It’s been a long time since a book had me stay up late to finish it, and I’m so glad I did. I absolutely burned through this. Excellent read about missing girls and the detective who starts to piece together their narrative, all while grappling with past loss and trauma. The ending will blow you away but getting there is just as enjoyable.

Ooh Wee, what a disturbing and twisty read. And the reveal at the end, gah, it had me shook!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the eArc, in return for my honest opinion.

Ellie Black is teenager filled with angst and armour. She wants a phone, she devises a plan to get one and just like that, she gone. Two years later, a couple of hikers find her on trail and bring her home... but she's not safe or sound.

Lead Detective Calhoun jumps on this case with more than just duty, it's personal. Having lost her sister twenty years ago to a kidnapping, followed by murder suicide, Detective Chelsey Calhoun has made it her personal mission to close as many kidnapping cases as she can. It doesn't take long for the detective to realize that Ellie's hiding something and that something cranks up the heat and turns the case upside down.

What I loved - I loved the multiple perspectives, but I especially loved getting Ellie's perspective because it just made her decision making (much of it bad) relatable and understandable. Ellie's POV had me forgetting that this was a piece of fiction and not a memoir. Seeing her frustration, and walking through her duplicity and the sheer terror and trauma that this girl had to manage was devastating. She had me on the edge of my seat right until the very end. I really wasn't sure if she was going to be redeemable or not, let alone likeable.

Favourite character - I really enjoyed Chelsey Calhoun. I think everything about her personality just made so much sense. Her upbringing and the loss of her sister made her a force to be reconned with; especially in those tough moments when she had to choose between protecting the feelings others or moving the case forward. And yet, she has the space for empathy and in the end, I think that makes her a cut above the rest.

Least favourite character - There was some big daddy issues, and wow, did the toxicity of these men eff up lives.

Favourite Scene - That scene when Ellie's talking with the detective about what she'd do for her sister? Chilling!!!

Lasting impression - That moment when Detective Calhoun realizes who she's dealing with and the truth behind what really happened was everything. How she handled it without burning the place down goes beyond all my understanding of restraint.

Really hoping this becomes a series and we see more of Detective Calhoun.

I've never read anything like this, so I'd recommend this for anyone who followed the Ariel Castro kidnappings, or liked the TV show Cold Case Files and Law & Order: SVU

I’ve heard of this author before but never read their books as was curious. It felt cold at the beginning, I didn’t personally care for the aim character Chelsey as the writing lacked emotions, it was more factual.

The story follows Chelsey as she is working. Case about Ellie black, a teenager who disappeared 2 years prior. Ellie returns and Chelsey tries to find out what happened to her and to find the person responsible. Chelsey's sister was murdered when they were teenagers which she’s never gotten over, this has a lot to die with how she needs to find who did this to Ellie.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller this, isn’t it, this is a slow burn. Chapters are between the present investigation and the view of Ellie, both past and present. I did enjoy this book; it had some twists. Once I got used to the writing style, it was good, and I would recommend it.

Chelsey Calhoun sister went missing 20 years ago, and other girls have gone missing over the years — and now Ellie Black has been returned.
The story is intriguing and holds your attention —an immersive mystery/psychological thriller —the author takes you deliberately into the depths of the victims mind and how they can have their minds turned to love or even be complicit in what ones abuser wants or does. — which can be disturbing at times. This was a page turner and was very difficult to put down- a gripping tale of depravity, captivity, manipulation, trauma- a case study in victimology. The main character of Chelsey is well developed and has the possibility to become a serial character in a series — I see potential there—and hope we will meet this character again in the future. The writing is quite good and a stark difference from this authors serious style of Romance/ YA writing— I enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to reading more of this genre from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada | Simon & Schuster. This is my honest review.

Wow. What an incredible story. One of the best (and most disturbing) mystery books I've read in a while. Even though it took me longer than usual to finish, that wasn't because of lack of interest but personal life. And I felt myself thinking about the book on and off and knew as soon as I had the time and energy, I'd finish it. I'm so glad I did, because this isn't a book to rush but one to meander through and thoughtfully engage with the sometimes explicit, but mostly implicit social commentary it provides.

[arc review]
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Return of Ellie Black releases May 7, 2024

Unputdownable. From the moment I started this story until the very last page, I refused to set it down.

On Chelsey’s first day working as a detective, a teenager named Ellie was kidnapped. For two years, she has been missing, until a couple of hikers find her roaming in the woods.
Now, Chelsey gets the chance to finally close the first case she was assigned to as a detective — a case that might just be connected to her in more ways than she could ever imagine.

This story is told through multiple pov’s and navigates familial bonds, sisterhood, trauma, and grief.

I’m finding it so hard to review this one without giving away the whole story, but I really loved the writing style!
The last 20% definitely added a fresh wave of urgency.

Emiko Jean is a gifted writer. Her characters spring to life before your eyes. Her descriptive words are strung together like freestyle lyrical poetry.

Ellie Black is the proverbial wild child: she decides to throw a party and charge an entrance fee so that she can buy herself a new iPhone. The night of the party, Ellie leaves to find a bathroom and is never heard from again for two years. (No spoilers here: the blurb for this story comes right out and tells you that Ellie was abducted and was found wandering in the woods by some hikers.)

What happened to her? Who took her? Physically and mentally, she shows all the signs of terrible abuse. The police can't get a word out of her, and her therapist cannot penetrate Ellie's emotional protective shield. I can't go into details without handing you a load of spoilers, so you will have to go into this one somewhat blind.

I had to put this book aside several times because the sporadic revelations of Ellie's awful treatment at the hands of her abductor were hard to endure. I can't say I wasn't warned. Reading this novel took an emotional toll on me and I had to switch to some lighter reading in order to dispel the gloom. It saddens me to think that Emiko Jean personally experienced some form of extreme physical violence and victimization. Kudos to her for facing her fear and exposing violence against women through the written word.

I do highly recommend this book, but I do so with the warning that you will not leave this reading journey unscathed. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this emotionally wrenching novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much, Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley, for sending me this ARC. It has been a while since I read thrillers, but this one hit all the right chords.

The Return of Elli Black is a well paced dark psychological thriller that'll make you question our society, get angry about how women are still treated in some places, and it's about the monsters who prey on women.

I loved Chelsey. Getting to know her personal side of the story while investigating Ellie's case was the perfect personal touch I needed from the story.

The way the author portrayed the character's fear and traumatic experiences were palpable. She catches your attention from the very first page and holds it throughout the story. It may not be an easy read (certainly some parts of it), but it definitely was gripping. The twists and turns will ensure you cannot put the book down, yet you still may need to take a break from the trauma. And the ending? I did not see it coming at all.

Detective Chelsey Calhoun has dedicated her life to try to seek justice for crimes against women. Her own sister went missing when they were teenagers and her regret from not being able to save her, has led her into this life.

When a missing girl shows up 2 years after going missing, Chelsey thinks this will bring a sense of closure to at least one family. However, she finds herself being unable to get Ellie to divulge any of what happened in the 2 years she was missing. What is Ellie hiding from everyone? What happened and what led to her going missing? And could there be more victims out there?

What a tough read this was. This is told in multiple timelines with multiple POVs. We are primarily seeing present day though Chelsey and Ellie, and we are also seeing Ellie's POV during her time of disappearance.

While we know that Ellie eventually makes it back home, things felt pretty bleak and scary at some points. The last few chapters were very exciting and somewhat nerve-wracking.

I definitely had to put this down a few times because of how heavy it felt at certain parts of the story. Go into this one with great care if you can. If you do, you will be rewarded with an intriguing book. Highly recommend!