A coming-of-age story told by a precocious 12-year old set in the time of the Yorkshire Ripper (late 70s). Miv and her best friend Sharon decide to find the Ripper themselves when their world starts falling apart due to the constant threat. They start by compiling a list of suspicious things about the people around them, and as they pursue investigations on multiple fronts, they learn a great deal about life. The unfolding stories of various people in their community are always instructive — some in bad ways and others in good. Miv learns about bullies, racism, grief, and even domestic abuse, but also about the importance of standing up for yourself and others, doing the right thing, tolerance, curiosity, friendship and love.

I liked the writing a great deal — Miv’s voice is unique, appealing, often humorous, and a good deal more exposed than an actual person might agree to. Never overdone or overly dramatic, but also never, ever vapid. I loved the way we got to know characters who appeared one way but easily morphed into a more complex (and much more likable) person with a little time and exposure. The ending was a real surprise, but well done and thought provoking.

This was such a heartfelt and wonderful book. It definitely does not read much like a typical mystery, as to be expected when told from the eyes of a 12 year old. I appreciated that we were able to follow a scary and unknown time of a serial killer at large through the eyes of a child. While the Ripper was a very real threat, there’s a sense the whole time of “well that won’t happen to us” and I thought it was so great to see that through the perspective of a child. Hearing whispers and bits of information about what’s going on in the world and near your town but not being seen as “adult” enough to hear the full scope. I greatly enjoyed that while Miv was a bit obsessed with the Ripper and finding out who it was, the story at its core is still just about a pre-teen learning to navigate the world. She holds concerns about being different or not being to go-to person for her best friend as seriously as the potential of a killer on the loose, which I think is such an accurate representation of how the weight of things are prioritized as a child.

Overall, this was a story about friendship, growing up, and learning the world isn’t always a good place—whether that be through murder, attacks, or racism. It’s also a story about grief and how it can change people in the different ways they process and learn to cope with loss in various different forms. Get to see Miv react to her mother going silent as well as see how her various neighbors handle loss of loved ones—both through death and circumstance. I felt this novel did a wonderful job of handling various different aspects of life and how it might feel to be figuring all of this out during such a terrifying time as a child.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

When I was 10, a young cheerleader was murdered in our small American town. It left me sleepless with fear, aware of death for the first time, and now years later unconsciously drawn to Jennie Godfrey's splendid mystery debut, inspired by her growing up when the Yorkshire Ripper terrorized her own community.

Godfrey's debut is a sort of miracle, a perfect book that captures the coming of age of two young girls, Miv and Sharon, who decide to make a list of who the Yorkshire killer might be and expose him. It also reflects the zeitgeist of 1970s England strangled by Thatcher's strictures.

What Tana French did for Dublin thrillers, Godfrey has now done with greater grace for Yorkshire. The book thrums with dread, grief as Miv's Mom is ill, warmth from keen friendship, and even hope in a dark dark world. It's become one of my favorite reads ever. Don't miss it!

Book Review: The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

The List of Suspicious Things marks Jennie Godfrey’s compelling debut into literary fiction, offering readers a nuanced exploration of human suspicion, community dynamics, and the psychological weight of observation. Set against the backdrop of a small British town during the 1970s, the novel follows an ensemble cast of characters whose lives become intertwined through a shared document cataloging their neighbors’ questionable behaviors. Godfrey demonstrates remarkable control over both narrative structure and character development, crafting a story that is as much about the act of watching as it is about being watched.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its meticulous character studies. Godfrey avoids simplistic moral binaries, instead presenting each figure with their own complex motivations for contributing to—or resisting—the titular list. The protagonist, a middle-aged schoolteacher serving as the list’s reluctant curator, serves as an effective moral center while still revealing her own flaws and biases. Secondary characters are rendered with equal care, their interconnected backstories emerging organically through subtle dialogue and well-paced revelations.

From a stylistic perspective, Godfrey employs a restrained prose style that effectively captures the restrained emotions of provincial English life. Her use of free indirect discourse allows for seamless shifts between characters’ perspectives while maintaining a cohesive narrative voice. The 1970s setting is evoked through careful period details—ration books still in use, the lingering effects of postwar austerity—without descending into nostalgia or heavy-handed exposition.

The novel does encounter minor structural challenges. The middle section sags slightly under the weight of its expanding cast, and some readers may find the resolution of certain subplots less satisfying than others. However, these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise an exceptionally controlled narrative. The final act delivers both emotional payoff and thoughtful commentary on the nature of collective suspicion, leaving readers with lingering questions about their own observational biases.

Overall Rating: 4.7/5

Analytical Scoring Breakdown:
-Character Development: 5/5 - Masterful psychological portraits with authentic growth arcs
-Narrative Structure: 4.5/5 - Tightly plotted with minor pacing issues in middle sections
-Thematic Depth: 5/5 - Sophisticated exploration of surveillance and social dynamics
-Stylistic Execution: 4.5/5 - Elegant prose with effective period vernacular
-Emotional Resonance: 4.5/5 - Thought-provoking with strong cathartic moments

Thank you to NetGalley and author Jennie Godfrey for providing an advance copy of this exceptional debut novel in exchange for an honest review.