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

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

I'd waited six months to read The Return of Ellie Black. When my library notified me that it was my turn to borrow the book, I stopped everything to dive into this dark thriller.  

At seventeen, Ellie is abducted, only to reappear two years later, wandering near a trailhead. Detective Chelsey Calhoun is tasked with finding her captor, but Ellie refuses to cooperate, clearly hiding something—though the truth remains elusive.
I enjoyed how the story is told from multiple viewpoints across different timelines., which gives a fuller picture of each main character. The novel explores themes of PTSD, Stockholm syndrome, sacrifice for loved ones, grief, and broken families.

Several gut-wrenching scenes involving children being mentally and physically abused may be upsetting for some readers. I was okay with them since they weren't gratuitous and I was invested in the story and outcome. 

Believe it or not, one of my favorite twists of the book was the title. I began the book assuming THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK was a straightforward description of the novel: Ellie's safe return from abduction. 

But as I journeyed deeper into the story, I learned Emiko Jean brilliantly crafted a title tinged with a double entendre.  The plot twist is right in the title, you just have to know your parts of speech. 
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