Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
In this “miraculous and thrilling” (Diane Setterfield, #1 New York Times bestselling author) gothic 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 won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing secrets about her past that she’d 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 Victorian 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.
Is Things in Jars: A Novel appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
A Victorian gothic mystery featuring kidnapping, supernatural elements, and a dark atmospheric world of collectors and criminals. Some violence and darker themes make it suitable for older teens and adults.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include child harm, kidnapping, and death.
Who'll love this
Older teens who love atmospheric mysteries with supernatural elements and strong female detectives in Victorian London will enjoy this gothic puzzle.