“The greatest trick the devil ever played wasn’t convincing others he didn’t exist, but that your friends were your enemies.”

The Return Of Ellie Black was one hell of a ride! Even though it is fiction these types of stories always drive home for me how much a woman can, and will, endure. Ellie Black was no exception. This isn’t a page flipping mystery but more of a slow burn and I felt that it fit the story well. Overall an entertaining and suspenseful mystery!

Thank you @SimonBooks #SimonBooksBuddy for the free book and also Netgalley and the author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s sister vanished when they were teenagers more than 20 years ago. Since then, she has never relented in her search and it was the reason she became a detective. Now, there is a glimmer of hope. Another girl, Elizabeth "Ellie" Black ,was abducted 2 years ago and she has just materialized in the woods of Washington. However, when interviewed for her story by the police, she refuses to tell them anything.

This is a slow burn, suspenseful thriller with characters you will love and a story you will consume! Its a dark tale that will take you into a world of evil, full of palpable fear and despair, where women are preyed upon. But there is also a female detective chasing that evil straight into hell.

I am so excited for this new story and author! I am very much looking forward to the next stellar release by Emiko Jean!

Highly recommend!!!

Title: The Return of Ellie Black
Author: Emiko Jean
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Return of Ellie Black" by Emiko Jean

My Perception:

'The Return of Ellie Black' was quite a long mystery thriller, but if you go to the end, you are given a good story. Detective Chelsey Calhoun was kept busy investigating what had happened to seventeen-year-old Ellie Black. Some twenty years earlier, Chelsey's sister, Lydia, had vanished and, up until this time, was thought to have died with her boyfriend.

Along with what had gone on with Ellie being gone for two years, Chelsey was determined to find out what had happened to her. However, a lot will come out of this search for Ellie, especially when she returns after all this time. What was up with that, especially with her not wanting to talk about what had happened to her?

Well, when this story starts coming out, get ready for it. It will reveal much of what has happened in Washington State to Ellie and a few other interesting characters.

What did Chelsey's father and her boss have to do with anything that happened in this situation? Because Chelsey did not want to give up on Ellie, things began to open up. Chelsey was determined to discover the truth, going the extra mile as an officer. Would she be able to save other lives? I don't want to tell you too much different than pick 'The Return of Ellie Black' and see how it all comes out.

Be ready for a long but not easy read that will bring you a lot of twists and turns, abuse, heartache, and sadness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the much-appreciated arc in exchange for an honest review.

This started out super strong for me! Our main character is a detective who chose that career because her sister disappeared 20 years ago and she wants to bring closure t other families going through something similar. They find a missing girl (Ellie Black) that was gone for 2 years and she isn’t cooperating with questions despite the detective wanting to get to the bottom of what happened to her to prevent other victims from being taken. I was drawn into this story immediately and overall enjoyed my read! I didn’t love the second half of the book quite as much as the first half but it was still a solid thriller!

The Title pulled me in from the beginning and the author didn't disappoint!

Chelsey is haunted by the disappearance of her sister. She decides that she is going to get a job in the police department in her hometown.

There is a girl found in the woods and come to find out its Ellie Black who has been missing for two years. So Chelsey is looking for justice for Ellie and Ellie doesn't want to be involved. As the story unfolds, Chelsey needs Ellie's help in order to try and help other girls in this same situation.

The book pulls you in and grips you because you get to see what Ellie went through and shows you just how fragile Ellie is. The story is gripping, dark but there also is a soft side that shows the hope that Ellie wants to be normal. The book has plenty of twists and turns and its just a great read. I love the author writing style and will read more from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This was one of the best thrillers I have read in a very long time! I loved the way it was written, the multiple POV, and the way that it all came together. The twists were shocking and the story itself was completely unnerving. I truly had no idea how it would end and I was happily shooketh. I definitely recommend this one and can't wait to convince my friends to read it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel. That last twist was SOMETHING. I did not see that coming. This is a story of missing girls and an obsessive female cop who tries to find and help them. Chelsey Calhoun followed in her father's footsteps in choosing to be a cop. In the wake of her sister's death and her mother's departure, she idolized her father and tried to live up to his demands. This complicated legacy and unresolved trauma makes her determined to find out who took Ellie Black when she mysteriously returns to town after being missing for years. Chelsey's investigation is interspersed with flashbacks by Ellie of her abduction and subsequent captivity. The setup for this novel was far-fetched, but the Pacific Northwest setting was beautifully described and you really got to know the main character and see all her blind spots. And the author keeps the surprises coming til the last second.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean is a suspense filled thriller novel. The story in The Return of Ellie Black is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters and also by going back to an earlier timeline along with the current timeline. This one also is on the dark side and not the easiest read about abuse.

Chelsey Calhoun knows what it’s like to have someone she loved go missing which has lead Chelsey to her life now as a detective. Twenty years ago Chelsey’s sister vanished and Chelsey continues to look today all the while trying to solve the cases of other missing girls that come along.

