The Return of Ellie Black is the fast paced thriller debut by Emiko Jean. Emiko Jean is well known for her Tokyo Ever After series and Mika in Real Life, so I decided to give her writing a try. I am beyond glad I did! This missing girl mystery sucked me right in and I couldn't put this book down until I finished it the next day.

Twenty years ago, Chelsey Calhoun's older sister disappeared. She is now a detective committed to justice for girls like her sister. The story begins when Ellie Black reappears on a trail in the woods after being missing for over two years. Chelsey is on the case and will not rest until she has answers about (and from) Ellie as well as a string of other missing girls in the rural Washington state area.

Full of reveals and enthralling turns, we learn that something is amiss with Ellie and it's not just the "typical" trauma of returning to the world after a harrowing experience. While I have a few small gripes about this story, I loved the characters and easy to fly through writing that was immersive without being bogged down. I'm not typically a fan of detective stories, and this one really worked for me. I would have liked more development of Chelsey's character and her relationship, and I also felt the storyline that so many white girls weren't being looked for doesn't add up with the reality in our society. They certainly do get looked for, much more so than girls who are not white.

Overall, this book is great for a super fast, mysterious read that I really think would launch you out of a reading slump or go down easy when you're in a busy season of life where a slow paced book is just not the right fit. And I'll definitely be reading more from Emiko Jean!

First book by this author which was recommended by a highly respected Goodread’er..

Perfect title
Great cover
The story gave me a few eh vibes at certain moments but do not give up on this one. I was so impressed by the end. I could nitpick on a few tweaks that would’ve really wow’d me but trust me, I was wow’d.

This one will be in the running for one of my favs of the year and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Such a great book. It feels so hard these days for a mystery/thriller to have a surprising ending where all the pieces fit together and doesn't feel like it came out of nowhere. Emiko Jean set up all the necessary details and let the story unfold in such unexpected ways that didn't feel like I was being manipulated as a writer. Loved that our main character is a woman of color and that the setting is one we don't get that often (Pacific Northwest). Great all around!

"From the moment I stumbled upon the synopsis of 'The Return of Ellie Black' by Emiko Jean, I felt an immediate pull towards its intriguing premise. Little did I know, those first few chapters would utterly captivate me, swiftly yanking me out of a reading slump I'd been struggling with. Jean's expertly crafted narrative hooks you from the get-go, weaving a web of mystery and suspense that is impossible to escape from. The dual point of view, alternating between Ellie and the detective assigned to her case, not only adds layers to the story but also intensifies the sense of urgency and intrigue.

As I delved deeper into the story, I found myself utterly engrossed, eagerly turning page after page to unravel the enigma surrounding Ellie's disappearance and sudden reappearance two years later. And just when I thought I had it all figured out, Jean blindsided me with a twist-filled ending that left me reeling. The unpredictability of the conclusion was both exhilarating and satisfying, proving Jean's prowess as a master storyteller.

'The Return of Ellie Black' isn't just a novel; it's an experience—one that I couldn't put down and one that I can't wait to discuss with fellow readers. Emiko Jean's novel has left an indelible mark on me, and I eagerly anticipate her future works. For anyone seeking a gripping mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page, I wholeheartedly recommend diving into the world of Ellie Black."

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC. Not a lot of books leave me astonished. This one did. A fantastic read dealing with a heavy plot, the author brought it all together for a five star read. A must read.

"The Return of Ellie Black" is a great read. I brought this on vacation and zoomed through it, enjoying every second. The plot revolves around a missing girl's case with multiple timelines and points of view, and a detective with a mystery of her own to solve. The ending ties up pretty neatly (some readers may dislike this) but I appreciated the satisfaction of a story with some redemption. Highly recommended for fans of thrillers and suspense. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked this one. The writing style, characters and pacing were spot on for the premise. I found the presentation of trauma to be believable and relatable, and the complexities of the revelations that were teased out throughout the course of the novel were a definite plus. This is a layered, nuanced story that is rich and difficult ands heartfelt all at once. I will definitely be looking for more from Jean in the future.

One night, Detective Chelsey Calhoun gets a call that Ellie Black has been found. Ellie Black who has been missing for two years and one of the cases that has kept lingering in the back of Chelsey's mind. However, rather than having answers it seems that Ellie's return has brought more questions than anything. Where was she? How did she escape? Why does she have no new bruises or wounds to insinuate that their had been a struggle with her captor? Haunted by her own sister's disappearance and murder nearly 20 years ago, Chelsey will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of Ellie's disappearance and her return. Especially when she realizes Ellie's return can bring clarity and the return of more missing girls.

