The List of Suspicious Things: A Novel

by Jennie Godfrey

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Set against the backdrop of Thatcher era UK political landscape, this is a moving coming-of-age mystery. A heartwarming tale of friendships and first loves that captures the essence of Yorkshire in the time of the Ripper murders.

"What could be more magical than a writer who can flip from hilarity to darkness and back on the same page? Jennie Godfrey does this and more...in a voice that is as authentic as it is unforgettable." —Jenny Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street

"We'll make a list. A list of all the people and things we see that are suspicious. And then… we'll investigate them."

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?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781464249051
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	12/02/2025
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.04(d)

Editorial Reviews

"The List of Suspicious Things somehow manages to be heartwarming yet heartbreaking, a story of innocence lost that will make you feel innocent again, and beautifully nostalgic while being an unflinching portrait of the past. I loved it." — Tracy Sierra, author of Nightwatching

"Jennie Godfrey’s debut book caught me at the compelling title! What a tale of gritty innocence and morphing friendships. Godfrey’s fresh literary voice is inquisitive, vulnerable and determined to expose a piece of hard history in a personal way. Told by an ensemble of narrators in a Yorkshire community paralyzed by fear of a serial killer, The List of Suspicious Things delivers satisfying punches of danger and possibility and insights into human nature. Kudos to Jennie Godfrey for a job well done!" — Leah Weiss, bestselling author of If the Creek Don’t Rise and The Creek, the Crone, and the Crow

"What could be more magical than a writer who can flip from hilarity to darkness and back on the same page? Jennie Godfrey does this and more in The List of Suspicious Things, all told in a voice that is as authentic as it is unforgettable." — Jenny Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Good Morning America Book Club pick Pineapple Street

"Absolutely loved it—it is so engrossing, utterly heartbreaking (made me cry!) but also redemptive and hopefully at the same time." — Sophie Hannah, international bestselling author

"Heartbreaking yet heartwarming, with compassionate characters you can’t help but root for, The List of Suspicious Things is an unforgettable book on friendship and the power of human connection. I felt like I was in 1970s Yorkshire, investigating with Miv and Sharon, unearthing the secrets of their neighbourhood. A splendid debut." — Costanza Casati, international bestselling author of Clytemnestra and Babylonia

"A touching paean to lost innocence and the comfort of friendships, its dark undertow leavened by stout Yorkshire humour." — The Times

"Godfrey succeeds brilliantly in fitting a gripping and moving story in the interstices of a horrific episode in recent history, without ever trivialising, taking focus from, or minimising the lasting impact of the original crimes." — The Guardian

"There's been buzz around this novel—for good reason. Endearing characters and nostalgic details make this a must-read." — Good Housekeeping

"One of the buzziest debuts of 2024, and deservedly so….prepare to have all the feelings." — Red magazine

From the Publisher