A really gripping ride! Honestly, this was a hard read but truly an important story to tell. Usually a story is told from the perspective of “leading up” to a crime, with little to no focus on the life of the victim post rescue! I really enjoyed the detective’s character throughout the story & how multi-layered it was! It took so many twists & turns, with heightened emotions at each bend of the story.

I came back to re-review. I thought no I reviewed lower because the story scared me, but I realize now, the significance and I changed my rating to 5 stars!

Thank you for letting me read this book. It is a good light read. I will recommend it to friends that I think will also enjoy it.

Great for if you want a quick read-- keeps you in suspense so you really don't want to put it down. I'd definitely recommend!

Detective Chelsey Calhoun has never stopped trying to understand what happened to her sister, who disappeared twenty years ago. She is therefore especially driven to figure out what is going on when Ellie Black, who vanished two years ago, suddenly walks out of the woods. Something clearly happened to Ellie, but she doesn’t offer much explanation. We watch as Chelsey's investigation alternates with the story of Ellie’s horrific captivity. You have to be prepared for both perspectives, because the captivity is tough to read about. My (admittedly wimpy) preference in crime novels is for more focus on the detectives at work and less detail on the suffering of the victims, beyond what you need in the first chapter to get the investigation started. This story is twisty and well-executed, with an ending that is satisfying on several fronts.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for a digital advance review copy.

Japanuary

Japanese diaspora

So maybe it's not thrillers I hate. Maybe it's white people problems. You may remember I loved YOU WILL NEVER BE ME. Hated everyone in it. Hate influencers. But love the book.

I love the TOKYO EVER AFTER series. Love. And Emiko is one of the sweetest authors I've ever met. That has no bearing on this review. I love books with problematic authors. I will not be advertising those books, as reading is political. I also hate books with lovely authors. Life.

This book was the wildest ride. I thought it was going to be your run-of-the-mill thriller. I was wrong. So very, very wrong. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is a Japanese American woman adopted into a white family. She was very close to her non-adopted sister, Lydia. Lydia died in a murder-suicide by her boyfriend at the time, Oscar. This, coupled with the fact that their father was in the force, makes Chelsey choose policing as a career.

Ellie Black has been missing for two years. When she pops back up, Chelsey is assigned the case. In a thrilling tale of abduction, we find out Ellie was kept in isolation with other teen girls. There are two men that abducted them. One takes turns raping each of the girls. He is looking to get them pregnant.

You may be thinking, "I don't know, Mai. This sounds like your run-of-the-mill thriller." But, I swear to you, it's not. There are not one, but two twists, and both had me screaming "WTF WTF WTF" with my buddy reader. Maybe you won't be WTF-ing. Maybe you will. Either way, I loved it. I love Emiko's books, whatever genre. I'll be reading more.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Return of Ellie Black!

What a ride! I love a book that knows how to draw out a scenario just right. The story and subsequent backstory kept me engaged and the protagonist had me rooting for her from moment one, even while questioning her role in the story.

This was a 4-star read for me, I would recommend it to people who enjoy a good, suspenseful mystery.

When I started reading this, I was looking for a quick read that would keep me engaged the whole time and this book definitely delivered! This was a really good thriller. Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared two years ago has reappeared and Detective Chelsey Calhoun is back on the case to find out what happened. As the case evolves, it's clear that there is more than one victim and Calhoun must work to find out what is happening before time runs out. Chelsey's own sister disappeared 20 years earlier and she must confront her feelings about her past while working this case. This book is pretty slow paced. the middle is a bit more slow than I would have liked, however I felt like the suspense builds really well throughout. After a certain point, when the twists start coming into play, the pace picks up and I couldn't stop reading and wanted to find out what was going to happen. I liked the dual POV and I felt like each chapter gave a new clue into what was happening and I thought both POVs were really well done. I'm usually good at calling the twists in a thriller, but there were a couple twists that I didn't call and I really liked how they were revealed. Overall, I think this was a great thriller read and I would recommend it to thriller fans!

This is easily one of my top books for 2024!

