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!

Overall this was a very good book, very well written, insightful and poetic at moments with two interesting, damaged main characters , that stole my heart. Ellie is returned/returns after being missing for two years, traumatized with many unanswered questions. The book both explores what happened to her and how she copes after and the story of the detective who is trying to understand what happened and if the case is connected to other missing and killed girls. Relationship issues ,between family members, sisters in particular, as well as parent and child, husbands and wives as the story unfolds. A new author for me, but will read her other books for sure.

“My name is Elizabeth Black. I think I’m missing.”

Two years, two weeks, and one day. That’s how long Elizabeth Black has been missing when she is found on a hiking trail near Olympia, Washington. Detective Chelsey Calhoun should know. She’s been a detective exactly two years and two weeks, making Elizabeth Black’s disappearance her first case. The fact that Ellie was never found, like Chelsey’s sister Lydia, has haunted her every day.

Ellie is bruised, broken, and just wants to go home. She’s also not talking. Not about the case, her captors, or how she escaped. In fact, it seems as if the case will close when a desperate Chelsey discovers a link that ties Ellie to another girl, a girl who disappeared several years ago, and whose body was found on accident, buried in a forest. As Chelsey begins to dig deeper into these cases, she begins to question why Ellie refuses to cooperate. Is she protecting herself, as her parents and psychologist claim, or someone else?

“I wish this was not cautionary tale about what happens to girls who wander off in the dark. Who are made to learn there are bad people everywhere. “

The Return of Ellie Black is a story that is fast paced and will pull you in from the very beginning. Although it is told mostly from Chelsey’s perspective, this story does have multiple viewpoints. The most fascinating to me was Ellie’s. Ellie gives us in depth details about her life before and after her abduction, letting you fully immerse yourself in the mental and emotional changes that occur over the time she’s held captive. The way she talks about everything from the invulnerability we have all felt as teenagers to the fear that takes over as you fight to survive is so compelling. It can be heartbreaking at times, but it's worth every page.

“… a dollar figure was attached to each case. A careful calculation multiplied by parents’ wealth, then divided by race and religion.”

Emiko Jean does not stint on the details of missing persons cases in this book, especially when it comes to victims who are minorities or from lower income families. I knew that there were disparities in the amount of time and attention these cases were given, but this book opened my eyes in several ways.

More often than not when read psychological thrillers I ruin the ending for myself, trying to constantly guess the “surprise twist.” That was NOT the case with this book. There was so much to this plot I didn’t’ see coming. To quote Stephen King the “last fifty pages are magnetic.” I loved this read and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading everything else Emiko Jean has ever published, when I saw The Return of Ellie Black, I realized I had to request it!

This book took me on quite the ride and although some points of the story were to be expected, there were many that surprised me so much I had to instantly stop and tell my boyfriend all about it. Quite honestly, he could probably tell you about this book for how often I would pause and tell him what was happening.

I often feel hesitant when authors jump around to different genres, but Emiko Jean wrote suspense like a pro. Jean highlights the treatment of the white, well-off, and loud folks versus those who are of color, less affluent, and often from homes where their loved ones are already spread thin. I thought the way she brought attention to the resources allocated to some versus others was not only an honest representation, but a true criticism of our society that hit home for me. Additionally, it covered sexism, gender roles, the traditional expectations of women, and the horrid judgments made by men when "bad things happen to women because of..." (insert whatever ridiculous they make up to justify a man's actions).

This novel questions what defines innocence versus guilt and complicity versus survival. It also questions nature versus nurture. All in all, I found this novel to be beyond a mystery and left me contemplating so many of the themes raised by the author. The social commentary in this novel begs for real discussion with the people in out lives and calls to action the disruption of harmful narratives.

I cannot wait to read what's next! I suspect this was a standalone, but feel like it could also lend itself well to a series.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster from granting me access to this title.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean is a fantastic debut thriller.
I was excited to read this new title by Jean after loving Mika in Real Life.
A real page turning suspense novel. A plot that moves along at warp speed, and my Kindle pages seemed to turn themselves. With a unique protagonist, an interesting setting, and a story that grabs you from the beginning and keeps on building.
I thoroughly enjoyed and was hooked for the entirety of this story and can only commend the author on writing a very intriguing book.

Thank You NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I liked the switching perspectives between them but at times I felt like the book was written to be shocking and that cheapened the story a bit. There was some social commentary but the kidnapping portions were a lot and seemed out of place at times. I don't like it when they take you out of the book to show you how horrible things are. It didn't flow.

This book is near impossible to put down, it begs to be read in one sitting. It is haunting, it is chilling and it is a nail-biter.

When Ellie Black reappears after vanishing two years earlier, the whole town is talking. The lead detective on the case, Chelsey Calhoun, is desperate to find Ellie’s abductor, but she must tread carefully as Ellie is fragile and traumatized. But Ellie isn’t speaking. She won’t give the detective any information. Once Chelsey discovers clues to other missing girls, she becomes laser focused on solving this crime, without Ellie’s help.

