Elle Castillo is the host of cold case true crime podcast and has worked with the police on a few of these cases. Elle is going to tackle one of the most notorious cold cases which is very personal to her and that is the TCK (The
Countdown Killer) serial killer who had never been identified and just stopped (his or her) murders twenty-two years ago for unknown reasons except one, his last victim escaped Girl 11. Elle hopes her podcast will bring new information to the case because she believes this monster is still alive and with all the new scientific data on the forefront she feels that the police and herself can finally bring justice and peace to many of the victims and their families.

This was a wonderfully written debut which had a lot of suspense, mystery and action. Elle is a very intriguing character. She is a good person and great at what she does and seemingly appears fearless but carries a lot of weight on her heart. Elle sometimes take too many risks which get her into very dangerous situations and loses the respect of some of her police contacts which she needs in her corner to actually bring these killers to justice. I really enjoyed this fast paced story with non-stop action in almost every chapter. I will look forward to reading more books by Amy Suiter Clarke in the future.

I want to thank the publisher "Houghton Mifflin Harcourt" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I highly recommend this story to any mystery/suspense loved and give a rating of 4 Sinister 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

4.5★s
Girl, 11 is the first novel by US-born author, Amy Suiter Clarke. Ten unsolved abductions that began almost a quarter of a century earlier, nine young women murdered, justice not done, a killer still free to roam the streets and pick off new victims: Elle Castillo has had excellent success with her true-crime podcast, Justice Delayed, and now she’s determined to apply the power of new technology, and tap into the vast potential resource that is the listening audience, to solve these crimes.

The murderer was dubbed The Countdown Killer when it was noted the age of his victims decreased by a year each time. Elle’s investigations uncover some new information, and serve to remind the public of the facts of the case. Between 1996 and 2000, ten females were taken, but the abductions inexplicably stopped after an eleven-year-old girl was taken.

When Elle goes to meet with a podcast subscriber claiming to know who TCK is, she is shocked to find him shot dead. He sounded genuine, but his fear was palpable during his phone call, and his mentions of concern for “her” have Elle worried: could this be TCK shutting down a possible lead?

When Commander Ayaan Bisha, head of Crimes Against Children, invites Elle to consult on the abduction of an eleven-year-old girl at the request of her parents, Elle does not hesitate: she has experience with abductions. She is soon convinced the girl was taken by TCK but a previous near miss on her part makes Ayaan wary. Until another girl goes missing, this one is much closer to home for Elle. Has the TCK started again? Or is it a copycat?

The story is told over several time periods, in straight narratives, flash-backs and transcripts of Elle’s podcasts which feature interviews with relatives and friends of victims, former police detectives, a medical examiner, a psychiatrist, and the only surviving victim. This format has been done before, but certainly not as well as Suiter Clarke does it.

Suiter Clarke slowly feeds the facts to the reader, building the tension up to a nail-biting climax, all the while keeping the reader guessing with distractions and red herrings, twists and turns. Her characters have depth and appeal enough to have the reader concerned for their fate and cheering them on. More of Elle Castillo and her investigative podcasts would be welcome. This is an excellent crime fiction debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Elle Castillo former CPS social worker is now a True Crime podcast host that focuses on cold cases.
 
After 4 successful seasons, she decides to take on her “white whale” , The Countdown Killer. TCK has been kidnapping and ritualistically murdering three girls over seven days, each a year younger than the last for 20 years. Then, after he took his eleven-year-old victim, the pattern—and the murders—abruptly stopped. No one has ever known why.
 
Elle follows up on a listeners tip and finds him dead. Then a young girl gets abducted and the MO fits that of the TCK. Everyone thinks TCK commuted suicide but Elle doesn’t. Elle can’t help but feel her podcast is inviting new victims.

Sweet baby Jesus! This books was GOOOD! I love Criminal Minds and this is like Criminal Minds mixed with a true crime podcast! Thanks @thrilleraddict1986 for this suggestion. It was suspenseful, gripping and best of all pretty damn believable. I really liked Elle’s heroic persona and her quest to right her past transgressions. I will not give any spoilers but if you like psychological thrillers and podcasts, this is totally for you!

Thank you @netgalley for my copy! I loved it!

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. With a well-woven plot with multiple points of view, the transcripts, flashbacks, and the podcast, I was totally riveted. Did I mention that stories about serial killers fascinate me?

The pace of the story keeps you thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishers for this advanced reader’s copy.