“The Return of Ellie Black” by Emiko Jean is a gripping thriller that combines mystery and psychological twists. The story follows Detective Chelsey Calhoun, whose relentless pursuit of missing persons cases is personal, stemming from the unresolved disappearance of her own sister two decades earlier. When Ellie Black, a teenager missing for two years, is found alive yet uncommunicative in the Washington State woods, Chelsey becomes determined to uncover the truth behind Ellie’s captivity.

This novel is a MUST-read for fans of psychological thrillers seeking a narrative that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling. Do not sleep on this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

This thriller follows Ellie Black, a young woman who returns to her hometown after years of being missing. The characters are well-drawn but I found the pacing could have been slower.

I just finished reading The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts with you!

This book is an absolute page-turner, filled with mystery, emotion, and unforgettable characters. Emiko Jean's writing is both captivating and heartfelt, making this a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

One of the standout moments for me is when Ellie, the protagonist, returns to her hometown and faces the memories she left behind. There’s a powerful scene where she revisits her childhood home, now abandoned and overgrown. The way Jean describes Ellie’s emotions as she walks through the dusty rooms and overgrown garden is so vivid—you can almost feel the weight of her past pressing down on her. This moment perfectly captures Ellie’s internal struggle and sets the tone for her journey of self-discovery and redemption.

What I love most about The Return of Ellie Black is the way it delves into themes of forgiveness, identity, and the ties that bind us to our past. The characters are richly developed, and their relationships are portrayed with such authenticity and depth. Jean’s ability to weave together a compelling plot with deep emotional resonance makes this book a true gem.

If you’re looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you guessing until the very end, The Return of Ellie Black is a must-read. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down!

A fast paced thriller that will keep you reading late into the night. It is full is twists. The dual POVs (the missing girl and the detective) enhance the narrative and help the reader understand the character's motivations Some aspects were a bit implausible, but overall an excellent novel.

I read this book in two days because I couldn't put it down. It was a fast, gripping read and it was a good thriller. That is not to say it had its problems. I found myself yelling at the book in places. I felt Ellie was given too much leniency during the investigation. I understood her actions, but things could have ended so very differently. There was a lot going on in the book. Chelsey still had so many unresolved emotions and the climax of the book certainly didn't help!

But overall, the book kept me in the story and I wanted to know what happened next. So 3.5 stars for that. I understand it's a debut book. I hope the author keeps writing suspense/thrillers because when she gets it perfect, it's going to be a hell of a book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and freely expressed.

The best thing about the Return of Elkie Black is how skillfully Emiko Jean plays with her narrative style in her debut thriller. The story begins with short, clipped sentences, immersing us in the life of Chelsea Calhoun, a police detective, who is juggling the task of emptying her parents' house while also grappling with personal challenges. She is jolted out of her worries, the moment news breaks that Elkie Black, a teenager missing for two years, is found wandering in the woods. And Chelsea’s pushes her personal life to the side, fixing her gaze on uncovering the truth behind Elkie's silence.

As the novel unfolds, the language evolves; it grows more intricate and powerful, mirroring the deepening plot. Elkie remains tight-lipped, refusing to cooperate with the police, adding to the mystery. Fortunately, we, as readers, slowly piece together her harrowing tale of abuse, control, and intimidation. Elkie has endured unspeakable horrors while being held captive with other girls, experiencing far worse than one could ever imagine.

What I particularly appreciated about this novel is the contrast between the lyrical, fragmented, and somber sections of Elkie's story and the fast-paced excitement of Chelsea's investigation. This blend allows the narrative to breathe. While many stories focus on detectives pursuing kidnapped girls in a typical "Save the Girl" scenario, few delve into the complexities of a strong girl grappling with her environment, driven by rage and a yearning for freedom, yet heavily scarred by the manipulations of a damaged man.

This book does not shy away from exploring challenging themes: generational trauma, the deep-seated impact of abuse, and the pain caused by broken individuals. Yet, it also highlights the resilience of women who endure. All of this is woven into a beautifully written, taut, and lyrical thriller, complete with shocking twists that will keep you on your toes. An excellent read from a true literary talent!

This book had plenty of characterization to make me believe the different motivations of the characters and that all played together with a well constructed plot for a really satisfying ending. I think if I have a problem with the book it’s a small one but it’s something that I am seeing over and over again and I wanted to mention. we have a great lead character, an adopted Asian female daughter of a cop. And all of those things are totally fine with me. But in addition to that, she has, and we find out about this really early in the story, sister who’s been murdered. And this is played out in the story in a way that I’m seeing over and over again. This murdered sister is her reason for doing what she does. And I think my problems with this are twofold. First of all we’re seeing this over and over again how many female cops are cops because their sister was murdered or kidnapped or something. That piece just feels really played out to me.

This is the first book I have read from this author and I felt it was just ok. The main detective on the case has a sister that disappeared a couple of years ago, however is inexplicably given a case similar to her sister's in many ways. I felt like procedurally that there was quite a bit that was off with this book. I felt that there should have been more research on how detectives work and what their norms are. This felt like it was just all over the place. This messed with plausibility as well. I would be interested in seeing what else that this author can write. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This will easily be one of my favorite books of the year. I have already bought it for friends, and they loved it too. So many twists I did not see coming, and so many emotions felt throughout the story. I will be rereading this one for sure. 5 stars

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯.”

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy earlier this year! 3.75 rounded to 4

The audio is done by a full cast so we are given POVs by primarily Ellie and the detective Chelsey, as well as her parents, her boyfriend, and the psychiatrist assigned to her case.

It immediately deals with heavy content and I felt that Jean did well with articulating the way trauma impacts one’s identity, beliefs, and behavior. I was totally curious as to how things would unfold and went through this one rather quickly. It ends up taking an unexpected turn and that kept me further engaged as I tried to piece how it all would come together. There was some surprise revelations during the climax which didn’t entirely make much sense to me but it was fine. Content warnings include abduction, abuse, assault, ptsd, descriptions of dead bodies, and gun violence.

Overall, I liked it. Had some common tropes but was written in a way that it felt fresh and I thought the pacing was just right. I haven’t read Jean’s other books but if she writes more in this genre I’ll likely give them a read.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emilio Jean was an excellent read. It was everything I love in a mystery/thriller. From the moment it started I felt completely invested in seeing how things would turn out. Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s sister went missing over 20 years ago. It’s haunted her daily of what happened, is her sister dead or alive? She just wants closer, for herself and other family’s of girls that have disappeared. Then one day, a girl named Ellie Black, is found in a Washington State Forest. Chelsey, jumps at the chance to work with and find out what happened to Ellie. Where was she? Who took her? How did she get away? What other things will come from her talks with Ellie. This story was so unique and well written. Chelsey is such a flawed person and yet she has the heart of gold and the courage of lion. I want to thank Netgalley, the author & Simon and Schuster for my copy, for an honest review. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book. This is one of my few 5 star reads for the year.

The premise of this book was irresistible to me. Where had Ellie been for all of the years she was missing? And why wasn't she talking to police telling what happened to her? For me, I just knew that there was more to her story which really intrigued me. The book jumps back and forth between a few different storylines. We get to see Detective Chelsey Calhoun's current investigation into what happened to Ellie Black in one storyline. We also get Ellie's point of view current day as well as exactly what happened when she disappeared in the past. It all combined into a very compelling read. It wasn't always easy to read (check trigger warnings if you need them) but the question of why Ellie had reappeared and what she was still hiding was too good to resist. I also really appreciated that the author had something to say about being a woman and the way women can be blamed for violence against them. I'm going to leave you with a couple of quotes that I saved but this book hit and hard for me. I cannot wait to read more by this author in the future.

"People are conditioned to believe girls plus bad choices equals bad things. It's a type of inoculation. Lead a good life, and nothing heinous will befall you. But no one is invulnerable. No one untouched."

"But often, Chelsey wondered if her father, if people in general, should spend less time protecting daughters and more time worrying about sons. The dangerous things boys do. How they might be raised differently."

Five stars. I believe I originally said 4.5 in my monthly wrap-up but just rereading all of the quotes I saved (not sharing them all here) - five stars and I highly recommend.

This is my first book by this author. It was a great read. It was full of twist and turns, and kept me omguessing. I would read this author again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.