In this debut thriller for fans of Riley Sager and Karin Slaughter, a social worker turned true crime podcaster investigates a decades-old serial killer cold case only to unwittingly create new victims. Once a social worker specializing in kids who were the victims of violent crime, Elle Castillo is now the host of a popular true crime podcast that tackles cold cases of missing children in her … missing children in her hometown of the Twin Cities. After two seasons of successfully solving cases, Elle decides to tackle her white whale–The Countdown Killer. Twenty years ago, TCK abruptly stopped after establishing a pattern of taking and ritualistically murdering three girls over seven days, each a year younger than the last. No one’s ever known why–why he stopped with his eleventh victim, a girl of eleven years old, or why he followed the ritual at all. When a listener phones in with a tip, Elle sets out to interview him, only to discover his dead body. And within days, a child is abducted following the original TCK MO. Unlike the experts in the media and law enforcement who have always spun theories of a guilty suicide, Elle never believed TCK had died, and her investigation was meant to lay that suspicion to rest. But instead, her podcast seems to be kicking up new victims.
more
So great to start a new year with a 5-star read straight away!
This novel is an absolute standout amongst serial killer stories, and will leave readers eager for whatever the author has next in store. (NOBLE WIFE, due out in 2023 – mark your calendar.)
This is a hair-raising story that could have happened and it could be true! I spent the night reading this story and imagining what life could be like for the girl who was able to run away from the killer and what were the consequences for her life. She became an incredibly strong and wise woman who made her life’s mission help find those responsible for unsolved crimes. Her past, however, comes back fast and becomes her present, mixing feelings and past nightmares with the present ones. Elle is lucky that she had a strong marriage relationship and made a few strong friendships that helped her to find the truth, and finally, go on with her life in peace.
Probably if I had read this book in English I would rate it 5 stars.
Embora tenha gostado desta estória e considerar o enredo bem suportado pelos fatos apresentados e apreciar a forma como foi escrito, acredito que a tradução para o português tenha sido muito literal e poderia ter sido melhor adequada ao nosso idioma. Entretanto, é um livro que vale a pena ser lido, é interessante, deixa o leitor super interessado em entender todos os meandros da mente criminosa e faz com que torça para que o assassino seja preso. É provável que se eu tivesse lido este livro em inglês, eu atribuiria como nota 5 estrelas.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Elle Castillo hosts the trending true crime podcast, Justice Delayed, focusing on serial killers. The latest subject is The Countdown Killer, who abruptly stopped his killing spree 20 years ago. The Countdown Killer began with a 20-year old woman, then continued with a victim a year younger than the last. His killing spree stopped at Girl, 11, as she managed to escape, but so did the killer.
The book is told almost entirely from Elle’s perspective, in flashbacks and in real-time. Other perspectives are podcast-style interview transcripts.
Listeners become internet sleuths, and one calls Elle to say he knows who the killer is. When she arranges to meet him, she finds him dead. And soon the killing begins again, this time much closer to Elle. But is it the original killer, or a copycat? Is it a warning for her to backoff? Or is the killer trying to draw her in?
The book did start off well, grabbing your attention from the first page. It’s an intense story, and the author did extremely well for a debut novel. However, it did start to get a bit repetitive about halfway through. There was also a big surprise that is slowly revealed, and quite strangely it never seemed to be addressed head-on until the last few pages of the book.
I would recommend it if you’re looking for a good psychological thriller with a few surprises, and it’s a natural for true crime podcast listeners.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
It’s funny – I find stories about true crime podcasts fascinating, but cannot actually listen to true crime podcasts. Ditto the DIY cold-case-solving websites. I’m fascinated by the concept of regular people – housewives and students and retirees and office workers and random everyday folks – crowd-sourcing solutions to problems that have stumped the “experts” in their relevant fields. I don’t have the patience (or stomach!) to do it myself, but am delighted that those that do have a way to feed their curiosity AND do good at the same time.
Amy Suiter Clarke’s tale, about a woman whose true crime cold-case podcast leads her into a world of trouble, is a delightfully entertaining one full of the darkness of evil men and the unexpected light of those who spend their days (whether by vocation or avocation) trying to bring them to justice. The story plays out somewhat predictably for the genre, but the writing is easy to fall into and the characterizations were well-developed to support the windy-twisty plot that travels back and forth in time and case studies. The Big Reveal wasn’t much of a revelation – I figured it out very early on, as I suspect most readers who have a tendency to pick up this type of book will – but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment at watching it unfold.
This was a darkly enjoyable tale and one that I tore through quickly.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Podcasts seem to be all the rage right now. I have only listened to one for two but I admit I do find them quite interesting. Girl, 11 combines the elements of a podcast with a murder mystery to make a sensational, unforgettable story!
TCK – The Countdown Killer – has a thing for numbers. His first victim was believed to be age 21 and then each additional victim is one year younger. Each kidnapping occurs 3 days apart and the bodies are found on the 7th day. What is the significance of the numbers 3, 7, and 21 to this killer? While the case is now considered cold, one woman wants to bring about justice for those lives taken. Her name is Elle and her platform for doing so is a true crime podcast that seems to be growing in popularity. Will Elle’s good intentions and search for knowledge bring about even more death and destruction however?
This is book is a page turner. From the very start, the reader realizes just how evil TCK is. Clarke does a great job delving into the serial killer’s psyche. The murder scenes are attention grabbing and gut wrenching without being overly descriptive or gory. At the same time, the reader is given insight into the events that formed the man into a killer. The juxtaposition is great. He’s evil and yet there’s also a push to feel some level of empathy for what he has endured.
Clarke does a great job with characterization. She writes scenes in ways that would most likely play out in real life. The characters don’t hold back. They say what they think and they make mistakes. In intense moments, hurtful things are said because that’s what would really happen. I appreciate the feeling of authenticity that type of dialogue gave to this story.
I will say that I knew what the twist was early on and I’m guessing most others will as well. I’m not even sure that Clarke meant it to be a big reveal. If so, it was an easy one to figure out. It didn’t matter though because it didn’t take anything away from the overall story.
All in all, I would say this is a really good mystery/thriller book. For a fan of the genre, I would say this is a must read and one highly recommended as well!
Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC of this book to review. This review is a summary of my true thoughts and feelings pertaining to this book.
Wow! It was so good, very cleverly laid out with podcast and super suspenseful. Highly recommend picking this one up if you are into thrillers. It’s unputtdownable!!
Part mystery, part heart-pounding thriller, GIRL, 11 had me on tenterhooks from the first page. This is a dark and claustrophobic read that felt wholly original to me. I was entirely invested in Elle, her relationships, her obsession with a serial killer, and her pursuit of justice. This one’s a must-read.
I love listening to true crime podcasts and I could relate to Elle’s motive to hunt down cold case killers. This book shows the good and bad with podcasts. How internet trolls get to work and try to destroy someone they don’t know anything about. But also the dangers in getting blindsided with a theory.
In this debut thriller, Amy Suiter Clarke writes in the formula of a true podcast story. Girl 11 is the investigation into the Child Killer cases that police could not solve. Ellie Castillo is a former social worker with her own personal issues from a childhood incident. She now publishes Justice Delayed a popular podcast focusing on children who have been murdered. When a potential new clue is stymied, Ellie has to look for other means to pursue the serial killer and the twists and turns keep on coming. An exciting thriller from a new author with a four-and a-half star worthy rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.
This is a debut novel? WHAT? I’m blown away…
Before I get into this review, let me take a moment to appreciate this fabulous cover—so pretty and eye-catching! Kudos to the jacket designer.
All right, here we go—let’s talk about this incredible debut. Girl, 11 is a Twin Cities-based “true” crime suspense that breaks down the murders of The Countdown Killer, a serial killer that sprung in the late 90s (fictional). The MC, Elle, a former CPS worker and now the host of a popular crime podcast, Justice Delayed, finds herself immersed in the TCK’s history and story. She’s much closer to the investigation than she wants to let on, though.
This book is such a great representation of Minnesota (aside from the whole serial killer thing )—it’s evident the author is familiar with the area and its landmarks and as a lifelong Minnesotan myself, it was such a treat to read.
Told as part podcast, part narrative, Suiter Clarke blended the two together effortlessly. It was such an ingenious way to break things up and keep the reader engaged. I could not put this book down!
An absolutely outstanding debut from a fellow (former) Minnesotan. I already know I’ll be first in line for whatever she puts out next.
Amy Suiter Clarke’s protagonist in her debut novel GIRL, 11, is Elle Castillo–a former social worker who now hosts a true crime podcast with thousands upon thousands of subscribers. Elle’s focus is cold cases, and for her fifth season she has chosen the doozey of all cold cases in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, The Countdown Killer (TCK). A serial killer who preys on young women and girls, TCK picks off his victims based on age, with each subsequent victim a year younger than the last. Suddenly 20 years ago, TCK dropped out of sight and hasn’t killed, that anyone knows of, since. Elle knows in her heart that he is still out there, and she wants to find him. One night a tip comes in–“I know who TCK is…”–and Elle races out into the night to meet with the tipster. When she arrives at the meeting place, she finds him murdered. Now she’s certain TCK is alive and that she has hit a nerve.
I found the juxtaposition of the podcast with Elle’s search for the killer a great way to frame this story. There are the things Elle tells her subscribers and the things she does not. Meanwhile, real life becomes a nightmare as her determination to solve the crimes deepens and pressure builds for her to stop. And then, it gets personal and all bets are off. This is a fine first novel with gritty and hair-raising twists and turns. You will not be disappointed! Many thanks to #NetGalley, #Girl11, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an ARC of GIRL,11.
I picked this book up primarily because it is set in my hometown of the Twin Cities of Minnesota, but I can’t deny the true crime element was a huge draw as well. If you liked “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”, this is basically the adult version of it! It is written in a blended format with some chapters being transcripts for the true crime podcast the main character hosts, as well as narrative chapters that provide the bulk of the story progression.
Prepare yourself for the twist about 3/4 of the way through, I absolutely did not see it coming. Looking back on the book after I finished reading, the author had certainly dropped hints at what was coming, but also threw in some clues that proved to be misleading. All these clues made for an immensely compelling read that I couldn’t put down until I reached the end!
Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke
Alternating between podcast transcripts and real time events this story immersed me in the life of Elle and the cold case she was presenting to her listeners. It drew me in, held my interest, and was utterly compelling. Dark and gritty and real…and so much more.
What I liked:
* Elle: complicated and complex with a backstory that impacted her in many ways. I found her intriguing. She was dedicated, focused, loving and smart…a woman I could see having as a friend.
* Martin: Elle’s husband, medical examiner, loving, kind, intelligent, anchor and support for his wife. A good man and great partner for Elle.
* Sash: Elle’s friend, single mother of Natalie, lawyer.
* Natalie: smart, strong, wise, young, great potential for the future.
* The setting, plot, pacing and way the story was written.
* Wondering if I should look for some podcasts to listen to…and where to find them.
* The police procedural aspect of the story
* Some of the people that were supporting characters: Ayaan, Sam, Tina
* Reading the backstory of the serial killer
* The podcast information and how it all tied into what was happening in the present
* The way math played into the killings
* Finding out who the TCK killer was and the confrontation scene
* Getting to read a debut author that I believe has a brilliant future
* Wondering what book will be next by this author and whether or not this will be the first in a series or a standalone book/story.
What I didn’t like:
* The TCK killer
* Knowing that such evil people exist in real life
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Girl, 11 is about a podcast talk show where an armchair detective reinvestigates cold cases of unsolved murders. Elle hunts for answers for people who have been forgotten and ignored bringing them to justice.
Justice Delayed is a podcast show where Elle Castillo investigates cold cases. Elle has produced four successful seasons using the public’s help. Season five is a cold case from 1996 with a serial killer known as The Countdown Killer. TCK had a pattern of taking and murdering three girls over seven days. He stopped with the eleventh victim and stopped killing for twenty years. Elle believes he’s still alive while everyone else believes he’s dead.
This is Amy Suitor Clarke’s debut novel. The podcast format for telling the story broke up the typical writing voice that most authors commonly use. Amy’s writing process allowed the reader to focus on the individual stories of each victim. I found this type of story telling refreshing and unique.
The podcast format is an effective tool used by Elle to give listeners an opportunity to share tips and provide feedback about the case. Elle uses the podcast to bring awareness to cold cases using new resources and ideas. Elle’s determination and dedication for justice is the driving force of this story.
Elle was not a cop, but she knew the law. She spent years working in CPS prior to working as an independent investigator. She knows more about child abduction than most, even with her being new to investigating. Elle’s character has a back history herself that’s woven into the storyline. It’s why she takes a personal interest in children cases. Elle’s protective of children and stubborn when it comes to giving her time freely.
Armchair detective that’s a new term for what I refer to as an amateur detective. Armchair detectives use podcast shows inspired by amateur detectives to investigate cold cases. I haven’t read many podcast true crime novels, so I nothing to compare it to. I found the story flowed smoothly using this technique.
Amy even gave voice to the killer. His backstory almost had me feeling sorry for him. That’s a clever tactic to use twisting it to seem as if the killer was a victim of circumstance.
I hope to read more books by Amy this one convinced me that her writing style is worthy.
I like serial killer books. Serial killers fascinate me, maybe it’s because i just can’t believe someone is that evil. This book was written in the form of an investigative podcast, that’s first time i’ve read a book like that and i liked it. I think this is Amy Suiter Clarke’s debut novel, she did such a great job. I hope she writes more books.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher Houghton, Mifflin Harcourt for a early copy of this excellent mystery. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
Elle is a podcaster of Justice Denied and has chosen
The Countdown Killer cold case to be the premise of her newest podcast. He was never caught and Elle wants him found. But it seems that this case is not as cold as Elle thought.
The ritual serial killer that was obsessed with numbers has seemed to come back after being silent for 20 years. Or is it a copy cat killer as the killing of young girls begin again.
A good mystery that is nerve racking and suspenseful with a surprising twist that explains Elle’s obsession with The Countdown Killer.
The magnificent cover of this thriller really pops! It’s one of those that you can’t pass, without at least scanning the synopsis.
“Genetics load the gun, personality and psychology aim it, and experiences pull the trigger.”
Elle hosts a podcast—Justice Deferred—and her current season focuses on a serial killer she feels a special connection with—The Countdown Killer. Most people are happy to believe that TCK is dead or no longer a threat, since he’s been dormant for 20 years. But Elle is sure that he’s still out there, waiting for the right moment to pick up where he left off. We get glimpses of Elle’s past and a traumatic event in her childhood along with podcast episodes that are mingled in with the rest of the narrative.
I’ve never listened to a Podcast, even though they seem to be super popular. But reading several books with Podcast episodes has piqued by curiosity…maybe one of these days!
The book is broken down into four parts, which reminded me of a bell curve. Slow build-up, the middle was unputdownable, then it slid back down into a slow ending. This is the author’s debut novel and her writing style is terrific. I’m excited to see what she comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Suiter Clarke and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for this free digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion!
My Rating: 3.5 ’s (rounding up)
Published: April 20th 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 352
Recommend: Yes, if you like slow burns
#AmySuiterClarke #HoughtonMifflinHarcourt @NetGalley
#psychologicalthriller #NoRulesJustThrills #InExchangeForReview #JustFinished #BookReview #NetGalley
#SerialKiller #Girl11 #WomensHistoryMonth