What an extraordinary find this was! Elsa is a marvelous creation and a fantastic protagonist. After a childhood that was nothing short of horrid, she is bent but not near as broken as she thinks - and it is precisely this knife's-edge amalgamation of personality quirks that makes her such an amazing investigator for the FBI's Rapid Child Abduction Division. It's also what makes her such an incredible character, particularly in the hands of a talented writer.

Elsa's foibles and shortcomings (real and perceived) are painted in vivid, painfully bright colors - as are her successes and excellences. The supporting cast is just as compellingly written, from the major present-day players like her "partner" Lex to those whose role is technically historical (Deb, her mother) but whose ripples threaten the structural integrity of Elsa's world past, present and future... This combination makes for an engaging story - particularly when the characterization is wrapped around an intriguing set of abductions and secrets that unfold in what feels like real time as you read. It's a marvelous storytelling style and works beautifully here.

Ellis is definitely onto something with this series, and I've already downloaded book two to see how things continue.

Excellent book! It had me wrapped up in the story early on. FBI agent Elsa's father is in the hospital dying but she's called from his bedside to help with a missing teen case. Working with her is a not quite rookie detective Lew. He's never worked a missing person case and is more at a loss as to what to do. Complications come when a second teen goes missing and DNA evidence indicates the likely culprit is a man previously investigated in a triple disappearance. Elsa spends her time back and forth between the town with the missing girls and her father's bedside. Additionally the house where she grew up, the house where her mother was murdered, is being 'flipped' and she's desperate to find an item she knows her dad hid somewhere in the house before someone else does. Elsa works this balancing act physically and emotionally. How she can handle it I don't know but Ellis makes it all seem quite plausible and keeps us turning pages. This is a book you should not miss!

Karen Ellis is a good writer!!!
Her narrative captures you from the moment you open the book - it's not non-stop action or suspense, all the time, just really good character development and a compelling storyline that keeps you thinking about it, even when you are not reading - I can hardly wait to start her next one, "Last Night"!

Elsa Myers is an FBI agent known to be one of the best at finding missing children. She also has a dying father, a beloved niece, a sister, and lots of scars and mental anguish from abusive experiences while growing up, as well as a secret she tries to hide in the present.
Alexi (Lex) Cole is a Detective new to the Missing Persons Department, and assigned his first case of a missing teenager. He requests that Elsa be assigned to help him, and her Superiors agree.
I was a little slow to appreciate this book at first, as many characters appear for a short time. I found it difficult to keep up with who each one was. I discovered pretty quickly that it didn't matter; the book is mostly about Elsa and Lex, their growing respect for each other, Elsa's pasts and secrets, and the horror and fear felt by everyone who experiences the search for missing teenagers.
Karen Ellis does an excellent job of allowing the reader to become completely absorbed in the story, actually two stories, in this book. The secrets in Elsa's past are truly horrific, and she needs help and friends to understand them and let her memories of that time go.
The story of the missing teenager grows to include more girls and become very personal for Elsa. I became very absorbed in both parts of the book, and definitely recommend it to others. There are no gruesome details of violent or sexual behavior, and the book can definitely be read as a standalone, although it is written as the first in a series. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this very good book!

A Map of the Dark is a suspenseful novel about an FBI agent, Elsa, who specializes in finding missing children. Ruby goes missing just shy of her eighteenth birthday, and Elsa is called from her dying father's bedside to assist with the case. As she uncovers details of the case, she finds that they may be tracking a serial killer and eventually puts her own teenage niece in danger. How will Elsa find the missing girls with it hitting so close to home?

Dark is how I would describe this novel. The author does a perfect job of detailing the scene to make you feel the dark, cloudy, eeriness of the setting which adds suspense to the novel. It also helps convey the mood of the characters while searching for these beautiful missing girls. I read this on a dark, rainy day and it was the perfect choice.

Definitely a must read for fans of Tana French!

I enjoyed this first entry in the series featuring Elsa Myers as an FBI agent specializing in searching for missing girls. Elsa is a complex character and her history is part of this book. At times, I felt that the backstory of Elsa overshadowed the plot and that the information was doled out a bit too slowly. The plot and investigation will not be new to readers who enjoy thrillers, but I was engaged enough to want to find out what would happen next. The supporting characters (Tara, Mel and Lex) were also interesting and I'll look forward to finding out more about them in the next book.

