What do you think?
Rate this book
The Return of Ellie Black
ϻӮ Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2024)Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life is turned upside down when she gets the call Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared years earlier, has resurfaced in the woods of Washington state—but Ellie’s reappearance leaves Chelsey with more questions than answers.
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.
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.
299 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
3,520 people are currently reading
137k people want to read
About the author
Emiko Jean
15books2,590followersEmiko Jean is a New York Times best-selling author of adult and young adult fiction.Her books have been published in over thirty languages. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America as a GMA book club pick, by Reese Witherspoon as a young adult book club pick, and in publications such as: Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Cosmopolitan, Shondaland and Bustle. She lives in Washington with her husband and two kids.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,788 reviews
August 7, 2024
3 Stars
I enjoyed this and I actually read it in one sitting. The writing was good. The pacing was good. And I liked the multiple POVs.
However, I thought the twisty elements toward the end were lame. There were some eye-rolling moments on my part, for sure.
I enjoyed this and I actually read it in one sitting. The writing was good. The pacing was good. And I liked the multiple POVs.
However, I thought the twisty elements toward the end were lame. There were some eye-rolling moments on my part, for sure.
January 4, 2024
Wow!
Seventeen year-old Ellie Black leaves a party in search of a bathroom. And poof… she vanishes. Two years later she’s discovered wandering in the woods. A shell of her former self.
Her parents and former boyfriend thankful she’s alive, rally around her to help any way they can. But oddly, when it comes time for Ellie to tell her story to police she stays silent, refusing to help the investigation.
As lead detective on Ellie’s case, Chelsey Calhoun desperately needs Ellie to open up and help now! She fears Ellie may not be the only victim. The clock is ticking…
I loved Chelsey’s character, with both her professional and personal life on display. She lost her sister to violence at a young age that not only shaped her into the strong woman she is today, but also guided her into her career in law enforcement.
This isn’t a rapid- paced thriller. Rather, it's a slow deliberate tale taking you deep into the depraved world of monsters preying on women. I was absolutely riveted by this storyline, devouring every word, losing myself within the narrative.
This author is new to me. She has an incredible skill for pulling you into the storyline. The fear and despair the characters experienced was palpable.
I cannot wait to read more from this author.
⚠️There are portions of the book that are disturbing and unsettling so be prepared…but don’t shy away. It is one of my top reads.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss
Seventeen year-old Ellie Black leaves a party in search of a bathroom. And poof… she vanishes. Two years later she’s discovered wandering in the woods. A shell of her former self.
Her parents and former boyfriend thankful she’s alive, rally around her to help any way they can. But oddly, when it comes time for Ellie to tell her story to police she stays silent, refusing to help the investigation.
As lead detective on Ellie’s case, Chelsey Calhoun desperately needs Ellie to open up and help now! She fears Ellie may not be the only victim. The clock is ticking…
I loved Chelsey’s character, with both her professional and personal life on display. She lost her sister to violence at a young age that not only shaped her into the strong woman she is today, but also guided her into her career in law enforcement.
This isn’t a rapid- paced thriller. Rather, it's a slow deliberate tale taking you deep into the depraved world of monsters preying on women. I was absolutely riveted by this storyline, devouring every word, losing myself within the narrative.
This author is new to me. She has an incredible skill for pulling you into the storyline. The fear and despair the characters experienced was palpable.
I cannot wait to read more from this author.
⚠️There are portions of the book that are disturbing and unsettling so be prepared…but don’t shy away. It is one of my top reads.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss
February 3, 2025
Wow! Inhale! Exhale! I recently watched a viral TikTok video where readers were left stunned by a jaw-dropping twist in "Keep It in the Family" by John Marrs. The video had people staring at the camera in shock, exclaiming "WTF!" I decided to film my reaction when I reached the most talked-about twist, and let me tell you, I never saw it coming—even though it was right in front of me the entire time. When I hit that twist, I screamed "WTF" so loudly that I spilled my entire latte on my jeans and cried, both because of the twist and because I had spent way too much on that latte (which I was supposed to cut back on due to my latte expense overtaking my Chardonnay budget). I also loved those jeans! But the twist was worth it—utterly shocking. My jaw hit the floor, and my eyes practically popped out, giving me a young Gene Wilder meets Jeremy Allen White look.
Now, back to my review: This book is riveting, disturbing, surprising, dark, sad, heart-wrenching, and thought-provoking. It tackles several heavy subjects like mansplaining, abuse, mental health, psychological torture, alcoholism, dysfunctional family issues, grief, and violence. The content is intense and may be triggering for some, but it's also realistic and well-written, tapping into deep-seated fears and identity issues. It explores the impact of family secrets, how closed doors can shape children's lives, and the ways in which their mental health can deteriorate, influenced by their parents' distorted perspectives.
Detective Chelsey Calhoun, a Japanese American adopted and raised with her sister Lydia, faced a devastating family tragedy when Lydia ran away one night and was later found dead with her boyfriend, who also took his own life. This tore their family apart, with Chelsey’s mother leaving and her father coping by taking Chelsey to hunting parties, teaching her to be tough and self-reliant, eventually turning her into a controlled police officer like him.
Chelsey is haunted by guilt for not being able to save her sister and is consumed by her quest to find missing girls, which strains her marriage with Noah. She’s trapped in her past, especially after her father's recent passing and her efforts to rid herself of childhood memories.
When Ellie Black, missing for two years, is found alive in the woods of Washington State, Chelsey believes she can use this breakthrough to find other missing girls connected to Ellie’s case. However, her hopes are dashed when she meets Ellie, who is now a socially dissociated young woman nearing 20. Ellie is uncooperative, avoids physical contact, and likely hides something. Why won't she cooperate? How did she escape when another girl, likely taken by the same abductor, was found dead? What secrets is Ellie keeping?
Chelsey is determined to uncover the truth, bring the missing girls home, and imprison their captors. But what if digging deeper forces her to confront harsh truths that could change her life forever? What if the mental cage she's in is as dangerous as the physical one the girls were kept in?
Overall, this novel features excellent character development, balanced pacing, a jaw-dropping climax, and a well-constructed conclusion. Emiko Jean has firmly established herself as one of my favorite authors. I can't express how much I enjoyed this book—one of the best thrillers I've read this year, and I highly recommend it!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
Now, back to my review: This book is riveting, disturbing, surprising, dark, sad, heart-wrenching, and thought-provoking. It tackles several heavy subjects like mansplaining, abuse, mental health, psychological torture, alcoholism, dysfunctional family issues, grief, and violence. The content is intense and may be triggering for some, but it's also realistic and well-written, tapping into deep-seated fears and identity issues. It explores the impact of family secrets, how closed doors can shape children's lives, and the ways in which their mental health can deteriorate, influenced by their parents' distorted perspectives.
Detective Chelsey Calhoun, a Japanese American adopted and raised with her sister Lydia, faced a devastating family tragedy when Lydia ran away one night and was later found dead with her boyfriend, who also took his own life. This tore their family apart, with Chelsey’s mother leaving and her father coping by taking Chelsey to hunting parties, teaching her to be tough and self-reliant, eventually turning her into a controlled police officer like him.
Chelsey is haunted by guilt for not being able to save her sister and is consumed by her quest to find missing girls, which strains her marriage with Noah. She’s trapped in her past, especially after her father's recent passing and her efforts to rid herself of childhood memories.
When Ellie Black, missing for two years, is found alive in the woods of Washington State, Chelsey believes she can use this breakthrough to find other missing girls connected to Ellie’s case. However, her hopes are dashed when she meets Ellie, who is now a socially dissociated young woman nearing 20. Ellie is uncooperative, avoids physical contact, and likely hides something. Why won't she cooperate? How did she escape when another girl, likely taken by the same abductor, was found dead? What secrets is Ellie keeping?
Chelsey is determined to uncover the truth, bring the missing girls home, and imprison their captors. But what if digging deeper forces her to confront harsh truths that could change her life forever? What if the mental cage she's in is as dangerous as the physical one the girls were kept in?
Overall, this novel features excellent character development, balanced pacing, a jaw-dropping climax, and a well-constructed conclusion. Emiko Jean has firmly established herself as one of my favorite authors. I can't express how much I enjoyed this book—one of the best thrillers I've read this year, and I highly recommend it!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
June 5, 2024
Is it me or are thrillers not hitting the same way they use too??
The Return of Ellie Black or if you are in the UK like myself it is titled as ‘The Next Girl’ is following Detective Chelsey Calhoun, who is very hyper focus on her role for missing girls as her own sister vanished without a trace 20 years earlier. Chelsey has now received a call that Ellie Black (a teenage girl who has been missing for two years) has been found. Chelsey wants to solve and get to the bottom of who took Ellie and to prevent the kidnapper from taking another, but it seems Ellie’s reappearance is spiking up more questions than answers… DUN DUN DUN
Truthfully the first 30% of this book had me on ropes! There was so much potential, and I was LIVING for the multiple POVS, from Chelsey, Ellie and her family members. The social commentary was delivering ad had me bopping my head like ‘yep, yep, yep’ and it was heartfelt listening to the POVS of family members and their aftermath of what it felt like having a missing child.
Then the middle came and suddenly, the writing felt OFF! It was like the author had decided we could no longer comprehend basic information and had to gives us the dummies guide of everything that was happening. It felt like I was being spoon fed to the point of vomiting.
Then the last 20% shouted ‘SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEFS TO HIGH HEAVENS AND THROW YOUR COMMON SENSE OUT THE WINDOW’. I questioned whether I had picked up a different book, because the reveal was so egregious and giving YA WATTPAD, I was stumped into what reaction should I be having right now?
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Ellies POV (backstory) was sooo good and broke my heart. I felt like I was trapped with her and
could feel every emotion
➽ The Social commentary
➽ First 30% was a solid psychological thriller
➽ Even Paced
➽ Didn’t see one of the twists coming
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The writing became very juvenile and drawn out
➽ Would have enjoyed more of Ellie’s parents POV especially her mum
➽ Why was Chelsey boyfriend even introduced in this story. Poor sod was a non factor throughout.
➽ The Ի徱Բ… EVERYBODY GO TO JAIL IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!
