Mahony assumed all his life that his mother had simply given him up. But when he receives an anonymous note suggesting that foul play may have led to his mother's disappearance, he sees only one option: to return to the rural Irish village where he was born and find out what really happened twenty-six years ago. From the moment he sets foot in Mulderrig, Mahony's presence turns the village upside down. His uncannily familiar face and outsider ways cause a stir among the locals, who receive him with a mixture of excitement (the women), curiosity (the men), and suspicion (the pious). Determined to uncover the truth about what happened to his mother, Mahony solicits the help of brash anarchist and retired theater actress Mrs. Cauley. This improbable duo concocts an ingenious plan to get the town talking about the day Mahony's mother disappeared and are aided and abetted by a cast of eccentric characters, both living and dead. Himself is a simmering mixture--a blend of the natural everyday and the supernatural, folklore and mystery, and a healthy dose of quintessentially Irish humor. The result is a darkly comic crime story in the tradition of a classic Irish trickster tale, complete with a twisting and turning plot, a small-town rife with secrets, and an infectious love of language and storytelling that is a hallmark of the finest Irish writers.

Himself (Thorndike Press Large Print Core)

Humor & Entertainment

Kidd, Jess

Humor

Thorndike Press Large Print

Things in Jars (Thorndike Press Large Print Reviewers Choice)

Literature & Fiction

Literary

The Hoarder

Contemporary

Charnwood

"[A] fast-paced yarn that nimbly soars above the Irish crime fiction genre Kidd clearly knows very well." —New York Times Book Review “[A] supernaturally skillful debut.” —Vanity Fair “A delicious, gratifying and ageless story.” —New York Journal of Books Abandoned on the steps of an orphanage as an infant, Dublin charmer Mahony assumed all his life that his mother had simply given him up. But when he receives a tip one night at the bar suggesting that foul play may have led to the disappearance of his mother, he decides to return to the rural Irish village where he was born to learn what really happened twenty-six years earlier. From the moment he sets foot in Mulderrig, Mahony’s presence turns the village upside down. His uncannily familiar face and outsider’s ways cause a stir among the locals, who receive him with a mixture of curiosity (the men), excitement (the women), and suspicion (the pious). It seems that his mother, Orla Sweeney, had left quite an impression on this little town—dearly beloved to some, a scourge and a menace to others. But who would have had reason to get rid of her for good? Determined to find answers, Mahony solicits the help of brash pot-stirrer and retired actress Mrs. Cauley, and the two concoct an ingenious plan to get the town talking, aided and abetted by a cast of eccentric characters, some from beyond the grave. What begins as a personal mission gradually becomes a quiet revolution: a young man and his town uniting against corruption of power, against those who seek to freeze their small worlds in time, to quash the sinister tides of progress and modernity come hell or high water. But what those people seem to forget is that Mahony has the dead on his side.... Centering on a small town rife with secrets and propelled by a twisting-and-turning plot, Himself is a gem of a book, a darkly comic mystery, and a beautiful tribute to the magic of language, legacy, and storytelling.

Himself: A Novel

Atria Books

A charming ne’er-do-well returns to his haunted Irish hometown to uncover the truth about his mother in this “supernaturally skilled debut” (Vanity Fair) and turns the town—and his life—upside down. Having been abandoned at an orphanage as a baby, Mahony assumed all his life that his mother wanted nothing to do with him. That is, until one night in 1976 while drinking a pint at a Dublin pub, he receives an anonymous note implying that she may have been forced to give him up. Determined to find out what really happened, Mahony embarks on a pilgrimage back to his hometown, the rural village of Mulderrig. Neither he nor Mulderrig can possibly prepare for what’s in store… From the moment he arrives, Mahony’s presence completely changes the village. Women fall all over themselves. The real and the fantastic are blurred. Chatty ghosts rise from their graves with secrets to tell, and local preacher Father Quinn will do anything to get rid of the slippery young man who is threatening the moral purity of his parish. A spectacular new addition to the grand Irish storytelling tradition, Himself “is a darkly comic tale of murder, intrigue, haunting and illegitimacy…wickedly funny” (Daily Express).

