The Clock is Ticking: Read our Review of Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke

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?

Girl, 11 is everything I want in a crime novel: It’s a gripping, twisty page-turner, and author Amy Suitor Clarke adds a modern spin to this story through the protagonist’s true crime podcast. True crime podcasts have become a regular part of my daily routine, so I was definitely intrigued when I picked up Girl, 11. And I was not disappointed. Girl, 11 invokes the same chilling feel of true crime, while also delivering a high-stakes, action-packed story that hopefully won’t give readers too many sleepless nights.

Another thing I enjoyed about Girl, 11 was the incorporation of chapter’s depicting TCK’s childhood. These chapters offered readers a unique insight into the mind of the killer, which we don’t often see in crime novels. It was also fascinating to learn what pushed TCK onto such a violent path.

Tense, clever and utterly compelling, Girl, 11 is the perfect read for fans of crime fiction and true crime podcasts. With a visceral atmosphere and a thrilling plot, you won’t want to put this down. A stellar debut from Amy Suitor Clarke.