Amy Suiter Clarke takes readers on a scary ride with "Girl, 11," a story about a podcaster out to solve a decades-old murder case. Elle Castillo has turned from being a social worker to being a sleuth with a true crime podcast. Her latest season is focusing on a serial killer who preyed on mostly young women and girls 20 years ago. Known as The Countdown Killer, he kidnapped and tortured his victims, each a year younger than the last. After he took an 11-year-old, the murders stopped. Now it seems that he is back, or perhaps it's a copycat killer. Ellie is determined to identify TCK. But her investigation comes at a cost. Ellie is getting close, too close, and now a family friend has been taken. Clarke takes readers to the edge with this tense novel that shows the dark side of humanity and social media. The author keeps you guessing as each step forward is one and half steps backward - until it's too late.

Girl, 11 is a great book for true crime and podcast lovers!

Elle Castillo is the host of a true crime podcast, Justice Delayed, which focuses on cold cases. Her current season is centered around investigating the Countdown Killer (TCK) and is getting her a lot of attention. In 1996, TCK began his killing spree by abducting a 20 year old woman Beverly Anderson.. 3 days later a 19 year old woman goes missing and on the 7th day of her disappearance Beverly turns up dead. This begins a cycle and a countdown, as each woman that goes missing is a year younger than the last... that is until Girl 11 escapes.

The format of this book is fun to read, as we get transcripts of the podcast as well as Elle's investigations. I think this would probably be a great audiobook to listen to for all those true crime podcast lovers out there.

I did figure out a big "twist" in the story but that didn't take away any of the suspense. The book as a whole had my undivided attention from the start, but the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

“The cases have gone cold. The perpetrators think they’re safe. But with your help, I’ll make sure that even though justice has been delayed, it will no longer be denied. I’m Elle Castillo, and this is Justice Delayed.”

A former children’s social worker, Elle Castillo now hosts a popular podcast focusing on cold cases involving missing or murdered children. After four successful seasons where Elle proved instrumental in solving several crimes, she has opted to take on her most challenging case - identifying the elusive ‘Countdown Killer’, responsible for the ritualistic abduction and deaths of at least nine women and girls, each a year younger than the other, before disappearing when his 11 year old quarry escaped.

Girl, 11 unfolds through transcripts of Elle’s podcast, and a third person narrative. It’s an effective presentation, because it allows Clarke to share details from multiple perspectives, and both the past and present, in an organic way. It also supports an immediacy that contributes to the momentum of the narrative and the build up of suspense.

Elle is a few episodes into her examination of TCK when she is contacted by a man claiming to have information and evidence that will expose the serial killer, but before they can meet, he is shot dead in his apartment. Shortly after an eleven year old girl is brazenly abducted, and as details emerge and suspects are discounted, Elle begins to suspect that the Countdown Killer has returned.

Clarke’s portrayal of Elle, as her crusade tips into obsession, is done well. While her drive to close the case is admirable, Elle can be quite alienating at times, especially as her decisions grow more reckless and it’s not clear if she’s motivated by altruistic or selfish reasons. It’s hinted at early on that Elle has a personal connection to the case, but when her secret is revealed, it invites both sympathy and pity, simultaneously weakening, and strengthening her credibility.

There’s also some interesting commentary on society’s obsession with serial killers and they way in which their victims are overshadowed, as well as how that interest may play into the behaviour of a budding, or active murderer, who craves similar notoriety.

The Countdown Killer is a chilling adversary, and I think Clarke crafts a clever game of cat and mouse. I had some inkling of what to expect as the story unfolded, and correctly guessed the two big reveals, but I was surprised by other twists. And as the stakes rose personally for Elle, the tension had me in its thrall.

An impressive debut novel, Girl, 11 is a gripping psychological thriller with a premise that I think will particularly appeal to the many fans of true crime podcasts.

This was very enjoyable! There were a couple of extremely obvious reveals and plot threads, but I did like the overall plot. It was very quick to read, and I particularly enjoyed the use of mixed media with podcast transcripts. There are several rather tense moments! I really liked the mystery of TCK and the details we get with this. Learning more about the past cases and being able to put together clues was very fun.

Several people throughout the book question Elle's theories and think that she's trying to make everything about her and her podcast. This was certainly tough to read about at times. On one hand, she could be right that TCK has returned, but on the other, you certainly don't want to waste resources and time pursuing false leads.

We mostly follow Elle's POV, but we do have some sections focused on the current killer that provide some background information. Elle is very tenacious and has had a rough past. I can certainly respect how she doesn't want these events to define her. She's intelligent, but she does take a lot of risks, especially as she starts to get more desperate. I liked how she tries to focus her podcast more on the victims rather than the killers since this deprives the killers of the attention they crave. I also really enjoyed Elle's relationship with her husband Martin since he's very supportive of her. While some of Elle's friends do question her at times, I think everyone does want to make sure she's taking care of herself.

I had a really great time with this book and would definitely recommend it!

I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.

My video review can be seen on my channel (around minutes 19:00-22:33 of this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpg4xPzfEN4

I did love this cover. This was a novel about a podcast and serial killer. It was ok. I felt like skimming a few times. Would I recommend it? IDK. Probably not.

Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke is, hands-down, the best thriller I've read in a long time! It has absolutely everything I like in a novel: a strong female protagonist, a ruthless serial killer, and plenty of twists and turns. The story follows Elle, a former social worker turned investigative journalist, as she releases the newest season of her hit podcast, Delayed Justice. I am a fan of true crime podcasts myself so I love whenever novels incorporate these into a plot. Elle is investigating a serial killer known as the Countdown Killer, who targets young women and girls. Also known as 'TCK' for short, he hasn't been active for quite awhile, leaving many to believe that he killed himself when his final victim escaped. Elle, however, believes he could still be alive and starts digging into his case, determined to bring justice to all the families who lost someone to TCK. The deeper she digs, the closer she gets to uncovering the truth about TCK, but no one seems to take her seriously until young girls start to disappear again. The tension goes up a notch when a 10 year-old girl close enough to Elle to be her own daughter appears to be TCK's latest victim. Elle will stop at nothing until she unravels the truth- even if she has to die trying. If you're a fan of thrillers, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed!

What a great read. It takes you into the mind of the haunted, who become ruthless. The most telling part of this is the time he takes ,his methodology. A podcaster with a strong following brings a ruthlessness to her most recent series. A killer who captures and kills within a three day timeline. He is never careless,and his signature starts to hit home. When he escalates and starts killing in descending age order , nerves are frayed and alliances dissolve. It culminates in the capture of her best friends daughter and the race is on in a big way. This is heart pounding reading at its best.

Elle is the host of a true crime podcast. She works hard to make sure that victims get the justice they deserve. Elle is harboring some secrets of her own that have significant impact on her judgement when it comes to the case of the Countdown Killer. This is a fast paced story with some good twists and turns! If you are a fan of true crime, this is a book for you to check out!!

Ready for another addictive suspense read? Amy Suiter Clarke's debut novel - Girl,11 - is a great choice!
I love novels told in an epistolary fashion. In Girl, 11, much of the book is told through a podcast. (I love podcasts!) Elle is the host and the investigator behind a true crime podcast called Justice Delayed. Season Five focuses on the Countdown Killer. It's been twenty years since the last death and he's never been caught. Is he dead? But within days of Elle's podcast, there's a new kidnapping - and death. Could he be back? Is there a copycat using the podcast as a template?

The podcast style rings true - interviews, monologues from the host and more. (I bet the audiobook version would be good to listen to.) Elle is a great lead character and I quite liked her. She's intelligent and driven. But that drive to find the killer is verging on obsessive, damaging her reputation, taking a toll on her marriage and friendships and her own wellbeing. The supporting cast was good as well.

Clarke's plotting is not straight forward. (Yay! I like not being able to guess.) There are a number of times Elle is sure she has nailed some fact or clue down, only to be proven wrong. There are a number of suspects - all worthy of being 'the one'. The tension and action gets tighter and more urgent as the hours and days pass. Clarke inserts a really great twist that caught me off guard in the last third of the book. I did find the extent of Elle's involvement with the police investigating the crime to be a bit of a stretch.

There are many points of view in Girl, 11 - Elle's, the killer and one of the captives. The killer is quite disturbing. And the young captive's are nerve wracking.

This was an impressive debut and I will be watching for Clarke's next book. I'm kinda hoping Elle and her podcast might return with a new case?

Elle Castillo has always focused her work on helping children, and her now-popular true crime podcast examines unsolved cases of missing children. This season her podcast is centering around The Countdown Killer, a numerically-fixated child murderer who seemed to vanish himself years ago, but just might be back in action.

This was definitely a really intense, dark read. Had it been a true crime book rather than the fictional novel it luckily is, there is no way I would have been able to finish reading. You should definitely know going in that children are harmed. I normally don't read books where children get harmed in any way, but I think the podcast concept caught my attention (and the podcast idea is used really effectively here), but this was definitely a hard read in places.

So what I would say is, if you're interested, give this book a read. The podcast transcripts are powerful and interesting, and there is a really amazing twist that had me gasping out loud (though I did call a different big plot point within the first chapters). But be aware that you're going for a dark ride.

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

Podcasting is all the rage now, and while I'm very much not a fan, this book description hooked me when I read it at NetGalley. Now that I've finished, I can't say I've developed an interest in podcasts, but I sure did enjoy the book. Ironically, the interspersed chapters that put into text the entries in Elle Castillo's popular true crime podcast, "Justice Delayed," was perhaps the most interesting feature.

Roughly two decades ago - after grotesquely murdering three girls over a period of a week - a person dubbed The Countdown Killer abruptly stopped his killing spree. His victims dropped a year in age each time, with the final girl being 11. The killer apparently dropped off the face of the earth, and the case no longer is an active police investigation. Elle, though, wants to change that; her newest podcast, in fact, takes a look at what happened, with an eye to unearthing more clues that she hopes will rekindle the investigation (and ideally, bring the case to closure).

On the home front, she lives with her husband, a medical examiner (often tapped as an expert source on her podcasts). They've become fast friends with Sash and her young daughter Natalie, whom they love as their own. Not long after the new podcast starts picking up steam, Elle gets a message from a man who claims to know the identity of TCK. When she follows up with a personal visit, though, her hopes are dashed - and so is her caller. In fact, he's quite dead.

A coincidence? Elle thinks not - and she sets out to prove it. With a little help from contacts in the small-town Minnesota police department (who, it should be noted, do not share her strong suspicion that TCK is still alive), she jacks up her podcast; but in general, she makes more enemies than friends, even landing in the crosshairs of her generally supportive cop friends. To be honest, several times I wanted to smack her upside the head as well for crashing headlong into potentially dangerous situations despite warnings from the police and everyone she loves. On the other hand, had she just sat back and let the cops do their thing, there wouldn't be a story.

The plot also ranks rather high in the predictability department; of course, there are more (new) victims, at least one of whom most readers will see coming a mile away, leading to more speculation on whether Elle's suspicion is on target. There is one big reveal that changes the character dynamics, and that in turn leads to a bang-up finish. All in all, it's a solid, entertaining story that held my attention throughout. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for approving my request for an advance copy to read and review.

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.

When #wendywalker gives praise you #readthebook I was so lucky to read #girl11 #amysuiterclark #houghtonmifflinharcourt is a phenomenal #truecrime like type filled with suspense book. If you enjoy #truecrimepodcasts this book is for you. We flip between the podcast and the narrative from the author. Imagine a serial killer. Out there. Counting down. He starts with the number 21 and goes down. You won’t believe the twists and turns. Run. Don’t walk to get your copy. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #readmorebooks #bookrecommendations #netgalleyreads #review #netgalleyreview

The Countdown Killer (TCK) kidnapped and murdered three girls in seven days twenty years ago and then abruptly stopped - is he dead? hiding? waiting to strike again? Elle Castillo is using the fifth season of her popular true crime podcast to investigate the TCK cold case, when another girl vanishes...

What I Loved:
* Elle’s podcast - I’m a sucker for true crime podcasts and loved the way the episode transcripts were interspersed throughout the story.
* The pacing was great - sucked me in immediately and didn’t let up.

What I Did Not Love:
* Elle being allowed by the police to participate in an active investigation. Her involvement made more sense when it was a cold case - very Michelle McNamara / Golden State Killer - but once there were new victims, it was weird.
* Some of the reveals were extremely obvious.

Final Thoughts:
* This was a strong thriller debut, and I’m very excited to read whatever Amy Suiter Clarke writes next!

"He loses his power when we know his face."

Former social worker, Elle Castillo, now hosts a successful podcast, JUSTICE DELAYED. Her true crime investigations are popular and she has managed to solve a couple of cases. Now, her current focus is on an old, unsolved case -- The Countdown Killer (TCK) -- who murdered girls using a numerical pattern, the significance of it has never been answered. The mystery of why TCK suddenly stopped killing begs to be solved and Elle is just the person do delve into those historical crimes and bring the villain to light. NO SPOILERS.

Believe it or not, this began as a solid 4 stars for me and by the last half was barely earning the "it's OK" rating. I was so disappointed at how fast it went from good to meh. I loved the style of the podcast transcripts interspersed with the narrative as those were the most interesting aspects of the story. Unfortunately, I really didn't like Elle (why are women so often depicted as hot messes in this genre), and the plot was so predictable that I had everything figured out long before the protagonist and the police. I liked the Minnesota setting, but had to laugh at the idea of law enforcement calling Elle to be a consultant on an active police matter and involved in ongoing investigations. I know this was a debut, and I might be willing to try another book by this author, but this one just never hit the mark as a thriller and all the intended twists, turns, and surprises were signaled well in advance. Ultimately, a good premise with disappointing execution and a conclusion that was a let down. It was a quick, easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for this e-book ARC to read and review.