Note to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title The Hoarder. From the award-winning author of Himself, the spellbinding tale of a lonely caregiver and a cranky hoarder with a house full of secrets. “A magically entertaining read…Jess Kidd has a gift for creating characters you’ll love with a few cleverly chosen words.” —Good Housekeeping (UK), Book of the Month “A rare delight.” —Cosmopolitan (UK) Maud Drennan is a dedicated caregiver whose sunny disposition masks a deep sadness. A tragic childhood event left her haunted, in the company of a cast of prattling saints who pop in and out of her life like tourists. Other than visiting her agoraphobic neighbor, Maud keeps to herself, finding solace in her work and in her humble existence–until she meets Mr. Flood. Cathal Flood is a menace by all accounts. The lone occupant of a Gothic mansion crawling with feral cats, he has been waging war against his son’s attempts to put him into an old-age home and sent his last caretaker running for the madhouse. But Maud is this impossible man’s last chance: if she can help him get the house in order, he just might be able to stay. So the unlikely pair begins to cooperate, bonding over their shared love of Irish folktales and mutual dislike of Mr. Flood’s overbearing son. Still, shadows are growing in the cluttered corners of the mansion, hinting at buried family secrets, and reminding Maud that she doesn’t really know this man at all. When the forgotten case of a missing schoolgirl comes to light, she starts poking around, and a full-steam search for answers begins. Packed with eccentric charms, twisted comedy, and a whole lot of heart, Mr. Flood’s Last Resort is a mesmerizing tale that examines the space between sin and sainthood, reminding us that often the most meaningful forgiveness that we can offer is to ourselves.

Mr. Flood's Last Resort: A Novel

Humor & Satire

Note to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title The Hoarder. Indie Next Pick From the award-winning author of Himself comes a spellbinding and “magically entertaining read” (Good Housekeeping, UK) about a lonely caregiver and a cranky hoarder with a house full of secrets that “will appeal to fans of Tana French and Sophie Hannah, as it charms and unsettles in equal measure” (BookPage). Maud Drennan is a dedicated caregiver whose sunny disposition masks a deep sadness. A tragic childhood event left her haunted, in the company of a cast of prattling saints who pop in and out of her life like tourists. Other than visiting her agoraphobic neighbor, Maud keeps to herself, finding solace in her work and in her humble existence—until she meets Mr. Flood. Cathal Flood is a menace by all accounts. The lone occupant of a Gothic mansion crawling with feral cats, he has been waging war against his son’s attempts to put him into an old-age home and sent his last caretaker running for the madhouse. But Maud is this impossible man’s last chance: if she can help him get the house in order, he just might be able to stay. So the unlikely pair begins to cooperate, bonding over their shared love of Irish folktales and mutual dislike of Mr. Flood’s overbearing son. Mr. Flood’s Last Resort is “a rare delight” (Cosmopolitan, UK) examining the space between sin and sainthood, a novel that “perfectly balances tragedy with dark comedy” in which “the dialogue crackles and every detail enchants” (Shelf Awareness).

From the award-winning author of the "supernaturally skillful debut" (Vanity Fair) Himself, a spellbinding romp about a caretaker and a cranky hoarder with a secret-complete with skulking saints, unresolved disappearances, greedy heirs, and a firecracker neighbor determined to get to the bottom of it all. Maud Drennan is a dedicated caretaker, but her sunny, capable disposition and snappy quips mask a deep sadness. A tragic childhood event left her in the company of a cast of patron saints who pop in and out of her life like unwelcome tourists. She tries to find solace in her hard work in London...but then she meets the inimitable Mr. Flood. A menace by all accounts, Cathal Flood is a widower living alone in a Gothic Dorset mansion crawling with collector's items and feral cats. Stubborn as anything and an extreme hoarder, he has been battling his son's attempts to move him into an old age home, and rumor has it he sent his last caretaker to the madhouse. But Maud is this insolent old man's last chance: if she can help him get the house in order, he might be able to fend off the deportation. So the unlikely pair begin to cooperate, connecting over their shared love of folk tales and their suspicion of Gabriel, Cathal's overbearing son. Still, shadows are growing in the cluttered corners of the mansion, hinting at buried family secrets, and reminding Maud that she doesn't really know this man at all. When she starts poking around, the forgotten case of a missing local schoolgirl comes to light, and a full-steam search for answers begins. Full of charming eccentricities, twisted comedy, a whole lot of heart, and Jess Kidd's "lyrical, lush, and hugely imaginative" (Sunday Express Magazine) prose, Mr. Flood's Last Resortis a mesmerizing tale that will make you re-examine the space between sin and sainthood, reminding you that when all is said and done, the most important forgiveness that we can offer is to ourselves.

