The List of Suspicious Things - a heartfelt story of two young girls trying to solve a mystery.

It's 1979 in Yorkshire, England. Twelve-year-old Mavis, known as Miv, lives with her parents and her Aunty Jean, who moved in after her mother became ill and mentally withdrawn from the family. Life in the former mill town became overshadowed by a serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper. With the police making little progress on the case, Miv and her best friend Sharon decide to take matters into their own hands to uncover who is murdering local women. Miv fears that her family will move if the killer isn't caught soon. The two friends create a list of suspicious people and places to investigate. In their quest, they end up uncovering more than ever anticipated, including secrets that hit very close to home. 

Although The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey is a new release in the U.S., it was initially published in the UK in 2024, to much acclaim. The Yorkshire Ripper, a real person, was responsible for the murders of the women mentioned in the book. When the book begins, Margaret Thatcher had recently been elected Prime Minister, and Godfrey captures the period well. Miv and Sharon are ideal best friends, and the people who enter their lives are equally captivating including Omar, the local grocery store owner, and his son Ishtiaq. They represent the only Pakistani family in the town and encounter dangerous prejudices. The cover art led me to expect a cozy mystery, but it turned out to be unlike anything I've read in a long time. This was a poignant story of friendship, a loss of innocence, and discovering where you belong, as well as a mystery.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Mystery | Coming-of-Age | Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: December 30, 2025.

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