Tag: Jennie Godfrey

The Barbecue at No.9 by Jennie Godfrey

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have been counting down the days until this book was released; I was looking with a little envy at some of the Bookstagram community that had proofs of ‘The Barbecue at No. 9’, so I ensured I picked it up as soon as it was released. And, thank goodness, it did not disappoint (which is no surprise).

The family at No.9 are having a barbecue, for the children, on the day/night of ‘Live Aid’. One summer day/night that wont be forgotten by many but especially won’t be forgotten by the households of Delmont Close. As the residents come together in the summer of 1985, suspense is built as we meet them and are gradually introduced to their secrets – some darker than others. The tale is told from multiple viewpoints, which means we also see how they view each other and this potentially leads the reader to play a little bit of armchair detective as they try to work out what their secret may be.

This story and its excellent character creation is also done with a reflection of the social attitudes and political situation of the time. Which may be something that does not offer us the same nostalgia as the music and popular culture of the time. But it is still a reflection of the time, and I am glad some progress has been made – but there is, of course, always more that can be done. I realise that is quite a cryptic set of sentences, but, as you know, it is a spoiler-free review here, so it will have to be cryptic until you pick it up and read it yourself.

I heard Jennie Godfrey speak about this book at ‘The Book Taster Live 2025’, and I love the dedication she had for making sure the right bands were on the TV at the right time as she told her story. And, I loved how the book is broken down hour by hour, reflecting the acts that were on the stage at the time. I mean it was quite a collection of the musical royalty of 1985. I would certainly reread this book with a playlist of the artists as I read the sections, to transport me even more to the summer of 1985. Although, I am not going to lie, whenever an artist or song was mentioned, they were on repeat in my head from that moment on.

So, if you enjoyed ‘The List of Suspicious Things‘, you will enjoy ‘The Barbecue at No. 9’. Jennie Godfrey, again, creates fantastic characters, and places them in a setting in such a way you feel like you are there with them. I am certain I could smell barbecue as I was reading the book. I am excited to see where Jennie Godfrey takes us next!

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This is definitely a book that seems to have picked up a fan base thanks to the Bookstagram community – and it was certainly them that persuaded me to pick up ‘The List of Suspicious Things’ (and it has a rather cool cover). As we know, I do not need blurbs, so all I knew about this one was that it was set at the time the Yorkshire Ripper was active, which did seem to me like an interesting time for a plot to be set.

But, wow, this book is so much more than a tale that has a link to the true crime story of the mid-1970s – this is a study of community, culture and people, and it was impossible to stop reading.

Miv is having a difficult time; her Mother has become distant and disengaged, her father is doing his bit and her overbearing Aunt has moved in. To give her some focus, her and her best friend, Sharon, decide to try and discover who the man is that appears to be bringing terror to streets of Yorkshire – and create a list of suspicious things.

This book is beautifully written and is a very astute commentary on the difficult divides that there were in communities, the ‘behind closed doors’ attitudes that were keeping dark secrets and influence that the far-right was having on the streets in a time that was difficult for many. My heart was breaking at moments when men were not supposed to cry and members of the community were not safe in their own homes because ‘they were not from around here’. Yet, there are moments of humour and constant reminders that the bad apples are actually few and far between.

I absolutely can not share any spoilers, but reading this book was quite an emotional rollercoaster at times – you could be crying and smiling within lines of the same page. But for me it was actually a celebration of strength of character, and that you should always have the confidence to be yourself. Miv, Sharon and Mr Bashir (among others) will all steal a piece of your heart and will stay with you long after you have read the final line.

This book is a stunning debut and I really hope that there is more to come from Jennie Godfrey, because I would certainly be keen to read it.