This one was a big let down. All of my thoughts are below:

Ok…the positives first. The pacing of The Return of Ellie Black was great. It was fast and captivating. It held my attention (I finished in four days which is really fast for me lately). The book was a dual POV which I love (especially for thrillers). The structure and readability are the only reasons this book got three stars instead of two 😬

Now…the negatives. There was SO much telling and not enough showing in this book. One of my biggest pet peeves with thriller writers is when they don’t trust the reader. TRUST US! We can connect the dots! I promise!

The twist at the end was outrageous in a disappointing way. The characters were not built up enough for me to suspend my disbelief. I’m making this review spoiler free but please DM me to talk more if you have opinions on this!! AND THEN after the twist the author was basically like, the end 😐 I have SO many logistical questions.

When two hikers discover a dirty, disheveled, confused girl who claims she's Ellie Black - a girl who has been missing for two years - in the middle of the woods, no one quite knows what to think. Chelsey Calhoun, the original detective on the case, is jolted from bed in the middle of the night to investigate her reappearance. In the days that follow, everyone in Ellie's orbit realizes something isn't quite right. She sleeps in a crawlspace, shies away from being touched, refuses to cut her hair or shower, and refuses to answer even the most basic questions from Chelsey. Can Chelsey figure out the mystery of Ellie's disappearance AND reappearance before another girl goes missing while simultaneously dealing with the trauma from her own sister's murder 20 years ago?

This was my first Emiko Jean book, and I couldn't have picked a better one to start. Told from an omniscient point of view, we get insight into both Chelsey and Ellie's internal thoughts and motivations, exploring both of their trauma while giving a critique on misogyny and how women are frequently made the scapegoat for men's choices and actions. The plot itself is twisty, I wasn't sure where it was going for the majority of the story. Even when I did figure out what was going on, I still was surprised in the way it panned out in the end. The book, as a whole, is a slow burn. That's something that, in a thriller, usually drives me crazy. But Jean handles the slow burn deftly and drops just enough intrigue as she goes to keep you invested in the story. Combine that with the sense of dread that seeps through all aspects of the story, and it wasn't surprising I stayed up into the wee hours to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed this outing from Emiko Jean and look forward to many more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the chance to read and review this advance reader copy.

The Return of Ellie Black kept me guessing. It was suspenseful, dark and disturbing. I was invested in the story enough to read it on week nights, which is not a small feat. It is a missing person mystery. The victims are young girls. The two main characters Detective Chelsea and the abductee Ellie Black are strong women. There are a few twist, the last of which I wasn't crazy about. I know some readers is going to find that twist jaw-dropping but I guessed it early on. I think the author dropped enough hints along the way.

This is Emiko Jean's thriller debut. It is a solid debut. Jean's latest Mika in Real Life was so good. I haven't read her YA but needless to say she has range.

Emiko Jean's novel "The Return of Ellie Black" is a thought-provoking and intriguing read. This book has a dystopian future fiction,and suspense, adventure, and surprising turns. I found it simpler to relate to and comprehend Ellie and the difficulties she encountered because of Emiko Jean's vivid and captivating writing style. My interest was piqued from the beginning by the author's masterful integration of romance, action, and mystery.

Furthermore, Emiko Jean's world-building is outstanding. She convincingly describes the dystopian society she portrays, paying close attention to detail just to bring the scenario to life. From the harsh landscapes to the complexities of the political and social structures, every part of the world seems genuine and realistic. Another thing to praise about the novel is its tempo. The plot goes quickly, with enough action and suspense to keep me engaged in the novel. The storyline has many twists and turns are well-executed, keeping the story interesting and engaging and it keeps it from being boring.

"The Return of Ellie Black" is an exciting and captivating book overall. Emiko Jean's dystopian tale stands out because to its captivating characters, rich world-building, and writing style. This book will enthrall and amuse you whether you want action-packed adventures or stories that make you think.this book overall was a okay read

Thank you netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC

2.5 stars rounded up. I’m not really sure how to review this. It’s not bad, it just wasn’t for me. It heavily reminded me of another popular thriller that I did Not like and once I made The comparison I couldn’t See past it. The ending was absurd. Overall the writing was good, just wanted more from the story. The “who” was so disappointing because they weren’t even in the book until the reveal. This made it really hard to care about any of the characters. I liked Willa and Star. I’d try this author again with hopes of growth between this debut and a sophomore title. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I am a fan of Emiko Jean...but this book was not the same genre of her past works and totally on different level! The emotional, suspense driven plot absolutely grips your heart. The storyline surrounds the disappearance of girls. The brutality and loss of innocence these poor girls are subjected too is heartbreaking. When one of the lost girls suddenly returns everyone wants answers. Ellie is obviously changed from the trauma she has been through. But she is holding back and there are secrets beyond the obvious. Chelsey is a detective investigating, but she has a deeper attachment to the case due to the disappearance and murder of her sister.

