Scan barcode
gabbyj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Infidelity, Child death, and Murder
ashleighmo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape
what_heather_loves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What if someone caught him? I wondered, as I drifted off to sleep. What if the murders were to stop? And we could stay? Then I would never have to leave Sharon and we could be best friends always."
It's late 1979 in the town of Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire. Focusing on the life of 11 year old Miv and her best friend Sharon, Aunty Jean, haulage manager Dad, unwell Mum and neighbours, widow Mr Bashir and son Ishtiaq, Arthur and many more. All the adults talk about is the Yorkshire Ripper, who is yet to be caught, so Miv decides she and Sharon will investigate, creating her List Of Suspicious Things.
Reminding me of The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and A Terrible Kindness, this is a nostalgic and heartwarming, coming of age tale. I adored Miv, finding her way, noticing suspicious men in her life (of which there were many!) and going to school whilst worrying about bullies, lipgloss, boys and her mum's quiet retreat from family life. Full of observant writing about human behaviour, with atmospheric dialect and affectionate humour: "gossip...filtered through Aunty Jean via washing line conversations - a route far more effective than the telephone..."and "Tupperware went up and down the streets of our town faster than the traffic." It has emotional depth and includes astute social and political commentary about how working class people lived, worked and behaved at this time, including the climate of fear that existed, especially in Yorkshire. Plenty of challenging topics are covered, including domestic violence, racism, grief, mental illness, suicide, death and of course the predatory murders of women, all seen through the eyes of Miv, her friends, family and neighbours. I adored reading this debut fiction and was sad it had to finish!
Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Ableism, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Stalking
rosecott's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book made me laugh, and also broke my heart.
If you’re into true crime, then this was a fascinating look at the Yorkshire Ripper case from a completely different angle but also done in a sensitive way I feel.
Lots of dark themes explored but also somehow lighthearted and through the innocent lens of a child’s eyes.
Absolutely sobbing as I got to towards the end though.
I didn’t expect the turn of events at all.
Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Racism, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Pedophilia, Islamophobia, Bullying, and Child death
sam_uel_c's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Racism
Minor: Rape and Suicide
janeyjacks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I found this book meandering and overlong, several hours in l came back and checked the blurb in case I'd mistakenly purchased a memoir rather than a novel, so light it was on plot.
Whilst l could warm to a few of the characters (Mr Bashir, Ishtiak, Helen Andrews and the old Rag and Bone man), I found Miv herself to be pretty unsympathetic. | know kids are childish and self obsessed by their very nature, but she seems especially so, and heedless of the damage her actions might cause to others.
And most of her plans are just plain stupid. She's supposed to be a bright kid yet thinks it's a good idea to go and lurk about Chapeltown putting herself in the path of mass murderer that the police can't catch...? Daft though kids are,I don't remember having any Comparable ideas at that age!
I guess there is a kind of tying up of ends in the last few chapters, but by then, I barely cared about them and just wanted the book to be over However, I realise everyone else loved this one so chacon à son goût!
TLDR: not for me!!!
Graphic: Racism, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Murder
aileensbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Murder, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Racism, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, and Death
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism
line_magnus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Pedophilia, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
rosecahill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Hate crime, Islamophobia, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Rape, and Suicide attempt
nell_nell0's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Racism, Murder, and Sexual assault