Emiko Jean is an automatic buy/read for me and I had no hesitancy in wanting to read this book - especially her first thriller. Her last adult novel, Mika in Real Life really left a mark on my heart and was soooo soo good. As a PNW native and local to the areas Jean typically writes about, they especially have a special place in my heart. However, The Return of Ellie Black was a little lackluster or average for me. I thought the set up of the book was very interesting and up to a certain point engaging, but towards the mid-way point of the book I found myself becoming distracted.

I did however, "wake up" when the author revealed that twist in the final few chapters of the book. While it was shocking and surprising it felt a little forced to be honest. It almost felt like the author wanted to think of the most shocking thing possible that would leave the reader on a "I can't believe that happened" note - which don't get me wrong it did... But not necessarily in the best way. It's more like a "I can't believe that happened, because it's kind of ridiculous and doesn't make sense even in the context of a fiction novel." It just felt a little melodramatic and kind of the easy way out to finish the book. Easy way out but also didn't make any sense......

I love that Emiko Jean writes and explores all different types of genres and I am still a big fan of hers, but for me this was probably not the strongest of her novels. It felt like it was missing a lot of the heart and emotion of previous works and rather wrote to the "shocking" or "plot twist" factor of the thriller genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When I read the description of what The Return of Ellie Black was about I was immediately interested. A mystery about a missing girl who returns after two years - I dove right in. I was immediately immersed from the opening pages and could not put it down. The story is told from multiple points of view, which I love. The style in which Emiko Jean wrote this book had me feeling what was happening in the story. I never like to give anything away so that people can have their own experiences when reading. I will say that there are so many layers to this mystery and as each piece of the puzzle was revealed I couldn’t read fast enough to see how it all ended. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!!

Overall a really solid thriller...with an ending that I really didn't buy.

First off, I liked the POV switch between Chelsey the detective and Ellie/Elizabeth. As the the case is being investigated in real time and leads are being uncovered, we the reader slowly learn through flashbacks more about Ellie's abduction and where she's been for over a year. This was a nice narrative choice as it kept the book humming right along. Ellie's hiding things from the detective and we're compelled to keep reading to find out why.

I thought Chesley was an interesting character and I enjoyed learning more about her own traumatic past and what it was like to be both a woman and a minority on the police force. In fact, I would have loved if this aspect was fleshed out even more.

I also wanted to know more about the whys of Ellie's abductor. What was with the new names? Other than "saving these unwanted girls," what was the purpose? I don't love books where the bad guy is simply painted as "bad guy." I wanted to know a bit more spoiler-free investigation into this portion of the story.

I do love that this book moved along at a nice clip with a solid face off at the end...a long with that twist. For me personally, it was a bridge too far. A cool idea, that didn't land.

Overall though, this was a good read, that stood out from the pack. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one was wild...and I loved every second of it!

When a police officers daughter disappears, a town is town apart. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is still morning the loss of her sister and hoping she might return. When Ellie Black, another lost teenager reappears, Chelsey has a glimmer of hope. Ellie though, isn't the same. she's been deprogrammed and is having major troubles readjusting to being home. Chelsey knows that there's more to the story than Ellie's letting on, and she's determined to find out who she's protecting and why.

This one had me locked in Calhoun was a fantastic character; I could feel her yearning for her lost sister and it made the book so much more believable. I think this was a fantastic story and I will be recommending to all of my audiences.

What a fantastic novel! I very much enjoyed reading this book.
It was so good that I couldn't put it down and ended up losing sleep overnight. But, it was oh so worth it! Just wow! And such a cool cover too.
Lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.
The mystery part of this story is my favorite part.
Awesome characters that I truly enjoyed in getting to know.
This story is written in In Verse style and is told by two different POV. Ellie's and Chelsey's.
Ellie's is more dramatic because of what happened to her. My heart went out to her. There's always more questions than answers in any situation that might arise like this one.
I love a good suspense. This book definitely deserves this genre.
I highly recommend this one.
I usually don't like In Verse style but for some reason this one kept my attention from beginning until the end.
5 stars for a well written story that will leave me thinking about them long after this story is over.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own thoughts.

This was such a good book! I was hooked pretty quickly and it kept me guessing right until the end. I was able to connect with the characters feelings and actually got a little emotional at the end. I love reading books like this and this is definitely moving into one of my top five favorite thrillers. If you love thrillers - I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Talk about a versatile author! I have loved Emiko Jean for her YA novels, and her adult relationship fiction novel. So this was both unexpected and amazing! It is a very well-plotted, mesmerizing thriller about a missing teenage girl who, after two years, reappears. The detective, Chelsea, must figure out what the teen went through, who kidnapped her, and why she is hiding something. This is made more emotional and complex by the fact that Chelsea's own sister disappeared many years ago. A great mystery/thriller that I really look forward to recommending.

