About The Book
Book: The List of Suspicious Things
Author: Jennie Godfrey
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Publisher: Cornerstone
Publication Date (UK): 13th February 2024
My Review
I’ve had this on my TBR for a long time and finally dived in with a buddy read.
The List of Suspicious Things begins in 1979. Schoolgirl Miv is 12 when we first meet her and so much in her life is starting to change. On top of the usual teenage tribulations, she has a fractured home life. Her Aunty Jean has taken up residence to help out after a traumatic event with her mum. Miv takes solace in escaping to her friend Sharon’s house and the girls spend all their time together. Miv is already sensing that Sharon is changing, growing up and trying to hang on to their relationship.
Then Miv learns that her dad wants to move their family out of Yorkshire – even worse, down South! Scared of losing her best friend completely and convinced the motive behind the move is because of the Ripper murders, Miv channels her inner George (her favourite character from The Famous Five) and enlists bestie Sharon to help investigate the murders with her list of suspicious things.
“And if there’s ever anyone behind you, you cross the road. And if they cross the road as well, then you run.”
The Ripper was caught six years before I was born, but I think every woman has been taught the above. It was only while reading this and realising the pure fear women must have felt, that I understood why I was given a rape alarm as a teen. Always told never to leave a drink unattended. Always pre-book a taxi home. I enjoyed the sparks of feminism from Miv in response, as she wonders why it is the men are told to keep their strength up – “I thought it was funny that it was men who were encouraged to be strong, when according to the papers it was women who were under threat. I served myself an extra portion of crumble when she wasn’t looking.”
Aside from the Ripper, the book covers a wide range of dark topics, all sensitively handled. However, despite the turmoil, the sense of community shines through. They band together, support one another. There’s also a lot of humour in the book. As the author’s note mentions, it’s a “love letter to God’s Own Country.” There’s talk of corned beef hash, potted meat sandwiches, snickets, ginnels, rollerball lipgloss, laiking out, the nostalgia of taping the Top 40 and of course the dinner/tea divide. Yes!
One criticism would be at times it did feel a little long. Be prepared to be sad, amused, overwhelmed at times and yet heart warmed. Overall an incredibly strong debut.
Beth Reads Crime 
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