Speedy read with a
twisted twist. Didn’t ever
want to put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I write haiku reviews on Instagram but am happy to provide more feedback.

Detective Chelsey Calhoun gets the call that Ellie Black has suddenly reappeared after being missing for the last two years. A teen is abducted and suddenly reappears on her own, looking thin, dirty, disheveled, and not talking about what happened. She desperately wants to know what happened. But this also brings up memories of her own sister's disappearance and death. Suddenly this case consumes her.

This is a dark story but also one of determination to uncover evil and restore justice, not only in Chelsey's life but in Ellie's as well...if she can.

The story unfolds slowly and reveals things to the reader along the way that ending up making sense by the end of the book. Compelling reading!

My thanks to Cindy Burnett with Thoughts From A Page , Simon & Schuster, and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this e-book.

This missing persons mystery featured several strong, well-developed characters and dramatic, emotional episodes. Young detective Chelsey Calhoun works with endless determination to learn who kidnapped and kept Ellie Black for two years- and how the damaged teenager then came to wander out of the vast Olympia National Forest alone. Details emerge of abuse, neglect- and the existence of other victims, some possibly dead. It’s an emotional journey, and not always a straight path. One might need to suspend disbelief as parts of the mystery are solved- but it was an engaging and original reading adventure.

An engaging read that keeps you hooked from start to finish! The Return of Ellie Black is a captivating story filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to invest in their journey. The writing style is smooth and immersive, drawing you into Ellie's world effortlessly. Overall, a highly enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a compelling and entertaining story!

I’m torn on how to rate this. While a lot of parts were fantastic, there were too many instances of me going “why is this necessary” while reading. Chelsey was not a character I felt anything toward, mainly because I felt she was underdeveloped. Additionally, the fact of her being adopted really never came into play, nor the fact that she had a husband who was rarely brought up. On the other side, I loved the format this book took! Learning one journal entry at a time what really happened to Ellie was a great technique for keeping me hooked. Ellie is a character I really felt for, so I really loved seeing how she went from rebellious teenager to horrified prisoner to a girl trying to heal. If you are a fan of mysteries with some fast paced action, definitely check it out!

An outstanding twisty thriller that is also trauma centered and compassionate, I highly recommend this book!
This is a great mystery, I love that it focused on a missing person who has been found so they story focuses more on what happened. I often love that kind of story, a reverse procedural in a way that also gives space to the victim to have a story, not just be a the reason for the story but to be centered on sharing trauma as well as helping to discover what happened. Emiko Jean offers a stellar mystery, dark and edgy but with an empathetic approach that allows a complex story and strong female characters to shine

This novel was a wild ride! I could not put this down and I was literally skipping pages ahead just to see what happened next. This definitely felt like a Criminal Minds episode brought to life, but it had about a million more twists. I will say I had to suspend disbelief at the ending, but it was still very entertaining. This was a little darker than I’m used to, but it was well written and I would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my advanced reading copy of this book.

This is the first Emiiko Jean novel that I’ve had the privilege of reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this e-copy. I am certainly going to read more of her backlist after this one.
This is the story about a detective, Chelsey Calhoun, who has made her life’s work searching for missing girls ever since her sister went missing when they were teens. Suddenly, a girl who went missing two years prior is found in a national park nearby. Her name is Ellie Black.
This story is told from the point of view of both the detective and Ellie. As Ellie reveals her back story we are given clues about her disappearance.
Emiko Jean has given life to her characters that make you feel as though you were reading about true crime. As I read I found myself in the minds of a detective, a traumatized missing girl, a family who was suffering and the killer.
The atmosphere gave me a strong sense of place and I found myself everywhere the author took me.
The carefully constructed plot had me thinking I was on the right path but then suddenly something unexpected would happen and have me breathless. I finished this book in two sittings because I could not put it down. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys suspense, character analysis and a mystery that will leave you wanting more from the author.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was invited to read this title prior to release by the publisher. While the description sounded interesting to me, there should definitely be trigger warnings for this book. I'm not sure if this book is being marketed towards YA or adults, but there's definitely adult content that may not be appropriate for a teenager. TW for sexual abuse, kidnapping, mental torment, and abuse.

Ellie Black was taken 2 years ago, from outside a motel where she was having a party to raise money to buy a new phone. We start with her return to her family and the detective, who was in charge of her missing person case, Chelsey Calhoun. Chelsey wants to help Ellie identify her kidnapper(s) so they can give her peace of mind and get justice. Soon, it's obvious there are other victims and that the girl who was taken may be Ellie Black, but she's not the same person anymore because of trauma and PTSD. Ellie has a family who loves her and a boyfriend who wants to be there for her out of guilt and other emotions. Ellie doesn't seem to settle so easily, still afraid to talk about who took her or any clues about the other girls taken. Afraid to cut her hair or wear new clothing or even shower. We get flashbacks about what happened to her, and it's truly horrific. The details of the sexual abuse aren't too specific. Fear kept Ellie from trying to escape. Then it becomes more apparent that there are other reasons.

Chelsey Calhoun has her own reasons for wanting to solve the cold cases of missing girls. Her older sister Lydia was presumed dead when she was 15 years old. It's not immediately clear that no body was found. She has excellent instincts and compassion , as well as laser focus. She senses something is very off about Ellie's return and her behavior, from her family , boyfriend, and her therapist once it's clear, she's in danger. The last reveals with the kidnappers and the identity of the older woman, Serendipity, had me "shook". I suspected but wasn't sure of this development until it happened. I have to give the author credit for surprising me up until the very end. I also liked that Chelsey had her own identity issues, being adopted into a white family being Japanese.

5/5☆ out 5/7/24

I liked the premise of this book, but after an initial good start, it devolved into melodrama, and the twist at the end was just too unbelievable.

The *chokehold* this book had on me!!! Firstly, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. At first, I had a hard time getting used to the staccato-style writing; short sentences squeezed between longer sentences. it was through out the book but I eventually got used to it. Other than that, the writing was immersive and creepy. I appreciated a lot of the sexiest/racist narrative with the MC, Chelsey since she's a transracial adoptee - I am one myself. I wish it was more in the forefront of the story and woven into the character more. I did also appreciate the statistical narrative of women and sexual violence against them. We learn the abductors obviously have hatred towards women early on and use this excuse of the "bad mom" narrative later on is something that doesn't get talked about enough; it does beyond just the sexual nature of the violence Ellie, Willa, Hannah, and Grace went through. The plot was really well done - I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!

A nuanced, gripping thriller.

“I wish this was not a cautionary tale about what happens to girls who wander off in the dark. Who are made to learn there are bad people everywhere. That the truth is these people are not strangers. They are the men who you sleep with, the men you work with, the men you raise. I wish this wasn‘t what it means to be female - it is not a matter of if something bad will happen, but when.“

Ellie Black was seventeen when she vanished in the middle of her own party. Two years later, she reappears seemingly out of thin air in the middle of Washington State Park, alive but deeply traumatized. Local Detective Chelsey Calhoun, who lost her own sister when they were both teenagers, soon senses that Ellie is hiding something about what happened to her. And as she digs deeper, she begins to fear Ellie might not have been the only girl in those woods.

At first glance, this might seem like a fairly typical story about a young girl gone missing, and the local detective (with her own tragic past) assigned to her case. To that end, the mystery itself is nicely done, if not entirely original. The pacing is fairly slow until the last bit, when the story kicks into overdrive.

At second glance, thanks to the author’s thoughtful, eloquent storytelling, „The Return of Ellie Black“ is a deeply nuanced reflection on what it means to be female in today‘s society. A lot of it hit home for me, and I can affirm the publisher‘s enthusiastic praise of this book as a „feminist tour de force“.

Another thing that makes this not just another thriller is Detective Chelsey Calhoun herself. Sure, she is a small-town detective with her own baggage who seems to be the only one putting the pieces together in this case (been there, done that), but it‘s a testament to the author‘s writing skills that Chelsey still remains an interesting, and thoroughly likeable, protagonist - so much so I‘m holding out hope for her to make another appearance in a future book.

Thanks to its nuances, this is one of my favorite thriller reads in a long time.

TW for sexual abuse, kidnapping, domestic abuse, substance abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My review can also be found on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199798460.

I would like to preface this review by thanking Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced readers copy of The Return of Ellie Black in exchange for my honest review.

Two years ago, Ellie went missing. Until one day she is found but she is different. Chelsey, the detective on her case, is determined to find out what really happened.

Oh. My. God. This book was a whirlwind from start to finish. I loved the dual narration between Chelsey and Ellie's flash backs. A lot of care and depth was put into this story. It was so twisty, but in the best way possible. When I tell you my mouth DROPPED after some of these plot twists. You are truly blindsided. But, that's what makes this book so good. I love a thriller that is unpredictable and subtle. If you're in a reading slump, I highly suggest picking this one up.

Obviously, this is 5 stars for me. This is an unputdownable story and perfect for the thriller reader in your life. This one comes out May 7th, don't sleep on it!

Thank you @netgalley for the ArC of The Return of Ellie Black. This is an unsettling book and one that I couldn’t put down. I find kidnapping/trafficking books make me anxious especially being a parent and this one really made you feel that way. It was a powerful debut and I look forward to reading more by Emily Jean. I could see this becoming a detective series with Chelcey as the detective. She was likable and would like to see more of her back story. I was a little unnerved by the parents’ reaction to when Ellie retired. It seemed flat and although they weren’t the focus, it seemed off.

Ellie Black has been missing for two years when she didn’t come home from a sleep. When she returns one night in the woods, Detective Chelcey Calhoun investigates her disappearance. However, something isn’t right with Ellie and Chelcey wants to find out the truth.

"Detective Chelsey Calhoun's life is turned upside down when she gets the call Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared years earlier, has resurfaced in the woods of Washington state - but Ellie's reappearance leaves Chelsey with more questions than answers.

It's been twenty years since Detective Chelsey Calhoun's sister vanished when they were teenagers, and ever since she's been searching: for signs, for closure, for other missing girls. But happy endings are rare in Chelsey's line of work.

Then a glimmer: local teenager Ellie Black, who disappeared without a trace two years earlier, has been found alive in the woods of Washington State.

But something is not right with Ellie. She 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 get to the bottom of what happened to Ellie: for herself, and for the memory of her sister, but mostly for the next girl who could be taken - and who, unlike Ellie, might never return.

The debut thriller from New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean, The Return of Ellie Black is both a feminist tour de force about the embers of hope that burn in the aftermath of tragedy and a twisty page-turner that will shock and surprise you right up until the final page."

I'm always here for mysterious disappearances and reappearances.

I really enjoyed this book. Impossible to put down! One thing i would have liked to read more of the main character's (Chelsey) backstory. The plot was great and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!

This is my first time reading a book from this author and I was definitely not disappointed! This story has so much mystery to it that it definitely creates the page turning effect. I read almost the whole book in one day because I could not put it down. I was not at all expecting the turn of events through out the book. So much love was put into the characters that my heart absolutely broke for them. I am very big on closure in books and I felt as though the book provided everything I needed. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author! Highly recommend!

I read The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean. I was offered an ARC by @Thoughtsfromapage podcast. As a Patreon member, I will have the opportunity to attend a zoom with the author to discuss this book. I thought this was a great opportunity because I have enjoyed Emiko’s previous romance books! Yes, she has taken a serious genre jump, which I applaud. I’ve known her to be a good writer.
.
This book is extremely well written and the story is well told! I was kept in the story and wanting to know what happened not only to Ellie, but to other characters as well! I did not know how the case would be resolved and the ending was so well done! There was so much unexpected at the end. It was very satisfying in terms of resolution.
.
Those who read mystery thrillers, I think, will really enjoy this book. I do think the reader should be warned that young girls are abducted and assaulted. I find it so hard to believe, in spite of the news, that people can be so unthinkably cruel to other people and I don’t want to read about it. That’s a personal choice. I recognize that my preference does not take away from the excellent writing of Emiko. I’m looking forward to talking about this book with her!
.
Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean was a fast paced and unputtdownable thriller. After my two day binge of this novel, I am still pondering the darkness of this one.

The point of views of Ellie, the detective, other family members, and the psychologist therapy sessions were well done. Chelsey (the detective) flashbacks were also interesting; she had a huge a backstory. I loved seeing the unraveling of the story through all the POVS, and the ending was unexpected, multi layered, and complex.

The mystery contained several issues/themes: violence against women and children, PTSD, trauma, kidnapping, abuse, and grief (just to name a few).

All and all, this is a great mystery novel for your summer reading!

Thank you to Cindy Burnett with the Thoughts From a Page podcast / Page Turners Patreon Early Reads group for arranging ARC copies. Thank you to the publisher Simon and Schuster; Emiko Jean; and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Holy twisters!

⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Chelsey Calhoun is a cop plagued and yet driven by the murder-suicide death of her own sister 15 years ago. Now a missing girl has returned after two years - Ellie Black, damaged and broken from unspeakable horrors. But something doesn’t feel right to Calhoun, and despite risking the loss of everything she loves, she plunges into the case without looking back. But what will she uncover? Just where was Ellie? And is her story all that it seems?

💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 😮. I kind of need an emoji on this one. Just 😮. This is a book that had me hooked from the first to last page, that one I had to flip back a few pages just to verify… DID I JUST READ THAT? 😮

Writing was paced well, a plot that twisted in all the ways, characters I could picture and cheer for (or not) - all the makings of a psychological thriller. To say much more would spoil soooo much, and I would do anything for review readers, but I won’t do that. #meatloaf

📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Psychological thriller, mystery

😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: lovers of the genre, those looking for a fast-paced page turner.

🙅‍♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: TWs exist - do Google them, if you’re burned out on the psychological thriller genre.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me swear off walks in the woods (seriously, watch the ID channel. Nothing good comes from that).