Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

54 reviews

bookedwithliz's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Rape

astifel21's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

“‘My Name?’ Who is she? What has she become? A vessel. To be carried. To be kept. To be filled.”

This novel by Emiko Jean is a mystery thriller about the reappearance of a missing teen 2 years after her abduction. The case lands in the hands of female detective Chelsey Calhoun who has her own demons and past to sort out. When Ellie reappears Chelsey is determined to bring to justice whoever did this to Ellie, in part because of the burden she carries over her sisters disappearance as a teenager. The problem is though Ellie won’t talk and Chelsea has to work hard to unravel the story with little help. 

“The truth is these people are not strangers. They are the men you sleep with, the you work with, the men you raise. I wish this wasn’t what it means to be female - it is not a matter of if something will happen but when.”

This book had me on the edge of the couch. My husband teased me as I flipped page after page glued to the story. As a lover of crime dramas this story sucked me in and I just had to know who did it. But I loved that it wasn’t just the search for the kidnapper but also glimpses of the life the characters lead. We get to see the cracks in Chelsea’s marriage. The mistakes Ellie’s parents made. Each of them trying to come to terms with the direction their lives have gone. It was a race to the end for me on this one and the reveal definitely caught me by surprise. If your looking for a book to keep you on the edge of your chair then I’d recommend this one but be warned you might also find yourself angry at what can happen to girls and women. 

“A careful calculation multiplied by parents wealth, then divided by race and religion. The poorer and darker the girl, the less funds the department allocated to her rescue - after all, the public is less outraged when those type of girls go missing. Maybe Ellie’s mom could sense it - some daughters were worth more than others.”

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Torture, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death and Death of parent

louisekf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Confinement

Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent, Infertility, and Pregnancy

colorcrystals's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Murder, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Excrement, Cancer, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, and Gun violence

Minor: Pregnancy and Infertility

johnny_harker's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Torture, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, Misogyny, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

enzopudge's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders

sariereads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Infertility, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pregnancy, Blood, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Police brutality

trippalli's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A sad tense and dark journey into the experiences of a teen kidnapped with other teens and a girl and their efforts to survive and escape. Really horrific and sad, a dark tale of abuse, psychological terror and Fighting for survival despite being beaten, raped and watching other girls get killed violently. A story of survival, police brutality, teen resilience and the terrifying world of abuse and damaged violent people gaslighting and brainwashing victims.

Not for the feint of heart

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Confinement, Animal death, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Gun violence, and Infertility

timetotalkbeauty's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual violence