Miv and Sharon are best friends and 12 years old, living in a small town in Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Ripper has already killed several women and the Police manhunt is ongoing.
Miv decides it would be a good idea if she and Sharon drew up a list of likely suspects. This beautiful story is about growing up and the people who affect your lives along the way.

Synopsis

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?

So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a list: a list of all the suspicious people and things down their street. People they know. People they don't.

But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighbourhood, within their families - and between each other - than they ever thought possible.

What if the real mystery Miv needs to solve is the one that lies much closer to home?

My thoughts …….

The character of Miv and Sharon were delightful in fact all the characters were fabulous and the imagery they give to the novel gave it a lot of depth.

The storyline followed in parallel to the times of the Yorkshire ripper. Miv and Sharon were being Super sleuths making lists of their own suspects mustaches being a trigger and their strange behavior. However it’s not about the Yorkshire-ripper but that of the towns folk and their day to day lives . Miv and Sharon are pre teens growing up in the 70’s /80’s, music , culture and prejudice , bleakness and the famous five !

This was a magical debut novel that made me smile and look back at some points in history that are quite clear in your mind .

Miv is an 11 year old who slowly as she’s growing in to teenage hood she learns a lot about the people around her and with that she finds out the secrets they keep!
The books written in the time period of Jack the Ripper which gives the store the feeling of intense emotion some worrying and feeling of unease from everyone around the Yorkshire countryside. Miv decides after hearing her dad say they may leave Yorkshire she needs to find Jack the Ripper! She starts to unpick events that seem suspicious and slowly as she grows in age she sheds her naivety . It’s a fascinating story and sheds light on many different topics

An easy read but this book packs a punch all the same.
The characters are extremely well written and come to life off the page sharing their day to day lives and the secrets they hold. The book portrays Yorkshire life in the 70s so well and took me straight back to my childhood despite that being a decade earlier.
It is such a beautifully written book that is hard to believe it is a debut novel. It covers many social concerns that you would think could bring it down and be depressive but that is far from the case.
A gem of a book.

An wonderful story filled with historical richness and mystery. It's hard to imagine that this is really a debut novel, the way it handles character and story with the deftness of a pro. I will be reading more of Godfrey's work in the future for sure.

Oh. I've seen nothing but praise and all the stars loaded onto this debut novel with many people I know saying it's fabulous and quite possibly their book of the year. Not quite my view unfortunately.

Whilst it was entirely readable I just didn't find it that engaging and didn't connect with many of the characters. I struggled to keep picking it up to find out what was happening next and practically skim-read the last 15%.

It all felt a bit juvenile too, possibly even YA (is it YA?) even the language. And yes I know it's about two almost teen girls but given the subject matter it seemed a bit odd to me that racial slurs were effectively censored. If you want it to feel realistic then tell it how it was.

I was only 10 years old when this was set (1979) so can't remember much about the whole Yorkshire Ripper crimes but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be trying to work out who the Ripper was and following suspicious people around if it was happening in my community.

And not to add spoilers but the whole thread with Miv's mum seemed a bit unbelievably resolved.

I feel so bad that I didn't like this more after all its hype and clever marketing – you couldn't help but not notice it on social media in the weeks running up to its release – but it just goes to show that not every book that's shouted about is going to be loved by everyone.

What an amazing read!

The List of Suspicious Things is a captivating and emotionally resonant read that will tug at your heartstrings. It is a story that delves into the life of a young girl amidst tumultuous circumstances.

The story unfolds in 1979, a time marked by the impending rise of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister and the chilling presence of a serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper.

Eleven-year-old Miv grapples with various challenges, including her mother's illness, her opinionated aunt Jean who is staying with them, and her father's absence due to him spending most of his time at the pub.
Miv's aunt proposes a move away from Yorkshire to escape the horrors of the serial killer, posing a threat to her friendship with Sharon, her best friend, and her sense of belonging.

"The last two years had taught me how much people could change. If I couldn’t count on people, then I at least needed places and things to stay solid."

Determined to find a solution, Miv embarks on a mission to uncover the identity of the Yorkshire Ripper. Enlisting the help of Sharon, they begin making a list of suspicious people.
Every man with dark hair, dark eyes, and a mustache becomes a suspect; from a shopkeeper, a coworker of Miv's dad to a teacher and a local photographer.

Miv's obsession with the case raises questions about whether it serves as an escape from her personal struggles or a genuine pursuit of justice.

Her quest leads her to confront the harsh realities of life, exposing her to the darker aspects of society. But what will the consequences be of this obsession?