FBI special agent Elsa Myers teams up with an NYPD lieutenant investigating the abduction of a teenage girl from Forest Hills, Queens. She knows that time is of the essence - even before evidence turns up indicating that Ruby may in fact be the victim of a serial criminal - and is determined to find her alive. But her own father is on his deathbed miles north of the city, and her attempt to be in two places at once is severely hampered; when she's at her father's bedside, her mind is sifting leads in Ruby's disappearance, and when she's pursuing them, all she can think of is her dying father.. A difficult relationship with her sister and niece, unresolved grief over her mother's death, and her own self destructive past further complicate what is essentially a police procedural, albeit one with decent plotting and likeable characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Karen Ellis and Mulholland books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

A teenager goes missing and FBI agent Elsa Myers’ job is to find people because she knows what it feels like to be lost. Her father lies dying in a hospital bed, but she can’t help but answer the call for help. A series of false leads hide that the teenager didn’t go missing on her own. The hunt for Ruby deepens and they realize that they are looking for a murderer who has done this multiple times. The case begins to get under Elsa’s skin and all her problems threaten to resurface.

I loved the pace of this story; it starts right off with the case and continues to move right along until the end! There wasn’t a good place to put it down because there were so many things going on that I always wanted to just keep reading. I loved Elsa’s character, how flawed she is and how she related so well to these kids. I loved Elsa’s partner Lex and how well they worked together and I’m excited to see what comes along for them next. I also liked the idea of Elsa’s niece being a big part of the story and causing Elsa more trouble along the way. I loved Elsa’s busy life because it made her feel more real to me. I really enjoyed this novel and I can’t wait for the next one!

Out now!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.
It is true that you can't go home again and there is a really good reason for that. I was not expecting the ending nor was I expecting a couple of other things but they made me smile nonetheless.
FBI agent Elsa is haunted by her past and she is allowing it to affect her present. She finds missing children, sometimes with good endings, sometimes not so good.
It is different when the missing child is her own niece. She not only has that to worry about but her father is dying from lung cancer. What Elsa is hiding from everyone is that she is a cutter. This was brought on due to the fact that she was abused by her mother. She longs for a relationship with love but she can't allow her secrets to be revealed.
She just wants to talk to someone. She needs to talk to someone..

I really enjoyed this ARC from #netgalley about an FBI agent who specializes in missing children while hiding her own secrets from colleagues, co-workers and clients. This thriller is taut and full of twists and turns. The agent, Elsa, is likeable and fully developed through the course of the story although you get the impression that you will learn even more in subsequent stories. After reading #amapofthedark I will definitely read more from Katen Ellis.

A Map of the Dark has a solid mystery at its core, one that has the potential to be both gripping and chilling. At times it is exactly that, but for much of the book, it gets lost in Elsa's story. Don't get me wrong, her backstory is an interesting one in its own right, but I felt like the author was unsure of the direction this book wanted to take. I enjoy getting to know the characters, particularly if they are going to be main players in a series, but I really wanted more of the case in this one. I did like that Elsa is far from perfect, she works hard to keep her past and her flaws hidden, but they come through little by little. Her partner for this case, Lex, was likable and became even more so by book's end. There is an interesting twist at the end, one that I saw coming, but the surprise for me was a particular character's reaction to that twist. In the end, I felt like this one had some unrealized potential, but it was worth the read, and I'll be interested to see where this series goes from here.

3.5 stars *ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a unbiased review *

I enjoyed meeting flawed FBI Agent Elsa Myers. The emotional and physical trauma she endured growing up allows her to empathize with the victims that she searches for. I eagerly await the next novel I. This series.

Review by 2shay..........

Intensely Satisfying!

I accidentally stumbled across this book and fell in love with the cover. I find covers fascinating. How can you not want to explore what’s hidden in the dark behind those trees? What secrets lurk?

FBI Special Agent Elsa Myers has been hiding a secret most of her life. She’s a cutter. She wears long sleeves and long pants all year, regardless of the summer heat, to hide her shame. That shame has prevented her from having long term relationships, leaving her a little lonely, a little broken. It doesn’t stop her, though, from finding missing kids. That ability, to find those kids, has garnered her a certain level of fame among law enforcement personnel.

When New York City Police Detective Lex Cole has a missing teenager case, he asks the FBI for help from Elsa. Lex has his own secrets. He is haunted by a childhood of abandonment. Together these two have more secrets than a politician! They make a great team. Their secrets give them insights into the way other’s secrets shape a tricky case.

Ruby Haverstock is missing. We hear from her off and on during the search. But is it really her? The situation gets worse and more intense as the search continues. And it...is...riveting!

If you love great characters, beautifully written, you’ll love this book. If you’re fascinated by a twisty, complicated detective story, you’ll love this book. Grab a copy and...

Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by Mullholand Books and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a mystery involving New York FBI Agent Elsa Myers. She is investigating the case of a missing teenage girl and how she finds her. I liked this book, but felt there was too much background information about Elsa. She had so many problems I'm just not sure she was stable enough to be an FBI agent. It was well written and kept my attention from the first page.

This is a great 1st book beginning a 'police procedural' type series. It introduces a likeable FBI/police team, their history/background/family & offers a scary crime to be solved. The 'revelations' at the end .....I didn't see coming! So...I'll definitely look forward to the next in the series! I think this series will appeal to a wide range of readers....there might be something for everyone here!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did receive a free e copy of this book from the publisher Mulholland via NetGalley.....assuming that I'd read it & offer/post my own fair & honest review.

Thank you for the complimentary copy of this story during the release of book 2 in the trilogy. I will make sure to publish my updated reviews on my Goodreads account once I am able to read the series.

A Map of the Dark by Karen Ellis
A Map of the Dark (The Searchers #1)
by Karen Ellis
M 50x66
Lou Jacobs's review Feb 27, 2019 · edit
liked it

I almost felt I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds ... a good one ... with the immediate immersion into a kidnapping. This psychological thriller introduces flawed Special Agent Elsa Myers of the NYC Child Abductive Rapid Deployment Unit. Portrayed as extremely capable and feisty but yet psychologically fragile. Battling with her own demons .. raised by an abusive mother but not protected by her "loving" father. At her dying father's bedside she is called away to investigate a missing 17 year old Ruby Haverstock of Queens.
She is partnered with inexperienced but capable NYPD detective Alexei "Lex" Cole ... whose character and demeanor is the antithesis of Elsa. The narrative shifts back and forth between the events of the present case and glimpses into Elsa's troubled past. Are they dealing with serial killer?
As the investigation unfolds a palpable sense of frustration permeates the scene . Clues point to similar missing teen cases.
Ellis proves to be expert storyteller and tension is ratcheted up by interweaving twists in the active case with insights into Elsa's past leading to a satisfying but yet expected denouement. Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have to admit that I've read the Second book in this series .... I enjoyed the second and can document the growth in this series ... and certainly look forward to future installments of "The Searchers"

As a psychological thriller, this book transcends the genre. The writing is solid, the characterization believable, the procedures on the mark. Every page racks up the tension. If you like your protagonists dark and tormented, this one’s for you.

" ...no one can show you how to unswallow all that darkness."

"...wonders if outsiders could really comprehend how lost a child can be inside her own house. At some point you’re beyond saving; no one can show you how to unswallow all that darkness."

This is actually a book with two different storylines. One involves the lead character's past abusive life and her way of dealing with the pain and the other is about a kidnapped teenager. I enjoyed both.

Special Agent Elsa Myers, FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment division, is called in to a case in Queens, New York involving a missing teenager. She has mixed feelings about the call because her father is dying and she wants to spend as much time as possible with him.

She does go to investigate, teaming up with NYPD Detective Lex Cole. He had specifically asked for her assistance with the case.

Elsa had actually grown up near where the teenager is missing and this brings terrible memories flooding back to her about the abuse she suffered from her mother.

I thought the author tied Elsa's story and the evolving story of the kidnapped teenager together well.

This is book one in THE SEARCHERS new series with Elsa as protagonist. Book two LAST NIGHT is out and I'm headed off to read it next.

I received this book from Mulholland Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

FBI Agent Elsa Myers finds missing people and she has a very good knack at doing it. But this one is different and she goes astray for a little bit. I liked the book. She had personal things she had to deal with along with trying to find this missing girl.