Scan barcode
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Realism, terror and adolescent friendships/games immerse the reader in the Yorkshire Ripper era.
Born just after the events of this story, and not living in Yorkshire at the time, this really brought home to me just how frightened whole counties were about the murderer attacking suddenly and brutally.
This comes through very strongly in Godfrey's writing, as does Miv's world, a grey and brown world of old-fashioned values, unemployment, hidden family secrets, hard workers and stiff Yorkshire lips.
Deciding to try and keep her friend Sharon interested (as one grows up faster than the other) by making a list of suspicious locals who COULD be the Yorkshire Ripper, 12-year-old Miv becomes our portal to a small town world, where reverends, husbands, wives, parents, shopkeepers, even lorry drivers all have their secrets. And Miv and Sharon may unwittingly uncover some of them.
Miv's a lovely creation. With a mother who's not spoken for months - she doesn't know why - cared for harshly by her aunt, given some freedom to explore and investigate, she's in that sliver of time between childhood and adolescence, trying desperately to keep her life to one she can comprehend. But also not blind in many ways to what's going on around her. Even when it comes to boys her own age shaving their heads and showing definite National Front tendencies. Scary times.
This is part growing-up story, part detective, with snippets of narration from other characters Miv is watching, shining the spotlight on their lives, the hidden one we don't see until we look hard enough. And Miv does, even if she doesn't always understand what she's seeing.
This fits quite a lot in, with several plots about various characters in Miv's town all having their moments, and all fitting together by the end, even if their conclusions are explained quickly.
I enjoyed the narration, mostly by Miv, and the expose of a whole little town. It did bring the era to life, the values and just what was going on, in both society at large and in this one little corner of it.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
Born just after the events of this story, and not living in Yorkshire at the time, this really brought home to me just how frightened whole counties were about the murderer attacking suddenly and brutally.
This comes through very strongly in Godfrey's writing, as does Miv's world, a grey and brown world of old-fashioned values, unemployment, hidden family secrets, hard workers and stiff Yorkshire lips.
Deciding to try and keep her friend Sharon interested (as one grows up faster than the other) by making a list of suspicious locals who COULD be the Yorkshire Ripper, 12-year-old Miv becomes our portal to a small town world, where reverends, husbands, wives, parents, shopkeepers, even lorry drivers all have their secrets. And Miv and Sharon may unwittingly uncover some of them.
Miv's a lovely creation. With a mother who's not spoken for months - she doesn't know why - cared for harshly by her aunt, given some freedom to explore and investigate, she's in that sliver of time between childhood and adolescence, trying desperately to keep her life to one she can comprehend. But also not blind in many ways to what's going on around her. Even when it comes to boys her own age shaving their heads and showing definite National Front tendencies. Scary times.
This is part growing-up story, part detective, with snippets of narration from other characters Miv is watching, shining the spotlight on their lives, the hidden one we don't see until we look hard enough. And Miv does, even if she doesn't always understand what she's seeing.
This fits quite a lot in, with several plots about various characters in Miv's town all having their moments, and all fitting together by the end, even if their conclusions are explained quickly.
I enjoyed the narration, mostly by Miv, and the expose of a whole little town. It did bring the era to life, the values and just what was going on, in both society at large and in this one little corner of it.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
"I reached under the bed for my torch, switched it on and went back to my book. In just a few pages, my mind and body quietened as the words performed their hypnosis. I knew that my favourite character, Georgina - known as George for her tomboy looks and something called 'pluck' - would not be frightened about moving or even about the Yorkshire Ripper. In fact, she would probably summon the rest of the Five to try to catch him.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Ableism, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Stalking
ashlea_t19's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wishknots's review against another edition
5.0
I am very grateful to Net Galley and the publishers of this book for the E-Arc I received for review.
I was very drawn by the synopsis of this book. Set in Yorkshire in 1979, the year Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female Prime Minister and at a time when the North Of England was gripped by the hunt for a terrible, sadistic monster, known as The Yorkshire Ripper. No one felt safe and few were above suspicion. One little girl, with troubles of her own, sets out to investigate and find the Ripper.
I LOVED this book. I was 2 years old in 1979 and I grew up in London, very different to Yorkshire but the nostalgia seeping from the chapters of this book was so familiar. So much was just as it felt at the time, as if Jennie Godfrey had taken detailed notes of life in 1970's Britain and woven them expertly into the story. The details, the people, the language, all of it was spot on. The warmth of the place and time was such a nice place to be whilst reading, despite what else was going on.
While the murders that were happening at the time feature heavily in this book, with victims being found and identified in real time and the police investigation swirling around them, this book is about community and friendship above all else. I cried a few times, I got angry at the terrible things happening to some characters and the behaviour of others. I would have loved a friendship like Miv and Sharon's, at any age. This book is a masterpiece. Read it and remember the women who's lives were taken and those whose lives were turned upside down by a monster, hiding in plain sight.
I was very drawn by the synopsis of this book. Set in Yorkshire in 1979, the year Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female Prime Minister and at a time when the North Of England was gripped by the hunt for a terrible, sadistic monster, known as The Yorkshire Ripper. No one felt safe and few were above suspicion. One little girl, with troubles of her own, sets out to investigate and find the Ripper.
I LOVED this book. I was 2 years old in 1979 and I grew up in London, very different to Yorkshire but the nostalgia seeping from the chapters of this book was so familiar. So much was just as it felt at the time, as if Jennie Godfrey had taken detailed notes of life in 1970's Britain and woven them expertly into the story. The details, the people, the language, all of it was spot on. The warmth of the place and time was such a nice place to be whilst reading, despite what else was going on.
While the murders that were happening at the time feature heavily in this book, with victims being found and identified in real time and the police investigation swirling around them, this book is about community and friendship above all else. I cried a few times, I got angry at the terrible things happening to some characters and the behaviour of others. I would have loved a friendship like Miv and Sharon's, at any age. This book is a masterpiece. Read it and remember the women who's lives were taken and those whose lives were turned upside down by a monster, hiding in plain sight.
susanshilton's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
2.0
debbie261158's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
mrlockyer's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is a YA book but with very dark undertones, which is why it has been heavily pitched as a book for adults. It could have been shorter!
uhtceara's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5