I rarely give a book 5 stars so when I do it is exciting for me. I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

To be honest I got drawn to the book because of its title and actually it’s my only criticism of the book. There is a book that I had read in the past called “The Truth and Lies of Ella Black” and when I saw this current book I thought maybe it was a sequel as I confused the Ellie Black for Ella Black.” So my criticism is that more care should have been taken when choosing the titular characters name. A quick Google search would have brought up the older book and the names are just too similar making it easy to confuse the two.

However, it is most certainly not the same world at all once I started reading it. The description says “ 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.

The book is female centered for sure but I wouldn’t call it a “feminist tour de force” so don’t let that guide your decision to pick up the title when it debuts in May 2024, which you totally should.

Stephen King is quoted as saying “The Return of Ellie Black is a page-turning suspense novel, a shrewd character study, and a captivating mystery, all at the same time. The last fifty pages are magnetic. I couldn’t put it down until I’d experienced every last twist and turn.”

Other than calling it a suspense novel which I wouldn’t call it that, everything else he stated was a perfect description of my opinion as well, especially the last 50 pages. Many times I figure out various intended surprises of a book but this time I was so engrossed and turned the pages so fast that I didn’t even try to unravel things. The story zipped along giving entertaining content where you didn’t fall into a sleuthing mode. Instead I wanted to keep reading simply to find out Ellie’s story.

However, by the end everything came together rather quickly and it all made perfect sense. The author did a wonderful job creating the world without being predictable or relying on overused YA tropes. I also liked the structure of the book which switches between narrators as well as time frames seamlessly.

Lastly, I will say that either I am having Deja vu or I have heard a similar story at some point either from the news or a life time movie. I really can’t remember at all and that’s fine as it didn’t detract from the story at all.

I look forward to reading more of this authors works. It’s refreshing to read flawed and unreliable narrators but still want to root for them along the way.. if you’re a lover of YA thrillers, crime, psychological crime and light suspense (I guess) than this book is for you!

This was a page turner. I read it in one long afternoon. I really liked Chelsey's character, determined and strong. The mystery was dark and twisty and the storyline filled with suspense. I believe I even held my breath towards the end. I did feel the twist at the end was a little disappointing. 3.5 stars rounded to four because I really did think about this book when I wasn't reading and I was compelled to find out what would happen next.

In the small town of Coldwell, Washington, 17-year-old Elizabeth “Ellie” Black goes missing when she leaves a party in search of a bathroom. Two years later, Ellie is found alive by two hikers in the forest, a two-hour drive away from home. Detective Chelsey Calhoun follows a trail of new leads unearthed by the young woman’s abrupt reappearance, her investigation occasionally hindered by the victim’s post-traumatic stress responses and her unwillingness to cooperate. But the detective is determined to finally solve this case… largely motivated by the tragic loss of her own sister many years ago.

Told from various points of view, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 is an engrossing mystery-thriller, the kind that has you staying up late at night to squeeze in one more chapter. The captivating plot and interesting characters hooked me and I needed to understand what happened and where the story was heading. Unfortunately, for me, the writing seemed a bit empty and spare at times, and then felt somewhat rushed and scattered at the end; and then the resolution itself came too fast, too neatly, with a plot twist that bordered on absurdity. However, I think author Emiko Jean shows promise in the genre and I would be interested in trying another thriller from her if she writes one. Overall, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 is a readable, riveting suspense drama that deals with grief, remorse, family dysfunction, abuse, and trauma and shines another light on the maddening issues of misogyny and violence against women.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Chelsey Calhoun is stunned when Ellie Black, who has been missing for two years, is found alive. Ellie is strangely hesitant to share details of her captivity, but Chelsey is determined to get to the truth. Pacy and shocking; the last fifty or so pages are wild.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

This was a really dark book but told with so much depth. IDK why I want to say this is a debut….maybe the authors first foray into this genre or it could simply be that I’ve never even heard of this author before. But what a masterful storyteller! Really 2 protagonists & both fleshed out so well, you can’t help but root for each. I wouldn’t call this a beach read….no fluff, just a truly immersive read with suspense & “edge of your seat” thrills to spare. I loved it!!

I enjoyed Tokyo Ever After, so was definitely intrigued when I saw this debut adult thriller from Emiko Jean.

This dark and twisty tale opens with the reappearance of 19-year-old Ellie Black, whose unsolved disappearance two years ago still haunts Detective Chelsey Calhoun to this day. Now that Ellie is back, Detective Calhoun is anxious to speak with her and catch the perpetrator except—Ellie is refusing to cooperate.

This story is told in dual POVs, going back in time to Ellie’s captivity and in present time as we follow the detective’s attempts to solve the mystery of Ellie’s case.

While I did find that it dragged in some parts, I still found the story compelling and could not put it down. I’m also really glad that I was wrong about the twist. Although, the longer I think about it, the more unsure I am as to how I feel about this twist.

Would highly recommend if you enjoy character-driven mysteries and don’t mind a slow burn.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC!