Podcasts are a great form of entertainment, as well as an excellent way to learn and share information. Minnesotan Elle Castillo hosts “Justice Delayed,” a true-crime podcast in which she tackles cold cases related to children. She has spent years building up to her ultimate case, that of The Countdown Killer, also known as TCK. He committed his last murder 20 years ago, but for Elle, time doesn’t matter. She refuses to let any of the children he killed be forgotten.

In an effort to bring in as many tips as possible, Elle lays out the details as she knows them. TCK is meticulous, with a specific method to his crimes. Numbers are important to him. He always kidnaps three girls over a period of seven days, each one a year younger than the one before, and his timeline is unwavering. But for some reason, after snatching an 11-year-old child, the murders stop. Speculation circulated that TCK was dead, but Elle never believed that.

"You’ll hear the witnesses’ accounts in their own words, which adds immense depth to the story. What’s more, the major twist that debut author Amy Suiter Clarke drops like a bomb is an incredible 'wow' moment."

Now, on her podcast, Elle re-examines the facts of each abduction and killing, trying to focus on the victims rather than the monster who took them. She works closely with the police --- or at least as closely as they allow --- hoping to gain their trust as much as feed them any helpful clues that she uncovers. Elle has known Commander Bishar since her days as a social worker and considers her a friend. The sentiment seems to be mutual. Still, Elle has to tread lightly, and sometimes she crosses the line when pursuing a lead. She can’t help it; TCK haunts her as no other case ever has. A serial killer like him has never come along before. So if she has to take risks, she will. He must be captured, and she won’t rest until he is.

As Elle pumps out episodes of “Justice Delayed,” it appears that someone may be listening a little too closely. So when a girl of 11 goes missing, after TCK has been dormant for two decades, the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Is there a copycat out there, using her podcast as a roadmap for TCK’s MO? It’s winter in Minnesota, so it’s easy to disguise oneself, say at a school bus stop, and use just the right line to lure a child into one’s car. When she learns about the abducted girl, Elle --- feeling guilty and devastated at the possibility that her podcast has sparked a copycat killer --- starts taking foolish risks, fed by desperation and a lack of sleep. She has at least one special reason for wanting to take down TCK. However, she must live long enough to do it.

Podcasts that are done well can instantly hook their audiences, draw them in deep and keep them coming back for more. In GIRL, 11, chapters of “Justice Delayed” episodes will do just that for readers. As Elle investigates, she interviews retired Detective Sykes, who worked the TCK case; family members of the victims; her own husband, a coroner; and anyone who has an ounce of information related to the girls’ disappearances. You’ll hear the witnesses’ accounts in their own words, which adds immense depth to the story. What’s more, the major twist that debut author Amy Suiter Clarke drops like a bomb is an incredible “wow” moment.