Two years ago Ellie Black was at a party when she disappeared without a trace and with little to go on was thought to be one case that would go unsolved. That is until now when Ellie has been found alive in the woods of Washington State. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is immediately on the case but finds it odd that Ellie stays silent about where she’s been and who has been keeping her.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean was a solid thriller novel that kept the pages turning until the very end. The author did a good job setting up a somewhat dark abduction story while weaving back and forth from the past and present. My thoughts at the end though were it all seemed to be a bit rushed in the wrap up and I wasn’t totally sold on the ending overall so this one fell in at three and a half stars for me. Although a slightly lower rating I would return to this author in the future as the story was an engaging read.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was super impressed by this debut thriller from Emiko Jean.

The story is told through dual POV which gives us insight into both main characters. But it's the characterization of Detective Chelsey Calhoun and the girl who returns from the missing, Elizabeth, that really grabbed me. We see the determination of Chelsey to solve the missing person cases, partly for her own personal reasons, but she really cannot let go of this case, even when her marriage is threatened. Elizabeth goes through a gruesome ordeal, but it's her grit that helps in her survival. The chapters are interspersed in a timely manner in order to provide a backstory to the character's motivation.

This story with its strong plot, twists and revelations, and emotional tug, stayed with me for a long time after I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance reader's copy.

Ellie Black, a teenager from Washington, is discovered wandering in the woods almost exactly two years after she disappeared from a party at a motel. Detective Chelsey Caldwell worked the case went Ellie went missing and always hoped she’d be found. Chelsey’s sister went missing when she was a teenager and that case didn’t have a happy outcome, but it ultimately led to Chelsey following in her father’s footsteps onto the local police force. Unfortunately, Ellie is refusing to cooperate with the police investigation, even when it’s revealed that she might know of other missing girls. It’s up to Chelsey to figure out what Ellie’s hiding and why - before something even worse happens.

I was immediately sucked into this book! It’s not necessarily a fast-paced thriller and the writing kept me totally hooked. I stayed up way too late reading because I had to know what happened next. I didn’t have any guesses on what happened to Ellie, but the truths that come out at the end are truly shocking. This is my first read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Be sure to grab this on 5/7!

This book deserves 4.5 stars! Holy crap! Well written thriller! I was not disappointed this time. It is one of the must read if you want a fast paced, cannot put down and an intense read. I highly recommend this novel to anyone! I don’t want to give away too much because I want the other readers feel as much as I did while reading this.

I received this copy as an eARC from netgalley and Simon&Schuster. My opinion is purely my own. Thank you.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Author Emiko Jean is a very talented writer. Her style is interesting and her words always entertaining. I enjoyed this book up until the very end. I thought the 'twist' was unbelievable as well as unnecessary. The book centers on a young girl, Elizabeth 'Ellie' Black, who is kidnapped and held prisoner on a compound with several other young girls. Two years later, she manages to find her way out and is reunited with her family. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is on the case. She has her own set of issues and Ellie's silence frustrates her as she tries to unravel the truth. Calhoun is haunted by her own sister's murder and caught between her husband and her job. Overall, the book is well-written, the characters are intriguing, and the story is suspenseful. I was just disappointed in the end. It didn't seem realistic and took away from the story when everything could have been wrapped up nicely without the 'twist'.

Would recommend for fans of…
🔎 Mare of Eastown
🔎 Mary Kubica’s The Good Girl
🔎 Karin Slaughter’s Pretty Girls
🔎 Top of the Lake

WOW! I’m declaring this the best thriller of 2024!

On the surface, The Return of Ellie Black feels like a typical police procedural – a detective, Chelsey, investigates when a missing girl, Ellie Black, returns two years after her disappearance. It’s difficult to say much more without giving anything away, but this story blew me away. It’s the kind of novel that’s so good you want to savor it, but at the same time, you need to know what will happen next and you won’t be able to put it down.

The Return of Ellie Black has the perfect blend of character and plot and will satisfy fans of both character-driven and plot-driven mysteries. I loved how Emiko Jean incorporated so many POVs throughout the story. While Chelsey and Ellie were the two main POVs, other characters, including Ellie’s parents, boyfriend, and counselor are also featured. They never distract from the main characters, but they help add depth and perspective to the larger story.

While I think everyone should give this book a try, there are parts of it that can be tough to read, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the content.

The Return of Ellie Black is out May 7. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @Simon.audio for the audiobook and @SimonandSchuster for the ebook. The audiobook is narrated by a full cast and it was a really great listening experience. I mostly listen during the day, in my car or while around the house. At night, I usually read on my Kindle, so having both editions of this book was really great, especially since I couldn't stop reading.
There are some heavy topics in this book, but it's a wonderful mystery/thriller without gore or explicit content. The POV rotates and the reader gets insight and peeks into the story that feel like pieces to a big puzzle. Then the twists come and omg, I just couldn't put this book down until I knew exactly what happened and who was involved.
I highly recommend checking this one out!

