Jennie Godfrey is such a talented new voice in fiction, her writing is brave and unexpected and reminded me of Joanna Cannon. whose work I adore. A beautiful and emotional debut that I know will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended.

The main character, Miv, is a very strong willed not quite teenager, who gets it in her mind that she can solve the case of the Yorkshire Ripper. She begins to make a list of suspicious characters and places in her town, roping in her not-so-keen-on-getting-involved friend, Sharon. Along the way, we meet the other residents of their small town, with many giggles and traumas along the way.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 a brilliant read and a beautifully written, stellar debut from Jennie Godfrey. The List of Suspicious Things is a tender and moving coming of age story about family, friendship and community. Sometimes the strongest connections are found in the most unlikely of places. If I'm truly honest I found the writing style a little immature in parts. It really did read like a debut. You know when you just know a book is going to be huge, that a talented new author has burst on the scene?? Well, here we have it. First of all, the characterisation is exemplary. I love Miv and she’s an unforgettable character and yes, you could say she’s obsessive but she’s only looking for distraction from difficulties at home. Miv has good instincts even if she doesn’t entirely understand what she sees which is certainly true at the start when her naivety is clear to see but not at the end. Her friendships are a thing of beauty especially with the lovely Sharon, the “Terrible Twosome” and their friendship is wonderful. It isn’t all plain sailing by any stretch as they witness some cruelty and meanness that beggars belief but sadly is all too believable. All the characters spring to life, even the ones you’d rather didn’t.

First. I must give huge huge thanks to Isabella Ralphs at Penguin Random House for sending me a proof copy of The List Of Suspicious Things, It will be treasured! I loved the cast of characters, particularly eleven-year-old Miv. Jennie Godfrey captured Miv's young voice and mannerisms perfectly. Being a proud Yorkshire lass mi'sen, I loved seeing the regional words and expressions used, which made the dialogue between the characters even more authentic. I struggled to really surrender and engage with this one, for some time, before eventually fully yielding to it. 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!! I'd heard a lot about The List of Suspicious Things on social media and so was thrilled to get the opportunity to read it. It's set in Yorkshire in 1979, Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister and women are living in fear of the Yorkshire Ripper. When 12 year old Miv's family begin to talk of moving down south, Miv, with the help of her best friend Sharon, is determined to find the Yorkshire Ripper so her family can remain in Yorkshire.The period in which it was set. I made so many connections here because of the many references throughout the book. Definitely my era! 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. A heartwarming tale about the power of human connection, written with empathy, warmth and care. To read it is to feel that little bit better about life' ELIZABETH DAY

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. The juxtaposition of Miv's innocence and her schoolgirl-diary delivery and the truths that she uncovers about the lives around lie at the bruised heart of this book. Soon, Miv and her best friend Sharon discover more than they bargained for – not about the Yorkshire Ripper, but about the grown-ups around them, who are troubled in all sorts of ways. As they scratch the surface of everyday life, brutal racism, domestic abuse, alcoholism, infidelity and misunderstood mental health issues emerge. 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. 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.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.

Dealing with slightly younger children, and with a fictitious crime, this has stayed in my memory, so that inevitably, this one seemed, rightly or wrongly, derivative. Miv has other worries, however – such as keeping a hold of her best friend Sharon, who seems to be floating away from her, and the ever-present worry about Miv’s mum, who stopped speaking one day and hasn’t started since. And then, in the wake of the murders, Miv’s dad and Aunty Jean suggest moving ‘Down South’ where it’s safer. All of a sudden, Miv has to come up with an idea to ensure they stay in Yorkshire, so she can stay friends with Sharon.

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The inhabitation of child voices here did not seem fully from the child’s point of view, unlike Cannon’s book. In fact, there were valid reasons for this. Had I read this without having read Cannon’s I know I would have liked it more. I'm surprised that it's listed under literary fiction as I would not consider it literary. There was a lot of head nodding, far too many adverbs, and the writing felt simplistic. I don’t think I would have fully adored it though, since, as we neared the end, it felt like plot had taken over a bit, and some coincidences were driving the high and searing finish. The hunt for the evil Yorkshire Ripper inevitably means there are some dark themes and the storyline also includes racism, bullying and some domestic violence too. It captures West Yorkshire to perfection especially in the context of the late 70’s and early ‘80’s with its derelict satanic mills of Blake’s poem, with its ghosts of the past, the attitudes and gossip of a small town with firmly entrenched views. You definitely feel the tension and fear of the hunt for Peter Sutcliffe, I was in Yorkshire at the time though not the West, but we all felt the fear. Yet, despite all the obvious darkness, there’s Miv, wonderful Miv. You watch her grow up and you just know she’s going to be a fine young woman and one you’d most certainly want to know. I thought about what the policeman had said about structure, and then about Aunty Jean and her notebook, and the idea I had hardened like toffee. I knew exactly what we needed to do.