Emiko Jean can do no wrong. This book is a masterpiece of a psychological thriller. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and could not stop turning the pages. Thank you so much for the chance to read it early.

This was a really good mystery thriller! I enjoyed this story as it is about a teen girl who disappears and then returns two years later.

This book was told from both Detective Chelsey Calhoun and Ellie Black’s point of view. I was especially interested in all of the parts told from Ellie’s perspective. Even though it was kind of dark, it was nice being able to gain insight on exactly what Ellie went through.

There were a lot of moving parts in this mystery and it was interesting to see how everything was woven together in the end.

Read this if you like:
→ Dual perspectives
→ Fast paced thrillers
→ Twists and turns

Thank you to @SimonBooks for sending me a copy for review.

This is a very readable suspense/mystery in which I was totally immersed. The kidnapping/abuse sections were hard to read, but allowing readers to feel those emotions is the sign of a talented writer. If the ending plot twist wasn't so disappointedly unbelievable, I would have given this book five stars. Note to author: you don't have to try so hard. This story would have been absolutely fine, in fact better, had you left well enough alone. On the other hand, you are a fantastic writer and I'm certainly not dissuaded from reading more of your stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you @simonandschuster @netgalley #partner for the free ebook and book!

Driven by past experience, Detective Chelsea Calhoun is on a mission to find the lost. She lost her sister and understands to her core how that feels. She will do anything possible to bring answers to the people who wait at home wondering what happened to their loved one….including Ellie Black. The interesting thing about Ellie however is she turns up after many years of being gone, however, will not share where she was or who she was with. This leads to more suspicion as to what exactly happened to her all those years ago. Detective Calhoun is determined to understand and uncover those details.

I really liked this one and bonus that it was a new author for me! This book was definitely stressful as it seemed like something that could happen in today’s day and age. The author has done a spectacular job creating tension and depth within the sorry and characters! I love how Chelsea’s background and history made her that much more invested and driven to not let it go until she found answers. This book also addresses the elephant in the room viewpoint of what stories get covered in the news and how low income people that go missing aren’t covered the same way as someone that is wealthy or middle class. The ending was very wild and didn’t fit the same vibe as the rest of the book in my opinion but didn’t take away from the satisfaction of this one. Overall this is a solid debut book and am excited to see what Emiko writes next!

Detective Chelsey Calhoun is one of the only women on her small town police force in Washington state. Her father was a cop before her, and she has known tragedy in her own life, with the loss of her older sister many years before.
When a teenage girl whose disappearance she had investigated two years before emerges from the forest, Chelsey is back on the case to figure out where Ellie Black has been, and to track down the person responsible for her kidnapping and captivity. She will stop at nothing to untangle the mystery, to the detriment of her own life if that’s what it takes to seek justice.
The Return of Ellie Black is told from multiple points of view, which definitely works in this case, as it gives the reader the chance to understand how it feels to chase down the bad guy, but also to know what it was like to be the one who was taken, as well as the people left behind. As Chelsey digs deeper, more and more unknowns emerge, and all are intriguing. The twists near the end are shocking, and the fast pace of Emiko Jean’s writing adds to the build up of all the suspense. This book is a thrill ride from start to finish, and fans of psychological suspense will want to get their hands on this one when it comes out!

A missing girl is found alive and an investigation ensues to find her captors and what happened. The police officer investigating is dealing with her own issues, which adds to the drama of the situation. This hooked me from the start and I couldn’t put it down. It’s both well-written and incredibly suspenseful. There are many twists and turns in the plot and several moments that actually made me gasp. I can’t wait to read more from this author. For fans of Lisa Unger and Karen Slaughter.

I am a long time fan of Emiko Jean. Mika in Real Life is one of my favorite contemporary reads and Tokyo Ever After is one of my favorite YA reads. I was very eager to see what EJ could do in my top genre and she did not let me down! Talk about a versatile writer.

Detective mystery thrillers is always a good time and I enjoyed how dark this one went. The book kept me guessing all the way through and I didn’t guess the culprit, which I always like. Lots of great twists and turns. I found myself staying up way past my bedtime wanting to binge it. The themes of grief, trauma, and abuse was well done. I can already tell this one is going to be popular!

This is one of those suspenseful reads that I start and can't put down and read through in one long night! Gripping and twisty, I loved this one. Highly recommended if you enjoy this genre.

I really enjoyed this new one by Emiko Jean. The story was engaging and there were definitely twists I didn’t see coming. I appreciate the way the story was structured so you had the current day storyline but then parts where Ellie was telling her story to fill in the blanks slowly. Very well done.

Wow! This book grabs you from that first page and doesn't let go through the final one. Love the characters and this fascinating story line.

This was scary good! I loved the characters, the crime, the setting, all of it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

There is no doubt that Emiko Jean is a phenomenal, gritty writer. In her newest mystery/thriller THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK, she takes readers on a harrowing journey with lots of unexpected twists and turns. Her characters are interesting and raw, and they consistently surprised me throughout this book.

