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The Penguin Podcast: episode 9 – how to get published

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‘The day that Peter Sutcliffe was caught is etched on my memory’: How I wrote The List of Suspicious Things

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Reading lists

12 of the most anticipated debut books of 2024

The Barbecue at No.9

Marian Keyes on 'The List of Suspicious Things'

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 on 'The List of Suspicious Things'

A beautiful story of friendship, community and family. Heartwarming

Zoe Ball on 'The List of Suspicious Things'

What could be more magical than a writer who can flip from hilarity to darkness and back on the same page? ... A voice that is as authentic as it is unforgettable

Jenny Jackson on 'The List of Suspicious Things'

Endearing characters, nostalgic period details and a warmth that rises from the page make this a must-read

Good Housekeeping on 'The List of Suspicious Things'

A mystery wrapped up in a story of community and family ... a gorgeous, page-turning book

iPaper on 'The List of Suspicious Things'

‘Such a fresh and interesting voice. You'll cry and you won't be able to stop reading’

MARIAN KEYES on The List of Suspicious Things

Jennie Godfrey was raised in West Yorkshire and her debut novel, The List of Suspicious Things, is inspired by her childhood there in the 1970s. Jennie is from a mill-working family, but as the first of the generation born after the mills closed, she went to university and built a career in the corporate world. In 2020 she left and began to write. She is now a writer and part-time Waterstones bookseller and lives in the Somerset countryside.

FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS . . . 
 
In the summer of 1985, the entire country is poised for the biggest music event in history – Live Aid. 
 
The residents of Delmont Close are preparing for a neighbourhood barbecue to celebrate this historic moment, but someone uninvited is watching them closely, getting ready to make their move. But who are they watching, and why? 
 
The Gordons – Hanna, her highly-strung mother, Lydia, and sweet father, Peter – have opened the doors to their home. And when their neighbours flood in, so do all the secrets that have been kept in the close. Among them is Rita, a new resident from Australia, Steve, a young man who is battling his own demons, and Aunty Beverley, who has come to pass judgement on her relatives. 
 
The Barbecue at No.9 explores family, friendship and love with Jennie Godfrey’s signature wit, warmth and bite.

Jennie Godfrey

A touching paean to lost innocence and the comfort of friendships, its dark undertow leavened by stout Yorkshire humour

Godfrey succeeds brilliantly in fitting a gripping and moving story in the interstices of a horrific episode in recent history, without ever trivialising, taking focus from, or minimising the lasting impact of the original crimes.

There's been buzz around this novel - for good reason. Endearing characters and nostalgic details make this a must-read

One of the buzziest debuts of 2024, and deservedly so….prepare to have all the feelings

I can't believe this is a debut. Heavy themes handled with such tenderness and care, a moving, memorable tale of community, connection and curiosity. I loved it

[THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS] was such a joyous read . . . the story spoke to me on so many levels. The characters are adorable and we all need an Aunty Jean in our lives . . . a beautiful story of friendship, community and family. Heartwarming

Funny, poignant and drawn with real compassion. This is a heart-warming book

Emma Healey, author of ELIZABETH IS MISSING

Profoundly original and dazzlingly written. A beautiful mystery with heart

A beautiful story of friendship, community and family . . . heart-warming

A book full of heart that drops you vividly into a time and place. Superb

This is such a tender coming of age story with unforgettable characters. Exquisite storytelling that's full of heart

Absolutely loved it - it is so engrossing, utterly heart-breaking (made me cry!) but also redemptive and hopeful at the same time

I am so sad it has ended because it is a GORGEOUS TRIUMPH. Jennie is an easy and natural storyteller. Beautifully crafted, moving, funny heart-warming, it has all the feels

Pretty sure this will be the book of 2024. Bring tissues

The characters completely burrowed into my heart. It's a warm, funny, huge-hearted book without any twee - it's truthful, carrying a sadness too

An astonishing debut written with much talent and tenderness. It sings with humanity

Brimming with what is means to be human, this is a book to be savoured and cherished. A book that should be required reading for current and future generations. A once in a lifetime kind of book

What could be more magical than a writer who can flip from hilarity to darkness and back on the same page? Jennie Godfrey does this and more in THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS, all told in a voice that is as authentic as it is unforgettable

A mystery wrapped up in a story of community and family, The List of Suspicious Things is a gorgeous, page-turning book

Heartbreaking [&hellip;] a superlative coming-of-age story

A beautifully written story about friendship, family and the untold secrets hidden beneath the surface...a touching novel that will have you in tears, shock, laughter and horror

Thoroughly enjoyable, charming and singular . . . What a debut!