This book is slow, but in the best possible way. The author depicts trauma and tragedy in gentle prose, which makes it is easy to understand why a victim reacts in certain ways. The characters are very well developed, the plot is intriguing, and the ending is perfect. This easily rates 5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy. Publication date is May 7, 2024.

Detective Chelsea Calhoun lost her sister as a teenager, so she's spent the last twenty years searching for answers and looking for other lost girls, including local teenager Ellie Black, who vanished two years ago. When Ellie suddenly returns, she won't say where she's been or what happened to her, but Chelsea won't back down until she knows the truth.

I loved a lot of this book - the dual perspectives (Chelsea and Ellie) and the slow unraveling of Ellie's story was tense and upsetting and very well done. What I didn't love were the twists -- I guess the first one worked as a stretch explanation for what happened, but the second one was an eye-roller. That said, I overall really enjoyed reading this debut and am excited to read future books by Emiko Jean!

(3.5 rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. "The Return of Ellie Black" delves into the mysterious reappearance of Ellie Black, who had been missing for years, raising numerous questions for Detective Chelsey Calhoun, the original investigator on the case. As the narrative unfolds, multiple storylines intertwine to shed light on Ellie's experiences.

This thrilling novel sets itself apart with its human element, delving into the raw emotions and trauma faced by its characters. While I found some aspects of the subject matter challenging, I appreciated the unique twist the story took on. The well-paced narrative held my attention throughout, allowing me to read it in one sitting. I'm delighted to have discovered a thriller that resonated with me. I highly recommend "The Return of Ellie Black" to both thriller enthusiasts and fans of contemporary fiction.

A Thrilling page turner you will not won't to put Down. Ellie Black returns home after missing fir two years. The detective assigned the case has more than a vested interest as to what happened to her. Full of huge twists and turns this book is absolutely engrossing from page one. Add to it the most likeable character Chelsey Calhoun I have read in a long while .

I’m such a sucker for a good cover, lemme tell ya! 😍 Many thanks to @NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the gifted eARC to read and review this new-to-me-author.

This one started off pretty well; I liked the multiple POVs and was really intrigued by the storyline. The multiple POVs alternate between a wide mix of characters—all done in third-person—but then the victim, Ellie’s POV is done in first-person. I’m seeing this a lot in thrillers lately and unfortunately, can’t say I’m a fan of it. Pick a POV? 🤷🏼‍♀️ That said, Ellie’s was definitely the strongest and most engaging, but I’m a sucker for first-person POVs, so…

Overall, a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed this one for the most part, but the word repetition throughout (flicker/flicked/flick/flicked) drove me crazy and the ending was a bit too outlandish for my taste.

This was a twisty and tense read, focused on the disappearance and subsequent return of a teenager named Ellie and the detective (Chelsey) who is trying to figure out what happened. The author did a great job in telling the story from their different POVs.

While we know Ellie has returned, the book takes the reader back though the happenings while she was missing, and weaves that story in with the current timeline. Ellie is a believable character, as were her family and friends. Chelsey is also believable and her flashback chapters give great characterization into understanding her current decisions. There were a couple great twists in the book, though without giving anything away, I kind of felt that the author tricked us with one of them. The ending wasn’t as memorable as the rest of the book but I thought it was ok.

Overall, this was engaging read that I had trouble putting down. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow - this was a great, spooky, quick thriller! The storyline is exactly what it sounds like...Ellie Black returns after years of being missing. I was expecting a typical "who done it" type of YA thriller, but this one dove into much deeper topics regarding trauma, mental health, and relationships. I liked the alternating POV and felt that it really added to the suspense and horror-like mood of this story! The ending of this one caught me off guard, and I know my students will love this one (I'd recommend it for more of my older/mature readers due to some of the topics). Thanks so much for this arc!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. The Return of Ellie Black is about exactly that— the mysterious return of Ellie Black, who had been missing for several years, and who has sparked a great many questions by Detective Chelsey Calhoun, who was initially assigned to her case. There are many things that are odd about Ellie’s return and slowly, we come to see how several different storylines twist together to help us understand what happened to her.

This was an excellent, propulsive thriller! I usually struggle with this genre, as I often find it difficult to move past the trite cliches and the drama. But, this one had a human element to it, with the author exploring many of the real, tough emotions and trauma that both Ellie and Chelsey have experienced. I’d definitely recommend looking into trigger warnings before diving into this one; I did find the subject matter difficult to read at times. However, even with that said, I’m glad I pushed through and enjoyed the fresh, unique twist that the story took on. The book was very well paced and didn’t drag on— I was engrossed enough in the book to read in a sitting, very glad to have found a thriller here that worked for me!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this story to thriller lovers and contemporary fiction fans!

I flew this book in less than a day. Emiko Jean knows how to pull you in until you are so immeshed in the story it's almost a part of you. I wouldn't call this a thriller, more literary suspense. The writing style is sharp, poetic, and captivating. The mystery is fascinating. And that twist in the last twenty pages? WHOA. Didnt see that coming. Bring a sharpie and don't start this one at bedtime! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my ARC