Miv is a a pre-teen girl in Yorkshire in the 1980s when her life is disrupted and reconfigured by the presence of the Yorkshire Ripper. Knowing the damage he’s causing, with her best friend Sharon, they set about creating a list of suspicious things, determined to play their part in catching the murderer.

But this book is about more than a horrific crime. It’s about friendship, race, speaking up, grief and rebuilding your life after terrible things. It’s about the female psyche and how women are conditioned to react when terrible things are happening to women.

This book made me laugh and cry as the author draws on her own experiences of growing up in Yorkshire during these horrific murders. I can’t believe it’s a debut and I’m looking forward to reading more of Godfrey’s nuanced and moving writing.

From the cover, I initially thought this would be a cosy crime, perhaps populated by older ladies, but no. Instead, it's a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper killings.

Miv is our main character, who lives in a small Yorkshire town. Together with friend Sharon, she wants to create a list of suspicious things - looking into people who might potentially be the Yorkshire Ripper. But the story is really about so much more than that, about people and the issues they were facing at the time - Thatcher, domestic abuse, racism, mental health. It's about growing into the kind of adult you're going to be.

I must admit, it did take me a little while to get into the story; I didn't immediately feel that pull to get to the end. Instead, I took the book in a little bit at a time until the characters and the relationships between me won them over. Then it's really quite a sweet tale of friendship and hope amidst the darkness.

A good read.

Book Review:
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
Published by Hutchinson Heinemann, 15th Feb 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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?

Review:
I'd seen much talk about this book across social media, but nothing could have prepared me for its sheer brilliance.

Jennie Godfrey's perfectly crafted characters and breathtaking plot, combined with her deftly executed sense of timing, add up to a huge WOW!

There is so much to adore about this book, which is bound to appeal across a range of genre readers. I'll be eagerly awaiting Jennie's second novel.

#BookReview #TheListOfSuspiciousThings #JennieGodfrey #NetGalley #Bookstagram

It’s the late 1970’s in Yorkshire. Miv is approaching her teens and because life is difficult at home, she becomes obsessed with finding the Ripper. She has a notebook in which she records suspicious things, which she, and her best friend Sharon, go on to investigate.
The list of suspicious things takes the two girls on adventures and more.
It was an enjoyable and engaging read, looking at that period of fear through the eyes of a 12-13 year old, the innocence of some things and the danger of others. Her imagination and her investigative actions. Seeing life from her perspective was fascinating.

Miv and Sharon want to catch the Yorkshire Ripper.
They start to make a list of suspicious things and people. By doing this they get to know more about their neighbourhood. However, some of their actions have consequences and not all good.
What effect will this have on their families and friends?

I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy crime novel. Told from Miv's perspective - I think she is about 10 or 12 years old. A brilliant coming-of-age story set in the time of the Yorkshire Ripper. Full of nostalgic references. Loved the mention of the rollerball lip gloss.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The List of Suspicious Things

This is a book about friendship and loss but also about love and tolerance and finding out who you truly are.

12 year old Miv is growing up in West Yorkshire with the fear and mistrust of the Yorkshire Ripper surrounding her. She decides to enlist the help of her best friend and together they set about trying to solve the mystery, with Miv creating a list of suspicious things.

This is a terrific read, heartbreaking at times.

Never before have I had such an eerie feeling while reading a book; the setting, language and actual events of West Yorkshire in 1979 and 1980 have been captured with such precision and skill it was as if I was re-living my childhood having grown up in the county during those years.

At the start of 1979, the UK was at the cusp of political change with the election of the first-ever female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Closer to the book’s main character’s home county a serial murderer, dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper, continued to terrorise women in the area; the victims brutally attacked with a hammer. Between 1975 to 1980 thirteen women were murdered by Peter Sutcliffe and he tried to kill seven more. The fear was all-pervasive and the sense of danger was in everyone’s psyche.

To this background, Jennie Godfrey has set an enthralling narrative and one that drew me in before I even started. Like the character of the book I was a young girl growing up in Yorkshire at the time of the Yorkshire Ripper murders, experiencing the dark fearful clouds of his existence, the worry of parents, avidly following the news. Unlike the character of the book I at no time thought to try and capture the murderer. This is exactly what young Miv sets out to do, with the aid of her friend.

In ‘The List of Suspicious Things’ twelve-year-old Miv instantly catches the reader’s attention and never lets it go. Her family life, described with wonderful and memorable ‘70s detail, is askew after her mother suddenly stopped talking and her Aunt Jean moved into the home. Aunt Jean is a typical no -fuss-no-frills woman, outspoken, only to be listened to, she is never afraid to give her opinion on everything and everyone! It is not long before her aunt starts whispering to her father that they need to move away to safety - away from the Yorkshire Ripper.

