Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Der Freund der Toten
Der Freund der Toten: Roman | Jess Kidd
126 posts | 91 read | 1 reading | 197 to read
Fr kurze Zeit zum Einfhrungspreis! Ein kleines Dorf, sein dunkles Geheimnis und eine gefhrliche Begegnung mit der Vergangenheit Der charmante Gelegenheitsdieb und Hippie Mahony glaubte immer, seine Mutter habe ihn aus Desinteresse 1950 in einem Waisenhaus in Dublin abgegeben. Sechsundzwanzig Jahre spter erhlt er einen Brief, der ein ganz anderes, ein brutales Licht auf die Geschichte seiner Mutter wirft. Mahony reist daraufhin in seinen Geburtsort, um herauszufinden, was damals wirklich geschah. Sein geradezu unheimlich vertrautes Gesicht beunruhigt die Bewohner von Anfang an. Mahony schrt Aufregung bei den Frauen, Neugierde bei den Mnnern und Misstrauen bei den Frommen. Bei der Aufklrung des mysterisen Verschwindens seiner Mutter hilft ihm die alte Mrs Cauley, eine ehemalige Schauspielerin. Furchtlos, wie sie ist, macht die Alte nichts lieber, als in den Heimlichkeiten und Wunden anderer herumzustochern. Sie ist fest davon berzeugt, dass Mahonys Mutter ermordet wurde. Das ungleiche Paar heckt einen raffinierten Plan aus, um die Dorfbewohner zum Reden zu bringen. Auch wenn einige alles daran setzen, dass Mahony die Wahrheit nicht herausfindet, trifft er in dem Ort auf die eine oder andere exzentrische Person, die ihm hilft. Dass es sich dabei manchmal auch um einen Toten handelt, scheint Mahony nicht weiter zu stren ... Ein umwerfendes literarisches Debt voll beiendem Humor DAILY EXPRESS
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
andrew61
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

In 1976 Dublin Mahoney receives a note from the convent where he had grown up saying that the mystery of his birth was to be found in a small Mayo village. His return to villages raises ghosts both metaphorically but also in a supernatural aspect to this novel. I really enjoyed this book, which skilfully combined mystery, great characters, and the feeling of a haunted life and history.

review
Jenken1998
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

Stunning. And now i need to go find more from this author 😍. A man returns to the town where he was born in Ireland after receiving a mysterious note stating that the town may have contributed to his mother's disappearance when he was an infant.Paranormal murder mystery with Irish folklore woven in. Beautiful writing. 5 ☘️ ☘️ ☘️ ☘️ ☘️

CaitlinR I enjoyed her Things In Jars. Birdie Devine was a fascinating character. 13mo
61 likes6 stack adds1 comment
review
Andrea4
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

Man, if I were keeping track, June's read pile would blow the rest out of the water. This house move/reno is allowing me so much time for audiobooks.
Loved the narration, the characters & the magical nature of this story (can I call this magical realism?). A little confused at times by the amount of characters but I blame that on listening to it in 2 sittings so not giving myself time to "process" them. Kidd's on the list to read more of.

Soubhiville What a great photo! Audiobooks are the way to go with packing/ cleaning/ unpacking etc. Glad you‘re at least enjoying some books while going through the hard work of a move! 2y
Andrea4 @Soubhiville thanks! He is super photogenic this one but terrible for sitting still 🤣 and yes, they are definitely making the drudgery of cleaning up this very dirty house!!! 2y
19 likes2 comments
blurb
MamaGina
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Wow. Sometimes you put a book down and think “that was a great story”. Himself is indeed a great story, but my biggest takeaway is “What an incredibly talented writer!” Jess Kidd puts together prose magically. Every word, every turn of phrase, every page is wonderful. I‘ll be reading her backlist and everything she publishes from here on out. Highly recommend Himself. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CaitlinR LOVED this book. I also enjoyed her Things In Jars. 2y
MamaGina @CaitlinR I‘ve read that one too, loved the 👻 2y
14 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
MamaGina
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Finished Americanah earlier today, so decided to head from Nigeria to Ireland for my next read. HIMSELF has been on my kindle for a long time and I loved THINGS IN JARS so I have high hopes for this title…the description certainly ticks lots of my reading boxes!
#WeekendReading