The story features well-developed and relatable characters, skillfully interwoven with the true events surrounding the Yorkshire Ripper and it creates a compelling coming-of-age narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars
I’ve always loved multi-narrative books, but the crossovers and revelations were done so expertly that you fall in love with practically every character (apart from the obviously horrific ones). This book is a perfect lesson in empathy.
My only critique is that the ending felt quite rushed by the end — the tension, withheld information, epiphanies and outbursts were so exciting that have everything wrapped up and solved in about 3 chapters felt slightly disappointing.
However, this book fully deserves all the awards just for the narrative arc, characterisation and empathy-building alone. RIP to the 13 victims ♥️.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

In 1970s Yorkshire, twelve year old Miv and her best friend Sharon compile a list of suspicious things in their community to investigate and try to uncover the Yorkshire Ripper. Along the way they uncover many secrets closer to home.

Oh this book is FABULOUS! Loved Miv and the whole cast of characters. Loved the 1970s detail and it brought back so many memories. And I really loved how the author dealt with serious issues - mental illness, racism, domestic violence, suicide and others - in such a poignant but never mawkish way. Seeing the world through Miv's eyes was wonderful and I couldn't put the book down. Stunning debut - can't wait to see what the author writes next! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Set in 1979, The List of Suspicious Things is an easy to read and heartwarming coming-of-age tale, set against the grisly backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper murders, which left 13 women dead across Yorkshire in the late 70s. But the Ripper is just one thing 12 year old Miv has to contend with - her mum isn't talking, her dad wants them to move away from home. Scary skinhead men and boys are making the world feel left safe, especially for Miv's Brown friend, Ish. So Miv thinks: what if she could s9lve the case of the Yorkshire Ripper? She could keep everyone safe, and her family wouldn't have to leave. Simple right?

The List of Suspicious Things is Jennie Godfrey's debut novel and seems to have been inspired by her own childhood. She's a Yorkshire woman, and it shows in the richly evoked towns of the region, as well as the charming and unusual dialect deployed by the characters. I listened to this one on audio, so the accents added an extra dimension to my enjoyment. Ey up!

Outside of the setting, though, Godfrey does a fantastic job spinning a yarn about a young woman on the edge of adolsence. Together with her best friend, Sharon, Miv beccomes an amateur detective, investigating people around her neighbourhood on suspicion of being the Yorkshire Ripper. None of them are (of course), but Miv does unearth plenty of truths for the people of her community - some of which the townspeople would prefer to staty buried.

With each secret divulged, Godfrey is given the opportunity to work through a Big Issue, be that domestic violence, sexual assault, or racism. She does so largely with finesse, but - perhaps because we're learning through a small child - sometimes the execution of this exploration feels a little clunky.

That said, that's my only criticism of this lovely little book. Godfrey's well-built world is populated by a sweet and belieavble cast of characters, especially Miv, our main POV character. She's awkward and clever and desperate for love, and my heart ached for her as she found herself in more and more morally tricky situations thanks to her investigative work.

The plot zips along, with the shadow of the Ripper never far from the reader's thoughts. It's not one I got a sense of nostalgia from, being born a solid 14 years later the events of the book, but nevertheless there's a quaint cosiness that I enjoyed - high praise given that I normally steer far, far away from cosy English novels.

A lovely book, not without it's faults but well worth picking up.

Taken from Amazon…
What an incredible debut novel. Despite looking a bit daunting at over 400 pages long, I finished reading this book in a few days. For those brought up in the 1970's and 80's, this book will resonate. Margaret Thatcher has just come into power and The Yorkshire Ripper is striking fear into woman all over the country. This book cleverly talks in various points of view but mostly concentrates on 12 year old Miv - who decides she wants to make a list of suspects and find the Yorkshire Ripper. In the process of doing so, she actually finds out a lot about herself and others.

The author tackles a lot of social issues from the era - many of which seem just as relevant today - women fearing men, domestic violence. racism, mental health struggles and the cover up of childhood sexual abuse. These are weighty issues and handled with much care and sensitivity.

The flip side to all of this are characters who grow before our eyes - the fierce but wonderfully loving Aunty Jean for example. Kindness may not change the world but it changes lives..and makes the other stuff a bit more bearable.

Miv (Mavis) was such a sweet, curious ( sometimes stupidly irresponsible) character. Her curiosity sometimes got the better of her.
I loved the multiple POV's and learning about the various characters.
Every time Miv introduced a new suspect, I was on edge, wondering if that person would be it!
There were do many lovely characters, and at the same time, really terrible ones - the kind you love to hate.
I would describe this as a page Turner, I simply couldn't stop reading.

* Don't Google the Yorkshire ripper before reading this book. It may spoil things for you. I didn't Google, and I'm glad I didn't.