Well, this is such a wonderful story. It&rsquo;s seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old girl called Miv, in the 1970s in Yorkshire. Miv is on the search with her friend Sharon for the Yorkshire Ripper. Now, although that is a very serious subject matter and a dark one, this book is so warm and cosy and light and funny in parts. It&rsquo;s just a beautiful tale of friendship and also the secrets that you discover in your own local community. It&rsquo;s such a brilliant book

It brought me so much joy . . . just phenomenal . . . a wonderful book

This book will live in my heart forever. It's so tender, warm, real and evocative

I'd heard a rumour that this was a brilliant book. And my goodness, it is. Fully immersing you in 1970s Yorkshire ... the book is unflinching but written in such a gentle way that it's also incredibly readable and touching.

Heartbreaking yet heartwarming, with compassionate characters you can't help but root for, The List of Suspicious Things is an unforgettable book on friendship and the power of human connection. I felt like I was in 1970s Yorkshire, investigating with Miv and Sharon, unearthing the secrets of their neighbourhood. A splendid debut.

I absolutely adored this book. A highly enjoyable pageturner full of wisdom and kindness. I laughed and cried.

***SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER 1 BESTSELLER*** 
 
THE BIGGEST DEBUT LAUNCH OF 2024 
 
‘Such a fresh and interesting voice. You'll cry and you won't be able to stop reading’ 
MARIAN KEYES 
 
'Such a beautiful story about friendship, community and family and secrets and what’s going on underneath' 
ZOE BALL 
 
'Gripping and moving' 
GUARDIAN 
 
'To read it is to feel that little bit better about life' 
ELIZABETH DAY 
 
‘A touching paean to lost innocence and the comfort of friendships’ 
THE TIMES 
 
'A beautiful mystery with heart' 
ROB RINDER 
 
'This is a heart-warming book' 
EMMA HEALEY 
 
'A gorgeous, page-turning book' 
I PAPER 
 
'A wonderful story' 
FEARNE COTTON 
 
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? 
 
*SHORTLISTED FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR - DEBUT FICTION AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2025* 
 
The perfect debut novel to discuss in book clubs 
 
***READER REVIEWS*** 
 
'Left a lump in my throat and a hole in my heart' 
'A book I won't forget for a while' 
'A beautiful and emotional debut that I know will stay with me for a long time' 
'A superb look at childhood, at growing up, at starting to see the world around you' 
 
Sunday Times bestseller, April 2024

Jennie Godfrey

Praise for The List of Suspicious Things

A touching paean to lost innocence and the comfort of friendships, its dark undertow leavened by stout Yorkshire humour

I absolutely adore it!

Godfrey succeeds brilliantly in fitting a gripping and moving story in the interstices of a horrific episode in recent history, without ever trivialising, taking focus from, or minimising the lasting impact o ...

A touching paean to lost innocence and the comfort of friendships, its dark undertow leavened by stout Yorkshire humour

I absolutely adore it!

Godfrey succeeds brilliantly in fitting a gripping and moving story in the interstices of a horrific episode in recent history, without ever trivialising, taking focus from, or minimising the lasting impact o ...

A touching paean to lost innocence and the comfort of friendships, its dark undertow leavened by stout Yorkshire humour

I absolutely adore it!

Godfrey succeeds brilliantly in fitting a gripping and moving story in the interstices of a horrific episode in recent history, without ever trivialising, taking focus from, or minimising the lasting impact o ...

Books by Jennie Godfrey

Articles featuring Jennie Godfrey

A day in the life of a Publicist with Alison Barrow

The Penguin Podcast: episode 9 – how to get published

‘The day that Peter Sutcliffe was caught is etched on my memory’: How I wrote The List of Suspicious Things

12 of the most anticipated debut books of 2024

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