WOW what a thriller!!! This one was so dark and I LOVED IT. Super surprising twist towards the end that I didn't see coming, I flew through this one in less than a day. Definitely recommend to thriller fans.

4.5 Stars

Anytime a mystery can keep me guessing and invested in finding out the truth, I’m hooked. The Return of Ellie Black did just that. Emiko Jean wrote a story filled with suspense and intrigue that used powerful storytelling to leave you wanting more at the end of each chapter. I loved that there wasn’t any end of chapter cliffhangers but instead just a great narrative woven between different characters to give you most of the picture but not quite all.

Ellie Black has been missing for years when she suddenly reappears dirty and bruised at a trail near the forest. Chelsey was the original detective on the case and takes the reins again in hopes of finding who took Ellie. But the more Chelsey presses Ellie, the more Ellie disengages, and Chelsey can’t help but wonder what Ellie could be hiding.

Although told mainly from the POVs of Chelsey and Ellie, other side characters have a few chapters here and there and I thought they were well placed and gave the story an added layer. Each character felt real and fleshed out and it combined to make for a well-rounded mystery novel offering more than just suspense.

A suspenseful novel like this is a great find. The build up was understandably slow but the anxiety kicks in at just the right time. There was plenty of background development for the two main characters. But the plot…so many now have to have a twist or two at the end and this one is no different. Unfortunately it felt to me that this book had one too many. I did enjoy reading the story but the ending just didn’t work as well for me as it could have.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC to read and review.

I recently read The Return of Ellie Black, and while it had moments of promise, I found it to be a bit disappointing overall. The story took quite a while to get going, with a slow-paced beginning that made it hard to fully engage with the plot.

One of the most frustrating aspects was the author’s use of random flashbacks throughout the book. Instead of enhancing the story or providing depth to the characters, these flashbacks often felt disjointed and distracted from the main narrative. It became challenging to stay focused on the central storyline when constantly being pulled into unrelated past events.

Character development, or the lack thereof, was another glaring issue. The main characters felt underdeveloped, lacking the depth and complexity needed to truly connect with them. As a reader, I wanted to see more growth and exploration of their personalities, motivations, and relationships. Without this development, it was challenging to become emotionally invested in their journeys.

Despite these shortcomings, there were moments of intrigue and potential in certain scenes or concepts within the book. The premise had promise, and there were glimpses of the author’s storytelling skill throughout. However, these positives were overshadowed by the book’s structural weaknesses.

🌲 Book Review…

The Return of Ellie Black, by Emiko Jean
Pub Date: 5/7/24

This book was so excellent.

➡️ If you like true crime, detective stories, dual timeline/flashbacks, multiple POVs, & shocking twists and turns— look no further than The Return of Ellie Black. It was truly everything that I love and want from a gripping thriller.

I felt there were Mare of Easttown vibes especially in the FMC detective: Chelsey. I loved the depth she was given as both a detective and an individual. I also loved the way that Ellie’s POV of the past unfolded throughout the book and how it weaved into the current unraveling mystery; it was perfect.

The setting of the story was highly atmospheric being in the PNW, and I felt the writing style meshed emotions of unease and eeriness with compulsive need for answers perfectly. I found the book incredibly easy to binge read, and there were no points where the pacing or plot felt lacking.

I loved the way that the book concluded, and the final pages had me weeping in both grief and healing.

Lastly, I loved the commentary on how missing people go so often left under the radar.. many times forgotten completely.. especially based on the status of life they were in upon their disappearance— it’s reality and that is so harrowing.
Stories like this, with heroes like Chelsey and Ellie offer empowerment and hope for the future from those haunting realities.

5/5⭐️

Thank you so much to @simonbooks for my copy of this amazing book— readers, you won’t want to miss this one!

United States Publication: May 7, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Detective Chelsey Calhoun never wanted to be on the police force, not until her sister disappeared and was killed 20 years ago, that is. From that moment on, she allowed her police chief father to mentor her so she could become a police officer and make sure no other girls like Lydia fell victim to another person's rage or proclivities. Two years after Elizabeth Black goes missing, Chelsey gets a call that Ellie Black has stumbled out of the woods a couple of hours away. Everyone is shocked. Ellie was Chelsey's first case when she made detective and she's never allowed it to go cold. As Elizabeth is examined and questioned about the past two years, her reluctance to answer certain questions keeps the investigation crawling at a snail's pace. Chelsey finds herself frustrated - thoughts of Lydia crowding in and taking over reason. But when it is finally revealed that there could be another girl, a much younger girl, being held captive by the same people who took Ellie Chelsey risks everything to get the answers needed and find the girl before anybody else has to experience what Ellie, or Ellie's loved ones, have had to experience the past two years. But in the course of this investigation, what might Chelsey lose or gain with her determination?

Wow. Super quick and engaging story. Jean sucks the reader in immediately with the reappearance of Elizabeth Black. Every few chapters, the POV is Ellie's, giving the reader insight that Chelsey and the rest of the investigative team are still working to have. I thought it was really interesting how Jean, from Elizabeth's perspective, addressed that question that gets asked of victims a lot, "Why didn't you find a way to leave? Why didn't you fight back? Why didn't you 'fill in the blank'?" While the resolution was mostly satisfying, the perpetrator and their accomplice felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I felt a little confused about the motive that drove them; maybe one chapter could have been devoted to diving into that person's psyche just a bit more. But I really liked this title. It was exactly what I've needed as I've come out of a recent reading slump.

WOW this is one of the best thrillers I've read!!! Absolutely incredible story, very well written characters that pull you in, and a plot that always makes you want to read one more chapter! This was really fast paced and hooked me from the start. This one was a shock and absolutely nothing was predictable!!

I enjoyed this thriller although there were certainly some topics that were hard to read about. Overall the writing and storyline flowed, and I enjoyed the multiple POVs and how things unfolded...until I didn't. The ending and specifically a final twist felt pretty unbelievable and a little out of left field which knocked it down a star for me.

I was so burned out from thrillers a while ago, but I actually liked this one! The first page starts out with a couple hiking who find a disoriented girl in the woods wearing a bloodied sweatshirt, who they discover is Ellie Black, a girl who had gone missing two years prior. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is assigned to the case, a woman with her own history in missing girls, as her sister Lydia disappeared when they were younger. Of course this plot sounds very done before, there are so many books about missing girls! Something about this felt fresh, however, and I really enjoyed reading it. My one caveat was that a twist at the end just seemed ridiculous and I don't think the book needed it, but this would still make an unputdownable summer read.

The Return of Ellie Black was a dark and twisty mystery thriller. I was immediately hooked by the opening chapter when Ellie is discovered by two hikers. She disappeared nearly two years prior and was found miles from her home town. Detective Chelsey Calhoun lost her sister, Lydia, twenty years ago so she has a strong connection to Ellie, it was her first case after becoming detective and has stayed with her ever since.

The mystery continues when Ellie is afraid to talk. Chelsey is compelled to bring Ellie justice, feeling guilty for not doing so for her sister. Chelsey uncovers multiple missing girls and clues connecting them to Ellie, were they taken by the same person? She knows their time is quickly running out when a nine year old girl is linked to DNA evidence and Ellie disappears again.

Tense and suspenseful, the mood overall was very dark with small sparks of hope throughout. Quite psychological and showcasing the evil side of violence against women even from a young age. Most of the first half of the book dives into the procedurals of Chelsey’s job working this case but also her history and grief of losing her sister and most recently, father to cancer. I thought her drive was very admirable and it made the story that more important. There are multiple POVs including some from Ellie and her parents as they figure out how to bring her back to some normalcy.

The author did a fantastic job bringing the reader on the rollercoaster of emotions experienced by the characters. I was angry for and frustrated at Ellie, understanding she knew crucial details that would help the investigation, but has been broken down by her captor. Working with a therapist, Ellie’s recollections were disturbing at times, laying out the clues and hints as to where the plot was going, it was captivating but sometimes made me feel helpless and sad. A strong third act really sped up the plot with a few shocking twists that I think make this a very memorable book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance reading copy to review.

First things first, this book is NOTHING like this authors last book (a YAish rom com).
The book kicks off with a young woman found scrambling out of the woods, looking beaten up, dirty and skittish. Turns out it’s long lost Ellie Black, believe to be abducted 2 years prior. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is on the case and with her own past to wrangle with, she’s both more invested and distraught by what she finds out.

This book begins with such a bang it was hard to put it down. You’re immediately engaged wondering what happened to Ellie and the way Jean weaves the story you’re really on the edge of your seat. No spoilers but there certainly are surprises and you’re really kept in the dark. And speaking of dark, yes there is a lot of dark stuff in this book. While I did really like this book I will say it read a little YA times given the young perspectives and I did find some of the reveals could have been explored more- some just felt a little too unrealistic. That all said this is a propulsive read I can see being the talk of May and beyond.

This was my first book by the author and will definitely not be my last! This was wild y’all! I could not put it down. The plot and the characters are so complex and interesting. The twists and turns had me frantically turning pages until the very end. The conclusion was shocking and completely unexpected. This one rocked me and I absolutely loved it!