➽
The synopsis is very cheeky as its portraying as a heavy plot based book, but this was definitely more character driven with a whiplash ‘I beg your finest pardon’ Ի徱Բ…
I’ve been going back and forth with what to rate this, because I’m still confused and bamboozled. So I’m going to leave it at a 3 star. I do think a lot of people would enjoy this (hence the high ratings) but I can also see a lot of people shouting BSFR!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
I am only reading this because all my mutuals have rated this either a 4 or 5 ⭐️
I want to experience that high buzzed rating too! Fingers crossed 🤞🏾❤️💛
The Return of Ellie Black or if you are in the UK like myself it is titled as ‘The Next Girl’ is following Detective Chelsey Calhoun, who is very hyper focus on her role for missing girls as her own sister vanished without a trace 20 years earlier. Chelsey has now received a call that Ellie Black (a teenage girl who has been missing for two years) has been found. Chelsey wants to solve and get to the bottom of who took Ellie and to prevent the kidnapper from taking another, but it seems Ellie’s reappearance is spiking up more questions than answers… DUN DUN DUN
Truthfully the first 30% of this book had me on ropes! There was so much potential, and I was LIVING for the multiple POVS, from Chelsey, Ellie and her family members. The social commentary was delivering ad had me bopping my head like ‘yep, yep, yep’ and it was heartfelt listening to the POVS of family members and their aftermath of what it felt like having a missing child.
Then the middle came and suddenly, the writing felt OFF! It was like the author had decided we could no longer comprehend basic information and had to gives us the dummies guide of everything that was happening. It felt like I was being spoon fed to the point of vomiting.
Then the last 20% shouted ‘SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEFS TO HIGH HEAVENS AND THROW YOUR COMMON SENSE OUT THE WINDOW’. I questioned whether I had picked up a different book, because the reveal was so egregious and giving YA WATTPAD, I was stumped into what reaction should I be having right now?
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Ellies POV (backstory) was sooo good and broke my heart. I felt like I was trapped with her and
could feel every emotion
➽ The Social commentary
➽ First 30% was a solid psychological thriller
➽ Even Paced
➽ Didn’t see one of the twists coming
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The writing became very juvenile and drawn out
➽ Would have enjoyed more of Ellie’s parents POV especially her mum
➽ Why was Chelsey boyfriend even introduced in this story. Poor sod was a non factor throughout.
➽ The Ի徱Բ… EVERYBODY GO TO JAIL IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!
➽
The synopsis is very cheeky as its portraying as a heavy plot based book, but this was definitely more character driven with a whiplash ‘I beg your finest pardon’ Ի徱Բ…
I’ve been going back and forth with what to rate this, because I’m still confused and bamboozled. So I’m going to leave it at a 3 star. I do think a lot of people would enjoy this (hence the high ratings) but I can also see a lot of people shouting BSFR!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
I am only reading this because all my mutuals have rated this either a 4 or 5 ⭐️
I want to experience that high buzzed rating too! Fingers crossed 🤞🏾❤️💛
May 2, 2025
Ellie Black has been missing for 2-years when she's suddenly found by hikers in the woods of Washington State.
She's distraught and disheveled, but where exactly has she been? Detective Chelsey Calhoun is shocked by Ellie's reappearance, but unfortunately, Ellie's not offering up a lot of answers. The mystery lingers.
For Chelsey, any missing person case hits close to home. Her sister, Lydia, went missing when they were just teens, and ever since, Chelsey has been searching for closure for herself, and any other missing girls out there.
As Chelsey begins questioning Ellie, she's not able to get any real answers from her. It feels off, like Ellie is hiding something, but what? She's a victim here, right?
This novel is insta-compelling. We kick off with Ellie being discovered and from there, it's a ride. We get a lot of different perspectives, and even different points in time, as we begin to build out the truth behind this mystery.
I was initially surprised by all the perspectives, but somehow, it just worked. I also loved the tone from the start, how mysterious it all was.
This definitely kept me guessing and I appreciated how Jean continually added to the mystery. What started out as the mystery of what had happened to Ellie, ultimately evolved into so much more.
I thought Jean had some very clever reveals and I loved the thoughtful way she explored the topic of the exploitation and victimization of women.
Overall, I was impressed with this. The tone stood out for me. I'm not sure quite how to explain it, but it felt distinctive from other Missing Persons Thrillers. It's quite character-drive, but so well-executed.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm looking forward to reading more from Emiko Jean!
She's distraught and disheveled, but where exactly has she been? Detective Chelsey Calhoun is shocked by Ellie's reappearance, but unfortunately, Ellie's not offering up a lot of answers. The mystery lingers.
For Chelsey, any missing person case hits close to home. Her sister, Lydia, went missing when they were just teens, and ever since, Chelsey has been searching for closure for herself, and any other missing girls out there.
As Chelsey begins questioning Ellie, she's not able to get any real answers from her. It feels off, like Ellie is hiding something, but what? She's a victim here, right?
This novel is insta-compelling. We kick off with Ellie being discovered and from there, it's a ride. We get a lot of different perspectives, and even different points in time, as we begin to build out the truth behind this mystery.
I was initially surprised by all the perspectives, but somehow, it just worked. I also loved the tone from the start, how mysterious it all was.
This definitely kept me guessing and I appreciated how Jean continually added to the mystery. What started out as the mystery of what had happened to Ellie, ultimately evolved into so much more.
I thought Jean had some very clever reveals and I loved the thoughtful way she explored the topic of the exploitation and victimization of women.
Overall, I was impressed with this. The tone stood out for me. I'm not sure quite how to explain it, but it felt distinctive from other Missing Persons Thrillers. It's quite character-drive, but so well-executed.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm looking forward to reading more from Emiko Jean!
May 6, 2024
Wow!! Guys… trust me.. DON’T miss this book!! 😍 Hands down 5 fantastic stars!! ⭐️ Pub date is tomorrow!!! May 7th!! 🥳🥳🥳 Huge shoutout to @simonbooks for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰🥰🥰
Ellie… wow… where have you been girl?? 😳 I absolutely loved the way this played out!! The POV of Ellie was absolutely terrifying. I felt like I was listening to an abducted girl tell us her story. It seriously felt like true crime… it was that realistic… that horrifying.. and just that well done👏👏
Our girl Ellie was just a bit of a wild child… having herself a motel party… no good will come of that.. 😬…she wanders off to find a ⛽️ gas station bathroom… and just like that… she has vanished… 💥 … nobody has a clue what happened to her.. 🤷♀️
Except… WE know what happened to her! 😬😳🥺🤬 Another thing that I loved about this book is it focused alot on victim’s psychological state during and after the abuse. We literally were living the nightmare with Ellie. 😭
Then the twists… 😳… for a hot minute I questioned everything… and I do mean EVERYTHING!! I absolutely binged this book!! I had to know… what was going to be Ellie’s fate. It’s a race against time to find the creep that took her… 😡… The alternate POV’s just added to the pure intensity!!
🖤🖤🖤 Absolutely loved it!! Is this on your TBR?
Ellie… wow… where have you been girl?? 😳 I absolutely loved the way this played out!! The POV of Ellie was absolutely terrifying. I felt like I was listening to an abducted girl tell us her story. It seriously felt like true crime… it was that realistic… that horrifying.. and just that well done👏👏
Our girl Ellie was just a bit of a wild child… having herself a motel party… no good will come of that.. 😬…she wanders off to find a ⛽️ gas station bathroom… and just like that… she has vanished… 💥 … nobody has a clue what happened to her.. 🤷♀️
Except… WE know what happened to her! 😬😳🥺🤬 Another thing that I loved about this book is it focused alot on victim’s psychological state during and after the abuse. We literally were living the nightmare with Ellie. 😭
Then the twists… 😳… for a hot minute I questioned everything… and I do mean EVERYTHING!! I absolutely binged this book!! I had to know… what was going to be Ellie’s fate. It’s a race against time to find the creep that took her… 😡… The alternate POV’s just added to the pure intensity!!
🖤🖤🖤 Absolutely loved it!! Is this on your TBR?
December 20, 2023
Detective Chelsey Calhoun receives a phone call informing her that Ellie Black, a missing teen, has been found. Chelsey jumps into action but can't help but think about her sister who went missing years ago. Ellie isn't giving up any information and Chelsey leaves no stone unturned in search of answers. This was a gripping tale of depravity, captivity, manipulation, trauma.
It is not an easy tale to read and I felt for so many of the characters. Some of the scenes do not make for easy reading - you've been warned. There are some twists and a shocking reveal at the end. I did not see it coming at all.
This is my first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.
Gripping, dark, heartbreaking, and dark.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
It is not an easy tale to read and I felt for so many of the characters. Some of the scenes do not make for easy reading - you've been warned. There are some twists and a shocking reveal at the end. I did not see it coming at all.
This is my first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.
Gripping, dark, heartbreaking, and dark.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
July 30, 2024
**Many thanks to Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster, and Emiko Jean for a DRC of this book! Now available as of 5.7!!**
🚨 WARNING: Outlier Review to follow!🚨
Detective Chelsey Calhoun has seen her share of gritty and disturbing cases over the years...and has seen many a case involving a missing girl. While this trend would horrify even the most seasoned in her profession, Chelsey has another layer of emotional investment: her OWN sister went missing many years ago, as a teen, and the case remains unsolved. With this fire in her belly, Chelsey goes about life as a detective, hoping to stop other instances of forgotten girls from cropping up, and also to hopefully get to the bottom of her sister's case... and perhaps even discover her alive.
So when she gets a call that teenager Ellie Black, missing for two years, has resurfaced in the Washington State woods, Detective Calhoun can hardly contain her relief. After all, if one girl has returned...could there be more to come? Chelsey jumps at the chance to work the case and talk to Ellie to get answers about what transpired in the last two years. There's just one problem: Ellie doesn't want to talk. Detective Calhoun knows there must be something truly horrifying that is forcing Ellie to keep her silence...but what is it? And was Ellie's return simply the trigger for an even MORE dangerous turn of events to take place...where nobody, not even Detective Calhoun, will be left standing when the smoke clears?
It's a fair statement to say my expectations were sky high coming into this book, after reading several glowing reviews from trusted reviewer friends and also being a fan of Emiko Jean's prior to reading. I thoroughly enjoyed and if anything, felt somewhat of an outlier in how much I enjoyed THAT read, so I figured perhaps after switching genres, Jean had even MORESO hit her groove, and I would be another enthusiastic reviewer of this book.
In this case, however, I think I preferred Jean's new adult/YA romances... and perhaps her style of 'thriller' just isn't my cup of tea either.
The transition from romance to thriller author seems to be increasingly common these days, with SEVERAL mainstream (and some lesser known) authors making the leap. I'm not sure if it's because there's a misconception that thriller writing is 'sexier' in its way than romance writing, but in my opinion, this has led to a lot of authors who have excellent writing chops leaning on tropes that sort of have been done to death...and unfortunately, not bringing much 'newness' to the table.
The first thing that caught my eye as a reader when flipping through the first 20-30% of this book was that (unsurprisingly, due to the character's age and the author's writing background) it read VERY YA...and there's a good reason for that. Emiko Jean confirmed on BOTM's podcast that this book actually STARTED OUT as a YA book, got rejected as such, and was then rewritten in the form we see here. In my mind, there is a clear division in the book: the early segment still had significant YA flavor, whereas the latter half of the book read more 'adult', although I'd argue that aside from the subject matter feeling more 'adult', the whole book could have matched the tonal quality of the first section without missing a beat.
