This book was a pleasant surprise. I have never read a book with the main focus being a pod cast. I really enjoyed how it divided the story line while keeping it cohesive. This was the perfect way to portray a Cat & Mouse Thriller. This is definitely a book I would recommend, Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I quite enjoyed this impressive and thrilling debut novel! The podcast frame really adds to the fun - I can't resist a multimedia format, honestly. Elle's latest season dives into Minnesota's serial killer with the moniker, "The Countdown Killer" or "TCK" who terrorized Minneapolis in the late 1990s. Elle investigates this one - and seems to be following a path towards the truth after so many years.

Plot-wise, this one doesn't really hold many surprises. But, the predictable paths don't really detract too much from this one (plus, in some ways being proven right adds to the fun). The pacing and format, especially when combined with the likable characters, makes this one hard to put down from start to finish! I am looking forward to seeing what Clarke will follow this one up with! It's a fast, engaging and exciting read!

I really disliked this book. First off, I guessed the twist very early on. Secondly, I thought the main character was ridiculous. She flitted from one suspect to the next and it was extremely irresponsible. And it was so clear that the kidnapper was going to target her and her family.

Moreover, it made no sense for the police to involve her in the case. Really sloppy, crazy and nonsensical!

I’ve enjoyed quite a few books about true crime and podcasts recently so the description of the novel was intriguing.

Former social worker, Elle Castillo is now the host of a hit true-crime podcast called Justice Delayed. The new season of the podcast focuses on a cold case from decades earlier. The Countdown Killer (TCK) killed his victims in a very ritualistic way. Each new victim was one year young than the previous one. TCK was never caught yet he stopped killing years ago.

What made TCK suddenly stop killing? Some believe he was killed, but others like Elle, think he’s still out there. Elle discusses the murders and TCK’s victims during her podcast. She hopes the new season will help in finding out what happened. She really wants his victims and their families to have answers and the justice they deserve. Elle is a good character, flaws and all. Her determinedness to solve the old case has her taking quite a few risks.

Things are about to get very personal….

The story is told over a few time periods and includes flashbacks to TCK’s childhood. I liked the insight into the killer although the descriptions of the rituals and the murders did make me uncomfortable at times.

The story was gripping and well-paced. I did guess what was going to happen early on. However, I was still interested in reading how things would play out. Though the ending wasn't quite what I was expecting, overall this was still an enjoyable read.

A good debut novel with plenty of suspense and mystery.



I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

I liked this one okay enough, I've seen a lot more people using podcasts to complete a story similiar to this one but I like it. I wish we would have seen more of the doubt that came from her friends since she'd already accused the TCK of coming back before, I think with that aspect more fleshed out I would have sympathized more for her.

How does a book which, for more than half its length, has been a consistent, rewarding read turn into something that feels like it has been cobbled together in a hurry, without thought to narrative consequence or to the fact that a new entrant into the proceedings feels like a stone in one's shoe?

Girl, 11 is the debut of writer Amy Suiter Clarke, who takes the almost never-ending, global obsession with true crime and blends it with the rise of podcasts to give us an interesting protagonist in Elle Castillo, full-time host and investigator on the Justice Delayed podcast. A former social worker, Elle now digs up old, cold cases and attempts to solve them. She is on to the Big Cheese now: twenty years ago, The Countdown Killer abruptly stopped his methodical, measured spree of killings, disappearing into the shadows. For good, according to those not named Elle.

As these things go, Elle soon finds herself in a warped tango with the case, which seems to be putting up the struggle of good ol' Bruce (high-five to my fellow Jaws fans). With each beat, the going gets tougher and the perpetrator further out of reach.

One of the more conflicting thoughts I had about Girl, 11 was Elle herself: while I wouldn't normally respond poorly to a dislikeable character, there is a sense of inner turmoil that makes Elle the way she is - intensely annoying but also strangely endearing, which is what I believe Clarke was aiming for. In that, she succeeds tremendously. You get Elle's passion for the case, no questions asked, but why on earth is she so full of herself is one of the more fulfilling aspects of Girl, 11, even if it is a tad bit convenient.

With respect to her supporting characters, Clarke seems to have done a bit of a diversity study which, while not entirely out-of-place, is certainly jarring. The only character of the "Rest" that leaps off the page is the annoying cop Sam (I pictured Sam Rockwell from his Three Billboards role....sans the racism).

Once the book passes the aforementioned halfway mark, however, it stumbles and never recovers entirely. Suddenly, Clarke opts to introduce The Countdown Killer. It's a surprise that doesn't come off, and her writing with the character in focus seems way removed from the care and attention paid to putting together Elle's world.

The ending too is hurriedly assembled and none too interesting.

I'd read another book by Clarke without hesitation, but I'd be cautious about recommending Girl, 11 to someone who isn't a crime fiction aficionado.

Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC of Girl, 11.

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.

This started out strong - Elle hosts a podcast that looks into cold cases in an attempt to solve them. In her current season, she is focusing on TCK, a serial killer with a terrible moniker, who has been inactive for twenty years, and generally assumed dead.
The further she gets into the season, the more she’s convinced that TCK is alive and well and ready to pick up where he left off. Of course, nobody believes her, and she’s left to try to find the elusive killer on her own.
I liked the premise, but the pace was pretty slow for the first half of the book. Things started picking up as we learned more about the sought-after killer, but in typical suspense novel fashion, the climax got a little far-fetched for my taste.
Thanks to #netgalley and #houghtonmifflinharcourt for this arc of #girl11 in exchange for an honest review.

A true-crime podcast, trying to solve the unsolved cases that have gone cold over the years. I mean, I want in on this ride please! :)

This is such an enjoyable read, I’m crazy for all things unsolved, and I still binge in the Buzzfeed unsolved so this was right up my lane, and it totally lived up to the expectation. What I loved most was the writing style, the attention to details, right down to the background sound clips of the podcast, and the way the podcast is written as something that has been going on for a while and has solved cold cases before read like this book was part of a series, all this added so much to the experience and I loved it!

Very gripping from the get-go, I had a hard time putting it down. It was so much fun trying to figure out the mystery with the podcast. The last part of the book was just a tad bit predictable imo but overall this was a very enjoyable read. Very much recommended!

Thanks so much to Netgalley, author, and publishers for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

YES, YES, YES! Everyone stop what you're doing and start reading this book right now (especially if you're a fan of true crime podcasts and ID shows like I am). Girl, 11 drew me in from the beginning and there was no way I was going to stop until I too discovered who TCK really was. I really appreciated the family aspect of the story as well. Elle is a force of nature. Sure, she makes some mistakes and gets herself into some sticky situations, but she's doing it for the good of families, and young women, everywhere. I really hope this isn't the end of Elle's story and hope Amy Suiter Clarke continues this story.


5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Clarke’s debut is a fantastic read! Girl, 11 is a multi-layered look at the devastation a serial killer can cause in a person and a community. I loved how detailed Elle and her husband are in the book and as a reader I was consistently surprised by the turns of the story. I’m looking forward to reading a lot more from Clarke!

A book that’s part podcast, which would be entertaining via audiobook, and part first person POVs. Elle has been obsessed with The Countdown Killer, who meticulously chooses his victims in descending age order. I enjoyed reading about Elle’s determination for justice; upon finding out the reason why, it all made more sense why she would dedicate her whole life and time on a true crime podcast.

If you enjoy a good crime thriller, definitely give this one a go!

Many thanks to the publisher and author for the ARC. I enjoyed it!

Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke is a thriller about Elle Castillo, the host of a popular true crime podcast. On her current season, she is covering the serial killer TCK, The Countdown Killer. He is called The Countdown Killer because he would take and ritualistically murder three girls over seven days, each girl a year younger than the last one. But, he stopped killing twenty years ago and was never caught. Elle's investigation leads to new victims. Is TCK back or is it a copycat? I enjoyed this book's format as it would alternate between present day happenings and the transcript of Elle's podcast, where she would discuss the killer and his victims. Highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

The story of Elle,a podcast host of her own show, “Justice Delayed” introduces us to Elle,her pod cast and her obsession with TCK, otherwise known as The Countdown Killer.
Convinced he is back,Elle must fight to figure out who he is as the clock ticks down on his newest victims, young girls snatched in broad daylight.
We read as we find Elle blurring reality with her podcast and speculation, but there is of course a bigger secret going on than the readers realize.
This was a great mystery,I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime & mystery reads.

I am a lover of true crime, podcasts, documentaries, Dateline, Paul Holes, all of the above. I read all the books that combine the podcast theme with the story. Some are better than others. I enjoyed this one a lot! The characters in this book jump off the page - especially main character Elle Castillo, whose bravery and compassion pull you along on her journey to solve the case. About Elle: she is a former social worker turned True Crime Podcast Host who uses her platform to do investigative work on crimes never solved and often forgotten (Cold Cases). Since True Crime podcasts are popular and Elle is great at what she does, her show is very successful and she has quite the following. For her latest season she decides to go after the mysterious and terrifying TCK aka The Countdown Killer. TCK terrorized Minnesota 20 years ago and then was allegedly killed after his last victim escaped: Girl 11. Elle hopes her podcast will bring new information to the case because she believes him to still be alive. she hopes that the availability of new scientific data can assist the police to get him and finally bring justice and peace to many of the victims and their families. I don't want to say much more except for this : this book has realistic themes ripped from the headlines and a pace that picks up speed as you read. Anyone who loves true crime podcasts will love the podcast transcript format. Elle is smart, compassionate and super brave- which reminded me of the things I've read and heard about Michelle McNamara when she was on her journey. I think fans of her work in catching the GSK will enjoy this book for sure!

I started this book with the hope that it would be this great masterpiece, kind of like A Good Girls Guide to Murder was but for an adult audience. I was mistaken. I personally didn't like the writing style, the character of Elle annoyed me and after trying to read the book twice, I gave up. Thank you to the author as well as netgallery and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Genre⁠
Psychological Thriller⁠
⁠
-Opening Lines⁠
1 Justice Delayed podcast⁠
December 5, 2019Transcript: Season 5, Episode 1Elle voice-over:⁠
Minnesota is known for the cold. Frigid winters and stoic Nordic sensibilities. On this bright November morning, as I drive southwest in the land of ten thousand lakes, drifts of snow gust over the highway, aloft and swirling like phantoms. One minute I’m winding my way through flat expanses of prairie and farmland, the next I’ve arrived in the city—all concrete and lights and neat, modest lawns. Like many Midwest American states, there’s a separation that runs along the invisible but impenetrable borders between rural and urban. Just a few miles is all it takes for demographics, ideologies, cultures, and customs to change. ⁠
But every now and then, something happens that shakes a whole state. Its impact is felt by everyone, uniting people in grief and a common purpose. ⁠
Just under twenty-four years ago, in the lively college student community of Dinkytown, a young woman named Beverly Anderson disappeared. ⁠
⁠
-My description⁠
⁠
Former social worker turned podcaster 🎙️ Elle turns her sights on a decades old serial killer case only to realize that she has set something in motion that she can’t undo when new victims begin to disappear.⁠
⁠
-How it made you feel⁠
Anxious. I guessed the big twist very early and waiting for the others in the story to become aware was torture. ⁠
⁠
-Favorite part⁠
⁠
Elle is strong and dogged, her determination and will drive the story.⁠
⁠
-One-word description⁠
Race—once victims start disappearing again, it is a race against the clock to find the victims. ⁠
⁠
-Would you recommend?⁠
Yes, even though I figured the big twist, this was engaging and compelling. The pacing is relentless and there are some legitimately scary moments. I bet this is great on audio because of the numerous podcast transcripts. Sadie by Courtney Summers would be a great readalike. ⁠
⁠

I can't help but scream this: I LOVED THIS BOOK!

First of all, it has so many things I love - a podcast, a serial killed, jumping between two different time frames, and a killer twist! 

Throw in the fact that this book takes place in the Twin Cities, and I was sold. It was so fun because Elle went to places that I know about, so it was interesting to imagine where she was at any given point. At the same time, it was a nice reminder that serial killers can lurk anywhere, even in places we think are safe.

I sped through this book. I felt for Elle, who I could tell was struggling with getting too involved in this case, and I also just really needed to know if she would catch the serial killer, if she would get in trouble with the police, if we would find out who the serial killer was, and if Ella would fall in too deep.

If you want a thriller that takes you on a rollercoaster ride, this one is totally for you.

Interesting concept for a thriller! As a true crime podcast listener, I felt the incorporation of a podcast into the storytelling to be a dynamic way to get into the mind of the killer and main character. My only critique would be that I felt the dialogue and relationships between the main characters felt flat. I think the characters could have shared more varied emotion and dialogue with each other; I felt it was too upbeat and "nice" for the tone of the tone of the rest of the book.