Audio: 10 hrs 57 m
Narrators: Joanne Froggart, Mark Noble, Asif Kahn, Gemma Whelan and Simon Harvey.
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Penguin Audio Feb 2024
Source: Purchased from Audible
First Sentence: It would be easy to say that it all started with the murders, but actually it began when Margaret thatcher became prime minister.
Review Quote: A touching paean to lost innocence and the comfort of friendships, its dark undertow leavened by stout Yorkshire humour ― The Times
My Opinion:
'The List of Suspicious Things' is the very successful debut for Jennie Godfrey whose childhood was spent growing up in the seventies in Yorkshire. It is therefore interesting but not surprising that the infamous Yorkshire Ripper was the inspiration for this novel. I am very late to the party, possibly because it is in my Audible collection and I have still not got into the habit of regular listening.
The protagonist is Mavis, known as Miv, an eleven year old girl. Growing up in the shadow of the seemingly ever present unsolved murder cases she with the help of her best friend Sharon decides they can help solve the case. Their adventures and investigations introduce the reader to many characters along the way. The emphasis of the whole story is on the importance of family life, friendship and community spirit.
At times a heart wrenching read, this novel sensitively covers dreadful events and is well worth reading or listening to.
Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:
"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 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?
Author Profile
Courtesy of Google
Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Amazon Author Page. Goodreads Author Page. Instagram Profile