For instance, there's the character of Chelsey, who is an adult, but in some ways seems like she's still stuck back in her teenage persona. So many times while reading I had trouble BELIEVING her as a detective...the things she was saying just felt more like a 20 something who was new to the scene, rather than a somewhat seasoned detective. I felt like she got a lot of help that most detectives wouldn't necessarily receive, and her sleuthing was borne from coincidence rather than insight. While I did enjoy the tie-in between her muddy and tumultuous past and her conflicted emotions about the loss of her sister and the present day circumstances surrounding Ellie, at times it was JUST a bit much.
And then of course, there's Ellie Black herself. I had such a hard time LIKING her character, that despite the ugly circumstances she endured, I have to admit I groaned more than once when we dove back into her backstory at any given time. Jean went to such lengths to keep the reader invested in twists to come, I felt like it almost did her characters a disservice. The plot had to remain sort of convoluted to be interesting, and it lost some of the emotional gravitas as we sort of bounced back and forth between whether or not we were supposed to like Ellie, fear her, pity her, or WHO was truly the enemy here.
All of this leads to a point that has been hammered home in SO many other missing girls stories: men can't be trusted, women are bound to be victims, etc. And while there is some truth to this, I felt disappointed in this particular instance that Jean didn't add anything NEW to the discourse. Because I feel like I've read so many similar books that have had a more cohesive or surprising ending, after finishing this a couple of weeks ago, I already feel like it has sort of blurred and blended with other stories in my mind and will end up forgotten entirely after more time has passed. Lines such as "I wish this wasn't what it means to be female--it is not a matter of it something bad will happen, but when." for instance, probably WERE impactful...the first time I heard them, anyway.
And while the book was celebrating the Return of Ellie Black, I'll keep holding out hope for another return: the return of the emotionally driven, balanced, romantic, and FUNNY writing of one truly talented author...better known as Emiko Jean.
3.5 stars
🚨 WARNING: Outlier Review to follow!🚨
Detective Chelsey Calhoun has seen her share of gritty and disturbing cases over the years...and has seen many a case involving a missing girl. While this trend would horrify even the most seasoned in her profession, Chelsey has another layer of emotional investment: her OWN sister went missing many years ago, as a teen, and the case remains unsolved. With this fire in her belly, Chelsey goes about life as a detective, hoping to stop other instances of forgotten girls from cropping up, and also to hopefully get to the bottom of her sister's case... and perhaps even discover her alive.
So when she gets a call that teenager Ellie Black, missing for two years, has resurfaced in the Washington State woods, Detective Calhoun can hardly contain her relief. After all, if one girl has returned...could there be more to come? Chelsey jumps at the chance to work the case and talk to Ellie to get answers about what transpired in the last two years. There's just one problem: Ellie doesn't want to talk. Detective Calhoun knows there must be something truly horrifying that is forcing Ellie to keep her silence...but what is it? And was Ellie's return simply the trigger for an even MORE dangerous turn of events to take place...where nobody, not even Detective Calhoun, will be left standing when the smoke clears?
It's a fair statement to say my expectations were sky high coming into this book, after reading several glowing reviews from trusted reviewer friends and also being a fan of Emiko Jean's prior to reading. I thoroughly enjoyed and if anything, felt somewhat of an outlier in how much I enjoyed THAT read, so I figured perhaps after switching genres, Jean had even MORESO hit her groove, and I would be another enthusiastic reviewer of this book.
In this case, however, I think I preferred Jean's new adult/YA romances... and perhaps her style of 'thriller' just isn't my cup of tea either.
The transition from romance to thriller author seems to be increasingly common these days, with SEVERAL mainstream (and some lesser known) authors making the leap. I'm not sure if it's because there's a misconception that thriller writing is 'sexier' in its way than romance writing, but in my opinion, this has led to a lot of authors who have excellent writing chops leaning on tropes that sort of have been done to death...and unfortunately, not bringing much 'newness' to the table.
The first thing that caught my eye as a reader when flipping through the first 20-30% of this book was that (unsurprisingly, due to the character's age and the author's writing background) it read VERY YA...and there's a good reason for that. Emiko Jean confirmed on BOTM's podcast that this book actually STARTED OUT as a YA book, got rejected as such, and was then rewritten in the form we see here. In my mind, there is a clear division in the book: the early segment still had significant YA flavor, whereas the latter half of the book read more 'adult', although I'd argue that aside from the subject matter feeling more 'adult', the whole book could have matched the tonal quality of the first section without missing a beat.
For instance, there's the character of Chelsey, who is an adult, but in some ways seems like she's still stuck back in her teenage persona. So many times while reading I had trouble BELIEVING her as a detective...the things she was saying just felt more like a 20 something who was new to the scene, rather than a somewhat seasoned detective. I felt like she got a lot of help that most detectives wouldn't necessarily receive, and her sleuthing was borne from coincidence rather than insight. While I did enjoy the tie-in between her muddy and tumultuous past and her conflicted emotions about the loss of her sister and the present day circumstances surrounding Ellie, at times it was JUST a bit much.
And then of course, there's Ellie Black herself. I had such a hard time LIKING her character, that despite the ugly circumstances she endured, I have to admit I groaned more than once when we dove back into her backstory at any given time. Jean went to such lengths to keep the reader invested in twists to come, I felt like it almost did her characters a disservice. The plot had to remain sort of convoluted to be interesting, and it lost some of the emotional gravitas as we sort of bounced back and forth between whether or not we were supposed to like Ellie, fear her, pity her, or WHO was truly the enemy here.
All of this leads to a point that has been hammered home in SO many other missing girls stories: men can't be trusted, women are bound to be victims, etc. And while there is some truth to this, I felt disappointed in this particular instance that Jean didn't add anything NEW to the discourse. Because I feel like I've read so many similar books that have had a more cohesive or surprising ending, after finishing this a couple of weeks ago, I already feel like it has sort of blurred and blended with other stories in my mind and will end up forgotten entirely after more time has passed. Lines such as "I wish this wasn't what it means to be female--it is not a matter of it something bad will happen, but when." for instance, probably WERE impactful...the first time I heard them, anyway.
And while the book was celebrating the Return of Ellie Black, I'll keep holding out hope for another return: the return of the emotionally driven, balanced, romantic, and FUNNY writing of one truly talented author...better known as Emiko Jean.
3.5 stars
November 24, 2023
What is your name?
My name is Elizabeth Black.
Two hikers discover a girl who says she is Ellie Black who has been missing for two years. Detective Chelsey Calhoun, originally in charge of the case, is roused from her bed to investigate. The last time Ellie is seen before she disappears is approximately 11:30 pm at a motel party she organises. Chelsey questions all who have had contact with Ellie including family and school friends and that just serves to deepen the mystery of the girl. The story is principally told by Chelsey, whose perspective on the impact of the case on an officer is insightful and by Ellie, whose honest reflections of her old self is heartbreaking. Despite the fact that Ellie is found alive, why does have just Chelsey have a feeling of foreboding about her return? She just has to get to the truth.
This is an immersive mystery/psychological thriller, which inevitably doesn’t always made make for easy reading. The two central characters are extremely well portrayed and pertinently observed. Chelsey is complex and complicated, her background and things that have occurred within her family means that she carries burdens. However, this is probably what drives her to go the extra mile as an officer, she also has empathy but equally doesn’t miss much. The contrast between Ellie before her abduction and on her return is stark. Then she’s a lively young lady, pushing boundaries and exhausting her parents therefore a typical teen! On her return, she’s a shadow, haunted by her shocking experiences, she’s grieving and suffering. It’s heartrending. She has lost her identity and everything that makes her, her and you really feel for her.
As the story of the last two years of her life become clear, the story becomes darker and darker and more and more shocking. The author doesn’t excellent job of examining the psychological impact of captivity, the strong bonds that are made, the manipulation, the sacrifices, as well as the physical and mental toll. It shocks you to the core and makes you feel a whole range of emotions.
The victimology is done extremely well too, Ellie like others taken before her are all from low income families, who apart from family, in reality no one will miss much. I know, it’s absolutely terrible to even suggest it. The police searches won’t be as thorough as someone from a wealthy background, nor will the press be as interested. I’m afraid it’s true, look at the continuous press interest in pretty Madeline McCann versus those who are say, of colour. Different, much? This is one of the most unsettling, unsavoury aspects of this tragic story, which is full of off notes and uncertain vibes that knock you off kilter, if not off your feet entirely.
There is much to praise in this novel however, I am very unconvinced by the ending. It’s not bad per se, but it is a bit out there, somewhat left field and it’s not what I’m expecting. I don’t hate it but by the same token I don’t love it either.
Overall though, it’s a gripping read, though very far from an easy one.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
My name is Elizabeth Black.
Two hikers discover a girl who says she is Ellie Black who has been missing for two years. Detective Chelsey Calhoun, originally in charge of the case, is roused from her bed to investigate. The last time Ellie is seen before she disappears is approximately 11:30 pm at a motel party she organises. Chelsey questions all who have had contact with Ellie including family and school friends and that just serves to deepen the mystery of the girl. The story is principally told by Chelsey, whose perspective on the impact of the case on an officer is insightful and by Ellie, whose honest reflections of her old self is heartbreaking. Despite the fact that Ellie is found alive, why does have just Chelsey have a feeling of foreboding about her return? She just has to get to the truth.
This is an immersive mystery/psychological thriller, which inevitably doesn’t always made make for easy reading. The two central characters are extremely well portrayed and pertinently observed. Chelsey is complex and complicated, her background and things that have occurred within her family means that she carries burdens. However, this is probably what drives her to go the extra mile as an officer, she also has empathy but equally doesn’t miss much. The contrast between Ellie before her abduction and on her return is stark. Then she’s a lively young lady, pushing boundaries and exhausting her parents therefore a typical teen! On her return, she’s a shadow, haunted by her shocking experiences, she’s grieving and suffering. It’s heartrending. She has lost her identity and everything that makes her, her and you really feel for her.
As the story of the last two years of her life become clear, the story becomes darker and darker and more and more shocking. The author doesn’t excellent job of examining the psychological impact of captivity, the strong bonds that are made, the manipulation, the sacrifices, as well as the physical and mental toll. It shocks you to the core and makes you feel a whole range of emotions.
The victimology is done extremely well too, Ellie like others taken before her are all from low income families, who apart from family, in reality no one will miss much. I know, it’s absolutely terrible to even suggest it. The police searches won’t be as thorough as someone from a wealthy background, nor will the press be as interested. I’m afraid it’s true, look at the continuous press interest in pretty Madeline McCann versus those who are say, of colour. Different, much? This is one of the most unsettling, unsavoury aspects of this tragic story, which is full of off notes and uncertain vibes that knock you off kilter, if not off your feet entirely.
