Girl, 11
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
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?
Amy Suiter Clarke is a writer and communications specialist. Originally from a small town in Minnesota, she completed an undergraduate in theatre in the Twin Cities. She then moved to London and earned an MFA in Creative Writing with Publishing at Kingston University. She currently works for a university library in Melbourne. Girl, 11 is her debut novel.
‘Clarke knows how to get a reader’s heart hammering.’ Candice Fox, international bestselling author
‘In this remarkable debut, Amy Suiter Clarke weaves together narratives from a true-crime podcaster’s real life and her broadcasts as she tracks down a serial killer who may have returned after years of lying in wait. This compelling and skillfully crafted story will keep readers glued to the pages. Girl, 11 is current, twisty, and utterly irresistible!’ Wendy Walker, bestselling author of Don't Look for Me
‘Amy Suiter Clarke comes out of the gate running with a confident and riveting debut perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter and Meg Gardiner. Girl, 11 follows the host of an investigative podcast tracking a bloodthirsty serial killer as he counts down to his youngest victim yet. I bit my nails through every twist in this pitch-perfect thrill-ride—and teared up at its commitment to honoring victims of violence everywhere.’ Amy Gentry, bestselling author of Good as Gone and Last Woman Standing
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Clarke's solid debut, former social worker Elle Castillo investigates unsolved crimes against children and shares her findings on the true crime podcast she produces from her home in the Twin Cities. Her current podcast focuses on the Countdown Killer (aka TCK), whose first known victim was a 20-year-old Minnesota woman. TCK is a meticulous planner. Each victim is one year younger than the last, poisoned with ricin, and her body is discovered exactly seven days after her abduction. TCK's crimes stopped after an 11-year-old victim escaped, but Elle's focus on the case seems to end his hiatus, as a 10-year-old girl is abducted soon after Elle goes to interview a man who emailed a tip to her program and finds him murdered. As Elle embeds with the police, the case reawakens memories of her own childhood trauma. Her stress turns to panic when another 10-year-old girl, a neighbor's daughter, disappears after Elle forgets to pick her up from piano lessons. Despite some implausibilities, such as the police allowing Elle to consult on the case, Clarke's nuanced narrative will keep readers hooked. Fans of Lisa Jewell should take note.