Andrew65 I need to read Americanah. (edited) 2y
Kimzey Himself has been on my TBR list also. Look forward to hearing how you like it. 2y
16 likes2 comments
review
Nannermack
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
Pickpick

This was a wonderful listen: all Irish take full of the fey; deeply drawn characters and setting; characters to get behind, in front of, and away from!

blurb
Caroline2
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Ohhh 😯 thank you so much for sending this to me @kathedron It‘s described as dark, atmospheric Irish fiction about strange kindnesses, casual violence and buried secrets! This sound right up my street!! 😀 ☕️ 📖 I can‘t wait to read it. 👍

quietlycuriouskate You're very welcome, Caroline! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 🙂 2y
Caroline2 @kathedron It sounds really good. 👍 2y
77 likes4 stack adds2 comments
blurb
bookishbitch
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

The cover grabbed me, then the blurb set the hook deeper. #tbrpile #resistancewasfutile

review
CaitlinR
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

There‘s a growing sense of violence as this great story unfolds. Unfelt by some of the residents of Mulderrig, Co. Mayo, unacknowledged by others, and actively fed by a few. Mahoney has arrived from Dublin to seek the truth about his mother. His quest upsets the fragile sanity that folk have crafted around a terrible act. Mrs. Cayley, whose past as an actress allows her to see truth is a ally, as are others. And ghosts!

A wonderful read.

CaitlinR Photo of Jess Kid by Travis McBride 3y
25 likes1 comment
blurb
mdemanatee
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Swinging back to Himself after how much I adored Things in Jars, because, while one of my besties loved this one when we both worked at the bookstore, she did not tell me that it was the particular brand of literary weird I love. Jess Kidd has been one of my favorite discoveries of 2020.

review
mcctrish
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

Himself is the first novel of Jess Kidd. It‘s a murder mystery set in a tiny town in Ireland. It‘s not a typical murder mystery at all, it‘s much more magical with ghosts and unexplained events. Her newer book Things in Jars is along similar lines of magical mystery. I can‘t wait to see what else she writes

IndyHannaJones This sounds amazing 4y
mcctrish @IndyHannaJones my friend commented that the author writes like it‘s normal to see dead people, so we wonder what Ireland is really like 😆 4y
IndyHannaJones @mcctrish this makes me want to go there even more 4y
49 likes3 stack adds4 comments
blurb
mcctrish
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Mornings

Skyrimir I LOVE Schitt‘s Creek. I‘m eagerly awaiting the arrival of the last season on Netflix! 4y
mcctrish @Skyrimir it‘s so good 🌈 we all quote it in my house, I hope you don‘t have to wait too long 4y
Jaimelire ❤️ Schitt‘s Creek. So sad it ended😭 4y
See All 6 Comments
mcctrish @Jaimelire I know 😢 4y
Powered_By_Plants Animal crossing 🥰 looks like the perfect morning! 4y
mcctrish @Powered_By_Plants it‘s a lovely escape 4y
42 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
DebinHawaii
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

#MarchMadness #StPatricksDay

It‘s still St. Patrick‘s Day here. ☘️🍀☘️I thought of this Irish-set book for today‘s prompt. I enjoyed it & have the author‘s new book in my library #TBR stack. Our library‘s closed today, at least until the end of the month. If I look on the bright side, it gives me more time to finish my checkouts.

slategreyskies Our library‘s closed until the end of the month too. I don‘t remember that ever happening before. 4y
AmyG Beautiful cover. 4y
71 likes2 comments
blurb
Tracyantoon
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

I read a #1wordtitle in January so totally tagging along #readwithMrBook even if it wasn‘t intentional at the time. 😁📚

review
Tracyantoon
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Mehso-so

Atmospheric and lyrical but I couldn‘t get into this. I have been striking out with my audio picks lately. Too much going on here and I had a hard time following on audio.