There is much to praise in this novel however, I am very unconvinced by the ending. It’s not bad per se, but it is a bit out there, somewhat left field and it’s not what I’m expecting. I don’t hate it but by the same token I don’t love it either.
Overall though, it’s a gripping read, though very far from an easy one.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 14, 2024
4.5 stars, rounded up
The Return of Ellie Black is an intense, chilling thriller that kept me in its grips. Ellie is seventeen when she is snatched. Then, two years later, she is found wandering near a trailhead. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is given the assignment to find her abductor. But Ellie refuses to help with the investigation. It’s obvious she’s hiding something, but ‘the what’ is unclear.
The story is told from multiple perspectives and across the years. Ellie’s segments were totally engrossing and intense. Chelsey’s police origin story, as she calls it, goes back to her sister being murdered when she was a teenager. These two were great, fully fleshed out characters. There are so many layers to each of them. The book touches on PTSD, Stockholm syndrome, what we will do for those we love, grief and dysfunctional families.
There are plenty of twists in this story. It was a taut thriller with writing that enabled me to easily envision the scenes. This is not a book for the meek. Several of the scenes are disturbing.
This is an impressive debut novel and I’ll be curious to see what Jean comes up with next.
I listened to this and the audiobook employs a full cast of narrators. The woman who voiced Ellie was particularly excellent.
The Return of Ellie Black is an intense, chilling thriller that kept me in its grips. Ellie is seventeen when she is snatched. Then, two years later, she is found wandering near a trailhead. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is given the assignment to find her abductor. But Ellie refuses to help with the investigation. It’s obvious she’s hiding something, but ‘the what’ is unclear.
The story is told from multiple perspectives and across the years. Ellie’s segments were totally engrossing and intense. Chelsey’s police origin story, as she calls it, goes back to her sister being murdered when she was a teenager. These two were great, fully fleshed out characters. There are so many layers to each of them. The book touches on PTSD, Stockholm syndrome, what we will do for those we love, grief and dysfunctional families.
There are plenty of twists in this story. It was a taut thriller with writing that enabled me to easily envision the scenes. This is not a book for the meek. Several of the scenes are disturbing.
This is an impressive debut novel and I’ll be curious to see what Jean comes up with next.
I listened to this and the audiobook employs a full cast of narrators. The woman who voiced Ellie was particularly excellent.
April 17, 2024
4.5 rounded to 5 for GR! i DEVOUREDDDDD this audiobook—i don’t think I’ve ever finished an audiobook in 2 days 👏🏼 so good i literally couldn’t put it down!
*this was a full cast audiobook too which if you haven’t read one of those yet, they are supreme. audio is the way to go for this one, every character/voice lets you get immersed in the story so well and i was (clearly) so invested.
the mystery in this one was so well executed. the author tested a new genre with this release and job well done to her! it reminded me a bit of Karin Slaughter’s books with the mystery + the detective case. but not nearly as graphic 😅😂
it covers a young girl who goes missing and a detective investigating the case. what you think is a one missing girl disappearance turns into something MUCH bigger than anyone could have guessed…
wasn’t sure where this was going to end but soooo pleased and surprised with the ending! truly have such little critiques on this book and recommend readers add to their TBR when it releases 5/7.
*this was a full cast audiobook too which if you haven’t read one of those yet, they are supreme. audio is the way to go for this one, every character/voice lets you get immersed in the story so well and i was (clearly) so invested.
the mystery in this one was so well executed. the author tested a new genre with this release and job well done to her! it reminded me a bit of Karin Slaughter’s books with the mystery + the detective case. but not nearly as graphic 😅😂
it covers a young girl who goes missing and a detective investigating the case. what you think is a one missing girl disappearance turns into something MUCH bigger than anyone could have guessed…
wasn’t sure where this was going to end but soooo pleased and surprised with the ending! truly have such little critiques on this book and recommend readers add to their TBR when it releases 5/7.
May 14, 2024
I've read and enjoyed several of Emiko Jean's previous books, ranging from a YA retelling of Anna Karenina to a modern, Japananese twist on The Princess Diaries, to the heartwarming tale of a thirtysomething fuck-up being reunited with the teenage daughter she gave up for adoption as an infant. The Return of Ellie Black is, I belive, her first adult thriller and it has pretty glowing reviews around here. So even though I rarely read thrillers, I was willing to give it a shot because I've enjoyed her other books. But maybe this just a nice reminder of why I rarely gravitate towards thrillers.
Spoilers ahead, so be careful if you don't want to know what happens!
So you've got Ellie Black, who was kidnapped when she was 17 and comes back one day out of nowhere, two years later. You've got Chelsey, the cop who is looking into the case and is driven by the fact that her own sister was kidnapped and murdered as a teenageer. Chelsey's father, who recently died, was once the chief of police in their small Washington town, so Chelsey's profession felt destined in multiple ways.
Chelsey is surprised when she begins to question Ellie about who took her and what happened over the last two year, and Ellie is reluctant to participate in the investigation. So she begins to find other avenues of looking into this without Ellie's cooperation.
The way that Chelsey connects dots to an incorrect suspect is a little silly. But the outcome of the whole thing is so fucking ridiculous. Turns out that Ellie
I don't know, it's just so dumb. But that's not even the dumbest part.
The dumbest part is that It didn't feel like a clever surprise so much as a rug pull.
Add in all the cliches that pass as character development for Chelsey, I just...couldn't. Maybe this is just because I don't read thrillers, but I have a hard time understanding why this has so much praise. This is so far my least favorite book of 2024, and I have a hard time imagining anything else claiming that title.
Spoilers ahead, so be careful if you don't want to know what happens!
So you've got Ellie Black, who was kidnapped when she was 17 and comes back one day out of nowhere, two years later. You've got Chelsey, the cop who is looking into the case and is driven by the fact that her own sister was kidnapped and murdered as a teenageer. Chelsey's father, who recently died, was once the chief of police in their small Washington town, so Chelsey's profession felt destined in multiple ways.
Chelsey is surprised when she begins to question Ellie about who took her and what happened over the last two year, and Ellie is reluctant to participate in the investigation. So she begins to find other avenues of looking into this without Ellie's cooperation.
The way that Chelsey connects dots to an incorrect suspect is a little silly. But the outcome of the whole thing is so fucking ridiculous. Turns out that Ellie
I don't know, it's just so dumb. But that's not even the dumbest part.
The dumbest part is that It didn't feel like a clever surprise so much as a rug pull.
Add in all the cliches that pass as character development for Chelsey, I just...couldn't. Maybe this is just because I don't read thrillers, but I have a hard time understanding why this has so much praise. This is so far my least favorite book of 2024, and I have a hard time imagining anything else claiming that title.
July 7, 2024
4.5 ‘lived up to the hype’ stars!
A young woman reappears in town after being missing for over two years. Disheveled and distant, she can give no explanation of where she had been kept. Local detectives meet with her, trying to find details and answers to her kidnapping and reappearance and if there is any connection to the several local unsolved missing girl cases.
I was immediately invested in this pulse-pounding, well-written, multi-perspective thriller! Each perspective — from victim to detective to therapist — kept the storyline fresh and added an intriguing layer to this clever mystery. The characters were all unique and well fleshed out, making it easy to get lost in the storyline. The plot has many horrific elements, but the author didn’t include gruesome detail and kept the information pertinent but not overly detailed.
The ending of this novel has many unrealistic elements which would usually be a deal breaker for me. And the more I think about the way this wrapped up, the more questions I have and feel that some things really didn’t make sense. However, I was so extremely invested and engrossed in the story while I was reading it, that I was able to go with it and enjoy where the story took me. A truly entertaining read from start to finish!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
A young woman reappears in town after being missing for over two years. Disheveled and distant, she can give no explanation of where she had been kept. Local detectives meet with her, trying to find details and answers to her kidnapping and reappearance and if there is any connection to the several local unsolved missing girl cases.
I was immediately invested in this pulse-pounding, well-written, multi-perspective thriller! Each perspective — from victim to detective to therapist — kept the storyline fresh and added an intriguing layer to this clever mystery. The characters were all unique and well fleshed out, making it easy to get lost in the storyline. The plot has many horrific elements, but the author didn’t include gruesome detail and kept the information pertinent but not overly detailed.
The ending of this novel has many unrealistic elements which would usually be a deal breaker for me. And the more I think about the way this wrapped up, the more questions I have and feel that some things really didn’t make sense. However, I was so extremely invested and engrossed in the story while I was reading it, that I was able to go with it and enjoy where the story took me. A truly entertaining read from start to finish!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!
May 18, 2024
Detective Chelsey Calhoun has had her share of trauma. When she was just a child, her older sister disappeared into the night. For the past twenty years, she’s half blamed herself. Perhaps for this reason, Chelsey has taken it upon herself to try to rescue the missing. So when she gets a call that Ellie Black has been found wandering the woods bloody and emaciated, Chelsey jumps into action. After all, Ellie went missing two years ago and, just like Chelsey’s sister, she vanished without a trace.
Something, however, isn’t quite right with Ellie. Despite the obvious trauma and overriding fear, it seems like the twenty-year-old is possibly hiding something from Chelsey. On top of that, she is refusing to answer any questions. The only thing the detective can do is find the truth to where she’s been all this time herself. Hopefully before yet another girl goes missing. Can Chelsey figure out what Ellie might be hiding before it’s too late? Or were both of their fates sealed the moment she walked out of the woods?
What a dark and disturbing tale! From the get-go The Return of Ellie Black offered up something you don’t often find in a thriller. Underneath the deftly crafted characters and twisty, twisty plot was a critique on misogyny and how women seem to often get blamed for the actions of men. Thought-provoking and profound, it certainly had me reexamining relationships from my past. That, however, wasn’t the only successful aspect to this truly shocking thriller.
Told from an omniscient perspective, the two central characters were well-drawn and fully fleshed out. Both clearly dealing with trauma, more bound them together then separated the two women. Intelligent, strong, and yet authentically flawed, watching their journey unfold was quite the win. Especially as the complex storyline unfolded before me. After all, despite the gripping events, I found the plot to be mostly character driven.
Speaking of the storyline, I do have to preface my gushing with the fact that much of the book was a long, slow burn. Not exactly an action-packed premise (until the end), the psychological musings nevertheless strengthened this story until the explosive climax and believable conclusion. On top of that, the entire book was utterly breathtaking in its suspenseful rendition of kidnapping and the ensuing captivity. Filled with nerve-shredding dread, it kept me utterly riveted.
