Set against the fear-soaked backdrop of late-1970s Yorkshire, The List of Suspicious Things is a tender, funny, and quietly heartbreaking coming-of-age mystery that shines a light on innocence lost amid real-world terror. It’s hard to believe this is Jennie Godfrey’s debut because it reads with the confidence of a writer who deeply understands both the human heart and the weight of history.
It’s 1979. Margaret Thatcher has just stepped into power, “The Milk Snatcher” to many and the women of Yorkshire are living in fear of a monster known as The Yorkshire Ripper. The killer’s brutal spree has left the community suffocating under anxiety and suspicion, and every woman is afraid to walk alone at night.
In the middle of this, we meet eleven-year-old Miv, who lives with her distant father, her withdrawn mother (in and out of hospital), and her strict Auntie Jean. When Miv overhears a conversation about her family possibly moving away from Yorkshire, she panics. The thought of leaving her best friend Sharon behind is unbearable, so Miv hatches a plan. Which is, if she can solve the murders herself and catch the Ripper, maybe her family won’t have to leave.
Inspired by Auntie Jean’s habit of making endless lists, Miv starts her own “a list of suspicious things”. Together with Sharon, she begins investigating the people in their small community, convinced that one of them might be hiding something sinister.
What unfolds is both an investigation and an awakening. Through Miv’s eyes, Godfrey explores grief, friendship, mental illness, and the invisible fears that ripple through small towns. For all its darkness, the novel radiates warmth and humanity. Miv’s determination to make sense of her world, even as that world grows scarier by the day is both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring.
Godfrey captures the voice of a child with remarkable authenticity. Miv is naïve but observant, funny yet fragile. Her friendship with Sharon is one of the story’s strongest anchors, messy, loyal, and painfully real. Together, they navigate not only the shadow of a serial killer but also the more intimate horrors of domestic tension, depression, racism, and quiet desperation.
The writing feels lived-in. The Yorkshire setting comes alive with the gossiping neighbors, the cramped houses, the gray skies, the constant hum of unease. As someone familiar with the region, I could almost hear the voices and feel the lingering fear that haunted that time.
The final chapters hit hard. The ending is both shocking and deeply moving. I see it as a reminder that innocence doesn’t always fade gently, and sometimes, it is ripped away.
Jennie Godfrey has delivered something really worth reading. A story that’s both tender and terrifying, historical yet achingly relevant. It’s a love letter to friendship, resilience, and the stubborn hope that keeps people searching for light even in the darkest times.
Stephanie is a writer, avid reader and movie lover with great love and passion for thrilling, suspenseful and mystery stories. When she’s not writing a traumatic character or reading through a gripping thriller she’s definitely watching a dark psychological thriller movie.
