Himself - spookily entertaining!

There are some books that within the first few paragraphs, you just know you are going to love. And Himself, by Jess Kidd was certainly one of those for me. Set in two time frames - the 1970's and the the 1950's, we follow a young man's journey back to Mulderrig, the tiny Irish village of his birth. Mahoney is on a mission to find out why his mother gave him up for adoption when he was a baby. All he has is a photograph of his young mother and the name of the village. Mahoney is a good looking boy, and a charmer, but he is not without fault. People are drawn to him, both men and women and one particularly feisty lady, Mrs Cauley, an elderly actress, takes him under her wing, determined to find out what happened some 20 years ago. Almost everyone says that his mother left town on a bus and never came back, but there are some, including Mrs Cauley, who are sure there is a darker tale to tell. And boy, is there ever! Throw in the fact that Mahoney can not only see dead people, but have conversations with them, and you have all the ingredients for a most entertaining mystery. And this book does not disappoint. The characters are excellent, and all get the chance to shine with some zingy dialogue ... even the ghosts! Moments of brutal violence and heartbreak mingle almost seamlessly with humour and hope. Magnificently narrated by Aidan Kelly, I really wish this book was still on my "to read" pile, so that I could enjoy it for the first time all over again! An absolute corker! Jess Kidd is an author I will definitely be seeking out in the future.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 368 print pages.

Formats: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Price I paid: £2.98.