I absolutely loved this.

It’s such a sweet but desperately sad story, and wonderfully written. Jennie Godfrey creates a brilliant cast of characters and explores their interconnecting lives.

It’s so well written, and allows the reader to perfectly imagine a small Yorkshire town in the 80’s. She captures the racial tension, the economic struggles, and the fear people felt due to the Yorkshire ripper.

It’s heartbreaking in parts, and heartwarming in others, and it’s just an excellent book!

Fabulous book. A touching tale, primarily about friendship; this is beautifully written. Covering a dark time in criminal history, many of us will remember the fears around at this time. It is all handled very well.
A book I will keep remembering, and one that I have already recommended to lots of others.

Wow, this was such an incredible debut. I was initially attracted the the premise of the 70’s era, and Yorkshire location of Bradford/leeds where I too grew up at the time of ‘The Ripper’. So many familiar, nostalgic feelings were drawn out whilst reading, but it’s such a good book that it’s far from the main reason for its success.

The story is narrated from several characters point of view, but primarily from 12 year old Miv’s viewpoint, but this isn’t a teen novel; it deals with some incredibly grizzly topics - domestic abuse, racism, the rise of the National Front, paedophilia, suicide, prostitution, alcoholism and last but far from least, the horrifically violent murders of ‘The Ripper’. Jennie Godfrey cleverly switches between each character to give us insight into their secret lives, and as a reader we feel we are shown the secrets and lies of these characters and crucially, what goes on behind closed doors.

The pre-teens Miv and Sharon totally steal your heart. They both play ‘detectives’, making lists of suspicious things about people who are in their lives, comically determined to personally identify and catch the ‘Ripper’ whom the police had warned would be hiding in plain sight. There is a childish innocence in their suspicions and their fears, which reads a little like an Enid Blyton mystery story at times, but this childish register only adds to the readers’ sense of irony. We can foresee the dangers they present for themselves, but their immaturity actually protects them from the full fear... until it doesn’t.

I laughed, cried (sobbed in fact!) and smiled wryly at this beautiful, touching book. Highly recommended as an absorbing and quite beautiful read.

Thank you to Net Galley and to Jennie Godfrey for an advance reader’s copy.

Absolutely loved this book.

Set in 1970s Yorkshire during the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, Miv starts her List of Suspicious Things and ropes her friend Sharon into investigating with her.

The book touches on murder, suicide, spousal abuse, alcohol abuse, xenophonbia and paedophilia but in spite of these heavy topics, it is a hopeful story.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book and would like to thank Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review. And my honest review is read this book you won't regret it

‘Yorkshire, 1979. Maggie Thatcher is prime minister, drainpipe jeans are in, and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South.

Because of the murders.

Leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all?’

The List of Suspicious Things was an absolutely delightful read. Having grown up a few years into the 80s and a few miles from Dewsbury, it felt incredibly evocative of that period.

The only weakness for me (if I can call it that: it’s more that I thought the book would have been stronger for focusing only on Miv’s perspective) we’re the pov chapters from the adult characters. These tended too much towards telling, not showing, when I’d have preferred to work out the threads of their stories through Miv’s eyes. But this is a minor complaint and I would still highly recommend the book.

Wow
I was born in West Yorkshire in 1975 and although I don’t obviously remember the Yorkshire Ripper at the time, I did grow up knowing his name. I might be a few years younger than Miv but I felt like Miv could have been me. The characters are super genuine, I feel I met them all in my childhood. It took me straight back to growing up in a small mining town in Yorkshire. The dialogue of Aunty Jean could have come straight out of my mum's mouth. I found myself smiling while reading the Yorkshire language, its spot on. "By heck", it's so believable that many times I asked myself "is this memoir or literally fiction?" I found it hard to see where the author had used her artistic abilities and what she had plucked straight from memory.
Aside from the wonderfully nostalgic dialogue, the book does tackle some dark themes like domestic violence, racism, suicide and mental health, but overall the book is about healing, growing and coming of age. It's about relationships and bringing folks together. I love a book about characters and where the setting becomes a character in itself and for me this had wonderful, marvellous characters in spades. If you are born and bred Yorkshire, "thy'll love it". If you love a characters you can fall for, this is "rate up ya ally"
Thank you to Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Miv lives in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Ripper is what everyone is discussing. The story is set in the 70s when the newspapers were full of articles about the Yorkshire Ripper and his victims. Miv lives at home with her father, her aunt and her mother. Her aunt lives with the family because her mother has become so withdrawn, she is unable to look after Miv so Aunt Joan has stepped in to help. The atmosphere at home is quite cold most of the time, probably because of the way the mother has become and the secrets that are being kept. Miv has a best friend, Sharon and Miv adores her. Stella is pretty and vivacious and Miv, who is shy and slightly withdrawn tries to model herself on her. Miv, with Sharon’s help decides they are going to discover who the Yorkshire Ripper is and this becomes the focus for both of them, but particularly for Miv. In a notebook she notes down any man she thinks is a bit suspicious, hence the book title. The consequences of their search lead to tragedy and have far reaching effects on many families in their community. This is an excellent story full of real people, some good and some bad but all believable characters. There are many strands running through the book including racial tension, domestic violence and of course the impact something like the threat of someone killing women can have on an area. The book is very well written and the pace is good but easy to follow. For a debut novel this is superb. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me and ARC of this book.

