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A review by mnboyer
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
<b>Book of the Month: May 2024</b>
Ellie Black was abducted and her case goes cold. Suddenly, two years later, she stumbles back into town and detective Chelsey Calhoun is desperate for answers. Where has Ellie been? Does she have any information about other girls that were abducted around the same time as her? And the kicker is that Ellie really doesn't seem excited to share any information about anything. Sure, she's traumatized and has drawn herself inward, but does she really want to stop helping the investigation altogether?
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbmVzNTljODRucjJ2bmtzOXFhaXZuMThmOGMwMGI2NWgyYnR4eXJhaSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/57Ulq1oC617AapwUl4/giphy.gif" width="480" height="480" alt="description"/>
Chelsey is letting the case eat away at her relationship with her husband, Noah, largely in part due to the fact that she just refuses to believe Ellie doesn't know anything. Not to mention, her own sister, Lydia, disappeared decades ago and she's never gotten over that. Of course, you never would.
Okay. So here's the review.
This book had me hooked for 75% of the story. A girl disappears and then just randomly comes back two years later, without the help of any police. I mean, that's a miracle! The fact that Ellie is standoffish and doesn't really want to get involved in Chelsey's investigation (I mean... she doesn't want this serial abductor/rapist/killer to get found?!).
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaXk1MGQ0bDhsYTNsMmRjZm96dTc4N3o5ZnN2cmR2MnNlZm14aDlqdCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/PnfsGtSGXJjgcDo9cc/giphy.gif" width="480" height="480" alt="description"/>
Chelsey being absolutely crazy about solving this case... yeah! I completely understand where she's coming from. She has a good backstory (lost sister, bad father -- I mean, he's a jerk, let's be honest, and a kind of shaky marriage because she's so consumed with her work). I'm there.
Ellie, telling her flashbacks to the 'camp' she was kept in. Horrifying. Yet, some of the best pieces of the book because they really draw you in!
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHpzcWIxcXRnYWd3YWN3dXN3dmI4YmV3ZHdieW93MTBmaWljcW5wNCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/DZEplvtCuGqUVk2Ri3/giphy.gif" width="480" height="458" alt="description"/>
And then... then there is the 'twist' ending. First, we find out who the abductor(s) are -- no, I won't tell you more about the (s) -- and the motivation behind these abductions. It is a little, I mean, hmm, it was a little much to try and pack into a few pages. I mean, does it really make sense? I guess it does in the sense that I decided sure... I guess that's a motive and this plot works. I was willing to suspend belief here even though I thought this didn't all mesh well enough. Whatever.
Then there is a twist involving one of the other girls who was abducted and who is at this 'camp' in the woods. Now, that was too much. It just was too much for me to really enjoy and I hated that little fact -- minus one star.
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNGxuaWllbWhod3Y5ZXY5MTVkdmhkbW0zcGNmaHU5emI5bzE5NnM2YSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/pcoa9GfYAkJvS7exrl/giphy.gif" width="480" height="480" alt="description"/>
It was still a good book, overall. I just felt like the ending was 'off' and needed a little more work based on an otherwise good leadup. All in all, again, it was still a really quick, fun read.
Ellie Black was abducted and her case goes cold. Suddenly, two years later, she stumbles back into town and detective Chelsey Calhoun is desperate for answers. Where has Ellie been? Does she have any information about other girls that were abducted around the same time as her? And the kicker is that Ellie really doesn't seem excited to share any information about anything. Sure, she's traumatized and has drawn herself inward, but does she really want to stop helping the investigation altogether?
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbmVzNTljODRucjJ2bmtzOXFhaXZuMThmOGMwMGI2NWgyYnR4eXJhaSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/57Ulq1oC617AapwUl4/giphy.gif" width="480" height="480" alt="description"/>
Chelsey is letting the case eat away at her relationship with her husband, Noah, largely in part due to the fact that she just refuses to believe Ellie doesn't know anything. Not to mention, her own sister, Lydia, disappeared decades ago and she's never gotten over that. Of course, you never would.
Okay. So here's the review.
This book had me hooked for 75% of the story. A girl disappears and then just randomly comes back two years later, without the help of any police. I mean, that's a miracle! The fact that Ellie is standoffish and doesn't really want to get involved in Chelsey's investigation (I mean... she doesn't want this serial abductor/rapist/killer to get found?!).
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaXk1MGQ0bDhsYTNsMmRjZm96dTc4N3o5ZnN2cmR2MnNlZm14aDlqdCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/PnfsGtSGXJjgcDo9cc/giphy.gif" width="480" height="480" alt="description"/>
Chelsey being absolutely crazy about solving this case... yeah! I completely understand where she's coming from. She has a good backstory (lost sister, bad father -- I mean, he's a jerk, let's be honest, and a kind of shaky marriage because she's so consumed with her work). I'm there.
Ellie, telling her flashbacks to the 'camp' she was kept in. Horrifying. Yet, some of the best pieces of the book because they really draw you in!
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHpzcWIxcXRnYWd3YWN3dXN3dmI4YmV3ZHdieW93MTBmaWljcW5wNCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/DZEplvtCuGqUVk2Ri3/giphy.gif" width="480" height="458" alt="description"/>
And then... then there is the 'twist' ending. First, we find out who the abductor(s) are -- no, I won't tell you more about the (s) -- and the motivation behind these abductions. It is a little, I mean, hmm, it was a little much to try and pack into a few pages. I mean, does it really make sense? I guess it does in the sense that I decided sure... I guess that's a motive and this plot works. I was willing to suspend belief here even though I thought this didn't all mesh well enough. Whatever.
Then there is a twist involving one of the other girls who was abducted and who is at this 'camp' in the woods. Now, that was too much. It just was too much for me to really enjoy and I hated that little fact -- minus one star.
<img src="https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNGxuaWllbWhod3Y5ZXY5MTVkdmhkbW0zcGNmaHU5emI5bzE5NnM2YSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/pcoa9GfYAkJvS7exrl/giphy.gif" width="480" height="480" alt="description"/>
It was still a good book, overall. I just felt like the ending was 'off' and needed a little more work based on an otherwise good leadup. All in all, again, it was still a really quick, fun read.