Done and dusted, while this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting after initially reading the synopsis, I still found myself captivated right from the start. Especially given that attention-grapping prologue. A new-to-me author, Jean had certainly proven herself through her ability to create realistic, evil monsters that will suck you right in. So if you love a good jaw-dropping twist or carefully layered plot, you should definitely give this book a try. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Emiko Jean and Simon & Schuster for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 7, 2024
Trigger warning: kidnapping, racism, misogyny, forced captivity, mention of: death of a parent, sexual assault
Something, however, isn’t quite right with Ellie. Despite the obvious trauma and overriding fear, it seems like the twenty-year-old is possibly hiding something from Chelsey. On top of that, she is refusing to answer any questions. The only thing the detective can do is find the truth to where she’s been all this time herself. Hopefully before yet another girl goes missing. Can Chelsey figure out what Ellie might be hiding before it’s too late? Or were both of their fates sealed the moment she walked out of the woods?
What a dark and disturbing tale! From the get-go The Return of Ellie Black offered up something you don’t often find in a thriller. Underneath the deftly crafted characters and twisty, twisty plot was a critique on misogyny and how women seem to often get blamed for the actions of men. Thought-provoking and profound, it certainly had me reexamining relationships from my past. That, however, wasn’t the only successful aspect to this truly shocking thriller.
Told from an omniscient perspective, the two central characters were well-drawn and fully fleshed out. Both clearly dealing with trauma, more bound them together then separated the two women. Intelligent, strong, and yet authentically flawed, watching their journey unfold was quite the win. Especially as the complex storyline unfolded before me. After all, despite the gripping events, I found the plot to be mostly character driven.
Speaking of the storyline, I do have to preface my gushing with the fact that much of the book was a long, slow burn. Not exactly an action-packed premise (until the end), the psychological musings nevertheless strengthened this story until the explosive climax and believable conclusion. On top of that, the entire book was utterly breathtaking in its suspenseful rendition of kidnapping and the ensuing captivity. Filled with nerve-shredding dread, it kept me utterly riveted.
Done and dusted, while this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting after initially reading the synopsis, I still found myself captivated right from the start. Especially given that attention-grapping prologue. A new-to-me author, Jean had certainly proven herself through her ability to create realistic, evil monsters that will suck you right in. So if you love a good jaw-dropping twist or carefully layered plot, you should definitely give this book a try. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Emiko Jean and Simon & Schuster for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 7, 2024
Trigger warning: kidnapping, racism, misogyny, forced captivity, mention of: death of a parent, sexual assault
November 10, 2024
This fast paced, action-packed, page-turning thriller is this author’s debut novel. With captivating characters, and a complex plot, readers will not be disappointed as they tackle the shocking twists and red herrings that will make this a book one cannot put down, until the very last page. At least, that is what happened to me.
Our heroine is Chelsey Calhoun who became a cop to follow in her late father’s footsteps. He was a police chief. Two years ago, she became a detective, and her first case was of a missing girl named, Ellie Black. But as this story opens, Ellie is found. What happened to her? And, where has she been for the past 2 years? And, why won’t she talk about it?
What complicates this case for Chelsey, is her memory of her own missing sister, Lydia, whose disappearance happened when they were teenagers. Not being able to solve the case of Ellie as a new detective, brings a whole new energy to Chelsey when Ellie returns. In fact, Chelsey’s mission has been to find and save missing girls, so what will she and/or has she learned on her quest?
But as more is revealed, readers can’t help but wonder, what happens when Ellie returns, and why is Chelsea suspicious of her? Could Ellie’s case be related to her missing sister, Lydia? What other layers will be unraveled as readers turn pages?
A word of caution. This won’t be an easy read. It is dark and haunting. There are multiple P.O.V.’s telling the story (which made it tough to follow, sometimes), and the story will be difficult to bear at times. (Trigger warning: monster men preying on women.)
Sometimes I was concerned about Chelsea’s decisions, but there was an interesting message that could not be ignored. Who holds the power, and what are they willing to do to keep it? And, how will Chelsea overcome this realization?
So many questions for readers. (No spoilers from me.) Just keep turning pages. The story may be imperfect, but it is a compelling read.
Our heroine is Chelsey Calhoun who became a cop to follow in her late father’s footsteps. He was a police chief. Two years ago, she became a detective, and her first case was of a missing girl named, Ellie Black. But as this story opens, Ellie is found. What happened to her? And, where has she been for the past 2 years? And, why won’t she talk about it?
What complicates this case for Chelsey, is her memory of her own missing sister, Lydia, whose disappearance happened when they were teenagers. Not being able to solve the case of Ellie as a new detective, brings a whole new energy to Chelsey when Ellie returns. In fact, Chelsey’s mission has been to find and save missing girls, so what will she and/or has she learned on her quest?
But as more is revealed, readers can’t help but wonder, what happens when Ellie returns, and why is Chelsea suspicious of her? Could Ellie’s case be related to her missing sister, Lydia? What other layers will be unraveled as readers turn pages?
A word of caution. This won’t be an easy read. It is dark and haunting. There are multiple P.O.V.’s telling the story (which made it tough to follow, sometimes), and the story will be difficult to bear at times. (Trigger warning: monster men preying on women.)
Sometimes I was concerned about Chelsea’s decisions, but there was an interesting message that could not be ignored. Who holds the power, and what are they willing to do to keep it? And, how will Chelsea overcome this realization?
So many questions for readers. (No spoilers from me.) Just keep turning pages. The story may be imperfect, but it is a compelling read.
January 8, 2025
➳ 3 ☆ spoiler free
(rant review)
🧥| sooo what did i just read?? im equal parts disturbed, confused and relieved. RELIEVED THAT I FINISHED 😀 but yeah, i think i just went in with the wrong expectations.. i wasn't thrilled/scared (like how the story should make you feel) i was just very concerned and also sad for what ellie went thru :( also this was emiko jean's debut thriller, and i liked her other works before so im glad i go to read this one! and mind you, i wish the author pur some TQS in the beginning, but there aren't so look them up before hand if that matters!! also this book is not YA its adult. but ellie is between the ages 17-19 heads up!
˚₊‧꒰ thoughts🧣꒱ ‧₊˚
ᯓᡣ𐭩 i think the only reason this isn't a 2 stars or lower is because i could tolerate the characters. like i dont hate them, but i dont feel anything strong towards them. to sum it up, i just thought it was mid and, trust me, i hate using that word but thats how i felt 🤷♀️ kind of lack luster and it was more of a tell than show. and then after i found out who did it i wasn't like: OHMYGOSH WTH?! NO WAY I WANT TO CRY. it was more of an" oh okay, that SUCKS. because what they did was SICK, but i wasn't fazed, yk? i mean there was one extra plot twist that did surprise me, but overall it was just like ok.. NEXT. and tbh i needed more closure for the end 😭 ik most thrillers dont give that, but maybe an epilogue? extra chapter? JUST SOMETHING. but anyway, i do still recommend this because im curious to see what some of my friends would think 👀👀 who knows maybe it'll shock you.
˚₊‧꒰ character study꒱ ‧₊˚
⤷ ultimately, i think there was a different meaning to this book if you view the characters a certain way. it shows what we would do for love, the revenge we could take, the actions that we do. from trauma, hurt, anger? in the end, each character was thought-out in their own way. i think i liked chelsea most (our detective) shes got her own battles to fight and the past that haunts her. and she was cool. 🤷♀️ reading back on some quotes her life goes deep.. and as for ellie.. oh my poor girl 😔 it is just so heartbreaking. but thats for you to find out!
overall, i do recommend! i mean, it was named 'goodreads best thriller of 2024' and stephen king even has a quote on it! so this book is well respected, from what ive seen. i guess i was just in the minority, but thats okay because im glad i tried something i normally wouldnt do.and if im being honest, if the title didnt have my name i wouldve never batted an eye. unless it got popular OOP 🤭 but yes i would love to see what others think! and it was an ok read to start off 2024. but lets hope for better!! ily guys and have a great rest of your week 🫶 oh and also! i was able to read it pretty fast, so thats a plus? its barley 300 pages so!
----------------
🏴 POST-READ
3 stars, rtc soon!! i need to rant about this.
🏴 ‧꒰ა preview! ໒꒱ ‧
starting off the year strong with a thriller!! i feel like i dont get enough of this genre so i cant wait🤭 yk its a good book when you cant read it at night (i get spooked) ALSO - 'ellie' in the name?? yk im already intrigued. and the premise is lowk reminding me of 'the reappearance of rachel price'!! happy new year everyone, take care ���🫶
(rant review)
⤷ love can push you to make the ultimate sacrifice.
🧥| sooo what did i just read?? im equal parts disturbed, confused and relieved. RELIEVED THAT I FINISHED 😀 but yeah, i think i just went in with the wrong expectations.. i wasn't thrilled/scared (like how the story should make you feel) i was just very concerned and also sad for what ellie went thru :( also this was emiko jean's debut thriller, and i liked her other works before so im glad i go to read this one! and mind you, i wish the author pur some TQS in the beginning, but there aren't so look them up before hand if that matters!! also this book is not YA its adult. but ellie is between the ages 17-19 heads up!
˚₊‧꒰ thoughts🧣꒱ ‧₊˚
ᯓᡣ𐭩 i think the only reason this isn't a 2 stars or lower is because i could tolerate the characters. like i dont hate them, but i dont feel anything strong towards them. to sum it up, i just thought it was mid and, trust me, i hate using that word but thats how i felt 🤷♀️ kind of lack luster and it was more of a tell than show. and then after i found out who did it i wasn't like: OHMYGOSH WTH?! NO WAY I WANT TO CRY. it was more of an" oh okay, that SUCKS. because what they did was SICK, but i wasn't fazed, yk? i mean there was one extra plot twist that did surprise me, but overall it was just like ok.. NEXT. and tbh i needed more closure for the end 😭 ik most thrillers dont give that, but maybe an epilogue? extra chapter? JUST SOMETHING. but anyway, i do still recommend this because im curious to see what some of my friends would think 👀👀 who knows maybe it'll shock you.
˚₊‧꒰ character study꒱ ‧₊˚
⤷ ultimately, i think there was a different meaning to this book if you view the characters a certain way. it shows what we would do for love, the revenge we could take, the actions that we do. from trauma, hurt, anger? in the end, each character was thought-out in their own way. i think i liked chelsea most (our detective) shes got her own battles to fight and the past that haunts her. and she was cool. 🤷♀️ reading back on some quotes her life goes deep.. and as for ellie.. oh my poor girl 😔 it is just so heartbreaking. but thats for you to find out!
⤷ “when you study what you’ve been through, what happened to you, it loses its power, and then you have a choice: stay or move on.”
overall, i do recommend! i mean, it was named 'goodreads best thriller of 2024' and stephen king even has a quote on it! so this book is well respected, from what ive seen. i guess i was just in the minority, but thats okay because im glad i tried something i normally wouldnt do.
----------------
🏴 POST-READ
3 stars, rtc soon!! i need to rant about this.