TerriGreen Hmm, wondering if I should remove it from my TBR. 4y
Tracyantoon @TerriGreen I don‘t think you would like this one. Fantastical elements (he sees dead people) and also a gratuitous dog death near the end that was IMO totally unnecessary. Lots of ghosts and other characters to keep track of and 2 timelines. 4y
TerriGreen Oh my, I will remove. Thanks! 4y
12 likes3 comments
review
Laughterhp
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Mehso-so

I honestly wasn‘t sure what to expect when I started this. It‘s been on my TBR for 3 years. It was an interesting, haunting mystery surrounding a small town in Ireland. IMO there was unnecessary dog death. Yes, you saw how evil the bad guy was but the author put you in the mind of the dog while it was being beaten and killed and that ruined my enjoyment of the book. It was 300 pages in so I was already invested and couldn‘t bail at that point.

RaimeyGallant I read a book like that last year except rabbits. 😢 4y
Laughterhp @RaimeyGallant Ugh 😔😔 that‘s the worst. It was just so unexpected 😣 4y
TiredLibrarian I was just about to add this to my TBR list, but I don't want to read about animals dying. Ugh. 4y
46 likes4 comments
blurb
Laughterhp
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

1. Tagged and Poirot Investigates on audio
2. The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
3. I have an aloe Vera (which I don‘t know how it‘s still alive, a jade plant, asparagus fern, and an ivy plant, a Christmas pine plant (that I don‘t know how long it‘ll live)

#weekendreads

blurb
Laughterhp
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

What a great day. It was 64°F today so all I wanted to do is be outside. We went on a 3 1/2 mile walk/hike.

And now we are having a campfire outside in January! I know it‘s not a good thing (unseasonably warm), but it‘s nice to spend time outside and in nature.

I wasn‘t sure what to expect from this book, I‘ve had it on my TBR for 3 years. I‘m really enjoying the mystical story.

blurb
Laughterhp
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Here‘s my #bookhaul from my B&N gift card I got for Christmas!

I‘m so excited to read all of these books! A couple of them have been on my TBR forever and a few of them I‘ve just discovered!

Mitch Great choices 🙌🏼👍🏼🙌🏼 4y
Suet624 Enjoy! 4y
Graciouswarriorprincess Fun! Happy reading! 4y
57 likes3 comments
review
suvata
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Mehso-so

Continuing my TBR project:
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added March 12, 2017.

This is an odd little magic realism book that may take me a few reads to fully comprehend. I liked it but often times I felt like I was in a fever dream.

Crazeedi Great ides 4y
45 likes1 comment
blurb
Texreader
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

#7days7covers #covercrush Day 4

@samanthagutt Do you want to join in? Post a favorite cover every day for 7 days. No explanation required. Then invite another Litten to do the same.

CoffeeCatsBooks Love this! 😻 5y
68 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
bookishbitch
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

I literally bought this because I love the cover. Does anyone else do this?

blurb
RhianJMartin
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

I am so in love with this book! 🐝🍃 Not only is the cover art beautiful, but the story is captivating. Jess Kidd writes her characters - both human and ghost - into the same world, sharing an adjacent existence. Her prose is poetically crafted and a delight to read! 📗

#jesskidd #himself #ireland #book #ghost #irish #fiction #inlove #readmore #beautiful #coverart

DebinHawaii I really enjoyed this one too! Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you enjoy it here! 5y
RhianJMartin @DebinHawaii So glad to hear that - yes, it's a lovely book! And thank you, very happy to be here. 😊📙 5y
22 likes3 stack adds2 comments
review
Debblyliz
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
Pickpick

A book I got from my library following a recommendation. Interesting and strange in equal measures, I found this book to be compulsive reading and devoured with a couple of days; I loved it and I‘m now off to read Jess Kidd‘s other 2 books.

review
DarcysMom
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟🌟
#audiobook
#overdrive

58 likes2 stack adds
blurb
DarcysMom
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
blurb
DarcysMom
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
blurb
Moray_Reads
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

