Caffeinated Reviewer

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey delivers a coming of age mystery that takes place in 1979 to 1980s in Yorkshire, England during the time of the Yorkshire Ripper murders that gripped the community with fear until the suspect was apprehended.

Twelve-year-old Miv is panicking. Life has been complicated since her mom got sick, and now her dad is talking about wanting to move their family away from the town Miv has lived in her whole life—because of the murders. Young women are dying, everyone is afraid, and no one knows who the culprit might be.

But as far as Miv is concerned, leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all?

So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a list: a list of all the suspicious people and things on their street. People they know. People they don't. But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighborhood, within their families—and between each other—than they ever thought possible. What if the real mystery Miv needs to solve is the one that lies much closer to home?

The List of Suspicious Things surrounds the Yorkshire Ripper and begins in 1979. I was thirteen at the time and vaguely remember discussions about what was happening abroad. This story is told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Miv.

Miv’s mother is unwell, and her aunt is now living with them. When her father talks about uprooting them, Miv is desperate to stay in Yorkshire with her friends. She thinks that if she can find the culprit, maybe they can stay. The tale that unfolds is part mystery, part coming of age and a nostalgic walk through of my childhood.

As Miv and her best friend Sharon looked for suspects, I found myself drawn into their discovers, the danger and threads that spinoff from them. We witness the lives of several people and the circumstances that place them on Miv’s list. Miv’s investigations end up impacting and even saving others.

Miv’s character growth, from first loves to exposing her parents’ flaws, made the story memorable. She experiences love, loss, betrayal, and understanding. The book touches on topics ranging from child molestation to prostitution and mental disorders.

I began reading before switching to the full-cast narration. I loved listening and appreciated the different narrators bringing out the characters’ individuality. Joanne Froggatt, Mark Noble, Asif Khan, Gemma Whelan, and Simon Harvey enhanced my enjoyment of the tale, and I highly recommend listening.

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About Jennie Godfrey

Jennie Godfrey was raised in West Yorkshire in a mill-working family and her debut novel, The List of Suspicious Things, was inspired by her childhood there in the 1970s. In 2020, Jennie gave up her corporate career to build a life around books. She is now a writer and part-time bookseller who lives, and writes, in the Somerset countryside.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram