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Title details for Mr. Flood's Last Resort by Jess Kidd - Wait list

Mr. Flood's Last Resort

A Novel

by Jess Kidd
Aoife McMahon
Audiobook
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Wait time: About 2 weeks
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0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
From the award-winning author of Himself comes a spellbinding and "magically entertaining read" (Good Housekeeping, UK) about a lonely caregiver and a cranky hoarder with a house full of secrets that "will appeal to fans of Tana French and Sophie Hannah, as it charms and unsettles in equal measure" (BookPage).
Maud Drennan is a dedicated caregiver whose sunny disposition masks a deep sadness. A tragic childhood event left her haunted, in the company of a cast of prattling saints who pop in and out of her life like tourists. Other than visiting her agoraphobic neighbor, Maud keeps to herself, finding solace in her work and in her humble existence—until she meets Mr. Flood.

Cathal Flood is a menace by all accounts. The lone occupant of a Gothic mansion crawling with feral cats, he has been waging war against his son's attempts to put him into an old-age home and sent his last caretaker running for the madhouse. But Maud is this impossible man's last chance: if she can help him get the house in order, he just might be able to stay. So the unlikely pair begins to cooperate, bonding over their shared love of Irish folktales and mutual dislike of Mr. Flood's overbearing son.

Mr. Flood's Last Resort is "a rare delight" (Cosmopolitan, UK) examining the space between sin and sainthood, a novel that "perfectly balances tragedy with dark comedy" in which "the dialogue crackles and every detail enchants" (Shelf Awareness).​

Note to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title The Hoarder.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 1, 2018

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781508257462
      • File size: 296587 KB
      • Duration: 10:17:53

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      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.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Aoife McMahon brings her Irish soul and voice to this quirky mystery. Cathal Flood is a curmudgeonly hoarder whose large home hides secrets. Maud Drennan is the latest in a long line of caregivers tasked with caring for Mr. Flood. McMahon gives the story's large cast unique vocal characterizations, starting with Mr. Flood's gruffness and Maud's calm, unruffled responses. As Maud uncovers unsolved mysteries, her dreams reawaken a mysterious trauma from her own childhood, and McMahon brings to life a troop of saints who goad and guide her efforts to find answers. The character of Renata, Maud's transgender landlady and only friend, is especially alive as a wise and caring advocate. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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