🏴 ‧꒰ა preview! ໒꒱ ‧
starting off the year strong with a thriller!! i feel like i dont get enough of this genre so i cant wait🤭 yk its a good book when you cant read it at night (i get spooked) ALSO - 'ellie' in the name?? yk im already intrigued. and the premise is lowk reminding me of 'the reappearance of rachel price'!! happy new year everyone, take care ���🫶
November 1, 2023
My Rating: 1⭐️ total let down, the ending ripped the stars away for me!!!
GoodReads Synopsis
I guess you’re probably wondering about the next girl. Because there’s always a next girl, right? A girl waiting to be taken. To be swept away. I’ll tell you about her.
Its been twenty years since Detective Chelsey Calhoun lost her sister, and shes been searching for signs of closure through other missing girls ever since. Happy endings are rare in Chelsey’s line of work.
Until one day, local teenager Elli Black is found in Washington State woods. Two years after her disappearance, shes an echo of herself, but alive. But something’s not right about this girl. Where has she been, and who is she protecting? Chelsey has to find out. For herself, her sister and before the next girl is taken.
Ok, the premise is on point… kidnapped girls, detective with similar pain, new missing girls… something not right… ticks all the boxes and screams trapped POV if you ask me (I am sick ok what can I say). I was pretty happy for a while… but as you can see from my rating.. I became extremely unhappy at some point… let’s explore…
Good points - I was approved for a Penguin ARC which after this review I am sure wont happen again… but I gotta be honest.
Initially the writing was fairly good.. I wouldn’t say brilliant or masterpiece absolutely not but it was fine. It read well felt like it was going to be entertaining. Was there evidence that this could be a social mouthpiece for certain political or social justice agenda’s… Yes! Was I going to let that stop me read my shiny new Penguin ARC… No I was not. So I closed my eyes and screamed LALALALALALLAA I can’t hear you to some of the nonsense things I read… they were so childishly written it was hard to take some of the real and serious issues seriously… so yeah anyway I ignored it… let it go the keep got those ones…
I didn’t like the MC, Chelsey much, she seemed selfish and up herself… but I don’t care about liking all the characters but I can see why her co-workers weren’t a fan. Hang on… this is the good points section.
There was the POV from multiple parties which as you know is my favourite type of book, it was all solidly one timeline no jumping just memories but the POV was from the captured Ellie Black and Chelsey. The POVs are not titled but it is simple to figure out who is who since one was trapped and kidnapped with very bad things happening to her so… thats simple.
The POV of Ellie gave us a trapped POV which as I said above is one of my fave types.. this did not last the entire book but it was sick and twisted and I loved it. Definite thriller material… I would not last in this scenario at all… kudos to the author for that horror show well played.
Sadly, the rest of it was choppy, and poorly written. Another book that kind of went off the rails at 50% writing wise. I mean it was doing ok… but then it just boarded on childish and play by play the entire time.
Sally went to the store, she looked around, she saw her friend, she waved to her friend. They talked for a while. Sally smiled and thought to herself I am a dumbass… that kind of writing.
And the story was unfolding quite ok but then BAM we had a huge plot twist and while I kind of saw it coming… it just gave me eye roll city. I was like seriously why!!! I am not going to spoil it of course but honestly come on… I despise the kind of twist we got… pure shock and no thought in my opinion.
Then of course there is a final showdown isn’t there always… and that was the kicker for me. All the blinders came flying off… all the things I was looking the other way to were punching me in the face repeatedly and I was eye rolling until I fell out of bed dizzy. The big twisty twist near the end was cringe… I hated it.
You have to remember at this point I have had six yes SIX 1 or 2 star books in a row… that is death by shit book and this then took a turn from the generous 3 straight into 1 star territory I almost wrote a letter to the Prime Minister to let him know I would no longer be reading until forever…
Nevertheless this was a bullshit Ի徱Բ… I wasn’t happy. I think some people are going to love this. I mean the reviews that are on NetGalley and GR so far are really positive not 42 pages long like mine but they are 4 or 5 stars so I do think this will be popular. I think BookTok fans and the mainstream readers should definitely check it out especially if you love a social justice moment with a simple easy read.
For those of you (Leigh, Carol and anyone with similar taste in books to me) don’t do it… this will not be for you…
Thank you to Penguin, NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish I liked this more!!
GoodReads Synopsis
I guess you’re probably wondering about the next girl. Because there’s always a next girl, right? A girl waiting to be taken. To be swept away. I’ll tell you about her.
Its been twenty years since Detective Chelsey Calhoun lost her sister, and shes been searching for signs of closure through other missing girls ever since. Happy endings are rare in Chelsey’s line of work.
Until one day, local teenager Elli Black is found in Washington State woods. Two years after her disappearance, shes an echo of herself, but alive. But something’s not right about this girl. Where has she been, and who is she protecting? Chelsey has to find out. For herself, her sister and before the next girl is taken.
Ok, the premise is on point… kidnapped girls, detective with similar pain, new missing girls… something not right… ticks all the boxes and screams trapped POV if you ask me (I am sick ok what can I say). I was pretty happy for a while… but as you can see from my rating.. I became extremely unhappy at some point… let’s explore…
Good points - I was approved for a Penguin ARC which after this review I am sure wont happen again… but I gotta be honest.
Initially the writing was fairly good.. I wouldn’t say brilliant or masterpiece absolutely not but it was fine. It read well felt like it was going to be entertaining. Was there evidence that this could be a social mouthpiece for certain political or social justice agenda’s… Yes! Was I going to let that stop me read my shiny new Penguin ARC… No I was not. So I closed my eyes and screamed LALALALALALLAA I can’t hear you to some of the nonsense things I read… they were so childishly written it was hard to take some of the real and serious issues seriously… so yeah anyway I ignored it… let it go the keep got those ones…
I didn’t like the MC, Chelsey much, she seemed selfish and up herself… but I don’t care about liking all the characters but I can see why her co-workers weren’t a fan. Hang on… this is the good points section.
There was the POV from multiple parties which as you know is my favourite type of book, it was all solidly one timeline no jumping just memories but the POV was from the captured Ellie Black and Chelsey. The POVs are not titled but it is simple to figure out who is who since one was trapped and kidnapped with very bad things happening to her so… thats simple.
The POV of Ellie gave us a trapped POV which as I said above is one of my fave types.. this did not last the entire book but it was sick and twisted and I loved it. Definite thriller material… I would not last in this scenario at all… kudos to the author for that horror show well played.
Sadly, the rest of it was choppy, and poorly written. Another book that kind of went off the rails at 50% writing wise. I mean it was doing ok… but then it just boarded on childish and play by play the entire time.
Sally went to the store, she looked around, she saw her friend, she waved to her friend. They talked for a while. Sally smiled and thought to herself I am a dumbass… that kind of writing.
And the story was unfolding quite ok but then BAM we had a huge plot twist and while I kind of saw it coming… it just gave me eye roll city. I was like seriously why!!! I am not going to spoil it of course but honestly come on… I despise the kind of twist we got… pure shock and no thought in my opinion.
Then of course there is a final showdown isn’t there always… and that was the kicker for me. All the blinders came flying off… all the things I was looking the other way to were punching me in the face repeatedly and I was eye rolling until I fell out of bed dizzy. The big twisty twist near the end was cringe… I hated it.
You have to remember at this point I have had six yes SIX 1 or 2 star books in a row… that is death by shit book and this then took a turn from the generous 3 straight into 1 star territory I almost wrote a letter to the Prime Minister to let him know I would no longer be reading until forever…
Nevertheless this was a bullshit Ի徱Բ… I wasn’t happy. I think some people are going to love this. I mean the reviews that are on NetGalley and GR so far are really positive not 42 pages long like mine but they are 4 or 5 stars so I do think this will be popular. I think BookTok fans and the mainstream readers should definitely check it out especially if you love a social justice moment with a simple easy read.
For those of you (Leigh, Carol and anyone with similar taste in books to me) don’t do it… this will not be for you…
Thank you to Penguin, NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish I liked this more!!
May 26, 2024
4.5-5⭐️ When the missing Ellie Black returns home two years later, something doesn’t seem right. Where has she been? Who took her? As Detective Chelsea Calhoun works to uncover not only what happened to Ellie, but her own missing sister who disappeared years ago, more secrets begin to resurface.
While this is a story fit for the big screen, Emiko Jean’s thriller debut reads more like an action-packed literary mystery. Its slow burn pace combined with the intense focus on characters, particularly on the two central characters, gave it a really unique feel, especially once the action begins to kick in. I loved the twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and the ultimate resolution to the story.
🎧 The full cast audio really brought this book to life in a vivid, intense way. While the story is quite powerful in and of itself, hearing these characters speak for themselves (even through an omniscient narrator) really amped up the emotion and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Read if you like:
•detective stories
•psychological thrillers
•character driven lit fiction
•dual timelines
•single third person POV
•books that read like movies
Thank you Simon & Schuster and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
While this is a story fit for the big screen, Emiko Jean’s thriller debut reads more like an action-packed literary mystery. Its slow burn pace combined with the intense focus on characters, particularly on the two central characters, gave it a really unique feel, especially once the action begins to kick in. I loved the twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and the ultimate resolution to the story.
🎧 The full cast audio really brought this book to life in a vivid, intense way. While the story is quite powerful in and of itself, hearing these characters speak for themselves (even through an omniscient narrator) really amped up the emotion and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Read if you like:
•detective stories
•psychological thrillers
•character driven lit fiction
•dual timelines
•single third person POV
•books that read like movies
Thank you Simon & Schuster and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
June 24, 2024
“..the most dangerous thing in the world isn’t natural disasters, or wars, or weapons. It is unremarkable men with beautiful smiles and even bigger promises.”
This book was a gripping read from start to finish. It was chilling and uncomfortable at times, but these elements were necessary to expose us to the harsh realities of our world. I couldn’t help but pay attention from start to finish.
Many POVs felt initially unnecessary but gave us multiple perspectives in this angst-driven story. The POVs were necessary to reveal how missing people affect the lives of various people. One of my favorite parts of the book was how the flaws of our law enforcement were highlighted. Certain people are given more attention when they go through some unfortunate circumstances, while sometimes no one seems to give a whoop about certain classes and races. It was a superb thing to touch on.
Definitely a must-read!!
This book was a gripping read from start to finish. It was chilling and uncomfortable at times, but these elements were necessary to expose us to the harsh realities of our world. I couldn’t help but pay attention from start to finish.
Many POVs felt initially unnecessary but gave us multiple perspectives in this angst-driven story. The POVs were necessary to reveal how missing people affect the lives of various people. One of my favorite parts of the book was how the flaws of our law enforcement were highlighted. Certain people are given more attention when they go through some unfortunate circumstances, while sometimes no one seems to give a whoop about certain classes and races. It was a superb thing to touch on.
Definitely a must-read!!
July 30, 2024
Yes I would recommend this book, I just don't know if I would read it again 🤔
Elizabeth has been missing for 2 years and then suddenly she turns up; out of nowhere. Detective Chelsey assigned to the case knows something is off about her story; Ellie does not want to cooperate. Now as Det. Chelsey tried to find the culprit behind her disappearance, her past will get thrown in the mix.
The twist I definitely did not see coming, so a good surprise!
Solid 3.5 Stars!
Elizabeth has been missing for 2 years and then suddenly she turns up; out of nowhere. Detective Chelsey assigned to the case knows something is off about her story; Ellie does not want to cooperate. Now as Det. Chelsey tried to find the culprit behind her disappearance, her past will get thrown in the mix.
The twist I definitely did not see coming, so a good surprise!
Solid 3.5 Stars!
June 28, 2024
Top thriller alert. So many of you have loved this, so it’s probably no surprise. Emiko Jean’s smoothly written, compulsively readable, compelling story of once missing, now found, Ellie Black, is a chilling masterpiece.
Chelsey Calhoun is the detective on the case when Ellie Black, missing teen for two years, is found alive. Chelsey’s own sister has been missing for twenty years, and this type of case always consumes her. The problem is that Ellie is holding back and doesn’t want to give all the details… and if she doesn’t, the culprit or culprits might just harm more girls.
The Return of Ellie Black contains everything I want in a thriller: fully developed characters, a quick moving plot with shorter chapters, highly readable narrative, originality, fraught tension, and a solid ending. Five stars all the way. I hope Emiko Jean has more thrillers up her sleeve.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: and instagram:
Chelsey Calhoun is the detective on the case when Ellie Black, missing teen for two years, is found alive. Chelsey’s own sister has been missing for twenty years, and this type of case always consumes her. The problem is that Ellie is holding back and doesn’t want to give all the details… and if she doesn’t, the culprit or culprits might just harm more girls.
The Return of Ellie Black contains everything I want in a thriller: fully developed characters, a quick moving plot with shorter chapters, highly readable narrative, originality, fraught tension, and a solid ending. Five stars all the way. I hope Emiko Jean has more thrillers up her sleeve.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: and instagram:
April 22, 2025
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
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
May 3, 2024
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean is a suspense filled thriller novel. The story in The Return of Ellie Black is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters and also by going back to an earlier timeline along with the current timeline. This one also is on the dark side and not the easiest read about abuse.
Chelsey Calhoun knows what it’s like to have someone she loved go missing which has lead Chelsey to her life now as a detective. Twenty years ago Chelsey’s sister vanished and Chelsey continues to look today all the while trying to solve the cases of other missing girls that come along.
Two years ago Ellie Black was at a party when she disappeared without a trace and with little to go on was thought to be one case that would go unsolved. That is until now when Ellie has been found alive in the woods of Washington State. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is immediately on the case but finds it odd that Ellie stays silent about where she’s been and who has been keeping her.
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean was a solid thriller novel that kept the pages turning until the very end. The author did a good job setting up a somewhat dark abduction story while weaving back and forth from the past and present. My thoughts at the end though were it all seemed to be a bit rushed in the wrap up and I wasn’t totally sold on the ending overall so this one fell in at three and a half stars for me. Although a slightly lower rating I would return to this author in the future as the story was an engaging read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
Chelsey Calhoun knows what it’s like to have someone she loved go missing which has lead Chelsey to her life now as a detective. Twenty years ago Chelsey’s sister vanished and Chelsey continues to look today all the while trying to solve the cases of other missing girls that come along.
Two years ago Ellie Black was at a party when she disappeared without a trace and with little to go on was thought to be one case that would go unsolved. That is until now when Ellie has been found alive in the woods of Washington State. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is immediately on the case but finds it odd that Ellie stays silent about where she’s been and who has been keeping her.
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean was a solid thriller novel that kept the pages turning until the very end. The author did a good job setting up a somewhat dark abduction story while weaving back and forth from the past and present. My thoughts at the end though were it all seemed to be a bit rushed in the wrap up and I wasn’t totally sold on the ending overall so this one fell in at three and a half stars for me. Although a slightly lower rating I would return to this author in the future as the story was an engaging read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
April 9, 2024
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing a physical copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Okay, Emiko Jean. I see you! I could not wait to uncover what happened to Ellie Black. The book opened to a girl found in the woods following a two-year disappearance. Where did she go? Who took her, and what did she endure? Are there other girls in danger as well? Told in alternating timelines, we watch Detective Chelsey Calhoun as she follows the threads to Ellie’s captor, with chapters in between that include Ellie’s accounts of where she went. I really loved how the reader knew what happened to Ellie before Detective Calhoun figured it out. It added a level of suspense that made me sad but also hopeful. While this book contained a twist that was all too convenient, I thought it was thrilling nonetheless. I think I may have enjoyed it more if we had a third timeline re: Ellie’s captor’s life in the “before.” Jean should definitely be awarded for stepping outside of her comfort zone; this author previously dabbled in YA contemporary romance. I hope she writes more thrillers!
“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.”
Okay, Emiko Jean. I see you! I could not wait to uncover what happened to Ellie Black. The book opened to a girl found in the woods following a two-year disappearance. Where did she go? Who took her, and what did she endure? Are there other girls in danger as well? Told in alternating timelines, we watch Detective Chelsey Calhoun as she follows the threads to Ellie’s captor, with chapters in between that include Ellie’s accounts of where she went. I really loved how the reader knew what happened to Ellie before Detective Calhoun figured it out. It added a level of suspense that made me sad but also hopeful. While this book contained a twist that was all too convenient, I thought it was thrilling nonetheless. I think I may have enjoyed it more if we had a third timeline re: Ellie’s captor’s life in the “before.” Jean should definitely be awarded for stepping outside of her comfort zone; this author previously dabbled in YA contemporary romance. I hope she writes more thrillers!
“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.”
May 8, 2024
Detective Chelsey Calhoun's sister Lydia had vanished twenty years prior, and when she received the call that Ellie Black, a teenager who'd vanished two years ago, had been found, Chelsey's mind immediately went to her sister. Heading to the hospital to see Ellie; notifying her parents that she was found; Chelsey knew this was a pivotal moment. She also knew when she saw Ellie that there was something not quite right with her. She couldn't pin point it though.
As Chelsey tried to work through everything concerning Ellie's disappearance, she was blocked at every corner. Ellie wouldn't talk about what had happened to her; where she'd been all this time; who had taken her. Chelsey was frustrated, but determined. She wanted to get to the bottom of what happened to stop there being a next girl. But suddenly Ellie vanished again...
by is a twisty and convoluted thriller with a lot going on. Written from the POV of Ellie and Chelsey, parts of Ellie's story were hard to read. Chelsey was also a damaged character, and I felt for Ellie's parents, as well as Noah. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As Chelsey tried to work through everything concerning Ellie's disappearance, she was blocked at every corner. Ellie wouldn't talk about what had happened to her; where she'd been all this time; who had taken her. Chelsey was frustrated, but determined. She wanted to get to the bottom of what happened to stop there being a next girl. But suddenly Ellie vanished again...
by is a twisty and convoluted thriller with a lot going on. Written from the POV of Ellie and Chelsey, parts of Ellie's story were hard to read. Chelsey was also a damaged character, and I felt for Ellie's parents, as well as Noah. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2024
Is this the dullest thriller ever or what?
I stuck with The Return of Ellie Black to the end because I wanted to know what the answer to the mystery was. But in hindsight I should've just DNFed it early, skipped to the last page to find out 'whodunnit', and left it there. But alas, I sat and finished it and now I live to regret my choices.
To cut myself some slack, the premise was really intriguing. Ellie Black, a teenager who has been missing for two years, suddenly reappears in town one day but won't say a word about what happened to her and begins to exhibit strange behavior around her friends and family. We follow Chelsey, a police detective, who is tasked with finding out what happened to Ellie but without her cooperation, or really anything to go off of, how will she figure out what happened?
Sounds good right? Well, I'm sad to say that the author completely fumbles the execution. This book has nothing to offer besides the reveal of what happened and the explanation is so painfully basic. It's not one of those ridiculous or over-the-top, convoluted twists that derails any sense of normalcy, the explanation given makes sense and is logical, but it's just so lacklustre and unimaginative. When there was so much build up and anticipation for the explanation, the paltry answer just left me feeling unsatisfied and annoyed.
I should emphasize here that the final reveal of a mystery book being unimaginative isn't necessarily a bad thing. Genres have their tropes and not every book needs to be super inventive or original. But in here, aside from the reveal, there's NOTHING of substance in this book. The characters are all just flat, lifeless archetypes. They don't have any depth or complexity to them, and they certainly are not compelling enough to get you to keep reading. So it's the combination of a boring plot and uninteresting characters that made this book such a chore to read.
In some ways giving this two stars feels kinda mean. If I try to think about this objectively, it feels more like a three star because to clarify, this book didn't do anything particularly bad and I don't hate it. It was fairly straightforward and I would absolutely recommend this to a lot of people as their first mystery/thriller book. But for my taste, when I'm reading a thriller I want to be entertained or surprised and this book left me feeling absolutely nothing but apathy from page one all the way to the end.
Oh but for anyone who is in a similar predicament as I was where you don't want to finish the book but want to know what happened, or for anyone in general who have no interest in reading this at all but want to know what the reveal is, here's a really condensed version of the plot:
I stuck with The Return of Ellie Black to the end because I wanted to know what the answer to the mystery was. But in hindsight I should've just DNFed it early, skipped to the last page to find out 'whodunnit', and left it there. But alas, I sat and finished it and now I live to regret my choices.
To cut myself some slack, the premise was really intriguing. Ellie Black, a teenager who has been missing for two years, suddenly reappears in town one day but won't say a word about what happened to her and begins to exhibit strange behavior around her friends and family. We follow Chelsey, a police detective, who is tasked with finding out what happened to Ellie but without her cooperation, or really anything to go off of, how will she figure out what happened?
Sounds good right? Well, I'm sad to say that the author completely fumbles the execution. This book has nothing to offer besides the reveal of what happened and the explanation is so painfully basic. It's not one of those ridiculous or over-the-top, convoluted twists that derails any sense of normalcy, the explanation given makes sense and is logical, but it's just so lacklustre and unimaginative. When there was so much build up and anticipation for the explanation, the paltry answer just left me feeling unsatisfied and annoyed.
I should emphasize here that the final reveal of a mystery book being unimaginative isn't necessarily a bad thing. Genres have their tropes and not every book needs to be super inventive or original. But in here, aside from the reveal, there's NOTHING of substance in this book. The characters are all just flat, lifeless archetypes. They don't have any depth or complexity to them, and they certainly are not compelling enough to get you to keep reading. So it's the combination of a boring plot and uninteresting characters that made this book such a chore to read.
In some ways giving this two stars feels kinda mean. If I try to think about this objectively, it feels more like a three star because to clarify, this book didn't do anything particularly bad and I don't hate it. It was fairly straightforward and I would absolutely recommend this to a lot of people as their first mystery/thriller book. But for my taste, when I'm reading a thriller I want to be entertained or surprised and this book left me feeling absolutely nothing but apathy from page one all the way to the end.
Oh but for anyone who is in a similar predicament as I was where you don't want to finish the book but want to know what happened, or for anyone in general who have no interest in reading this at all but want to know what the reveal is, here's a really condensed version of the plot:
March 3, 2024
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.
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.
December 27, 2024
The sisters are on a roll with thrilling page-turners, and this time we dove head first into The Return of Ellie Black—a gripping read that had us hooked from start to finish.
My Take: A Compelling Thriller That Redefines the Missing Girl Trope
Okay, so we all know the missing girl trope—it’s everywhere in crime fiction, and honestly, it’s one of my favorites. But let’s be real—it can start to feel a little overdone, right? Well, Emiko Jean manages to breathe fresh life into it, crafting an emotionally gripping and deeply layered story about survival and the unbreakable ties that bind people together. This isn’t just another "missing girl" story—it’s raw, poignant, and hits all the right emotional notes.
The story moves between multiple perspectives, and it’s brilliant giving each character emotional depth. Ellie’s chapters, chronicling her harrowing captivity, are both disturbing and poignant. Meanwhile, the devastating toll her disappearance takes on her parents and high school boyfriend is painted with heartbreaking clarity.
And then there’s Chelsey, the determined and heroic detective who shines as one of the novel’s strongest elements. As a Japanese American woman, she battles the dual challenges of racism and sexism, both in her community and on the job. She’s fierce, flawed, and deeply human—a character you can’t help but root for.
The pacing? Oh, it’s relentless. Ellie’s chapters end with cliffhangers that keep you flipping pages like your life depends on it. But what really stayed with me was the focus on survival and sisterhood—a theme that’s intricately interwoven throughout the story.
Now, let’s address the downside—because I always have one. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say I was shocked. Shocked and slightly confused. It made me wonder if I had missed something buried in the layers of the story. And honestly? I might have.
However, it didn’t ruin the book for me. The story is just too powerful, and too emotional while being exciting to be derailed by this.
What I loved most were the fiercely complex female characters. There’s so much I want to say about them, but I’m biting my tongue to avoid spoilers. Just trust me when I say they’re worth the read.
The Sister’s Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a thriller that’s more than just page-turning suspense, The Return of Ellie Black is the one to pick up. Jean’s storytelling is rich with emotion, layered with complex characters, and steeped in themes of survival and resilience. It’s not without its flaws, but it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page. Norma and I both agree—this one’s worth a spot on your shelf. Just be prepared to pay attention to every little detail—you don’t want to miss a thing.
Check out Norma's Compelling, raw, and emotionally powerful — this one is worth the read.
/review/show...
I received a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss
My Take: A Compelling Thriller That Redefines the Missing Girl Trope
Okay, so we all know the missing girl trope—it’s everywhere in crime fiction, and honestly, it’s one of my favorites. But let’s be real—it can start to feel a little overdone, right? Well, Emiko Jean manages to breathe fresh life into it, crafting an emotionally gripping and deeply layered story about survival and the unbreakable ties that bind people together. This isn’t just another "missing girl" story—it’s raw, poignant, and hits all the right emotional notes.
The story moves between multiple perspectives, and it’s brilliant giving each character emotional depth. Ellie’s chapters, chronicling her harrowing captivity, are both disturbing and poignant. Meanwhile, the devastating toll her disappearance takes on her parents and high school boyfriend is painted with heartbreaking clarity.
And then there’s Chelsey, the determined and heroic detective who shines as one of the novel’s strongest elements. As a Japanese American woman, she battles the dual challenges of racism and sexism, both in her community and on the job. She’s fierce, flawed, and deeply human—a character you can’t help but root for.
The pacing? Oh, it’s relentless. Ellie’s chapters end with cliffhangers that keep you flipping pages like your life depends on it. But what really stayed with me was the focus on survival and sisterhood—a theme that’s intricately interwoven throughout the story.
Now, let’s address the downside—because I always have one. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say I was shocked. Shocked and slightly confused. It made me wonder if I had missed something buried in the layers of the story. And honestly? I might have.
However, it didn’t ruin the book for me. The story is just too powerful, and too emotional while being exciting to be derailed by this.
What I loved most were the fiercely complex female characters. There’s so much I want to say about them, but I’m biting my tongue to avoid spoilers. Just trust me when I say they’re worth the read.
The Sister’s Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a thriller that’s more than just page-turning suspense, The Return of Ellie Black is the one to pick up. Jean’s storytelling is rich with emotion, layered with complex characters, and steeped in themes of survival and resilience. It’s not without its flaws, but it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page. Norma and I both agree—this one’s worth a spot on your shelf. Just be prepared to pay attention to every little detail—you don’t want to miss a thing.
Check out Norma's Compelling, raw, and emotionally powerful — this one is worth the read.
/review/show...
I received a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss
December 29, 2024
The sisters are on a roll with thrilling page-turners, and this time we dove head first into The Return of Ellie Black—a gripping read that had us hooked from start to finish.
THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK by Emiko Jean
My Take: Compelling, raw, and emotionally powerful — this one is worth the read.
When I closed The Return of Ellie Black, I couldn’t stop turning parts of it over in my mind. While the story isn’t without its flaws, the pacing was undeniably strong—it hooked me and pulled me deeper into Chelsey’s search for answers. There’s a deliberate rhythm to the way Emiko Jean unravels the mystery, and I constantly felt on the edge of discovering something huge, even when those discoveries led to more plausible issues that I couldn’t quite resolve.
What struck me most, though, were the powerful emotional undercurrents woven throughout the story. Jean doesn’t just deliver a suspenseful thriller with twists and tension; she layers it with deep, raw emotions that challenge you to sit with themes of survival, loss, and the bittersweet longing for closure. These emotional beats gave the story its weight and kept me feeling both moved and unsettled.
The plot has many horrific elements—darker, more disturbing aspects that could easily have been fleshed out with gruesome detail. But what I appreciated most was how the author chose to leave much of that violence in the shadows. The horror is present, certainly, but Jean keeps the details pertinent without overloading the reader with graphic descriptions. It’s a choice that makes the story all the more unsettling—what isn’t shown often feels more powerful than what is.
There are aspects of the ending that still don’t quite make sense to me, and some parts feel unrealistic in a way that I can’t quite shake. While the ambiguity adds to the tension and mystery, it also leaves me wondering if some plot points could have been handled more believably. Still, there’s a certain rawness to how the story concludes—it’s not neat, and not everything is explained, but in its own way, that feels fitting for the emotional depth the book tries to capture. And at the center of it all is Ellie’s story—her secrets, her silence, and the haunting question of what really happened to her. It’s this thread that keeps you reading, pulling you deeper into a story you can’t look away from, even when it leaves you unsettled.
Even with these lingering uncertainties, the story stayed compelling because of how deeply it made me feel. Chelsey’s desperation and the emotional weight of her past carried the narrative, making it more than just a thriller. It’s a story that grapples with how people live in the aftermath of loss and survival, and it doesn’t offer easy answers—it offers something more raw and true.
So, while I might have wished for a bit more clarity in certain places, the book’s pacing, emotional depth, and subtle handling of its darker elements made it a gripping read. It’s not about tying everything up neatly—it’s about the journey, the lingering questions, and the raw human truths that stay with you long after the last page.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
Brenda’s Take: A Compelling Thriller That Redefines the Missing Girl Trope
/review/show...
The Sister’s Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a thriller that’s more than just page-turning suspense, The Return of Ellie Black is the one to pick up. Jean’s storytelling is rich with emotion, layered with complex characters, and steeped in themes of survival and resilience. It’s not without its flaws, but it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page. Brenda and I both agree—this one’s worth a spot on your shelf. Just be prepared to pay attention to every little detail—you don’t want to miss a thing.
THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK by Emiko Jean
My Take: Compelling, raw, and emotionally powerful — this one is worth the read.
When I closed The Return of Ellie Black, I couldn’t stop turning parts of it over in my mind. While the story isn’t without its flaws, the pacing was undeniably strong—it hooked me and pulled me deeper into Chelsey’s search for answers. There’s a deliberate rhythm to the way Emiko Jean unravels the mystery, and I constantly felt on the edge of discovering something huge, even when those discoveries led to more plausible issues that I couldn’t quite resolve.
What struck me most, though, were the powerful emotional undercurrents woven throughout the story. Jean doesn’t just deliver a suspenseful thriller with twists and tension; she layers it with deep, raw emotions that challenge you to sit with themes of survival, loss, and the bittersweet longing for closure. These emotional beats gave the story its weight and kept me feeling both moved and unsettled.
The plot has many horrific elements—darker, more disturbing aspects that could easily have been fleshed out with gruesome detail. But what I appreciated most was how the author chose to leave much of that violence in the shadows. The horror is present, certainly, but Jean keeps the details pertinent without overloading the reader with graphic descriptions. It’s a choice that makes the story all the more unsettling—what isn’t shown often feels more powerful than what is.
There are aspects of the ending that still don’t quite make sense to me, and some parts feel unrealistic in a way that I can’t quite shake. While the ambiguity adds to the tension and mystery, it also leaves me wondering if some plot points could have been handled more believably. Still, there’s a certain rawness to how the story concludes—it’s not neat, and not everything is explained, but in its own way, that feels fitting for the emotional depth the book tries to capture. And at the center of it all is Ellie’s story—her secrets, her silence, and the haunting question of what really happened to her. It’s this thread that keeps you reading, pulling you deeper into a story you can’t look away from, even when it leaves you unsettled.
Even with these lingering uncertainties, the story stayed compelling because of how deeply it made me feel. Chelsey’s desperation and the emotional weight of her past carried the narrative, making it more than just a thriller. It’s a story that grapples with how people live in the aftermath of loss and survival, and it doesn’t offer easy answers—it offers something more raw and true.
So, while I might have wished for a bit more clarity in certain places, the book’s pacing, emotional depth, and subtle handling of its darker elements made it a gripping read. It’s not about tying everything up neatly—it’s about the journey, the lingering questions, and the raw human truths that stay with you long after the last page.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
Brenda’s Take: A Compelling Thriller That Redefines the Missing Girl Trope
/review/show...
The Sister’s Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a thriller that’s more than just page-turning suspense, The Return of Ellie Black is the one to pick up. Jean’s storytelling is rich with emotion, layered with complex characters, and steeped in themes of survival and resilience. It’s not without its flaws, but it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page. Brenda and I both agree—this one’s worth a spot on your shelf. Just be prepared to pay attention to every little detail—you don’t want to miss a thing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,788 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.