Overhearing this, Miv, who is a determined and clever girl yet full of self-doubt, comes up with the idea for her and her best friend, Sharon, to discover the identity of the Yorkshire Ripper and ensure she does not have to move away. The idea of ‘The List of Suspicious Things’ is born. After all, Miv has a huge interest in detective stories, TV shows and films!

Above all else, it is the grit and determination of the main characters and those around who sweep the reader up and take us into the mindset of their lives.

The girls slowly add names to the list and it weaves an incredibly moving and dramatic cycle of secrets of those in the community and it touches upon themes far-reaching at the time. A recently bereaved Pakistani father, Omar, opens a shop in the area and his young son, in the same year as Miv and Sharon soon become friends and they see exactly the racial hatred that the father and son endure daily, a hatred that later plays a key role in the novel. A young librarian, Helen, helping the girls source documents for their research becomes a friend and they worry at her ‘accident-prone’ nature and ‘over-protective’ husband. A young girl comes to them for help as she is frightened by the choir teacher and his fondness for tickling.

These are but a few of the characters and themes explored in the book. The characters feature in their own right with sections in the third person of some of them while the first-person narrative from Miv runs throughout the book. The combination is a powerful, warm and fully immersive novel which gripped my attention, the various aspects becoming intertwined. Ultimately Miv and Sharon can help with some of the people on the list, others sadly not.

All the time, the biggest secret of all, remains unmentioned - why did Miv’s mother fall silent? Will Miv ever learn the reason for her mother’s withdrawal into herself?

As one name of a suspect is added to the list, and then crossed off, Miv becomes closer to finding the Yorkshire Ripper than she ever imagined.

The final chapters of the book are riveting, heart-wrenching and heart-warming. Jennie Godfrey writes with a deft and exact touch, ensuring the voice of young Miv is a driving force, allowing us to see her grow through the months as her understanding of the adult world deepens and reminding the reader of the depth of emotions and knowledge of young people.

Although I am aware that I could be slightly biased towards the book owing to my experience of this era I honestly believe this is a superbly crafted novel with characters galore to win your heart (or to detest in some cases!) as well as an engaging and unique story. A book that reminds us all of the secret lives of all those around us, even of those closest to us and the pain these secrets can cause oneself and loved ones.

This is a book not to be missed and one I highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

This is such a beautifully written book. The events (real and fictional) are woven together so seamlessly and you really feel the fear and sadness throughout.

It is such an intriguing tale of 2 young almost teenage latch key kids who are best friends and their investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper.

At first glance you may think kids investigating it sounds like it is taking the seriousness of the situation away...but this is so thoughtful and heartfelt that it never undermined the awfulness of the whole situation.

The world is so vibrant and well drawn that it felt very real...I had no trouble picturing any of those scenes.

This is a very touching and emotional read. I would have given it 5 stars had it not been something that happens at the end (no spoilers) that I thought was wholly unnecessary. However, would highly recommend this book.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A debut novel .. and very readable it is too!

Miv's mum isn't well - she's stopped talking and goes away from time to time. Miv is sure that her Dad is planning on moving them away from the area and she just can't let that happen. Everything seems to be going wrong because of all the women being murdered so it stands to reason that if the Ripper can be found, they can stay in Yorkshire and she will still have her best friend Sharon. So she draws up a list of possible suspects and they begin their investigations . . .

This is a terrific read, set at a time I remember very well. You forget how convinced of things you are when you're young, but this brought a lot of that back. Beautifully written and immensely enjoyable, I really enjoyed this one and will certainly be looking out for more from Jennie Godfrey. One I'm happy to both recommend and give 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Miv and Sharon are 12 year old girls living in a small Yorkshire town as Maggie Thatcher comes to power and the Yorkshire Ripper terrorises the county's women. Miv's mother is a shadowy figure with depression and so her strict Aunty Jean comes to live with Miv and her father restricting Miv's very active imagination. The girls befriend Ishtiaq the son of the only Asian family in their part of town. Both Ishtiaq and Miv are tormented by other children at school because of their otherness. Miv is ripe for adventure and she persuades Sharon that they should find the Yorkshire Ripper by creating the 'list of suspicious things' of the title. As they work their way through the town's 'suspects' the girls learn a lot more than they bargained for about life in general in the mid 1970s - growing up, boys, racism, domestic violence, death and other prejudices to name just a few. An excellent book especially if you're of an age to have been a teenager during this period.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a really special book and I can’t recommend it strongly enough.
Miv is 12, it’s 1979 and her home life is a mess. Her mother is either locked in her room or in hospital, her dad is distant and often not there, and her Aunt is trying to hold everything together. The only thing that matters is her best friend Sharon.
The Yorkshire Ripper is still at large and, for want of anything better to do, Miv and Sharon decide to investigate - starting with the suspicious people around them. However, they soon find out more than they bargained for and soon their small community is turned upside down.
Jennie Godfrey writes brilliant about being a child in the late 70s, particularly in a small rural community. It’s a lovely yet heartbreaking book, the characters are so brilliantly drawn and you are quickly drawn into their stories. I really couldn’t put it down and it’s the most accomplished debut I’ve read for a long time. A must read.

Miv’s home life is a little challenging. Her mum doesn’t speak, she doesn’t do much of anything. Her auntie Jean’s moved in and her dad works hard to keep the family together. But Miv keeps herself occupied with her detective work - well, investigations into what’s going on in her local area.

And the biggest story in the U.K. is happening in her local area right now. Miv decides that she and her best friend Sharon will find the Yorkshire Ripper. The police haven’t done a very good job so far so why not?

This is a story of friendship and what happens when you start to look a little deeper at the lives around you.

Miv is adorable. She’s smart and loyal and inquisitive - and a little bit eccentric.

On their way to finding the Ripper, Miv and Sharon make new friends and make the lives of their new friends better.

This is a spellbinding story, set against the very real backdrop of life in West Yorkshire in the late 70s and early 80s.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was heartbreaking in places but also joyful.

Read it and love it!

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. I can’t believe it’s a debut. It’s just brilliant. It’s funny, sad, poignant and uplifting.
I look forward to reading future books by @jennie.godfrey
A coming of age story set in Yorkshire around the time of the ripper murders and Margret Thatcher.
Miv, along with her friend Sharon, decides to start investigating the identity of the Yorkshire ripper. She begins by writing lists of suspicious things and people. This is how we meet all the other different characters. I loved the character development and their relationships with one another and how they are captivating and hook you in.
The story evokes a real sense of time and place.
I was totally engrossed throughout the whole book. I couldn’t put it down.
Overall, it’s a beautifully written, immersive story that touches on family, friendship, love, mental health, immigration and grief. It’s so heartwarming. I highly recommend this one.
With thanks to #NetGallery, #RandomHouseUK and @HutchHeinemann for an eARC of #TheListOfSuspiciousThings in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book publishes 15 February 2024.

Jennie Godfrey's upcoming novel, "The List of Suspicious Things," set to release on February 15th, is a compelling tale that delves into the dark shadows of fear and obsession. The story follows the young girl Miv, who becomes fixated on apprehending the notorious Yorkshire Ripper. Against the backdrop of escalating fear due to the Ripper's gruesome killings, Miv's family contemplates the possibility of moving to a safer place.

Miv, accompanied by her best friend Sharon, embarks on an investigative journey, exploring the depths of her neighborhood and school in an attempt to unmask the elusive killer. As the narrative unfolds, readers are introduced to a diverse cast of intriguing characters, each of whom is given a dedicated chapter to deepen the complexity of the story. Throughout these encounters, Miv undergoes significant personal growth.

Godfrey's writing is nothing short of beautiful, drawing readers into the intricate web of suspense and mystery. However, despite the novel's merits, I would give it it a four-star rating. My expectation for a more substantial resolution concerning the Yorkshire Ripper was not fully met. Upon conducting further research, I discovered that the Ripper is based on a real-life figure, and the victims in the novel are the actual victims. While the book reaches a climactic point, it wasn't what I expected.

Nevertheless, "The List of Suspicious Things" is a commendable read. The standout elements include the exquisite writing style and the development of the main character, Miv. Despite my slight disappointment with the resolution, the overall experience is one that I would recommend to readers who appreciate a well-crafted narrative and a captivating protagonist.

The List of Suspicious things belies expectations in many ways. I started it thinking I would be reading a comforting book featuring a character who learns something about themselves much like Eleanor Oliphant or Harold Fry. And whilst the book is reminiscent of these, it's also far darker and deeper than I expected it to be.

And this is a good thing - Godfrey writes about the Yorkshire Ripper murders from the viewpoint of a girl living through a changing country and also her changing life, not really understanding what growing up involves and having to navigate through that against a backdrop of 80's Yorkshire.


I was gripped by the book - I wanted an answer to the mysteries that came up but I also wanted to know how the characters would end up and I wasn't disappointed.

