Jennie Godfrey’s novel The List of Suspicious Things is one of the biggest debuts of recent years. Set in 1979, it follows 12-year-old Miv and her best friend Sharon as they try to work out the identity of the Yorkshire Ripper – only to stumble across secrets much closer to home, reports BritPanorama.
In her new book, The Barbecue at No 9, Godfrey shifts her focus to the 1980s, following the residents of Delmont Close as they gather for a barbecue celebrating the iconic music event: Live Aid. However, the neighbours are all hiding truths that begin to emerge as they come together.
While Godfrey does not shy away from difficult themes, her narratives are ultimately about connection and community, offering a compassionate lens on human experiences. Here, she shares her five most heartwarming novels that have inspired her throughout her writing journey.
To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee
“This is my joint (tied with Persuasion by Jane Austen) favourite book of all time, and always makes me laugh out loud while breaking my heart every time I read it. It ultimately leaves me with a sense of hope – which is my personal definition of heart-warming. Scout Finch is the greatest child narrator of all time and ultimately inspired the character of Miv in The List of Suspicious Things. A novel as relevant now as when it was published.”
The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
“This story of the eponymous Harold and his journey across England – and of self-discovery – will always have a place in my heart. Real-seeming characters and incredible storytelling combine to make this book a modern classic, and there is something wonderfully British about it. The film is also incredible, and I’m not always a fan of book adaptations. I started crying during the opening scenes and almost didn’t stop until the credits rolled.”
The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon
“Another heartwarming book with a young narrator, but this time they are from Swindon, not Alabama. It’s no less moving and hopeful for it and I love the suburban setting so much I placed my new novel The Barbecue at No 9 in a similar kind of neighbourhood. On the face of it, Haddon’s bestseller is an amateur detective story, with the mystery being the death of 15-year-old Christopher’s neighbour’s dog. But it is more about encountering different ways of experiencing the world, and forging connection regardless. It’s funny and poignant.”
The fellowship of puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr
“A quirky society for puzzle-obsessed people is the starting point for this joyful novel. Its central question concerns the origins of ‘young fogey’ Clayton Stumper, who was left outside the home of the so-called Fellowship of Puzzlemakers as a baby. This is another novel with themes of belonging and connection, with some wonderfully eccentric characters and a love story thrown in. It’s one of my favourites from recent years.”
Life, death and giants by Ron Rindo
“This was published in the UK last year and has somewhat flown under the radar, but I keep recommending it to everyone in the hope I will encourage more people to pick it up. It tells the story of orphaned Gabriel Fisher, who is taken in by his devout Amish grandparents as a baby. He grows to be a nearly 8ft-tall athlete, which puts the spotlight on his reclusive family in ways they struggle to manage. But ultimately his life touches everyone he comes across. It’s an expansive, cinematic novel, which had me sobbing for most of the final quarter of it.”
The Barbecue at No 9 by Jennie Godfrey is published on 12 February (Hutchinson Heinemann, £16.99)
