"Page-Turning Suspense": Stephen King Had High Praise For One Of 2024's Best Thriller Books

Back in 2024, horror icon Stephen King gave a positive review to a brand-new thriller novel, and considering King's outstanding decades-long career, it only makes sense that readers should check this book out. These days, King is undoubtedly a household name, yet his career began over 50 years ago, in 1974, when he published his very first novel, Carrie. In the intervening years, King has been the mastermind behind countless legendary horror novels. Because of this, King's good review can mean the world to a new author, especially since King is eager give out praise where it is due.

Unlike many amazing authors who tend to keep to themselves, King is well-known for offering advice and congratulations to up-and-coming writers. Although he does this often, King's feedback never feels disingenuous or overbearing. In fact, it seems that King truly believes in every piece of literature or media that he publicly applauds. In this way, King's adulation of a 2024 thriller by Emiko Jean should not go unnoticed by readers who love mysteries. If anything, his stamp of approval should be just the thing to get readers to pick up this novel.

Stephen King Had Great Things To Say About The Return Of Ellie Black By Emiko Jean

What The Return Of Ellie Black Is About

In spring 2024, Jean released her newest novel, The Return of Ellie Black. Miraculously, the book came with advance praise from King, who went so far as to blurb the book. In an X post, Simon & Schuster revealed that King's full quote, which said, "The Return of Ellie Black is a page-turning suspense novel, a shrewd character study, and a captivating mystery...I couldn't put it down." Coming from the author of works like The Shining and Cujo, this is significant feedback that makes The Return of Ellie Black all the more compelling.

The Return of Ellie Black is the first thriller novel by Jean, and centers on Detective Chelsey Calhoun. Chelsey is haunted by the disappearance of her sister, and dedicates herself to finding other missing girls. As a result, she's quickly pulled into a new case when a teenage girl named Ellie Black resurfaces in the Washington woods after being missing for two years. Chelsey must try to figure out what happened to Ellie, while also coming to terms with her own trauma, and the reality of such brutal crimes.

Why The Return Of Ellie Black Was One Of The Best Thriller Books Of 2024

What Emiko Jean Will Write Next

King's blurb for The Return of Ellie Black is very persuasive, but truthfully, the book stands well on its own. With a 4.01 star-rating on Goodreads, readers have lauded this thriller for its gripping plot and underlying themes. Jean's writing sucks readers in from the very first page, and the novel's twists and turns are thoroughly engaging, never predictable. Although The Return of Ellie Black is dark and, at times, disturbing, the book succeeds at shedding light on the very real issue of crimes against women.

The Return of Ellie Black may be Jean's very first thriller, but there is a chance that the author could return to the genre in the future. At the moment, Jean has announced that her next novel will be a speculative romance which follows a 17-year-old girl who begins receiving letters from the love of her life, yet he's sending them far into the future. Though this is quite a change from the darkness of The Return of Ellie Black, Love Me Tomorrow could be yet another hit from Jean. Either way, her 2024 thriller deserves as much attention as King's praise implies.