A hugely moving, emotional coming-of-age novel which captures the zeitgeist of 1970s Northern England. Margaret Thatcher has just come to power, racial tensions are high, as unemployment and dissatisfaction are rife as the face of industry changes.
Told through the eyes of 12 year old Miv, a girl struggling with adolescence and all its confusion it brings, it puts the reader in the position of knowing and understanding more than the narrator. We see the hidden evil hiding behind the veils of respectability. In some ways, we are made protective of Miv, perceiving much more of the dangers she faces.
Set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper, constant threat pervades the action, reflecting that insecurity and fear under which we come to learn Miv lives.
A captivating and endearing cast of characters, of which the setting is a significant player, is led by Miv and her best friend, Sharon.
Sharon: unafraid, angry, stoic and resolute in the face of injustice. She refuses to shy away from the wrong she sees. As Miv describes her, she was ‘like the kaleidoscope she once got for her birthday…full of colour, never stuck in one pattern, always moving, always changing, but always landing in a place that was beautiful.’ She is fiercely loyal and full of righteous anger that she never holds back from expressing.
Miv, on the other hand, is intelligent, naive and idealistic. She is so focused on distant wrongs, she is blind to the evil around her. Or maybe she just doesn’t want to see her world as it really is; it’s just too frightening for her to face. Unlike Sharon, who speaks out and asks the uncomfortable questions, Miv is learning the Yorkshire way of ‘you just don’t ask.’
Following Miv’s journey of awakening is heart-rendingly sad in parts, and I was brought to tears several times.
However, the counterpoise to all this is the healing power of connections. The relationships formed between members of a community, united by grief, pain and loss, and love, hope and friendship. The strength to survive is found in having people who will stand by you, no matter what life throws your way. Miv, and others, realise that it is ‘possible to come back from the worst thing that has ever happened to you’ as long as you have someone to love and support you. These moments of healing are some of the most beautiful I have ever read. They are simple. They are real. They are raw in their honesty and truth of feeling. Miv claims she has written ‘a story of a friendship’ but it is actually a story of many friendships and their restorative powers.
I would urge everyone to read this novel. It’s wonderful!

I grabbed a copy of The List of Suspicious Things after being intrigued by the premise - Miv is a 12-year-old living in a Yorkshire town in the late 70s, and the whole community is under the cloud of the Yorkshire Ripper attacks. Miv's family are thinking of moving away from the area to somewhere safer, and so Miv and her friend Sharon take it upon themselves to try to solve the attacks, and so begin to keep an eye on all the locals and write down anything suspicious they see in The List.

There's always a sense of lingering menace from the Ripper, as Miv gets older and people warn her not to stay out until dark, and to run if anyone strange talks to her. However, as Miv investigates the local community, she discovers good people and bad - makes friends with the good, and tries to tell people about the bad - and it became clear that this book wasn't about the Ripper at all, it's about community, friendship, and growing up.

Jennie Godfrey's characterisation is brilliant, and her descriptions of a Northern 70s town great as well.

Overall this was a superb debut - kept me up reading far too long into the night a few times!!

Miv lives in Yorkshire and the ripper murders are on the news and on everybody’s minds. Mivs mom has stopped speaking, her Aunty Jean is a force to be reckoned with and she heard her dad and Aunt talking about moving from Yorkshire and because of this Miv has set her mind to catching the Yorkshire ripper as Miv doesn’t want to move as she loves where she lives but more importantly if she moves she will no longer have her best friend Sharon. Miv decides to make a list of suspicious things so that she can try and solve the problem of the ripper and then Miv won’t have to move. She involves Sharon but doesn’t tell her why.

Mivs search for the truth reveals secrets about her family, neighbourhood and her friendship with Sharon. What if the mystery Miv needs to solve is one that lies closer to home?

This was an interesting idea and story. It is well written and I liked how some chapters were about other characters so for example one chapter is about the shopkeeper Mr Bashir and how he moved from Bradford and is having a hard time with some of the locals due to his Asian heritage. It all ties in really well and it gives you insight into each characters lives. I love how intuitive Miv is and in some points it’s comical but there is an underlying sadness throughout. I really enjoyed reading this book and the ending was a twist I wasn’t expecting. Definitely recommend this book.

When a book gets so much hype before it is published I worry that I’m going to be disappointed but all I can say is WOW this book certainly didn’t disappoint and is probably going to be one of my books of the year! The author gets the tone and atmosphere of Miv’s town and friends spot on and you just don’t want to put the book down but you also don’t want it to end. Being a similar age to Miv in the 1970s I can fully recall the fear and suspicion that the Ripper provoked and I was a soft southerner! But this novel is about so much more. It’s about family and friendship, mental illness, racism, domestic abuse and so much more but the author handles these issues in such a clever manner that it never oppresses the reader and shows how you can never be sure what is happening behind close doors. Some readers may think the girls were naive and unworldly but that’s exactly how we were then before mobile phones and social media. I’m very sad to leave this book and will definitely be looking forward to see what the author does next. If I could give more than 5stars I would. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.