Title: The List of Suspicious Things
Author: Jennie Godfrey
Publication Date: December 30, 2025
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Format Read: Kindle e-ARC
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
When girls start disappearing in her quiet Yorkshire town, twelve-year-old Miv decides the only way to stop her world from falling apart is to solve the murders herself, even if the biggest secret waiting to be uncovered is hiding in her own home.
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey opens in 1979 Yorkshire, England, with Miv’s Aunty Jean complaining about Margaret Thatcher becoming prime minister. The Yorkshire Ripper is terrorizing the region with his brutal murders, leaving everyone on edge and wondering who he might be. After a nearby killing, Miv’s father brings up the idea of moving away, which is an unbearable thought for her. She decides the only way to keep her family in Yorkshire is to catch the Ripper herself. What follows is a year where Miv edges out of childhood and starts seeing the world with new eyes. It’s a year of shifting friendships, uncomfortable truths, and the quiet fear of a girl who hasn’t had the stability she deserves.
The story shifts between several narrators, but Miv’s voice is the one that leads the way, and she is the only character who speaks directly in the first person. I felt as if I knew her in real life; her chapters pulled me straight back into that tender age. She feels completely alive on the page. The third-person sections from other characters add extra layers and context, especially for the people who end up on Miv’s list of suspicious things.
The heart of the story lies in the friendships Miv forms during her so-called investigation. Beneath that, though, run other powerful themes. Miv begins to lose some of her innocence as she confronts how unfair the world can be and how relationships shift as you grow. The book also reminds us how little we sometimes know about the people we think are familiar. Godfrey handles all of this with a gentle touch, infusing the story with real tenderness. My heart ached for Miv at several points, especially as her home life and the weight of the events around her become clearer. By the end, her journey settles into a bittersweet but hopeful place.
The story moves at a steady pace, and Godfrey’s writing is sensory-rich without ever becoming flowery. Miv’s straightforward emotional honesty shines through every chapter, letting us feel what she feels in real time, even when she can’t fully name her own emotions. That immediacy makes the story land harder. The narrative is reflective and layered, with past and present linking smoothly in a way that feels natural for a child piecing together her world. I especially appreciated how deeply character-driven it is.
The List of Suspicious Things is a strong choice for readers who enjoy stories told through the eyes of a child. It carries some of the same emotional resonance found in Fight Night by Miriam Toews or My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman. It’s a novel that can stir up heavy feelings while still managing to leave the reader with a warm heart.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓— A beautifully layered story that balances suspense with the emotional clarity of a child narrator.
Let’s Discuss: What major news story from your childhood still shapes how you see the world today?
Find out more about The List of Suspicious Things from Sourcebooks Landmark.
I read a digital copy made available by Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.