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.

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.

This is one of the better thrillers I've read so far this year (and I read A LOT of them). Solid 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed the podcast script format interspersed with the characters POVs. The pacing is taut and engaging, don't start Girl, 11 if you don't have time to finish it in one sitting. The story seems well-researched, there are large parts about police procedures - they don't have any gaping holes, were detailed enough to hold my interest, and were woven into the story without feeling forced. I appreciate the attempt at diversity.

I wasn't a fan of some parts - the writing feels a bit choppy in places and a third of the book has a rushed feeling to it. Also, for the most part, it feels like EVERYthing revolves around Elle, when a couple of other characters were interesting enough to have been developed a little more.

I'll most certainly be looking out for more of Elle's adventures!

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie has a podcast very similar to the many true crime podcasts that are topping the podcast charts these days. Having solved a cold case, hers is very popular, gives her access to the police, but also gets her hate mail and threats. Ellie's current cold case is close to her heart for many reasons and she gets a bit obsessed with hunting down the man who kidnapped 3 girls and killed them each after 7 days. Then a girl disappears in the present and she thinks The Countdown Killer has come back. The narrative is a good balance between the modern case and the investigation of the cold case. I liked the presentation of narrative and podcast transcripts. It all combined for a compelling read.

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.

Elle Castillo is a true crime podcaster who investigates cold cases. A former social worker with her own history as a victim of crime, Elle chooses a different serial killer for each season of her podcast, determined both to rejuvenate the investigation and to focus attention on the victims.

Now, in season five, Elle decides to focus on The Countdown Killer. TCK’s first known victim was 20 years old. Three days after kidnapping her, he kidnapped a young woman who was 19. The body of the first victim was revealed seven days after she was taken. TCK is methodical, obsessed with numbers, and incredibly careful, leaving only very particular details for the police to investigate. He continues with his countdown, kidnapping and killing girls in order until one of his victims escapes. This is the 11-year-old girl, and though she recovers, she’s unable to provide any clues about TCK’s identity. His countdown ends, and most people think he’s dead. But Elle doesn’t agree.

Elle is in the midst of the season when she gets a tip from someone who thinks he knows who TCK might be. When she arrives at the caller’s apartment, she finds him dead, and there’s some indication that it might be his message to her that caused his death.

So, that’s the premise of the book, and I found that to be intriguing enough. What I really enjoyed about this one, though, is not this bare outline of the plot. Elle is a great protagonist: we know that her work as a podcaster and investigator is based on her desire to help people in ways she couldn’t always manage as a social worker. She also consults with the police, offering her investigative skills to help them uncover clues. She has a strong web of found family and friends—her husband Martín is a forensic investigator (he sometimes appears on the podcast); she also has a close friend Sash, and though Elle and Martín can’t have children, Sash’s daughter Natalie is like a part of their family. The sense of community support, of the ways that Elle has reached out—though she’s not close with her biological family—to make connections is lovely.

The style here is also great: the first part is told in alternating chapters, with transcripts of podcast episodes providing the background of TCK through interviews and Elle’s narration, and then the other chapters focusing on the current course of Elle’s investigation.

Though there were some twists and turns of the plot that I predicted, there were also some great surprises. Amy Suiter Clarke’s Girl, 11 is a strong, compelling, and thoughtful thriller that I’d recommend to readers looking for a balance of plot and character.

This book was good, but not mind blowingly awesome. I love books about podcasts, and I love books that make me work to figure stuff out. However I did manage to figure out a few key plot points before they were officially revealed, which lowers this book to 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3. However I did enjoy it and will be reading more by this author.

Elle Castillo hosts a true crime podcast featuring cold cases of missing children. In her sights is The Countdown Killer, who has not been active in 20 years. Someone contacts her, saying he knows who the killer is. Before she can meet with the informant, he is murdered and soon another child goes missing. While Elle is attempting to help find the girl, another child, all too close to her, is taken. Is The Countdown Killer back? Is it a copycat? Is her podcast to blame?

The plot is decent in this fast paced thriller. Told primarily from Elle’s point of view interspersed with transcripts of her podcasts, the reader learns something about the minds and actions of serial killers and raises an important question about the role of society’s fascination with true crime programs and their focus on the perpetrators. Elle’s involvement in the case, initially at the invitation of the police department and her almost too good to be true husband, does strain credulity a bit, but does not take too away from a decent read.

3.25 stars

Elle Castillo, a former social worker is now the host of a popular true crime podcast that focuses on the cold cases of missing children in her hometown of Twin Cities. After two seasons, she decides to tackle the "The Countdown Killer" or TCK.

The TCK had a pattern of killing three girls over seven days but stopped with his eleventh victim over twenty years ago. When Elle receives a phone call with a tip, she agrees the meet the man but instead discovers his dead body. Shortly thereafter, a child is abducted.


Elle wants to help the officers find his killer and of course find the missing child. But will doing so put her in danger? Is the TCK killer still around? Was Elle correct in assuming he was still alive? Will she outsmart the killer, or will the killer outsmart her?

This book had me torn between a 3 and a 3.5 rating. So, I finally decided on a 3.25. I enjoyed the podcast feel and the podcast sections in the book. This had an interesting premise. There are also some twists and a reveal along the way. I found this to be a very solid debut which I enjoyed. There was just that little bit of something missing to garner a higher star rating. But do not get me wrong, I did enjoy this book.

Elle, for the most part, was not the most likeable character. Some things are understandable, but I think I would have liked her more if she were more sympathetic. I understand her desire and drive to catch the killer, but it also rubbed me the wrong way she expected the police to only follow her advice/leads when she goes to the police station. Some things I saw coming, but these issues do not really bother me in a book but for some reason, bothered me a little here. Perhaps because I had high hopes for this book having read the synopsis.

Again, solid debut which shows promise.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Elle Castillo has devoted herself to her highly popular podcast focused on solving crimes and helping bring the criminals to justice, and closure to the victims families. After four series she decides to take on her biggest case yet, The Count Down Killer a particularly twisted and meticulous planner when it comes to the crimes he commits until one day abruptly the crimes stop for no known reason. So what happens when Elle obsesses over solving the case?

Elle is a strong female lead. I enjoyed her, her husband, Martin, and her neighbors Sash and Natalie. As Elle navigates the CDK case people around her start to worry about the toll it is taking on her. She sees signs of him everywhere. When she starts helping with a kidnapping case she is convinced it is him even though it is believed that he died. Did this sadistic man fake his death or is Elle so obsessed she can’t get out of her own way??

Excellent suspenseful story! I enjoyed it and I would love to be along with Elle again in the future solving some cold cases!
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Many thought the Countdown Killer, who preyed on young women and girls, dead but he was never identified and that's what Elle has set out to do. She's a former social worker who now has a true crime podcast and she likes cold cases. This one was cold for 20 years- after an 11 year old escaped the villain's clutches- until she starts looking Ito it and now, unfortunately, someone is out there and has taken another 11 year old. Is it the Countdown Killer or a copycat? You'll read a bit from his perspective but most of the book focuses on Elle, who has her own fraught background. The police are surprisingly welcoming of Elle's assistance and the end of this gets a little bit much but it's a page turner. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of the serial killer genre know to expect some twists so no spoilers from me. A nice debut.

Elle Castillo has devoted herself to her highly popular podcast focused on solving crimes and helping bring the criminals to justice, and closure to the victims families. After four series she decides to take on her biggest case yet, The Count Down Killer a particularly twisted and meticulous planner when it comes to the crimes he commits until one day abruptly the crimes stop for no known reason. So what happens when Elle obsesses over solving the case?

This is an absolute MUST READ. The characters are well developed, Elle in particular is easy to love and root for and the narration is strong, detailed and flows naturally It's obsessive and dim with major twists and turns that are impossible to seem coming!. I am a devoted thriller fan and thus was a bit hesitant about diving in to a debut but this one comes in with a bang! A gripping page turner I did NOT want to put down. Amy Suiter Clarke has certainly claimed her rightful spot on the must follow list.

A BIG thankyou to netgalley and publishers for allowing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I am very grateful to have had the pleasure of reading this novel and will be singing its praise for the foreseeable future!

First a HUGE thank you to Netgalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, and the author of this fantastic book, Amy Suiter Clarke for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I can't believe this is her debut novel, I truly hope it's the beginning of many more books to come. Psychological thrillers are my absolute favorite genre, but I was hesitant before reading this one because of the mention of a story about a true crime podcast. I have never enjoyed (actually never even finished) podcast transcripts in books because they always end up taking away from the building tension, becoming a boring distraction instead. This book is different. The podcast transcripts were so well written I found they ratcheted up the tension if anything. No review I could write would do this book justice, but if you enjoy crime thrillers read this, if it's great writing you're looking for, read this, if you're a fan of books with well developed characters who you can love and hate as much as any real people in your life, definitely read this! Finally, there is not a book I've read which I didn't guess at least one of the twists before it happened, so the fact that this book contains so many different twists plus the obvious whodunnit question and I was not able to accurately guess a single one is possibly the most impressive aspect for me. There were several twists I didn't have a clue I should have been trying to guess and then the twists I knew were coming (such as who the bad guy is) I did not even once suspect the answer. I had many different guesses throughout the book, one I guessed (incorrectly) early on, but was so sure I was right about, I was not even close. For me this is what a great book does to me, it grabs my attention right away and never let's go; it's a book that I'm thinking about when I'm not reading it and that I find myself wishing I could read faster when I am reading it because I NEED TO KNOW! It's a book with characters I can relate to and love (characters who bring tears to my eyes over the smallest of details because I've been there or I wish I had or just because the moment touches me) like they are real people, friends even. Don't sleep on this book or this author! This was hands down the best book I've read this year, possibly in many years.

This book was a fast-paced and action-packed thriller about a serial killer and his victims. Dubbed The Countdown Killer because he started killing a 21-year old and each new kill is an age lower, he was never caught. Elle does a podcast and her focus is on catching him before he kills again, but she is convinced that he is already at work on his new victims. There was so much drama and emotion as I read that I found myself totally captivated by the story. There were red herrings, twists and surprises galore, so the book was completely entertaining. The characters were well fleshed out, even the victims and the police detectives. Fans of psychological thrillers will thoroughly enjoy matching wits with TCK and seeing if you can guess his identity before it is revealed.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Elle does a podcast about a serial killer, the Countdown Killer because his victims in consecutive order are ages 20, then 19, then 18. I had a feeling of impending doom when I recalled the title "Girl, 11."
Chapters alternate between Elle's podcasts which also include sound effects and her life. We also read about the serial killer and his life.
I was absorbed in this story. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for permitting me to read this suspenseful thriller.

Elle Castillo’s podcast on unsolved murder cases has gone through the ceiling since she started talking about Minnesota’s famous The Countdown Killer, short TCK. Two decades before, a series of missing and then found murdered girls shock the area of Twin Cities, obviously, they were chosen for their age thus forming a countdown. Only one girl could escape and in this way, the place where she had been hold captive was detected just as two dead bodies. The police believed that the killer was one of them even though both persons have never been identified but the fact that no more kidnapping happened seemed to prove it. However, the new popularity seems to have triggered him to restart - or is it just a very good copycat? No matter who, when Elle’s best friend’s daughter is abducted, Elle knows that she is responsible and in charge of finding the girl.

I really liked the perspective of the podcaster who goes through old materials and builds her own theories on what could have happened. A big fan of true crime podcasts myself, I enjoy listening to podcasts - no matter if the case has been solved or not - and I find it interesting how at times a new perspective of somebody without formal training in investigation can lead to new clues. Amy Suiter Clarke’s protagonist Elle in “Girl, 11” is therefore quite some sympathetic character whom I liked to follow from the start in her quest to find TCK.

All cases of young persons being abducted and killed are followed by the public impatiently, if it happens to be a whole series, people are even more into it. The character of TCK was interestingly created since he did not chose random victims but acted meticulously, even obsessively, to a strict programme. Elle’s investigation is led by her gut feeling, but from the start, you know that there is much more behind it, the author thus creates double suspense, on the one hand, the hunt for the killer, ln the other the question why Elle herself is that obsessed with especially this case.

A suspenseful thriller which accelerates its pace increasingly and also has some fascinating psychological aspects on both sides - the killer and the investigator - to offer.

Girl,11 by Amy Suiter Clarke is a thrilling story about a hunt for a serial killer. Much of the story told through podcast transcripts. Elle Castillo is the main character who has experienced trauma in the past and is now determined to get justice for juvenile crime victims. She is an independent investigator who hosts a podcast and specializes in cold cases of violence against children. Her husband is worried she is becoming obsessed with her current case, but Elle refuses to let it go, especially when more children could be in danger. 

The best parts of the book are the realistic podcast transcripts. I really felt like I was experiencing an actual true crime podcast. I also really enjoyed the chapters when Elle is investigating the murders, I admire how she takes action, but isn't impulsive or reckless when she faces danger. 

The earlier scenes with her family and friends aren't quite as engaging, nor are the chapters told from the point of view of the mysterious "DJ". Without going into detail, the circumstances which set-up a terrible event seem contrived. However, I was intrigued by the story from the very beginning and then I really loved the huge twist near the end. I enjoyed the premise of the book and the main characters. I would definitely read more by this author and would really love to see a sequel to this book with Elle taking on a different cold case for her podcast. 

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Girl, 11 focuses on a podcast that is run by Elle. Previously to starting her podcast, she had been a social worker. Her current podcast season focuses on a notorious, uncaught serial killer, TCK--the Countdown Killer. Elle gets a lead from a listener and when she goes to meet him, he has been murdered. The case consumes Elle and another kidnapping that may fit the profile pull her in more. Without giving away any spoilers, this book was fast paced and interesting with multiple perspectives and timely themes.

A catchy name is all it takes to turn a local case into a national sensation. Within hours, all the channels were calling him the same thing: The Countdown Killer.’

Elle Castillo was once a social worker who helped children who were the victims of violent crime. These days, she is the host of a popular true crime podcast, Justice Delayed, tackling cold cases involving missing children in Minnesota. After four seasons of successfully solving cold cases, Elle decides to return to the past, to a case that haunts her: The Countdown Killer.

The Countdown Killer has never been caught. After establishing a pattern of taking and ritualistically murdering three girls over a seven-day period, the murderer stopped. Each victim was a year younger: the eleventh and youngest victim was eleven years old.

A listener phones Elle with a tip. She heads out to interview him and discovers his dead body. Who murdered him, and why? And what information did he have? Days later, another girl is abducted. Is the Countdown Killer at work again? The police do not think so, but Elle is does. And an abduction close to home has Elle feeling responsible.

There is plenty of tension in this debut novel by Amy Suiter Clarke, a Melbourne-based author. While a couple of procedural aspects seemed unlikely to me (because of the potential for conflicts of interest) this never worried me enough to take me out of the story. Elle takes risks as she tries to find answers: her feelings of responsibility, of guilt, seem to overwhelm her judgement at times.

There’s a lot of information to process, plenty of characters to remember and a couple of improbabilities to digest, and a satisfying ending.

Recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith