2024 is certainly spoiling me with superb new releases!
Next up on my list, The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey, another book that I can guarantee will be a favourite for a lot of readers this year – it is excellent!
It's a coming-of-age story set against a dark background; it's gorgeous, gripping, heart-warming, sad and tense all at once.
From the back…
Yorkshire, 1979
Maggie Thatcher is prime minister, drainpipe jeans are in, and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South.
Because of the murders.
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 down their street. People they know. People they don't.
But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighbourhood, 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?
Growing up in 1979, Miv lives with her parents and Aunty Jean; her mum doesn't speak and rarely leaves her bedroom, her dad's acting strange and her Aunty Jean has an opinion on everything.
The one thing that Miv can count on in life is her best friend, Sharon. However, their childhood innocence has been cut short….you see, growing up in Yorkshire, in the seventies, there's no escaping the spectre of the Yorkshire Ripper case. It's because of this, that Miv's dad is considering moving away.
Desperate to stay in Yorkshire with Sharon, Miv sets out on a mission to catch the Yorkshire Ripper herself, by looking closely at the people who live in her community.
Jennie Godfrey tells the story of the Yorkshire Ripper from a fresh perspective; it focuses on the effect it had on the people living in towns and villages at the time. There's a tension as the investigation continues and the murders become more frequent; there's the common fear that the killer could be hiding in plain sight. The murders aren't sensationalised, it's handled incredibly sensitively, there's an awareness of how the victims were written about and blamed.
I loved how many memories, this book sparked. No, I wasn't born in the seventies, but everyone remembers first best friend. Most people (of a certain age) have memories long summer holidays, of endless days playing out in the sunshine.
For Miv and Sharon, it's a summer where they're entering that awkward phase. They aren't quite teenagers but are too old for childhood toys and games. They're outgrowing their usual activities and starting to notice boys. They're learning about who they are.
I loved their friendship and their dynamic. Miv coming up with ideas, Sharon helping her execute them…despite any reservations she may have. It's Miv who becomes obsessed with catching the killer, Sharon reluctantly agrees to help.
Their investigations see the girls find out more about the people they live among, it sees them build friendships and learn some harsh lessons about life as secrets are unveiled. Not everything is as it seems, some people are inherently bad, others have an incredible capacity for kindness.
Godfrey tackles a lot of social issues from the era, some which are sadly still prevalent today; there are characters dealing with domestic violence, mental health problems, sexual abuse (and the cover up), and racism. Yes, all weighty issues but Godfrey manages to capture the naivety of young children who are coming across these things for the very first time.
The List of Suspicious Things is beautifully crafted, it's so well put together. It cleverly weaves together social history, an incredibly dark period in history and story about friendship; the result is a unique story that really makes a mark. It is an incredible debut and I can't wait to read more from Jennie Godfrey.
This isn't a short book, it comes in at more than 400 pages, but I tore through it in a couple of days. I was completely engrossed in this story and one I could read again and again.
It's incredibly poignant and touching; but be warned, the end will break your heart. It's a beautiful tale about friendship and growing up and one that will stay with me for a long, long time.
A 5-star read, go and get it!
No comments:
Post a Comment