Girl, 11: A Novel of Suspense
Apr 2021 · HarperCollins
4.7star
3 reviewsreport
Ebook
353
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About this ebook
By the author of Lay Your Body Down:“Propulsive . . . difficult to put down . . . an adroit exploration of the ethical quandaries of true-crime storytelling.” —The New York Times Book Review
Elle Castillo once trained as a social worker, supporting young victims of violent crime. Now she hosts a popular true crime podcast that focuses on cold cases of missing and abducted children.
After four seasons of successfully solving these cases in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Elle decides to tackle her white whale: The Countdown Killer. Twenty years ago, TCK was terrorizing the community, kidnapping and ritualistically murdering three girls over seven days, each a year younger than the last. Then, after he took his eleven-year-old victim, the pattern—and the murders—abruptly stopped. No one has ever known why.
When Elle follows up on a listener tip only to discover the man’s dead body, she feels at fault. Then, within days, a child is abducted—a young girl who seems to fit suspiciously into the sequence halted decades before. While media and law enforcement long ago concluded that TCK had suicided, Elle has never believed that. She’d hoped her investigation would lay that suspicion to rest—but instead, her podcast seems to be creating new victims . . .
“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.” —S.A. Cosby, New York Times-bestselling author of All the Sinners Bleed
“Heart-pounding suspense . . . an astonishing new voice in crime fiction.” —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today–bestselling author of A Friend in the Dark
“A masterful narrative . . . Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Meg Gardiner.” —Booklist
“An author to be excited about.” —Mystery & Suspense
Elle Castillo once trained as a social worker, supporting young victims of violent crime. Now she hosts a popular true crime podcast that focuses on cold cases of missing and abducted children.
After four seasons of successfully solving these cases in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Elle decides to tackle her white whale: The Countdown Killer. Twenty years ago, TCK was terrorizing the community, kidnapping and ritualistically murdering three girls over seven days, each a year younger than the last. Then, after he took his eleven-year-old victim, the pattern—and the murders—abruptly stopped. No one has ever known why.
When Elle follows up on a listener tip only to discover the man’s dead body, she feels at fault. Then, within days, a child is abducted—a young girl who seems to fit suspiciously into the sequence halted decades before. While media and law enforcement long ago concluded that TCK had suicided, Elle has never believed that. She’d hoped her investigation would lay that suspicion to rest—but instead, her podcast seems to be creating new victims . . .
“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.” —S.A. Cosby, New York Times-bestselling author of All the Sinners Bleed
“Heart-pounding suspense . . . an astonishing new voice in crime fiction.” —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today–bestselling author of A Friend in the Dark
“A masterful narrative . . . Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Meg Gardiner.” —Booklist
“An author to be excited about.” —Mystery & Suspense
Ratings and reviews
4.7
3 reviews
J.H.
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June 6, 2022
If you liked Sadie by Courtney Summers, you will like Girl, 11. It was a fun ride reading this book. The audiobook has some added sound effects and music BTW. The main character runs a true crime podcast and follows The Countdown Killer, TCK. TCK, like most serial killers, has a very specific MO or method to their madness signature. Anyhow this was an entertaining read that was not too gory and was easy to follow along with the usual twists and turns. Give it a shot.
Cathy Geha
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April 22, 2021
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
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
Amy Suiter Clarke is the author of psychological thrillers, including her debut Girl, 11. Originally from a small town in Minnesota, she completed an undergraduate degree in theater in the Twin Cities. She then moved to London and earned an MFA in creative writing with publishing at Kingston University. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and twin sons.
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