NPR's Book of the Day Two debut novels, two murder mysteries set in the United Kingdom
8 snips
Jan 9, 2026 
Chris Chibnall, the creator of Broadchurch, discusses his debut novel, Death at the White Hart, a gripping whodunit steeped in pub culture and community life. He dives into the motivations behind a village landlord's murder and how tight-knit settings amplify suspicion. Jennie Godfrey shares her novel, The List of Suspicious Things, inspired by the Yorkshire Ripper. She reveals her personal connections to the case and reflects on how fear influenced childhood perceptions of neighbors. Both novels blend rich community themes with thrilling mysteries.
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Personal Link To The Yorkshire Ripper
- Jennie Godfrey recalls that Peter Sutcliffe's arrest revealed her father's acquaintance with him and made the murders intensely personal.
- She describes growing up in Yorkshire during the killings and how that shaped her childhood perspective.
Economic Decline Shapes Community Mood
- Godfrey portrays 1970s Yorkshire as economically depressed and politically hostile to Margaret Thatcher.
- She shows how that grim backdrop sharpened community stoicism and darkened the atmosphere during the murders.
Fear Rewires How We See Others
- Making a 'list of suspicious things' made children view ordinary people through a fearful lens.
- Godfrey emphasizes how media messages about the killer changed how friends and family were perceived.
