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.

I have no doubt that this will be a much talked about book in 2024 and will feature in many ‘books of the year’ lists - quite rightly so. What on earth are you on about?' she said. 'How are we going to catch the Yorkshire Ripper, when the police haven't even managed to?' That prior first novel, which I remembered was set in the mid to late 70’s (1976) had involved the fierceness of childhood friendships, and was told from the childrens’ viewpoint, and was about a detective investigation they instigated which uncovered the adult darkness and dysfunction in their small community, was of course Joanna Cannon’s first novel, The Trouble With Goats and Sheep. Which I had adored from the off, and surrendered to. A heartwarming tale about the power of human connection, written with empathy, warmth and care. To read it is to feel that little bit better about life' ELIZABETH DAY

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Maggie Thatcher is prime minister, drainpipe jeans are in, and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South. Miv lives with her Dad, her Mum (when she’s not having one of her regular spells in hospital, having completely withdrawn from life) and auntie Jean. She caught her Dad and auntie Jean talking about moving away from Yorkshire, citing the Ripper as one of the reasons, so if Miv can discover the identity of the killer, maybe she won’t have to move away from her dear friend Sharon, and so it is that 11 year old Miv decides she’s going to catch The Yorkshire Ripper, and persuades her best friend Sharon to help her. I could probably write a list of why I thoroughly enjoyed this book: I'm from Yorkshire (not far from Dewsbury), I was around the same age as Miv when the Ripper terrorised the streets, I too had a pretty friend who boys were attracted but she wasn't as nice as Sharon so there the similarity ends. However the main reasons are the plot, the characters and the dialogue of this great first novel. The juxtaposition of Miv's innocence and her schoolgirl-diary delivery and the truths that she uncovers about the lives around lie at the bruised heart of this book. Soon, Miv and her best friend Sharon discover more than they bargained for – not about the Yorkshire Ripper, but about the grown-ups around them, who are troubled in all sorts of ways. As they scratch the surface of everyday life, brutal racism, domestic abuse, alcoholism, infidelity and misunderstood mental health issues emerge.

Miv's family life is troubled, her mum has had a nervous breakdown and hasn't spoken for sometime. Her aunt has moved in to help take care of them, but with the ripper still out there, Yorkshire isn't what it used to be and there is talk of moving away. This is devastating to Miv, who would then lose her best friend, Sharon, the one stable thing in her life. Her solution is to catch the ripper, so she starts the list of suspicious things and sets out with Sharon to investigate. Along the way, the pair meet a strong cast of characters and form a pretty tight group of friends. I don’t think I would have fully adored it though, since, as we neared the end, it felt like plot had taken over a bit, and some coincidences were driving the high and searing finish.Throughout the course of the book, the many characters Miv encounters become like family to her, and to us as the reader too. She finds parental figures in so many wonderful characters, becomes friends with people she never would have thought to ‘laik out’ with, and experiences a first crush and relationship. But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighbourhood, within their families - and between each other - than they ever thought possible.

I felt it was a strong debut that evokes a real sense of time and place, I did think the ending let it down a bit; there were some threads of the story I would have liked more detail on, and some things that I felt a bit let down by; however, I enjoyed reading it and think it should do well. So on the book, I had already seen a bit of a buzz on social media surrounding this novel, and when I found it the setting and timeline, I knew it would interest me, but I didn’t realise HOW much I would LOVE it! The inhabitation of child voices here did not seem fully from the child’s point of view, unlike Cannon’s book. In fact, there were valid reasons for this. Had I read this without having read Cannon’s I know I would have liked it more. Set in the quaint Yorkshire town amidst the gripping presence of the notorious Yorkshire Ripper, the story follows two young girls on the cusp of adolescence as they embark on a mission to uncover the truth and restore safety to their community. The List of Suspicious Things is about so much more than this quest though. It takes Miv, and her friend Sharon’s search for the Yorkshire Ripper as the canvas for a study of some wonderful characters all living in Miv’s neighbourhood and who all find themselves at some point on The List of Suspicious Things.The List of Suspicious Things" by Jennie Godfrey is a heartwarming tale of growth and discovery, centered around the power of family, friendship, and community. Within the intricately woven plot lies the captivating mystery of a serial killer's identity. Miv has other worries, however – such as keeping a hold of her best friend Sharon, who seems to be floating away from her, and the ever-present worry about Miv’s mum, who stopped speaking one day and hasn’t started since. And then, in the wake of the murders, Miv’s dad and Aunty Jean suggest moving ‘Down South’ where it’s safer. All of a sudden, Miv has to come up with an idea to ensure they stay in Yorkshire, so she can stay friends with Sharon. She decides she has to catch the Yorkshire Ripper, and stop the killings. So begins her ‘list of suspicious things’, which she keeps in her notebook, jotting down facts about suspicious people and places in the town.