* check trigger warnings. There are a few

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
The story is set in Yorkshire during the time of the Yorkshire Ripper murders.
A young girl, Miv, who just turns 13 during the story and her friend Sharon decide to catch the ripper, a very tall order for two very young girls.
Whilst trying to solve the murders, methodically working through her lists of mysterious things, MIv has other challenges to deal with, her mum has a severe mental health illness, racism towards her friends, her dad has been having an affair, arson, suicide, domestic abuse, a death, a wayward vicar and possible paedophilia. Lots of separate stories going on
There is a lot going on, however the start of the story is slow and I did at one point consider giving up. I am glad I persevered, I liked Miv and her friend, for me the plot is a little far fetched, There are some great characters in particular Omar and Arthur.
I was unaware this was a YA book so perhaps that is why I didn’t really enjoy the read though I seem to be in the minority.
Apologies for late review.

Wow, for a debut novel, this is brilliant. It’s set in 1979 Yorkshire, where the only conversation everywhere is about “The Yorkshire Ripper” it’s a wonderfully written story which at its heart is a coming of age tale.
Miv is a young girl on the cusp of her teenage years, she, along with her best friend Sharon decide to try and hunt out the ripper. So they start by making a list of suspicious things. Onto the list go some of the locals who for some reason or another manage to draw attention to themselves. This is where the book opens up and introduces a cast of characters that all have their own backstories.
This is an absolute gem of a book and I loved every word of it. For me it’s without doubt a 5⭐️story and deserves all the accolades that I’ve no doubt will come its way.

The List of Suspicious Things is a heartwarming coming of age novel and debut from author Jennie Godfrey.

Set in Yorkshire in the 1970's and 80's, Margaret Thatcher is the first woman prime minister and the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper is in full force. Miv and Sharon are 12 year old girls who want to be the ones to catch the Ripper and so they buy a notebook and start the list of suspicious things. Through the list we meet a host of well drawn characters who become integral to the story.

This is a well written and compelling read that touches on many subjects including domestic violence, racism, mental health, family, friendship and love.

It is a super debut novel and an enjoyable read and I look forward to more books from this author.

A wonderful debut, Jennie Godfrey has managed to spin a yarn linked to the awful crimes of Yorkshire Ripper and turn it into a wonderfully layered story of community, love and loss.

Young girl Miv is having a bit of rough time of it. Her Dad’s sister, stern Aunty Jean, has moved in. Her Dad has mentioned potentially moving down south. The Yorkshire ripper is all over the news, causing anxiety and tension all over town.Her mom, previously a joyful woman full of song, has fallen strangely silent.

Miv decides that if she can solve the mystery of these missing women, perhapd she won’t have to move. So, Miv and her best friend Sharon decide to write a list of all the suspicious people they know.

However, their list throws many secrets into the light, and perhaps Miv needs to concentrate her efforts a little closer to home…

Usually I read fairly quickly, but this novel made me slow right down and savour the richness of Godfrey’s storytelling. Being a Midlander born in the late 80s, I don’t have much knowledge of Yorkshire during the ripper’s reign, but Godfrey paints a very vivid picture.

The sense of community truly shines out of the pages, with everyone appearing to know one another. Although Miv’s list uncovers some dark secrets, it also plays a part in forging strong bonds between unlikely individuals and probaby saves some lives.

There are also strong themes of racism and ‘other-ism’ reinforced by the hunt for the ripper; anyone seen as ‘not from round ‘ere’ was seen as suspect. Whilst some characters are blatant in their racism, others are guilty of more subtle microaggressions that we sadly still see today.

It’s interesting to read about this from Miv’s young perspective. I felt immense pride as she learns to make her own mind up on how she treats people, despite louder and more volatile voices trying to tell her otherwise.

In some ways it is a coming of age novel; Miv is growing up before our eyes. She learns the grim reality of the world in several ways through her list, she has to be on her guard and she also deals with her mother’s emotional state. These are all huge things for anyone to deal with, never mind a 12 year old girl. At the end of the novel I felt as though Miv had blossomed in a way; she had found an inner confidence and had made peace with what had come before.

This is an outstanding debut, and I am sad to leave these warm and fully-rounded characters behind.

This really wasn’t my thing; I didn’t really engage with the setting (historical or geographical) and I’m not a massive fan of child perspective, narration. However, I appreciate that the writing is strong and it will certainly appeal to many people who aren’t as oddly finicky as me!
I like things to be set either in the present, the future or the far distant past so this 80s tale, set in a very specific time in Yorkshire just didn’t resonate with me, because I wasn’t familiar with any of the cultural context.

Thank you Netgalley but I’ve tried and this is just not for me. 20% in and can’t do it - struggling.
May try again another time.

The biggest plus of this book is the very accurate way the viewpoint of Miv the pre-teen heroine was written. So often authors fail to convince when the pov is a child. The plot is interesting if a little too much drama for one small community. The back story of the Ripper reminded me of what it was like in the ‘70’s before he had been caught.

Picked this up and put it down a couple of times but I’m really glad that I gave it another chance. Loved this book, it’s a great little story.