Jeanne Godfrey’s List of Suspicious Things, first published over the pond in 2024 and coming to U.S. bookstores this December, is a beautiful coming of age tale that captures our limited perception of the world at a certain age. Part mystery, part historical fiction, Godrey’s debut is an extremely satisfying read that does much more than resolve the question of a killer’s identity.
It’s 1979 in the Yorkshire region of the United Kingdom. Margaret Thatcher has just been elected Prime Minister, Stephen King’s debut Carrie is on library shelves, and a serial killer known as the “Yorkshire Ripper” is running amuck.
Eleven-year-old Miv spends most of her time at home trying not to be too much trouble. Her mother, once warm and prone to singing in the kitchen, no longer speaks after having “changed.” When she’s not in the hospital, Miv’s mother listlessly flits between her bedroom and the living room. Strict Aunty Jean has come to stay, and Miv’s kind but withdrawn father retreats to the pub when he’s not working long hours. He doesn’t notice that Miv has outgrown her clothes or sense his daughter’s growing restlessness.
The most important person in Miv’s life is her best friend, Sharon. Miv sees Sharon as her opposite–pretty, confident, and “normal” in ways Miv is not. The two are inseparable, but the beginning of the school year marks the beginning of a shift in their relationship. Eleven is the age of such things as noticing boys and experimenting with makeup, of losing interest in some things and developing a penchant for others. Godfrey does a beautiful job of displaying this subtle shift and its effect on the girls, to include its impact on their friendship. While Sharon embraces maturity, Miv finds comfort in their old games and traditions. While Sharon experiences her first love, Miv feels left out.
The biggest test of their friendship is Miv’s obsession with the Yorkshire Ripper. Initially, Sharon willingly accompanies Miv on her various investigations of individuals she has dubbed “suspicious” for various reasons, beginning with Mr. Bashir, the Pakistani man who runs the corner shop. Then it’s on to Mr. Ware, their physical education teacher who ridicules the weaker boys; and later elderly Arthur, a recent widower who piques their interest because of his habitation in a junkyard despite owning a home.
The girls’ detective work has the ripple effect of sparking new relationships and uniting unlikely companions. Their friendship with Mr. Bashir links him with a young librarian in an abusive relationship; and their following of Mr. Ware leads Miv to her first crush. The world drawn is a web of interconnected characters and storylines, and it is delightful to experience.
Unlike Miv, Sharon ultimately comes to understand and accept that their “investigation” has no chance of making them heroes. She tries to convince her friend that their detective work is insensitive to the real tragedy at hand, and potentially dangerous, but Miv doggedly persists. She needs the game in a way Sharon can’t understand.
The girls also face unrelated conflicts, as do the other characters who narrate in third-person to Miv’s intimate perspective. This is all beautifully drawn out in a book that is much more than a tale of two plucky girls attempting to unmask the elusive Yorkshire Ripper. This one is a must for anyone who enjoys a good read, regardless of genre preference.
Welcome to the States, Ms. Godfrey.
About the reviewer: A writer of dark comedy thrillers, Sarah Reida is currently seeking representation for her sophomore novel, Murder Boat. Her debut, Neighborhood Watch, received a Kirkus Star and was honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. Join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
