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A review by robsfavoriteaudiobooks
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A pretty teenage girl disappears from her rural town: a familiar setup for a thriller. A pretty teenager reappears years later but there’s no case since she refuses to discuss who abducted her…now that feels like new territory.


This book is so unlike Jean’s previous work and I love seeing authors take big risks with new genres. There were times where she safely leaned into time-tested tropes and other times where she deconstructed and challenged the business as usual for crime thrillers.