Mr. Flood's Last Resort

March 15, 2018
A young woman sensitive to spirits becomes a caretaker for a cantankerous hoarder and his haunted house in Kidd's (Himself, 2016) latest novel.For much of her life, Maud Drennan has been able to see saints, a talent that has predisposed her to loneliness, especially after the mysterious disappearance of her older sister. But even these heavenly figures cannot protect her from the convoluted mystery at the heart of Cathal Flood's house. At first, most of Maud's horror is directed at the dirt and detritus--a kitchen that's hardly ever been cleaned; a stack of National Geographic magazines that serves to wall off parts of the house--but soon she realizes there are much more malevolent memories lurking behind the mess. She begins to have strange dreams about Mr. Flood's dead wife, and she finds a photo of an unknown girl, her face burned away, and a series of clippings about a different missing girl. Maud begins to wonder whether Mr. Flood--or someone related to him--might not actually be a killer. Her investigations bring her face to face with Mr. Flood's unpleasant son; a nasty busybody church secretary; a mostly bald cat; and a handsome man who isn't who he says he is. The eccentric characters are a bit hard to acclimate to in the beginning, but after a few chapters, the oddness becomes fascinating rather than off-putting. Maud is intrepid and clever and winningly awkward with her phantom saints, and Mr. Flood, despite his awful hygiene, is endearingly irascible. The mystery itself becomes less of a focus, second to Maud's hijinks in seeking to solve it, but answers are given, and they satisfy the creepy sense of unease instilled by Maud's early encounters in the house.It won't be like any other novel you've read this year--or maybe ever--but it's worth it.

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March 26, 2018
The gothic plot of this murder mystery (following Himself) about an Irish caregiver and her client, a cantankerous, widowed hoarder, boasts Kidd’s darkly comic sensibility, atmospheric writing, and colorful characters. Maud Drennan has lasted longer than the “geriatric whisperer brought in at great expense from a better agency” to assist Cathal Flood, whose historic West London house is bursting at the seams. If she can’t make both presentable, Cathal’s estranged son will move him into a home. Maud also begins investigating Cathal’s wife Mary’s death: did Mary actually tumble down the stairs, or is Cathal a modern Bluebeard, hiding bodies behind the Great Wall of National Geographics? What Maud uncovers in the course of her increasingly dangerous efforts may prove that true. Suspicious, agoraphobic landlady Renata injects a nice dose of absurdity to the tale. Less successful is a subplot about Maud’s childhood. Still, there are plenty of twists and perilous turns to keep the narrative moving. Kidd’s novel features a winning combination of descriptive writing, black humor, and biting dialogue.

April 15, 2018
Bridlemere, in West London, is a house filled with secrets, lost souls, mountains of hoarded rubbish, dozens of cats, and one cantankerous old man. No government caseworker has been able to prevail over the eccentric Cathal Flood and his haunted estate; even the agency's geriatric whisperer lasted only three days. That is, until his case is assigned to Maud Drennan. Undaunted by Flood's harsh peculiarities, Maud arms herself with bleach and traverses Flood's wall of National Geographic magazines in search of clues. Bridlemere holds the secrets of Flood's lost family, with treasures and ghostly spirits standing on guard. Surrounded by filth and the supernatural, Maud forges a bond with Flood that's very real. When their friendship comes to a tragic end, Maud realizes she must return to reality and finally confront the secrets of her own past. Kidd's (Himself, 2017) compelling second novel weaves love, betrayal, and forgiveness with humor, mystery, and a bit of magic. This absorbing mix of paranormal tragedy and heartfelt triumph will appeal to a broad swath of readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)