Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke

Podcasts and true crime seem to be all the rage these days. And I don’t get it. No, I mean, I intellectually understand the appeal of it on, but viscerally those things do nothing for me. Fictional crime on the other paw, yes, please. Even fictional crime involving podcasts, which is most definitely a thing, since this is the second such book I’ve read in just the last two weeks.
This one was definitely the superior of the two, though. Superior, in fact, to a great many other thrillers I’ve read recently. This book grabbed me from the get go and did not let go. Which is, presumably, the appeal of a good podcast, too.
The basic plot revolves around Elle, the podcaster extraordinaire, who utilizes the platform to do investigative journalism/mystery solving, specializing in crimes never solved and oftentimes forgotten by many, though never the victims’ families. Because podcasts and true crime are so popular and because Elle is great at what she does, her show is trending and her fans are many. And so for her latest season she decides to go after the mysterious and terrifying TCK, The Countdown Killer, who terrorized Minnesota 20 years ago and then got dead, allegedly. At any rate, the killings were over, the countdown ended…or maybe just hit a prolonged snooze. The thing is, though, Elle is convinced TCK is still alive and a string of recent deaths and kidnappings is making that theory increasingly plausible. The police may not be on board and Elle might be going into this entirely too emotionally involved, her own childhood trauma colorizing her perspective, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t onto something. It’ll be a great story, if she lives long enough to tell it.
So…just how dangerous it is to not let the sleeping serial killers eternal lie? Short answer…very. For longer answer…read the book. Seriously, do. It’s so freaking good. I’m a fan of dark psychological fiction and I read tons of these thrillers and it is so infrequently I stumble upon one so strikingly well done. This book is smart, dynamic, it lets you tag along on Elle’s journey and solve the mystery at her or your own pace, it doesn’t cheat its readers, the clues are laid out as they are discovered, plus you slowly get to know both Elle and the killer (when the time is right), find out what made them as they are. Elle remains a single narrator throughout and makes for a terrific compelling protagonist on her obsessive, sleep deprived quest. The wintery Minnesota provides a very apt canvas, after all what’s more striking than read blood on white snow. And yes, I did read it on a now unusual (thanks, global warming) snow day. I liked the story, the characters, the mystery. I really liked the writing, it realized the story with cinematic vividness.
And I loved what the book had to say about the modern day serial killer obsession. Because we do, in so many ways, feed into their twisted psychosis by never shutting up about it. Not the things that solve crimes and actually make a difference, but the books and the movies about the crimes already solved, from attempts to understand their aberrant psychology to pure entertainment for entertainment’s sake. Most of the time these killers crave attention and we continue to give it to them, loads of it. Does the world need Zac Efron as Ted Bundy? It’s entertaining, sure, but isn’t all of that just feeding (posthumously or otherwise) the outsized egos of maniacs? Are they not best left forgotten or at least not Efroned? Might it be enough to just have your serial killers fictional, enjoying some well prepared livers? Should the abyss be stared at quite so intently? Are we so moral, good and conscientious that a contrast needs to be provided? Anyway…some food for thought there.
Back to it…the book…very impressive, especially for a debut. In fact, as much as I abhor serials and adore standalones, I’d definitely check out the next season of Elle’s podcast, should the author decide to do a sequel. Finally, a properly thrilling thriller. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.