I loved this book; it is an outstanding debut. A simple title but a complex story on so many fronts. Set in Yorkshire at the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, the 70’s are brought alive, together with the Ripper still at large as the police fail to capture him and the fear this brings.
Set along side is Miv’s story. Due to suggestions that they might move South which would mean leaving her best friend behind, she decides to help identify the Ripper by making lists. The small community is brought to life in a not always comfortable way. There is racism, domestic violence but also friendship and warmth and the story of adolescence. It’s an emotional read and one that will stay with me. Highly recommended.

I loved this book. I really couldn't put it down.

A story of true friendship and community.

Miv and Sharon are two very different girls and the best of friends. You will follow them through their brilliant list and meet so many varied amazing characters along the way.

It is Yorkshire in the time of The Ripper and our heroines are out to prove themselves.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this eARC.

I remember the fear which resounded around the time of these murders. My own brother was stopped because of his resemblance to Peter Sutcliffe. It was a scary time to be a woman. As a ten year old I know I was often shielded from realities such as this but my dad was also a policeman so I naturally overheard things.

I felt the novel certainly improved as it went along. I became more absorbed with the characters pursuits.

The author was also not afraid to tackle difficult subject material.

Miv and Sharon remind me of the childhood dramas we used to think were terribly important. They were endearing and developed well as the novel progressed.

I would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. This novel is out in February 2024.

I am undecided between rating 4 and 5 stars for this book. It does get significantly better as it goes on and I finished the last 40% of it in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down. There are a couple of events in the last third of the book that are genuinely so upsetting to read about and gave me a lump in my throat. I really do hope that when this is published, content warnings are clearly listed at the beginning.

I struggled to get into it at the beginning because I always think "tween" age is the hardest to get correct as a first person narrator, and it was also irritating that Miv's point of view was the only first person one. I don't mind alternating narrators at all, but using 3rd person for all the adults and 1st person for Miv was a little distracting and didn't make for smooth reading. This is the reason I would take a star off, but as the story progresses it does become less jarring.

Towards the end of the book the reader comes to realise that "member of the public wants to solve murders" was never really the main point of the novel, the main point is in fact more of a love letter to tween/teen friendships, and solidarity between different marginalised groups.

On the surface, it has a bit of a Hollywood ending where the various criminal characters all get their dues, but there is a mixture of bittersweet emotions that remains, based on everything the other characters lost before it got to that point, as well as awareness that we are living roughly 40 years after this book is set and yet these issues of misogyny and domestic violence are far from over.

Being a Yorkshire girl the same age as Miv so much of this book resonated with me. From the songs about Thatcher to the fear of the Yorkshire Ripper I felt like I was living this book. It’s beautifully written, isn’t afraid to cover racism, domestic abuse, bullying and so much more. This is probably the most touching book I’ve read for a long time and it will stay with me. It’s just beautiful heartbreaking nostalgia.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

For such a sensitive subject matter this was so well done. It shows the impact on wider communities without feeling contrived and all of the characters (even the supporting ones) are very well developed.

Without giving any of the story away it shows that to young girls sometimes it isn’t the big issues that have the largest impact on your life and instead it is a web of many, many smaller ones.

The book got off to a slow start for me but as the characters developed and I got to know Miv’s family and friends, I was soon engrossed. Deceptively mild and charming, beneath the surface there are themes of domestic abuse, racism and loneliness all wrapped up in a story about two 12 year old girls trying to solve the case of the Yorkshire Ripper. A great debut by Jennie Godfrey who is definitely an author to watch.

Well what a lovely change, This book took me back to my childhood despite being set a lot later during the reign of terror brought about by the Yorkshire Ripper. The story is based around Miv an 11 year old girl whose mother has suffered some form of nervous breakdown , and Miv's best friend Sharon. The story details the adventures and characters they meet as they set about trying to find who the Yorkshire Ripper is. They also befriend a boy called Ishtiak who is the son of Omar the corner shop keeper which is just like "Open all hours". The story deals with lots of prejudices, but there is always a more heart warming element that keeps your view more balanced. Thoroughly recommended.

You may find it hard to believe when I say what a beautiful book this is. Covering topics including domestic abuse, loss of loved ones, the betrayal of an affair, mental health issues, manslaughter paedophila, racism and all set against the background of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper it would be understandable. But this novel is an absolutely beautiful, often tender and very human tale of the lives of a group of neighbours in a Yorkshire village including a shopkeeper and his son, a librarian, her retired father, the workers at a local haulage company. The main protagonist, Miv, a girl on the brink of becoming a teenager overhears her family talking about moving away. She believes it to be due to the shadow of the Yorkshire Ripper hanging over their community and so, with the begrudging help of her two school friends she decides to catch the infamous serial killer herself. I’m going to leave the detail at that as I strongly urge you to read what I believe to be a 5⭐️ read for yourselves.

Full of nostalgia but also a reminder of the toughness of life in Yorkshire in the 80s, especially for women and of course for the victims of the Yorkshire Ripper. So refreshing to see that investigation/news story from a child's point of view. Miv and Sharon are wonderful characters, unlikely friends but ultimately as thick as thieves. Jennie Godrey shows that in almost every house and almost every family there's so much more than meets the eye.

The novel is set in Yorkshire in the 1970s, when Margaret Thatcher was in power and the Yorkshire Ripper was a danger to women. When Miv’s father and strict overbearing Aunt Jean decide to leave the area and move down South, Miv is determined not to leave her best friend Sharon.
Miv’s love of Enid Blyton’s stories helps her to organise a list to determine who the Yorkshire Ripper could be, then the family would be able to stay in the community they know so well.
This is a sensitively written story, told by an author who knows Yorkshire well. It is filled with humour and affection, but also has a dark side. Racism was prevalent at the time, and Mr Bashir the local shopkeeper, and his son Ishtiaq, along with other ethnic minorities suffered terribly at the hands of local thugs, The issue of domestic control and abuse is also explored.
I felt empathy for Miv whose Aunt Jean has little sympathy for her niece, hers is a utilitarian upbringing with little love or affection shown. Her spirit and determination (along with her best friend Sharon) help to see her through. The author’s skilled writing brings both characters and austere settings alive. As this heartwarming story unfolds and characters develop, you begin to feel that you know them and the problems they have.
This is an exceptional debut novel, a unique story about friendships, love and determination, its twists and turns keep you turning the pages. Can’t wait for Jennie Godrey’s next novel. Would enjoy reading about Miv’s next adventures. Highly recommended.

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

Growing up in Yorkshire In the late 1970s and as a female from near the area the Ripper carried out his heinous murders must have been a terrifying time.

We meet Miv & Sharon , 2 girls who are wary of what is going on In the world around them .
This is a great book about growing up at a time that the uk is changing. A real insight

There is sometimes you come across a book that is a powerful, emotional story that stays with you for some time and this book is one of them. This will be a best seller, no doubt.
Miv is a twelve-year-old girl living in Yorkshire in 1979 in the times of Maggie Thatcher. She lives in an old Mill town with her father and her mother and her Aunty Jean who has come to stay and care for her mother. Once a loving mother, but something happened to her and now sits spaced out not fully there. So, her father and Aunty Jean are the ones there for her and her friend Sharon.
To cope with the goings on in her life, she develops an obsession to find the Ripper and report him to the Police. Observing all the people around her and making lists to see if there are him. But doing so she gets into all sorts of trouble and ends up being cornered by the police.
The story also includes the times of the National front and what they did to people with ‘Brown skin’ Especially the new shop holder Mr Bashir and his son that have just arrived in the area and not welcomed by the locals and other hard-hitting subjects that are more recognised today.
I thank you for the publisher for this amazing debut novel by Jennie Godfrey. This is a powerful coming of age story, with some hard subjects. But it is sensitively done, this is beautifully written, and I loved the innocence of the protagonist Miv and her bravery. As I am a similar age you don’t seem to experience it now in young people. I loved this so much and can’t wait to see what the author has next in store. 5 stars from me.