1. There's a fairly intense murder scene at the very start (not usually my thing) but the thing I remember is how funny much of the book was. It's brilliant.
2. Bit of a tough week so I'm glad it's Friday!
3. Japanese
4. 12
5. Watch me go!
#Friyayintro

saresmoore 12 first cousins! I only have ten and thought it was quite a lot! 5y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore I got a new one just before Christmas so the number keeps going up! That's nothing though, my friend has about 35 first cousins... 5y
saresmoore Good grief! 😱 5y
35 likes3 comments
blurb
DarcysMom
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
kspenmoll 🙌🏻🙌🏻 5y
58 likes1 comment
blurb
DarcysMom
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
review
RedLeaves
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

I absolutely L💛VED this book. Meandering, whimsical, poetic, magical and witty. Oh my goodness to have this writing talent! I mean really THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

review
quietlycuriouskate
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

A strong contender for the strangest book I've read in a while, once past the brutal prologue I enjoyed this very much. Dublin orphan become "Mayo Heathcliff" Mahony returns to the village of his birth to uncover what happened to his hellraiser of a mother. He's aided by Mrs Cauley, retired actress and the brains behind the operation. Oh, and he sees the dead. By turns violent, tender and darkly funny, this crime story is quite the wild ride!

quietlycuriouskate Don't pick it up if you object to the word "arse": arse is amply represented throughout. 5y
TrishB 😂 that made me laugh! 5y
squirrelbrain @TrishB @kathedron nothing wrong with ample arses! 🤣 5y
53 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
RedLeaves
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Oh this is GLORIOUS! The prose is just beautiful and meandering. A third of the way through and I feel like applauding the author

review
Vblancsbooks
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Bailedbailed

I gave this a good 100 pages but I couldn‘t finish it. It wasn‘t cohesive for me to continue. I am probably in the minority‘s here 😟

review
Crinoline_Laphroaig
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

Liked the Irishnish of the language & setting. Although book is in Co Mayo, in my mind I kept picturing Inistioge in Co Kilkenny. Didn't seem like Instioge was hiding any deep dark secrets while I was there, but you never know when you are outsider in a small town. Really wanted to like this one but just couldn't do the violence & descriptions of dead people. Did want to know the ending. ☘☘☘ #skimmedandreadlastfewchapters

Crinoline_Laphroaig Gave it a pick because it just wasn't to mind taste. Not author's fault. 5y
keithmalek I just gave this a stack add. You had me at Ireland. 5y
Crinoline_Laphroaig @keithmalek Dialogue is awesome. 5y
Slajaunie Sounds interesting. 5y
37 likes4 comments
blurb
Lizpixie
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

#BookMail Pt4 I read the authors 2nd novel, The Hoarder, last year & it was one of my #TopTenOf2018 She has a knack for writing the strange & darkly bleak & making it very memorable. This is her debut novel, which also has the touch of strange about it. Mahoney returns to the tiny Irish village he was born in, hoping to find out more about his mother & his birth. But his presence is unwanted, especially when old secrets start surfacing.

TobeyTheScavengerMonk I loved this one so much on audio. 5y
68 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
Katja
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

Littens who have read this, help! I thought this book was fantastic, but I probably shouldn‘t have read so much of it in the middle of the night while nursing, because...what was the killer‘s motive?

review
youneverarrived
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

Atmospheric and dark but scattered with humour. It‘s got a murder mystery, the supernatural and small village life going on. Great cast of characters but Mrs. Cauley made the book for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #newyearwhodis

monalyisha Me too! She was the best! 5y
Pricel101 Agreed! @monalyisha she was ZANY & hilarious. So happy you enjoyed the book! 5y
RedLeaves I am loooooving this book so much 5y
83 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Work, yoga and bath done now time for #bookandbrew 😁

I do love a book that‘s set in a small town/village, especially when they have a good set of characters like this one. It‘s intriguing so far. #newyearwhodis

KatieCarpenter Cute mug!! 5y
monalyisha Have you seen the cover for the physical hardcover? Man, is it GORGEOUS! (I really liked this one.) 5y
See All 10 Comments
youneverarrived @monalyisha yeah, it‘s a beauty 💚 much better than this one. 5y
Cathythoughts Enjoy 📖♥️ 5y
JennyM I‘ve heard she‘s a great author. Keep us posted and enjoy 5y
youneverarrived @JennyM will do 😘 5y
quietlycuriouskate I recently added this to my Overdrive wishlist: looking forward to seeing your thoughts on it. 5y
youneverarrived @kathedron I will let you know what I think 😘 5y
85 likes1 stack add10 comments
review
Tashreads
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Pickpick

This is the second Jess Kidd novel I‘ve finished this year, and it‘s safe to say I am now a certified fan. I love the way she weaves together humour, horror and the supernatural. I adore her characters. Looking forward to her new novel due out next year.

65 likes3 stack adds
blurb
Saari84
post image

Große #coverliebe!
Der Klappentext klingt auch vielversprechend:
Ein junger Hippie reist ins irische Mulderrig um das mysteriöse verschwinden seiner jungen Mutter vor mehr als 20 Jahren aufzuklären. Die Dorfbewohner stellen sich quer, doch kommt ihm die scharfzüngige alte Mrs. Cauley zu Hilfe, denn sie glaubt schon lange, dass jeder weiß, was damals wirklich geschah....
Na? Auch neugierig geworden?
#buch #buchliebe #leseliebe #bibliophile

7 likes1 stack add
blurb
Moray_Reads
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

1. The humour in this one had me laughing out loud which doesn't often happen. Even though it starts with a fairly brutal murder
2. December
3. No. Don't plan to have any!
4. Crisps
#FriyayIntro @jesshowbooks

blurb
Heymeff
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

A ghost story for people who aren‘t fans of ghost stories

1 stack add
review
alisahar
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image
Mehso-so

A handsome stranger shows up in a small Irish town, trying to find out what happened to his mother, an unwed and ostracized teenager who suddenly disappeared when he was a baby. I don‘t have much substantive criticism of this book— it just couldn‘t hold my attention. There are some vivid, well-drawn secondary older women characters but I didn‘t find the central male character that interesting. Lots of magical realism, which isn‘t my thing.

alisahar If I remember right, I got this book because I‘m really interested in the treatment of unwed mothers and their children in Ireland but it wasn‘t what I was expecting. (edited) 6y
Vblancsbooks I thought the same and I DNF it. Mahoney was so flat! 5y
alisahar @Vblancsbooks just another boring hot guy 🤷‍♀️ 5y
18 likes3 comments
blurb
quietjenn
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

This has been my commute reading off and on for ages. But I‘m finally at the point that I‘m super into it and want to read it even when I‘m not in transit. i.e., I‘m totally finishing this tonight, if I don‘t fall asleep early!

70 likes2 stack adds
blurb
alisahar
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Today‘s zen audiobook listening spot: the Fens in #Boston while I wait for a movie at the MFA French Film Festival. I was supposed to do #24in48 but I only read 4 hours the first day and then forgot to restart my stopwatch at some point in day 2. Enjoying a quiet no-pressure, no-goals reading day instead.

DivineDiana Lovely! Enjoy your day! 😊 6y
37 likes1 comment
review
bernadette
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
Pickpick

Couldn't put this one down. I loved the feisty old ladies and liked Mahoney and the dead that bear witness to all the sins that occur in a small town. I thought the ending didn't quite live up to the rest of the book but the beginning and middle were really good. Fast paced and filled with fun characters.

blurb
bernadette
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

Taking a break from The Twelve Caesars. It's part ghost story, part murder mystery set in a small, remote Irish town full of secrets. A little more than 100 pages in. Nicely written. Great pageturner so far.

quote
Bloomingjen
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
post image

LOVE this original line

review
TheDrunkenLibrarian
Himself: A Novel | Jess Kidd
Pickpick

This book was such a great fast read 📚