The Hoarder

Another brilliant book by this author. Amazing. Very highly recommended. Detective, thriller, romance, great characters you really start to love and then some sadness that actually brought a few tears. So be prepared! Don't let it put you off though. Definitely a must read.

This is an unusual tale, slightly whimsical yet with characters that are easily relatable. As the reader follows Maud Drennan into her new position caring for eccentric hoarder Cathal Flood, there is much to observe as the chapters unfold. Maud is followed by the Saints, guided by their ethereal presence as she goes about her business. Yet, when the hint of a mystery shows itself, the carer suspects foul play & decides to play detective. Funny, sad, unusual and moving, this is a book to enjoy and devour chapter by chapter.

Jess Kidd is a phenominal writer. The Horder is my third read after Things in Jars and Himself and I know that I could read any of her other books confident that I will find it beautifully written with a sensitivity that it is rare to find. I enjoy most of the many books I read, but Jess Kidd joins my very short list of authors who I know I will re-read.

I usually like oddball and surreal stories, but The Hoarder had a touch too much whackiness for me. On the plus side, there's some really creative ideas in the book, sharp observations, good humour and I enjoyed the engaging writing style - but the plot twisted and turned so quickly that I kept losing track of the storyline and my interest waned.

Really good read with a hint of Rebecca and what lies beneath .. not sure whether I should call it a thriller or a ghost story. I picked this book up after listening to an interview with the author on radio 4 and it piqued my interest. Not disappointed it’s the first book I have picked up and finished in a good while. If you don’t like rom coms or crime drama this will please you. It’s definitely a tale that weaves in and out and keeps you guessing till the end where there is just a hint of Daphne Du Maurier about it!

This book will please many. I prefer this - ‘The Hoarder’ - to ‘Things in Jars’ by a good margin. It might be that that it less dressed in the Gothic. I decided to read this in as few sessions as possible and really enjoyed the read. I was immediately aware of some ‘purple prose’ but this was ok. If it were not for that the book might have read as a TV or film proposal. I Found the inclusion of the saints useful and welcome light relief, and it took me back to ‘Millions’ by Frank Cottrell Boyce and the radio play ‘Stay’ by Georgia Pritchett, where Sheridan Smith plays the part of a saint obsessed daughter. Think the book’s editors might have avoided similar descriptions of a couple of things, but I am being choosy. I look forward to further novels by Jess Kidd.

As it's the New Year I can't say it's the best I've read all year. I can say it's one of my all- time favourites. Lyrical, funny, moving, clever, full of astonishing characters, with a tight plot and a devastating twist. Even the house and the animals, not to mention the Saints have a strong identity.

This book was beautifully written with a deep understanding of Irish people and how they use language and show humour. Very atmospheric. It's well worth reading and I will return to it and try re-reading it to see if I can get more sense out of the ending because I struggle to understand who is still alive and where they might be.