Before You Were Anne - a tale of secrets and identity spanning from Japan to Seattle.

Chelsey Calhoun is a detective in Seattle. The body of Anne Walker is found at her home, and her 16-year-old daughter, Naomi, is missing and believed to have been kidnapped. Chelsey learns that Anne was born in Japan, worked in Tokyo as a nightclub hostess, and after becoming pregnant, fled to the U.S., changing her name from Rika Takahashi. She never revealed Naomi’s father’s identity to her. Chelsey also has struggled with her identity, knowing only that she is of Japanese heritage, was found at a police station, and adopted by white parents. Now that she is expecting a child, understanding her background is more crucial than ever, and this case becomes increasingly personal. As the search for Naomi becomes more urgent, a dark story unfolds about the circumstances of Rika’s escape to the U.S.

Before You Were Anne by Emiko Jean is the second book in the Chelsey Calhoun series, following The Return of Ellie Black. The story is told from the perspectives of Chelsey, Rika, and Naomi. It’s a well-done, slow burn mystery and an emotional story about identity and family secrets.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thriller.

Publication Date: Sept 1, 2026.

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