There are twists and turns galore that leave you on the edge of your seat. The complicated relationships between the characters are so compelling. I was absolutely emotionally drained by the end.! I would love to see a follow up book surrounding the characters and their future lives....

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

Well this was a strange one. I was unsure as to where this was going when I was about halfway through it. T hen when the twists came it was pretty nonstop. I enjoyed it. I felt the characters were really flushed out and I wanted Chelsey to figure stuff out so badly. I would recommend.

Wow, this one had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. There were many layers to this story and I'm amazed at how the author was able to bring everything together in the end. I enjoyed reading from the different character POVs and really did not expect the twist at the end. I look forward to reading more from Emiko Jean.

This was a great mystery with twists until the very end. A police detective is investigating a missing girl’s case and she returns and brings more questions than answers. Very well written and entertaining.

Two years ago Elizabeth "Ellie" Black went missing and no none knew where she went. Two years later, Ellie is found in a campground returning to the area she was disappeared from. Detective Chelsey Calhoun has been on Ellie's disappearance/reappearance since day one. When Ellie returns, Chelsea is left with more questions than answers.

I decided to opt for the audiobook of this novel as it had a full cast narration. I enjoyed that aspect of the recording process. For the novel we are show the investigation in present time and shown glimpses via Ellie's POV of her last two years. This novel isn't for the faint of heart as confinement and sexual assault are a couple of the issues talked about in this novel. I enjoyed getting a full picture of the novel with the different points of view. I didn't mind the subject matter discussed in the novel as my job involves some of the matters discussed in it. I thought overall the novel was predictable, but was slightly surprised by the reveal of the kidnappers at the end. I think I made the connection around the same time as Det. Calhoun did. This was my first novel by Emiko Jean and I want to read more from her in the future to see how her writing changes. I know she's written some YA novels in the past.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Honestly, the ending kind of ruined the book for me. It just did not seem to fit in with the rest of the story. This was an incredibly well done psychological thriller. Highlighting the impact of an abduction - during and after. The impact on the law enforcement that are involved in solving an abduction case. The changes cases like this have on everyone involved, short term and long term. It was a very well researched book from the mental health perspective, in my opinion. I just wish that the ending flowed better with the story line. My heart broke for the main characters - told from the perspective of a teenager who was abducted and found 2 years later. And the female law enforcement officer assigned to the case. I found the different perspectives to be incredibly well done and the book flowed well. Overall, an incredibly well done book, but a very difficult one to read.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

The Return of Ellie Black is a gripping thriller that’s almost painful to read — but I’m glad I hung in there. The story is unfailingly interesting, with some unusual and unexpected twists, and the main character is complex, damaged, and fascinating. The suspense is terrific, and the mounting sense of time running out and looming disaster is very well developed. I was on the edge of my seat throughout, and couldn’t put the book down.

The Return of Ellie Black is an amazingly twisty and emotional thriller! The characters are deep and complex, the action is meaningful and creative. Warning for horrific crimes against girls, but it's not overly graphic on the page--I'm sensitive to what seems like excessive and indulgent violence in thrillers, this one was good. It was hard to put down, even as dark as it is. Thank you to Simon and Shuster for an arc to read and review voluntarily!

Emiko Jean is YA writer and this is first foray in an adult novel and she hits it out of the park. It's a thriller that remins you of the last season of True Detective. It's a slow boil that gives the reader the view into the life of Ellie Black who disappeared and suddenly returns and the dectective who tries to figure out what happened to her. The detective had her own experience with the loss of her sister due to horrible circumstances. The story goes back and forth to the life before she disappeared and the detectives own experiences of what made her become a cop. It's about young girls being taken advantage of by men who are up to no good and feel they have the right to own wowen's bodies. In a world with human trafficking and front page stories of disappeared girls this book could have been a cheap take on that. It's the opposite. It's handled with detail and care to show who th victims are and what got them there. It's about how get to have wild and fun lives without feeling like they are bad and deserve what happens to them if soemthing goes wrong. I am so excited to read her next book. I just love when YA writers can jump their field and write a terrific book that is utterly thought provoking. I hight recommend this book!! Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC!

Ellie Black is back! But why? Detective Chelsey Callhoun has spent her life with a chip on her shoulder.
She has always wondered where Ellie went and why. Not ontly does the return of Ellie stir up a ton of external questions, but Chelsey has a lot going on internally as well.
As the story develops, we see she has some great intuition about the cases, but also a great struggle with her personal demons.

The story wraps up in a less than jaw-dropping way, but still a decent book over all.

Ellie Black disappeared two years ago during a high school party. She's discovered in the woods and reunited with her family.

Chelsey Calhoun is the detective assigned to the case, determined to figure out what happened to Ellie and bring the perpetrator to justice. Detective Calhoun has skin in the game - her sister was the victim of a violent crime when she was a teenager - and won't abide the widespread abuse inflicted upon women.

Something's not right with Ellie's story, and Detective Calhoun's spidey senses are on high alert. She summons all of her expertise to crack the case.

This book is a page turner. You think it's going one way and veers wildly in another direction, then another. Emiko Jean leaves you spinning. The resolution is anything but predictable. Two thumbs up!

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. The Return of Ellie Black was published in early May.

“I have a hard time not blaming myself for what happened next. I wish I didn't. 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 femaleit is not a matter of if something bad will happen, but when.”

“Because what is grief but the other side of love?”

The Return of Ellie Black knocked me for six. I am stunned. I can’t feel my fingers from shock. I feel like I drone on about this, but I don’t get hours of uninterrupted reading time, because I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. If it isn’t an audiobook, or my kindle, regardless of how much I love it, it will take me days to read.

But.

I inhaled the last 50% of this book during my children’s short 2 hour nap time window. I forgot I had a phone. I forgot I had laundry to fold. I forgot that I should have eaten lunch. I ignored my cat pawing at the basement door to be let upstairs.

The writing was (and I’m running out of euphemisms here) unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It was smoky, sultry, melancholic, nostalgic. It was truly stunning. The story was even better. After we find everything out, the little person in my mind who does all my thinking was scrambling around, trying to pick up all the clues laid, puzzling them together to see the bigger picture. And wow. What a puzzle. This book was so cleverly plotted with little left out. I am still shocked.

Need I say more? Read this. Yesterday.

The Return of Ellie Black is a dark, twisty and captivating psychological thriller and I was immediately hooked. In the opening chapter Ellie is discovered by two hikers after she has been missing for over two years. Where did she go? Who took her, and how did she escape? Detective Chelsey Calhoun is determined to find out what happened and where Ellie has been but no one is prepared for what is uncovered.

Told in alternating timelines between third person and Ellie’s POV, this was a well written, well paced story that I couldn’t put down as I had to know what had happened after Ellie was kidnapped. What I appreciated most is that this was not your typical popcorn thriller but a smart mystery that does an excellent job of examining the psychological impact of captivity, and the manipulation and resilience it takes to survive. As we find out more about the last two years of Ellie’s life, the story becomes darker with more twists - and honestly made for some chilling reading. The ending was one I was not expecting and the full cast of characters made this audiobook, paired with the physical copy, such a great immersive experience. If you want a solid and twisty suspense this was excellent. 4.5 ⭐️

Emiko Jean has written a stunning novel here. Girls and young women disappear everywhere all over the world. They are the most vulnerable of missing persons. Detective Chelsey Calhoun knows all too well the ongoing devastating impact on their families. Her sister disappeared several ago and her disappearance framed her decision to become an officer. One day, a young woman claiming to be another missing woman named Ellie Black is found wandering in a forest, traumatized, broken and unwilling to assist in the investigation out of fear. We feel the same fear and frustration as Chelsey is determined to discover what happened. There are so many quick twists and turns with a mind blowing ending that no one will expect. One of my favorite reads this year!.

Just wow’ my first Emiko Jean book but definitely not my last! Packed with huge characters that made me feel like a part of the story. Dark and gritty subject for sure. The perfect storm. Secrets, lies, tension and turmoil all expertly woven and delivered with a sucker punch. Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley, Emiko Jean and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book