When 19 year-old Ellie Black stumbles out of the woods after disappearing without a trace two years before, Detective Chelsey Calhoun is eager to discover who abducted her. Chelsey is driven to uncover mysteries like these because her own sister was killed when she was a teenager. But Ellie isn’t cooperative and it soon becomes apparent that she isn’t being completely forthcoming about her disappearance.

I was motivated to finish this thriller because it was so creepy, but unfortunately I didn’t feel a real connection to the characters. The point of view jumped between Chelsey and Ellie, and even Ellie’s mom and her dad. The parents’ points of view could have been eliminated entirely. I wanted more information about Ellie’s experience: why did her captors do what they did? I mean, it’s explained, but I never really understood their motivation. In addition, a couple of the twists came way out of left field. That being said, Emiko Jean can write really well, and I look forward to more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Simon and Schuster for an advanced digital copy of THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Return of Ellie Black is a well-written, compelling story about the kidnappings of young women, and the female detective with personal stakes, determined to find them. Although the tale and subject matter is dark, the author carefully maintains the story's suspense elements, including scenes of victim captivity, without delving into horror. We are given insight into the mind of the police detective determined to solve the crimes, and the methods used by the victims to survive. Ellie Black is the key to both. There are surprising twists and turns in this story, and interwoven subplots that come together at the conclusion. Readers will need to stretch their suspension of disbelief with this book, but The Return of Ellie Black is an interesting read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing an advance copy of this book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

If you're someone who enjoys reading mystery and thriller novels, then Emiko Jean's latest book, The Return of Ellie Black, is an absolute must-read for you! This book is a true page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover. Without giving away any spoilers, I can assure you that the plot of the book is expertly crafted with perfectly placed twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end.

What makes this book stand out from others in the genre is the character of Detective Chelsey Calhoun, who is the central figure of the story. Chelsey is a complex character that is fully fleshed out, making her relatable and interesting to read about. Her character development throughout the book is done in a way that feels natural and organic. Emiko Jean has done a fantastic job of creating a strong female lead that readers will root for and want to see succeed.

Overall, The Return of Ellie Black is a 5+++ star novel that I highly recommend for your summer reading list. It's a well-written, engaging and thrilling story that will keep you captivated until the final page. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I would love to see Detective Chelsey Calhoun turned into a series with more cases to solve. Give this book a chance, and I promise you won't be disappointed!

I want to start off with my ratings for this book. It was a solid 4 stars. I really enjoyed it

It is about a girl named Ellie who goes missing for 2 years and then reappears. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is assigned to her case and she has the job to figure out where Ellie has been for the past two years but when Ellie is interviewed, she refuses to open up and help with the investigation. Chelsey believes that Ellie may not be the only victim and is racing against the clock to get answers from Ellie.

I loved the writing of this author. I felt like I was part of the book as a detective looking for answers.

The two main characters are portrayed with great depth and keen observation. Chelsey is depicted as complex and burdened due to her family background and past events, which drive her dedication as an officer. She possesses empathy but also keen perceptiveness. In contrast, Ellie undergoes a stark transformation from a lively teenager before her abduction to a haunted and grieving individual upon her return. Her loss of identity and profound suffering evoke deep empathy from the reader.

It’s not an easy book to read as there is depections of SA, rape, kidnapping, mental isolation, cult vibes but it’s one worth reading.

I couldn’t out this down and had to finish it as quickly as possible to find both what was going on. It was a mystery that I didn’t guess ahead of time so I loved that! I enjoyed Chelsey as a character, as she tries to figure out what happened to Ellie Black.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

This story is full of twists and turns. I definitely thought one thing and then the story twists. It was shocking and I enjoy a story that has a plot change, however, the end of the story almost comes too soon and is wrapped up a little neatly, given how complex the story is. Not really a happy ending but a clean ending nevertheless.

For her debut novel, author Emiko Jean presents a commercial book about kidnappings and murder of young women by evil, nasty males. Sexual exploitation of women and girls is a dastardly subject area and I did not enjoy reading how evil the men who committed these acts were.
Which isn't to say that I didn't enjoy much of the novel. The author is excellent in describing the emotions and fears that the female characters have. I do wonder why a debut novelist chose to go this dark in her first book. The Return of Ellie Black does not tell us anything new about the crimes discussed. It's main satisfaction is in the interesting characters the author presents.
My rating of 3.5 stars is rounded up to encourage this author in her writing career. Another topic might have blown me away! I'll keep an eye out for her second book!
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

An interesting twist on abductions, Stockholm syndrome, and dysfunctional families. I thought this title started slowly however I plugged along and was glad I did. I think the ending could have been tighter.

This was truly a humdinger! The author definitely captured what I perceive to be the trauma and mindset of kidnap victims. At first I was wondering if she were talking about Elizabeth Smart and later on I wondered if she were mixing Elizabeth with Patty Hearst. In any event, it was a very gripping and poignant story, certainly hard to put down.

My single complaint was that there were too many social issues included in the story. They detracted from the main plot.

I will look forward to more novels by this talented author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for an early readers copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.