Mr. Flood's Last Resort

Simon & Schuster Audio

Note to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title The Hoarder. Indie Next Pick From the award-winning author of Himself comes a spellbinding and magically entertaining read (Good Housekeeping, UK) about a lonely caregiver and a cranky hoarder with a house full of secrets that will appeal to fans of Tana French and Sophie Hannah, as it charms and unsettles in equal measure (BookPage). Maud Drennan is a dedicated caregiver whose sunny disposition masks a deep sadness. A tragic childhood event left her haunted, in the company of a cast of prattling saints who pop in and out of her life like tourists. Other than visiting her agoraphobic neighbor, Maud keeps to herself, finding solace in her work and in her humble existence until she meets Mr. Flood.  Cathal Flood is a menace by all accounts. The lone occupant of a Gothic mansion crawling with feral cats, he has been waging war against his son s attempts to put him into an old-age home and sent his last caretaker running for the madhouse. But Maud is this impossible man s last chance: if she can help him get the house in order, he just might be able to stay. So the unlikely pair begins to cooperate, bonding over their shared love of Irish folktales and mutual dislike of Mr. Flood s overbearing son.  Mr. Flood s Last Resort is a rare delight (Cosmopolitan, UK) examining the space between sin and sainthood, a novel that perfectly balances tragedy with dark comedy in which the dialogue crackles and every detail enchants (Shelf Awareness).

Product Description 
Eight bestselling, award-winning writers return to the time-honored tradition of the seasonal ghost story in this spellbinding collection of new and original haunted tales.\nLong before Charles Dickens and Henry James popularized the tradition of supernatural horror, the shadowy nights of winter have been a time for people to gather together by the flicker of candlelight and experience the intoxicating thrill of a spooky tale.\nNow eight bestselling, award-winning authors—all of them master storytellers of the sinister and the macabre—bring the tradition to vivid life in a spellbinding new collection of original spine-tingling tales.\nTaking you from the frosty fens of the English countryside, to the snow-covered grounds of a haunted estate, to a bustling London Christmas market, these mesmerizing stories will capture your imagination and serve as your indispensable companion to cold, dark nights. So curl up, light a candle, and fall under the ghostly spell of winters past . . . 
 Review 
“In this haunting short story collection, eight bestselling authors set the mood for spooky season with spellbinding ghost stories. Travel to the English countryside, to haunted estates and cozy London Christmas markets. These stories are perfect for curling up with a hot cup of tea and a cozy blanket.” ― 
Buzzfeed\n"Harsh winter weather and vague Victoriana bind these eight terrifying new horror shorts showcasing human depravity and grisly murder. Bleak and brutal, these tales will appeal to historical fiction readers and horror lovers alike." ― 
Publishers Weekly 
 About the Author 
Bridget Collins is the author of the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE 
The Binding (William Morrow).\nImogen Hermes Gowar is the author of the " 
People Magazine Best Book of the Season" 
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock (Harper).\nKiran Millwood Hargrave is the author of 
The Mercies (Little, Brown).\nAndrew Michael Hurley is the London 
 Sunday Times bestselling author of 
 The Loney and 
 Starve Acre.\nJess Kidd is the award-winning author of 
Himself; Mr. Flood’s Last Resort; and 
 Things in Jars (Atria). Learn more at .\nElizabeth Macneal’s 
The Doll Factory (Picador) was an international bestseller, has been translated into twenty-nine languages, has been been optioned for a major television series, and won the Caledonia Novel Award. 
Circus of Wonders (Atria) is her second novel. Visit her online at , on Twitter @AsMacneal, or on Instagram @ElizabethMacneal.\nNatasha Pulley is the author of the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE 
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street (Bloomsbury).\nLaura Purcell is the award-winning author of 
The Silent Companions (Bloomsbury).

The Haunting Season: Eight Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights

Pulley, Natasha

Purcell, Laura

Gowar, Imogen Hermes

Collins, Bridget

Hurley, Andrew Michael

Hargrave, Kiran Millwood

Macneal, Elizabeth

Genre Fiction

Pegasus Crime

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kidd, Jess. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Kidd, Jess

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kidd, Jess. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Himself (Thorndike Press Large Print Core)

Things in Jars (Thorndike Press Large Print Reviewers Choice)

The Hoarder

Himself: A Novel

Himself: A Novel

Mr. Flood's Last Resort: A Novel

Mr. Flood's Last Resort: A Novel

Mr. Flood's Last Resort

Mr. Flood's Last Resort

The Haunting Season: Eight Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights