You know what brings me back from a reading slump? Serial killers 😜 In case you haven’t noticed, my last few reads have been SK’s and they’ve been pretty darn good! This one was no different. Loved the premise, loved the cunningness of the SK and the tenacious FMC. Loved her husband (I’d be picking his brain most minutes of the day 😂). Loved the twists, and the side kick friend, and the red herrings. BUT… I wasn’t a big fan of the podcast chapters and their format. Kind of lost a bit of momentum there for me. Awesome read otherwise 👌🏽

4.5⭐️ I rounded up for Goodreads and here

So great to start a new year with a 5-star read straight away!

Sometimes certain things trend in crime fiction - e.g. social media influencers. In this case, there came a trend of thrillers about true-crime podcasts. The immediate comparison title for me is Eliza Jane Brazier's IF I DISAPPEAR. While I recommend both, they are different beasts. IF I DISAPPEAR has a better voice, but for sheer attention to detail GIRL, 11 wins. It also contains a crucial element that the other book lacks - a stronger back story for the protagonist.

Twists revealed in GIRL, 11 won't shock readers who pay attention, but they nonetheless pack a punch. 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.)

Great book. Highly recommend and will most defiantly read more by this author and suggest to others!

Excellent book with many twists and turns. Different type of book than I have read in the past in how it was laid out. This made for a very interested read. Keeps you on your toes and missing a couple of nights of sleep. Haha. Read it! You will love this thrilller.

This was a really fun thriller! People who are obsessed with true crime documentaries or podcasts would love this fast paced read! This story follows Elle who runs a true crime podcast of her own and likes to dig up cold cases and try to investigate into them, hoping to find new leads that will help uncover the killers. The latest focus of her podcast is the Countdown Killer and she becomes obsessed with trying to track him down when new murders start happening around her. But the the Countdown Killer has been inactive for 20 years so has he decided to start killing again or is it a new copy cat killer? This was written in a propulsive way and I found myself really enjoying sinking into the story. It’s a really impressive debut and this is an author to watch. Thrillers fans check this book out!

Thanks to Text publishing, the author Amy Suiter Clarke and Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Heart poundingly good! I wasn’t even sure I would be able to finish this book but I did!
What a gripping and great read.
I hope there will be another one.

Wow. This isn't my normal choice of a book but I'm glad I went with it. Excellently written. Haven't been able to put it down all day. Reads exactly like a true crime podcast in my head. Very well done. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book blurb…
"Girl, 11 is a dazzlingly twisted and dark thriller with complex characters, a neo-Gothic atmosphere and a killer that ranks with some of the most disturbing in the genre. Amy Suiter Clarke is a magnificent guide through this macabre labyrinth."—S. A. Cosby, author of Blacktop Wasteland
"Clarke knows how to get a reader’s heart hammering."—Candice Fox, international bestselling author
In this thrilling debut for fans of Karin Slaughter and Riley Sager, a social worker turned true-crime podcaster investigates a decades-old serial killer cold case—only to unwittingly create new victims.
Former social worker Elle Castillo is the host of a popular true-crime podcast that tackles cold cases of missing children in her hometown. After four seasons of successful investigations, Elle decides to tackle her white whale: the Countdown Killer, or TCK.
Twenty years ago, TCK established a pattern of taking and ritualistically murdering girls, each a year younger than the last. No one’s ever known why—why he stopped abruptly with his eleven-year-old victim, or why he followed the ritual at all.
Weeks into her new season, Elle sets out to interview a listener promising a tip, only to discover his dead body. When a child is abducted days later, in a pattern that looks very familiar, Elle is convinced TCK is back. Will she be able to get law enforcement on her side and stop TCK before it’s too late?

My thoughts…
I enjoyed this story. I particularly loved how the author used her Podcast to share relevant information to the reader - and also to the killer. Clever narration/story structure.
Who was the killer and did he go quiet and come back? Two questions I won’t be including in this review.
Elle puts her life, and the lives of the people she cares for, in jeopardy as she investigates an old cold case. Making the plot interesting more interesting, is Elle's relationship. With a friend’s daughter fitting the serial killer’s profile, is this clever plot point a magnet or a red herring?
Very good plotting and a story hard to put down.

I was really excited to read Girl, 11 as I had high hopes for this book.... it did not disappoint! This was a great read. I gave this one a 5 star rating! Packed full of twists along the way. I loved how the book was written to give background information on the killer and the past victims. I also loved the diversity of the characters in this book. Highly recommend if you're looking for some suspense and enjoy psychological thrillers.

Elle Castillo has sucessful true crime podcast that not only has many followers, but also has helped solve some long cold cases. Her new season focuses on the brutal and methodic murders of a serial killer from the 90's dubbed TCK, or The Countdown Killer....and then the unthinkable happens: it appears as if the notorious and terrifying killer has picked right back up where he left off, leaving Elle feeling her podcast kicked up the sadistic desires of a dangerous mystery man.

I liked this quite a bit! I was drawn into the story, intrigued by the mystery outlined in the podcast, and overall invested in the story and it's characters. I read some reviews that complained of the inaccuracies of how involved Elle was allowed to be in the active police investigation, and yes, that seemed a bit of a stretch. To me it didn't lessen the quality of the story and actually added a bit to the plot and helped develop the characters. It had a decent number of unexpected twists and it definitely kept me turning pages.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

TCK is a serial killer who terrorised Minnesota in the 1990's. Elle is a social worker with a true-crime podcast and is investigating TCK.

What twisty turns this book throws up!! The story alternates between transcripts of Elle's podcast and Elle's daily life. Some parts are a little unbelievable but, for the most part, this is an enjoyable, fast paced book.

I think the cover and the title don't do this book justice. I love stories that focus around the moral questions and ambiguities around Podcasts about true crime. There's a fine line between glorifying a monster/serial killer and trying to put a spotlight on lost or forgotten cases.

And this one was very well done. It's two parts - Elle in the here and now, tracking down leads and working with her crew to get her Podcast done; and the Podcast where Elle lays down what she's found out, the details of the crimes and the killer. It's a great balance, really drawing the reader in and bringing us into the inter-workings of a podcast and also her life.

And the mystery was very well done. I was left wondering who and what and why the whole story. I didn't have any guesses and found myself completely swept up in the story. I traveled across the US while reading this and I found myself anxious to get to the next hotel so I could sit down and read more. I really loved this one and will look for more from this author!

That sense of suspense and mystery, in this book is strong.

The crimes at the center of this book are chilling, and following the investigation was the kind of challenge that keeps me reading much longer into the night than perhaps I should be!

Elle Castillo is surrounded by a very well-rounded cast of support characters, who all have a part to play; it makes a network of people into a team. She relies on each in their turn, which I love to see; it’s easier to connect to characters who find strength in their connections to other people.

This was a remarkably strong debut, one which entertained and kept me in suspense in equal measure. Amy Suiter Clarke is an author to be excited about, and one who I’ll certainly be watching.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book!

The fourth season of a true crime podcast focuses on the case of The Countdown Killer, an evil mastermind who had taken women aged 20, 19, 18, etc., three at a time, and dumped their bodies publicly on the 7th day after their kidnapping. The host is forced to confront reality when The Countdown Killer might be back 20 years later, possibly due to her publicizing the case. Or is it a copycat?

If you’re looking for a quick twisty thriller, Girl, 11 is the book for you! The story follows Elle, the host of a true crime podcast who is delving into the cold case of the Countdown Killer, who kidnapped girls in a distinct pattern in the 1990s. But as the podcast gets more popular and lives are threatened Elle starts to wonder if the Countdown Killer is back. More importantly, can she stop him?

I really enjoyed the podcast element of the story. Although I don’t really listen to true crime, the way it was written seemed true to the genre. It also meant that the clues were set out in a clear but still interesting manner.

I must admit that I picked most of the twists, but I’d like to think that’s because I’m smart rather than because they’re super obvious. Despite picking the twists I was still interested to keep reading and find out what had happened.

I also enjoyed the atmospheric wintery setting which felt delightfully foreign when reading on a sunny Sydney day.

I did find Elle, the main character, annoying in some places but I don’t think this detracted much from the story.

If you enjoy thrillers and you’re looking for a creepy fast-paced read then this one is for you!
-Lizzie

I give first-time author Amy Suiter Clarke kudos for the ambitious and elaborate construction of this serial killer thriller. Alternating the currently popular podcast format with the narrative of the podcaster Elle’s current activity intricately develops the plot. The characters within Elle’s circle are well-developed and authentic. While the killer’s backstory and motivations convinced me less, both true crime junkies and thriller readers will inhale this novel.

Unfortunately this title expired before I had the chance to read it. I’ve heard only great things about It and will definitely have to pick up a copy.

Well, I started this book early one day. I wanted a quick taste. I was only supposed to peek inside and see what it was like. Oops. I slipped and accidentally read the whole thing. Don’t you love it when that happens?

And the best news: It features a murder podcast, which is my new obsession, and in this one, that element works. Boy does it!!

The Plot: Elle runs a true crime podcast, and this season, she’s focusing on the Countdown Killer. See, years ago, he kidnapped and killed some girls, but he did it according to a specific pattern. He started with a 20-year-old, and each time, the kidnapped girl was one year younger. He waited 3 days between kidnappings, and he waited 7 days until he left the bodies where they’d be discovered. Thus, the “Countdown Killer.” Then because...of reasons...he disappeared. It’s been 20 years since the last kidnapping/murder, but will Elle’s podcast reawaken him or a copycat killer? Eek!

Anyway, this book is fun, fast-paced, and will blow your reading minds. Prepare for high tension and delicious twists.

Enjoy!

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

Girl 11, by Amy Suiter Clarke is a psychological thriller that will leave you guessing. It is the story of a true crime podcaster, as she tries to discover the identity of a serial killer. She will stop at nothing to find the monster behind these heinous crimes. There is much more to Elle than her podcasts including a secret past. Elle has specialized on cold cases before in her podcast, but this one becomes personal as she finds herself engaging in sleuthing and discovers a dead body of her one of her tipsters. Will Elle be able to find this monster before it’s too late? This book had twists and turns however, some were predictable therefore, my 4 star rating. I would be very interested in reading any new books by this author. For her debut book, this was outstanding and I’m sure there will be more from her. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.