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The Barbecue at No.9

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS . . .
It's the summer of 1985 and the residents of Delmont Close are preparing a neighbourhood barbecue to watch the biggest music event in history: Live Aid. A day like no other that will end having reached millions and changing the lives of all who attend.

House-proud Lydia Gordon, whose idols are Princess Di and Delia Smith, is determined to put on a show that will impress everyone - with her posh garden and state-of-the-art television, and her sweet husband and two children, Hanna and David.

But as the guests flood into number nine, so do all of the secrets that have been kept in the close.

Rita, a new neighbour from Australia, is hoping for a fresh start but harbours a shocking event in her past; Steve, a young Falklands veteran, battles his own demons; and Mr Wilson is surely too good-looking to ever be trusted.

But as the hours count down to the last performance of the night, it's Lydia who faces the heart-breaking truth that her immaculate home and flawless family might not be so perfect after all.

And if each of their neighbours is guilty of hiding something, so are the Gordons at number nine ...

'From the very first page I was in awe. I LOVED it.' MARIAN KEYES

‘A beautiful story about secrets, lies and community.’ GRAHAM NORTON

'A delicious and irresistible story. An utter treat.' RACHEL JOYCE

'Gripping, suspenseful, moving, perfectly constructed.' SOPHIE HANNAH


© Jennie Godfrey 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 20th Century Domestic Thrillers Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense Exciting Royalty

Critic reviews

From the very first page I was in awe. I LOVED it. Jennie Godfrey has such an incredible gift for characterisation. (Marian Keyes)
A beautiful story about secrets, lies and community. This is a gorgeous novel that will steal your heart. (Graham Norton)
Set against the backdrop of Live Aid, and covering everything from Jammy Dodgers to Queen, this is a delicious and irresistibly good-hearted story about ordinary lives and the dark secrets that lie behind the net curtains. What emerges is a plea for facing the things of which we are most afraid, even if it requires the help of a bowl of Twiglets. An utter treat. (Rachel Joyce)
Gripping, suspenseful, moving, perfectly constructed - and every bit as good as, if not better than, its stonkingly successful predecessor, The List of Suspicious Things. (Sophie Hannah)
Brilliantly evocative and deliciously addictive. I couldn't stop reading until all the characters' secrets were revealed. (Claire Fuller)
WHAT a book! Jennie Godfrey is such a tremendous storyteller. She writes characters who seem to have existed forever - they move into your heart straight away and stay there. This book is so real, human and hope-filled, and it doesn't shy away from the dark, while encouraging us all to embrace the light. Hanna is already one of my all time favourite heroines. (Daisy Buchanan)
I could smell the musky Impulse body spray, taste the cremated sausages, and hear the Live Aid concert. The Barbecue at No.9 sizzles with secrets, suspense, superbly drawn characters, and so much heart. Jennie has done it again. I loved it! (Nikki May)
I absolutely loved it! What a joy. Great characters and just so absorbing and funny and intriguing. (Jane Fallon)
A brilliantly absorbing and satisfying novel full of heart and humanity. I laughed, cried and felt better for having read it. (Cathy Rentzenbrink)
A gorgeous novel, I adored it, Jennie Godfrey’s writing is pure joy, she is such a gifted storyteller. (Clare Leslie Hall)
All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed this book and it has the same magic of her first novel,.however, I wanted more of each characters story and felt that there wasn't enough time dedicated to each to really connect with each characters arch. excellent writing and would recommend to fans of Alice Winman

another excellent novel from the writer of The List of Suspicious Things

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I absolutely loved this book. Jenny Godfrey has a talent for writing incredibly engaging and relatable characters. Situated on one street, set on one historical day, this book drew me in to the lives of the characters from the off and I was desperate to keep reading to learn more about them. I adored 'The List of Suspicious things' and this one is going along with it at the top of my 5 star reads. In addition, the narration of this book is sublime and undoubtedly added to my enjoyment of the book. Highly, highly recommend.

Outstanding

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I absolutely devoured The Barbecue at No. 9 in a single day — I couldn’t stop listening. The author has such a gift for creating characters who feel utterly real and deeply relatable. You don’t just follow them; you recognise them.

What really made this book shine for me was the nostalgia. It transported me straight back to the 80s — the atmosphere, the little social nuances, the unspoken dynamics of neighbours and family life. It felt warm, familiar, and wonderfully observed.

Brilliantly written, tender and sharply insightful all at once. I loved every minute.

Spectacular!

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