4.5 ⭐️

The story opens with a bang when Ellie, a missing teenager, is found alive 2 years after her disappearance. I love that we pick up the story after she is returned and the book focuses on the aftermath of her ordeal. This was a riveting but difficult story that obviously deals with trauma, psychological and physical abuse. There is plenty of plot to drive the story and excellent character development. I wanted to give this 5 stars but part of the ending became too far fetched. It didn’t ruin the book for me just because the rest of the book was so strong.

Thank you to Cindy Burnett from Thoughts from a Page podcast and Simon and Schuster for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

This dark and gritty suspense novel focuses on what really happened to Ellie Black, a teenager who disappeared and suddenly returns home after almost 2 years. Visibly battered and showing signs of trauma, she refuses to say what happened to her. Chelsey Calhoun, the detective on the case, begins to look closely into Ellie’s reactions and behavior, knowing that something isn’t right. Determined to help Ellie to make up for her own sister’s death decades prior, Chelsey soon discovers that Ellie may not be the only girl to disappear, and that other girls may still be out there, needing to be rescued.

Alternating between multiple points of view, this book digs into the lives of several characters whose lives are affected by Ellie’s disappearance. As Ellie shares her story throughout the book, the details are both traumatizing and heartbreaking, as the reader begins to understand her motives and intentions. I enjoyed reading the perspectives of the various characters throughout the book. The guilt, emotions, and fallout from Ellie’s disappearance left those around her reeling, each one dealing with how to move on and then how to handle the fresh wave of emotions when Ellie unexpectedly returns, completely different than the girl they knew before. Even though this book is more character-driven, the plot and pacing does not slow down at all. I was racing to finish this, because I had to know what truly happened to Ellie. And there’s a twist I did not see coming at all; one that added depth to the characters in the novel and left me shocked.

This book deals with abduction, captivity, and some scenes are just hard to read. I would definitely check out the content warnings before proceeding. With that being said, I think this is a must read book. It’s complex, heavy, and utterly terrifying, but definitely worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Content Warnings: abduction, rape, assault, trauma, loss of a loved one

Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s sister went missing 15 years ago. Since then she has grown up, gotten married and followed in the footsteps of her recently deceased father. Chelsey has a bone to pick with justice and wants to do the best possible at her job. Ellie (aka Elizabeth) Black has been missing for two years and suddenly she turns up and Detective Calhoun’s wants nothing more than to solve this crime. She is great at picking up puzzle pieces, wringing her hands and inserting herself into the story of the missing girls.
Alternating between Ellie and a third person POV was genius. Ellie’s perspective (especially reading this as a mother of girls, a sister and a daughter myself) is heart wrenching and brings it to life. I may have shed a tear or two at the very end. It is so hard to really put yourself in any of the characters places, but not with this one. I felt every emotion throughout the book. The twists and turns in this book that keep the pages turning… and then the end. Seriously! I did NOT see any of this coming. Kudos to Emiko Jean for her debut thriller. Thank you to Emiko Jean, Netgalley, and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Return of Ellie Black was a good slow burn thriller with well developed characters, thoughtfully placed twists, and has an ending I was completely thrown by! This has so much left for discussion and questions it would be a really good book club choice.

Read if you like:
•slow burn thriller
•missing person cases
•multiple POVs

Thank you Simon & Schuster audio for the ALC. the audiobook was so well done with a full case. It really brought the different POVs to life. I really liked the detective and her willingness to continue digging to find the truth.

This was an absolute page turner and completely gripped me but was not expecting such a dark execution. I thought the premise of a missing girl showing back up after 2 years was so interesting and though this clearly doesn’t depict a happy scenario I wasn’t a fan. TW: SA would’ve been appreciated.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance readers copy.

This was a decent thriller. It was very readable and I read it quickly, so that is a plus. Also, it's set in Washington state which I enjoyed because I live there. But, there were things I didn't really enjoy about the book either. The writing was a bit overwrought. Which I don't really hold against the author as it's her first thriller. There was also just so much about girls being in danger at every moment in their lives, which kind of annoyed me too. The plot has good twists and was pretty well thought through. Many reviewers said that the ending was out of left field but I was guessing it pretty early on. But I was also suspecting another person and was way off, so! Good red herrings. Was it totally believable, no, but most thrillers aren't!

Addictive with jaw-dropping twists. I was hooked from the prologue until the very last page. I loved how Jean includes the perspectives of others touched by Ellie’s disappearance and return including her parents, boyfriend, therapist, and nurse. It adds so much depth and complexity to the story and offers a unique perspective to a missing person case.

I highly recommend this for fans of crime thrillers and mystery thrillers.
My rating: 5⭐️

What to expect:
🎒 missing persons case
🎒 adopted Asian female detective
🎒 multiple POV & alternating timelines
🎒 Pacific Northwest setting
🎒 addictive, page-turner
🎒 dark, slow-burn crime mystery/thriller