Himself

Description

Review "Diabolical deeds, ferociously kept secrets, black humour and magical realism abound in Jess Kidd's richly textured, thronging debut . . . Kidd has imagination to die for and a real command of plot and character" (Guardian)"Very funny, very profound, very moving . . . One of the finest books of the year" (SIMON MAYO)"Kidd's brilliantly bold debut mixes up murder and mayhem with the eerily supernatural. It's a tender, violent and funny story told in prose that is lyrical, lush and hugely imaginative. Utterly unputdownable" (Sunday Express Magazine)"I love this book. It's a magic realist murder mystery set in rural Ireland, in which the dead play as important a part as the living. It's one of those books that has you smiling as you read, and that you plan to read again very soon." (LOUIS DE BERNIÈRES, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin)"This striking literary debut is a darkly comic tale of murder, intrigue, haunting and illegitimacy . . . wickedly funny" (Daily Express)"Wonderfully entertaining . . . the ghosts are not the main attraction in this delightful first novel; it is also a detective story, in which Mahony and Mrs C make an unlikely Holmes and Watson" (The Times)"An intriguing story of family secrets and haunting" (ANDREW MICHAEL HURLEY, author of The Loney)"In lyrical prose that is by turns touchingly tender and violent, Kidd's brilliantly bold debut mixes murder and mayhem with the eerily supernatural, and throws in a dash of laugh-out-loud humour for good measure" (Psychologies)"Himself is a sort of Under Milk Wood meets The Third Policeman meets Agatha Christie. It's a highly unusual tale set in a highly unusual Irish village full of dark secrets and engaging characters (not all of them still alive). Lushly imagined, delightfully original and very, very funny, it hurtles along from the very first page. A hugely enjoyable read. I can't wait for more from Jess Kidd" (ML STEDMAN, author of The Light Between Oceans)"A rollicking tale of a hero's return . . . breaking down the barriers between mystery story and comedy of manners, mixing magical realism and crime fiction" (Guardian) Book Description Blending strange kindnesses, casual violence and buried secrets: an unforgettable debut from a dark new voice in Irish fiction About the Author Jess Kidd completed her first degree in Literature with The Open University, and has since taught creative writing, gained a PhD in Creative Writing Studies and has aspirations to teach writing in the prison service. She has also worked as a support worker specialising in acquired brain injury, a PA to a Rector, and an emergency Christmas lunch stand-in cook at a local community centre. Jess was brought up in London as part of a large family from Mayo, and plans to settle somewhere along the west coast of Ireland in the next few years. Until then, she lives in London with her daughter.