The List of Suspicious Things

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What follows is Miv’s obsession with trying to find the Yorkshire Ripper who during the late 1970’s is terrorising the North East, Miv decides to make a list of suspicious things in their neighbourhood, in the hope that they can find the serial killer.

Throughout the course of the book, the many characters Miv encounters become like family to her, and to us as the reader too. She finds parental figures in so many wonderful characters, becomes friends with people she never would have thought to ‘laik out’ with, and experiences a first crush and relationship.There is a strong sense of place and time in the book and although I grew up a few years later than the setting, much of it was nostalgic - the games of Bulldog, the excitement of a new lip gloss and the anti Thatcher sentiment definitely very familiar. Also a time of innocence when children played freely in the streets but also an era where adults didn’t quite want to grasp just how dangerous characters like ‘Uncle’ Derek were. The List of Suspicious Things" by Jennie Godfrey is a heartwarming tale of growth and discovery, centered around the power of family, friendship, and community. Within the intricately woven plot lies the captivating mystery of a serial killer's identity. This is a superb coming of age story cleverly entwined with the mystery of the identity of a serial killer, it’s a story of unbreakable friendships, a life that is better just for knowing that person and the strength we derive from them. It’s beautifully written and I will not deny I have tears rolling down my face at times, this book is truly an experience and one to savour. It isn’t hard to imagine this will be one of the smash hits of 2024. Highly recommended, obviously!!

Set in the quaint Yorkshire town amidst the gripping presence of the notorious Yorkshire Ripper, the story follows two young girls on the cusp of adolescence as they embark on a mission to uncover the truth and restore safety to their community. It’s the year 1979 in Yorkshire, and Miv is a schoolgirl growing up in a country terrified of the Yorkshire Ripper. A country equally as terrified, though, of women in power such as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; the female victims of the Ripper, who happen to be mainly sex workers, and anyone who ‘doesn’t belong’, which for their Yorkshire town means people of colour, or even anyone without a Yorkshire accent.

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So on the book, I had already seen a bit of a buzz on social media surrounding this novel, and when I found it the setting and timeline, I knew it would interest me, but I didn’t realise HOW much I would LOVE it! Jennie really can write characters and there are so many great ones in this book. From the main character Miv to Omar at the local shop to Yorkshire itself it was a pleasure to spend time with them all.

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. A book so full of heart that your own will explode with the sheer joy of the goodness of humans, even when faced with pure evil in its many guises. And on top of all that, it carries a message to women that we should remember every day.The period in which it was set. I made so many connections here because of the many references throughout the book. Definitely my era! The List of Suspicious seems to be getting 5 stars from one and all but I'm an outlier on this one. The List of Suspicious Things" is an extraordinary piece of literature that captivates and inspires.

As a child of the 80s and a born and bred Yorkshire lass, as soon as I read the first line of this book, I knew I was going to love it. It invoked childhood memories of growing up in Yorkshire - the dialect, the accents and growing up in a small community.I adored this book. Miv was such a relatable pre-teen character, and her perspective throughout the novel grew as she became wiser – realising more and more things about the people she came across, and their hidden, secret lives. A definite coming-of-age tale, Miv goes from someone sheltered and unaware, to someone who encounters real-world adult issues like domestic abuse, adultery, racism, sexism, and sexual harassment/abuse and pedophilia. Gosh this is a fantastic coming of age story, and a debut novel to boot (hard to believe). Having grown up in Yorkshire I recognise and felt connected to many of the characters, this may be a small community but there is much going on and plenty of women who can’t wait to spread the gossip, but they make for amusing characters (mostly!) I also remember the level of fear that the murders generated and the impact it had on local communities. Peter Sutcliffe (The Yorkshire Ripper) didn’t just rob women of their lives, he also robbed thousands of women of their right to feel safe going about their daily lives in the 1970’s. The novel also pays homage to the victims of the Yorkshire Ripper, treating their memories with utmost respect and dignity, refusing to exploit their tragedy for plot purposes. If I'm truly honest I found the writing style a little immature in parts. It really did read like a debut.