Ellie Black grips the reader from the first pages and doesn’t let up until the final jaw dropping twist. Twenty years ago, Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s teenage sister went missing. Since that day Chelsey is an advocate for other missing girls, hoping for her own closure along the way. When Ellie Black shows up in the woods after vanishing from a party two years prior, Chelsey is immediately all over the case, but her pushing for answers causes Ellie to shut down. When Chelsey sees a link to other missing girls, she wants answers hoping it’s not too late to save others, but Ellie is not willing to cooperate, leaving Chelsey at a dead end. Is Ellie really uncooperative or is she hiding something? Will Chelsey quietly give up as instructed or will she continue to investigate in the hopes of closure for Ellie and herself? While not super fast paced, it is a riveting story. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster and Simon Audio for the gifted e-book and audiobook!

This one was so much more than I was expecting it to be! I've read a lot of missing girl trope thrillers lately, but this one was so unique and original!

After Ellie has been missing for 3 years, she reappears out of nowhere without the answers detectives and family members are searching for. This story is told in multiple perspectives (the audio was a phenomenal full cast) which added a lot of depth and helped keep me locked into the story the whole time!

Little by little, readers are given flashbacks of what happened during Ellie's missing years and some of it was HARD TO READ!

The ending was surprising to me and a couple twists really had me shocked!

One part of this story was especially and specifically shocking to me. It's spoilery so I won't say, but once you read it, you'll know if you know me what I'm talking about!

Read this if you've read and enjoyed:

-What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
-That's Not my Name by Megan Lally
-The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon
-The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

This one will be a huge hit as it was already announced to be a Book of the Month pick!

It's out on May 7th!

I absolutely loved this one! Missing girl returns and has no desire to help in the investigation? Immediately hooked! This one was twisty and I could not put it down!

Ellie Black has been missing for two years when she comes wandering out of the forest, seemingly unharmed. She is clearly very traumatized but is not talking. Cop Chelsey has her own traumatic past and is determined to unravel the mystery of where Ellie has been and how to bring her captor in.

This book was very well written, and I really enjoyed how it was not completely predictable. I thought that the characters development was well done and the storyline completely engaging. It reminded me of a slightly less literary and more action packed When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McClain. If you like mysteries with missing girls, this one is original enough that it is worth your time.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

When women between the ages of 16 to 21 go missing they do come back 81% of the time., but the odds decrease to half a percent after 24 hours. In this story, however, missing teen Ellie Black reappears years after she went missing. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is thrilled Ellie is found, but she has a lot of questions. Where has she been? What has she been through? Why won’t she talk about it? What is she hiding?

Detective Calhoun also lost her sister years ago and became a cop to protect and save young women, so she will stop at nothing to make sure she puts whoever is responsible for Ellie’s abduction behind bars.

In this edge of your seat story told in multiple POVs, we get to unravel the
mystery of the disappearance of Ellie Black, and we also get see what she went through in her own personal chapters.

As someone who struggles with content like this, I still managed to enjoy this story. This was disturbing, nauseating, and uncomfortable to read at times - but I’m glad I did because the writing and overall story was excellent. This wasn’t what I expected at all and the twists blew my mind. I didn’t predict a single thing.

I’d recommend this to people who enjoy Alex Finlay’s writing because I can see some similarities between the storytelling style. Also, if you enjoyed the books The Quiet Tenant or Dark Room Etiquette (YA but packs a punch) this should be a hit for you.

4 ⭐️ because I’m a big baby and struggled with the content. I will also say, this book isn’t as graphic as it could have been and I’m grateful that the things I struggled with were largely off-page.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life is turned upside down when she gets a call that Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared years earlier has resurfaced. Ellie won’t say where she’s been, or who she’s protecting, and it’s up to Chelsey to find the answers. She needs to figure it out for herself, and the memory of her missing sister, and the next girl who could be taken and might never return.

I really enjoyed this slow burn suspenseful thriller. The story follows Chelsey’s character in the present and switches between moments of the past from Ellie’s POV. We get to know her and what was happening while she was missing. The timelines slowly collide in an explosive ending. This story intertwined the themes of missing girls, socioeconomic status, and examining the psychological impact of being kidnapped and trauma bonds. The girls who went missing are from lower income families who wouldn’t garner the same media attention or interest with the press. These girl’s cases are often left unsolved and they are often targeted because their searches won’t be as thorough. I appreciated how Emiko addressed these disparities and it made the story even more unsettling and made this feel like nonfiction.

Overall I enjoyed this mystery thriller and it’s always fun when an author branches out and writes in a new genre. This story does have dark elements and themes but it’s a gripping story. Full of twists and turns this is a great read for fans of mysteries, thrillers and suspense.