Looking for Smoke is the gripping tale of what happens when a girl goes missing in plain sight. The story follows four students who were the last to see her alive. Eli, Mara, Loren, and Brody are all brought into the spotlight when their classmate Samantha is found murdered. They all have connections, some more binding than others. As clues unravel, another death is linked to Samantha’s murder. Can the four of them figure out who the real killer is? 

I was blown away by Looking for Smoke and couldn’t put it down! This book does an important job of raising awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women. Important questions are raised, such as why these disappearances are not reported on the news. The story flips to different POVs and I really enjoyed Mara and Loren. Mara feels an attraction to Eli, despite him not being kind to her at school. I loved the moments of connection they had amidst all the danger. Mara also struggles with feeling Blackfeet “enough,” since she was raised off the reservation. Meanwhile, Loren’s sister is missing and presumed dead. This fills her with uncontrollable rage and anguish, which I thought was very realistically portrayed.  

Looking for Smoke is a heartfelt and emotional book that deals with important real-life topics. The characters feel vivid and realistic. They all have their own secrets and battles to fight, which makes the story very compelling. The mystery of who the real killer was kept me guessing to the end! Readers who enjoy Angeline Boulley, enthralling characters, and complex mysteries will love this book. I can’t wait to see what K.A. Cobell writes next! 

Thank you to K.A. Cobell, Heartdrum, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.