Not sure whether this is a children's story (albeit with dark themes of serial murders and racism) or an adult story written in the more simplistic manner of a child's with two youngsters endeavouring to solve the Yorkshire Ripper attacks themselves.
Other reviews would indicate that I am in the minority here but a book not really for me.
However my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

This was a really quirky, enjoyable book. I loved the characters and the descriptions of growing up in Yorkshire were great. Highly recommended.

A good book centred around the era of the Yorkshire Ripper. Miv lives with her mom and dad and her Auntie Jean who moved in as her mom was suffering with depression. Her mother became more and more of a recluse and Miv managed to always get out and about as she was to an extent unsupervised. As the murders continued Miv decided she was going to investigate these and bring the murderer to justice. She managed to persuade her best friend, Sharon, into the investigation which on occasion did not according to plan. She started reading into things which became dead ends although she was convinced she was on the right trail. As the book continues you can see how she is growing up fast and wants so desperately her mom’s comfort. Another thing which upsets her is that her dad is always out and when she finds out why this is devastated which causes more friction at home. The story also touches on the NF element which causes Mr Bashir (the local newsagent) and his son terrible problems and Miv is really upset about the whole National Front thing. The book gets better as you go through it and I loved the different characters especially Mrs Andrews, the local librarian and how the book ends for her. A great read

This is such a nostalgic read and coming from someone roughly the same age as the main character and from Yorkshire, this really touched me. I think the fact that this is a debut novel makes it even better. I think this book will make waves when it is released,

Initially I found the use of the Yorkshire ripper's crimes as a background to a story rather distasteful, having been living in Heaton in Bradford at the time of his reign of terror, but the author wove an enjoyable story from a child's viewpoint. She also included the hateful crimes of racial discrimination and wife beating in the story.

A debut, coming of age novel set during the time when the Yorkshire ripper was active.

Miv's family life is troubled, her mum has had a nervous breakdown and hasn't spoken for sometime. Her aunt has moved in to help take care of them, but with the ripper still out there, Yorkshire isn't what it used to be and there is talk of moving away. This is devastating to Miv, who would then lose her best friend, Sharon, the one stable thing in her life. Her solution is to catch the ripper, so she starts the list of suspicious things and sets out with Sharon to investigate. Along the way, the pair meet a strong cast of characters and form a pretty tight group of friends.

I felt it was a strong debut that evokes a real sense of time and place, I did think the ending let it down a bit; there were some threads of the story I would have liked more detail on, and some things that I felt a bit let down by; however, I enjoyed reading it and think it should do well.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

I loved this book. A real trip down memory lane for someone who grew up in the north of England in the 70's. Told through the voice of Miv a young girl who is determined to catch Jack the Ripper. It's got so many themes that run beautifully together and the characters seem so real and of their time. Some real hard hitting themes that include domestic abuse, racism and of course murder.
Thanks to the author (please write more!) publisher and NetGalley for the pre published copy.

Jennie Godfrey has managed to bring the late 70s and early 80s alive through the pages of this stunning novel. Twelve year old Miv is a wonderful character who, together with Sharon, her best friend, makes it her mission to track down the Yorkshire Ripper. The plot is cleverly executed as the girls’ search reveals so much about the private lives of those in this small Yorkshire town. Friendships are made, marriages are in trouble and racism rears its ugly head.

The importance of community is paramount in the telling of this story and the friendship between the two main characters is central to this novel for so many different reasons.

This is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

Miv and Sharon are best friends. Sharon is everything that Miv aspires to be; pretty, popular, confident and outgoing but she has chosen Miv as her best friend and closest confident.
This is the time of the Yorkshire Ripper. When women were terrified of going out at night and dark haired men were looked at suspiciously.
Miv decides that she and Sharon should try to catch the Ripper and so they begin a list of suspicious things. Men with dark hair and a moustache. Men who don't behave quite as 'normal".
But there are other had things happening in their town, as in the rest of the country. Racism is rife and When Sharon befriends and eventually falls for Ishtiaq she opens herself to comments from many in her community.
The story is about so many issues and has a bitter sweet ending which would be spoilt by saying too much.
It is enough to say that the girls do not catch the Ripper.

An unlikely coming of age story set against the background of the Yorkshire Ripper, but it really works. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

This book is written in a very simplistic manner, more in the style of YA. It is the story of Miv and her pal Sharon, who at the age of twelve, decide to enliven their lives with their dysfunctional families by trying to catch the Yorkshire Ripper. Set in the 1960/70s it is in many ways, true to its time.
However, it’s a dark subject to be making light of in my opinion, and I just did not enjoy it.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book?

A tender coming of age story set in a Yorkshire town living under the very real threat of the Yorkshire Ripper. The book is about friendship, first love, family and, of course, suspicious things. Some very gritty themes are dealt with as the story progresses, but every one is dealt with sensitivly but without skirting over the issue. Bad things happen to good people & life isn't a fairy tale, but family, friendship, community & the kindness of strangers shine through in this book.

My first 5 star read for a very long time. I enjoyed every minute of being immersed in this brilliantly evocative story, woven through the background of the real-life murders of thirteen women by the notorious Yorkshire Ripper. I am so often frustrated by clumsy use of varying points of view but Jennie Godfrey deftly weaves the narrative from different viewpoints, sometimes from unexpected narrators. I loved Miv, clever and endearing, with so much to learn about the world. And the 1970’s was so brilliantly evoked, often by an appropriately placed song lyric. A remarkable debut and I am so looking forward to reading more from this author.

I absolutely loved this book and I'm still thinking of it. This is a story of two best friends who set out to find a murderer through their own investigations and the trial and tribulations of teenage friendships. Jennie Godfrey writes teenage experience so well and the story itself is a real page turner. This book has heart and I would recommend this absolute page turner to anyone.

Is this really a debut novel? Excellent read, I remember the era well with the strikes hardships etc. that the 70's bought to everyday people.

This novel is one that really plucks the heartstrings, childhood friendships, and the growing, developing age of the characters involved. Riveting read. A few times the tissues had to come out.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this excellent novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advance copy of this delightful debut novel. This coming of age story is set in Yorkshire in 1979 just as Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female British Prime Minister and The Ripper continues to make headline news striking terror into local communities. It is the story of a young girl growing up, of friendship, love and so much more. Told mainly from 12 year old Miv's point of view it is littered with references to the music, politics and cultural awakenings of the 70 and 80's. As the police are struggling to stop the 'Yorkshire Ripper' Miv and her best friend Sharon decide to find him. Throughout the story the author has captured the innocence of a pre internet and mobile phone age, one where news was gleaned from newspapers and gossips in close communities where everyone knew everyone. Jennie Godfrey has taken the issues of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, mental health and racism and sensitively woven them into an excellent book that I am happy to recommend. Look forward to more from this author.

It’s 1979, Thatcher has just been elected and the Yorkshire Ripper is casting a shadow and putting everyone in Yorkshire on edge. Including 12 year old Miv, whose dad is threatening to move away from Yorkshire. The police are getting nowhere with the case so she convinces her best friend Sharon that they should investigate. They buy a notebook and start their list of suspicious things.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this debut novel. As a Yorkshire lass I was drawn to it because of the Yorkshire setting, but I’m so glad I read it. It is a coming of age tale told by Miv. There are some pretty heavy themes in it, suicide, grief, SA, CSA, bullying, racial tensions, DV and it is at times quite bleak. But Miv is a compelling narrator, with her immaturity and naivety. Miv isn’t the only narrator, with some chapters being told by other characters . I was in tears by the end, it’s a story that will stay with me. I thoroughly recommend it and look forward to more from Jennie Godfrey.

I'm afraid it's one of those awkward times when you review a book everyone loves...and you don't.

The List of Suspicious seems to be getting 5 stars from one and all but I'm an outlier on this one.

It's a coming-of-age story set in Yorkshire around the time of the Ripper murders. A young girl called Miv decides to try to solve the mystery of the murderer.

A nice set-up, but the execution left me feeling like a dispassionate observer of the story, rather than reeling me in. Miv is a good central character but some of the other characters were thin, to the point I often forgot who was who.

I think my main two issues with the book were the pacing and the unremitting bleakness.

In terms of pacing, i almost DNF'd the book around a third of the way through because it was dull. Then in the last 20% of the book suddenly no end of crazy shit starts happening. Perhaps if some of these events had happened earlier it would have got me invested. It would also have prevented the climax of the book feeling somewhat unrealistic, with a huge amount of stuff suddenly happening concurrently. It was exciting, but also felt a bit silly.

In terms of bleakness, if this is Yorkshire life, I'd recommend Miv, and everyone else, moves to another area. Life can throw challenges at us from time to time but Miv appears to be fucking jinxed! Over the course of the few months the book covers she encounters severe mental illness, adultery, racism, arson, manslaughter, paedophilia (which felt bizarrely levered in as a sub-plot near the end), deviant vicars, domestic abuse, suicide and tragic death.

It wouldn't have been surprised to find out the postman was a Nazi war criminal in hiding. I certainly hope Miv's following few months were a little more chilled.

The List of Suspicious Things had some good things going for it but ultimately seemed suspiciously like a list of melodramatic YA events, which felt uncomfortable alongside the very serious subject matter.

Huge thanks to the publisher and the author for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. This was such an incredible read, it’s thoughtful, engaging, emotional and I really felt moved reading it. It must have been such a precarious time.

This is a hugely accomplished debut. Full of atmosphere for its era, intrigue, and characters that hook you in.

A lot of research was obviously conducted for this, and it shows. I lived through these years and I felt I was transported back in time. Over and above its specific setting, this is a great investigation into the kinds of issues faced in childhood, particularly here sexism and racism.

Sounds serious? Well, yes it is; but the author’s skill and the use of younger POV lets this soar with a lightness too.

Highly recommended.