This book absolutely blew me away and kept me guessing the entire time. It left me stunned and unable to stop thinking about it even weeks later.

The writing and pacing was impeccable, especially for a book with so many POVs. Each character had their own distinct voice and this story truly needed to be told from multiple perspectives to give the necessary insight into their situations and create even more tension and suspense.

I still can’t believe that this was a debut and I anxiously await more from K.A. Cobell.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Please just go read it, and tell a friend, to tell a friend that they need to read it too!

Thank you so very much to Heartdrum, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

This book was amazing!

4.5 rounded up

This book was a really good mystery. It shined a specific light on the MMIW movement (more information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women). It follows 4 POVs of teenagers in the community who are faced with suspicion and fear after one of their classmates if found dead.

I thought that the author did a really great job at balancing the emotions of wanting to clear their names, fear for their community but also wanting to protect themselves even at the cost of their connections at time. I think the book introduces enough hints that you can figure it out if you pay attention, but also unfolds really well if trying to guess the ending of the mystery isn't your thing.

The four main characters are all connected to the victims in different ways and seeing each person's background unfold really made the story feel fleshed out.

Disclaimer: I received a finished copy from the publisher. A review was not required and all thoughts are my own.

I was so hype to read this one, but I'm DNFing at 11%. I was completely un-invested in the characters - it just didn't do much for me. It also felt super weird when the grandmother asked one of the main characters if she killed their best friend and forced her to say out loud that she didn't kill her in order to believe her? That was so bizarre and just seemed like a weird thing to have happen, and I was uninterested in reading after that. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

Looking for Smoke is one gripping story! A wonderful debut novel by author K. A.
I think the author did a fantastic job terrific job writing about a difficult but important subject matter. Missing & murdered indigenous women. It's a story that held my attention from start to finish. Cobell's writing takes you right into the Blackfeet tribe with multiple POV gives readers chapters that flow at a quick pace it tackles a lot about life as a member of the Blackfeet community and that lack of justice missing indigenous women cases receive unlike white women they don't receive national media attention and most cases don't go reported nor are there properly investigated with the ample resources.
The sad reality is expressed in this story in a very eye opening way missing &/or murder, generational trauma, mental health, drugs, foster care, bullying, & other aspects make this work of fiction sadly a reality for too many.
You'll be able to spot this gorgeous book cover easily in any book store.
I'm looking forward to reading more future novel from K.A. Cobell.

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

KA Cobell presents Looking for Smoke, a YA thriller centered on the mystery surrounding the murder of girls on a Blackfeet reservation. Readers follow shifting perspectives between Mara- new to the reservation, Brody- whose brother may have gotten into more than he bargained for, Eli- who is trying to care for his sister despite the absence of his father, and Lauren- whose sister is missing and presumed dead. Each perspective presents more information about the secrets surrounding life on the reservation and raises the question of how much you would give to protect those you love.

Cobell's novel, while fictional, provides very real commentary on the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Cobell raises awareness to the MMIWG2S crisis in Indigenous communities, but does not hesitate to present the difficulties experienced both by the persons directly affected and by the families and friends of those missing. Cobell handles these issues as well as issues of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, distrust of law enforcement, and others with compassion and care, but it is necessary to consider the weight of these topics before starting this book.

Each perspective character had a very different lived experience and the theme of identity ran strong throughout the book. Cobell nicely balanced her pacing of both the action and the flow of information while managing to give enough bread crumbs for the reader to solve the mystery along with the characters.

Overall, I felt that Cobell was incredibly successful in execution of her debut novel, and hope that Looking for Smoke gets all of the attention it (and the cause it champions) deserves.

Told through the perspective of four Blackfeet teens as well as snippets from a true crime podcast, Looking for Smoke is a deeply moving debut novel that brings attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. Cobell crafts a compelling, masterful story full of complex characters you’ll find yourself rooting for and twists that will keep you guessing. Absolutely riveting!

This isn’t exactly a book I would normally pick up. Books that feature addiction and drugs aren’t usually my cup of tea. But with this one, I decided to go through with it because it doesn’t actually show the addiction side. Just that there’s drugs involved. If that makes sense. And that tends to make the difference for me.

The mystery was just ok. No I didn’t guess the killer, but it made more sense the more I thought about it after I finished. I think it was all the different POVs. It got a bit confusing, but I really think that’s what the author intended. Like that was the biggest red herring in the book. But this was pitched as a thriller, but it was more so just a mystery. Yeah there’s something that happens, but they spend more time just trying to figure out who did it and not enough running or making my heart rate speed up, if that makes sense.

I DID enjoy the Indigenous rep. I do wish there was more SHOWING vs TELLING tho. Having never been on a reservation before, I wanted to know more about the difference in staying on one. I went and did some more research, like where the Blackfeet Reservation might be also because I didn’t remember it being in the book. I did learn a bit more about the powwows and the way they celebrate different situations like at the very beginning and the end. And I also loved that this was an own voices book. The author was able to give us real feelings on what it was like to be only half and not always feel accepted and ways that she felt she had to be to be accepted. And I loved that she admitted in the author’s note that she didn’t exactly feel like she could write this book and her dad said, “Write it.”

The plot twist tho?! I was not expecting that lol Needless to say I thought I guessed who it was and for the most part, I got a lot of it right. But that very last thing? I legit had to rewind that chapter lol I think I said out-loud “Ain’t no way she just said what I think she said.” lol And then it was just over. It was like a bombshell ending and I keep going back to think about it like wtf lol If you’ve read this and you survived the ending too, pleaseeeeee DM or email me so we can talk.

This book was a lot of fun to read, even if I did have to fast forward through a couple chapters to avoid some triggers. This was a well thought out mystery with some amazing Indigenous rep that deserves to be seen in this genre. I hope y’all have as much fun with this one as I did!

Thank you Heartdrum and NetGalley for the eARC of Looking for Smoke! All opinions in this review are my own.

For me, I find that it is truly difficult to write a five star thriller, but K. A. Cobell did it on her debut. In this Own Voices novel, Looking for Smoke details the story of the classmates left behind after two of their own go missing and their determination to find answers. Cobell brings the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement to the forefront, and shows the pain of the families and friends left behind. As a member of the Blackfeet Nation herself, Cobell is able to write characters the readers care about it, which I don't often find as the case in thrillers. I couldn't put this book down!

Looking for Smoke is a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see what else Cobell is capable of!

4.75 stars this was so good!!!! it was so gripping and engaging, i found myself so invested in the characters and so frustrated with some of the characters, it really kept me on the edge of my seat. these stories are so important to tell, especially with the continued rates of MWIW. i loved how this shed light on this issue without sensationalizing of trivializing it. and i fucking love geraldine that is my girl!!!!!!!!!

This debut novel from K.A. Cobell depicts the real issue of MMIW - Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women. As a member of the Blackfeet Nation, she has an inside look into the tragedy that strikes many indigenous tribes and the women within.

This novel is told from multiple points of view. It helps to round out the story and gain a better perspective on the various characters. I felt compassion for those who were missing or murdered, along with the families and the pain of not knowing what happened to their loved ones.

There is so much information that it is hard to decipher where the truth lies until the end. There are some surprising twists that I didn't expect. I did appreciate the perspective of the teens. They were not pushed aside for adults who thought they knew better, or at least not all the time. It was good to see how their lives were laid out; it wasn't all fun and games, and their responsibilities were laid at their feet at a young age.

This may be a YA novel, but it isn't a light novel. It deals with hard situations for the youth of the community.

We give this book 4 paws up. It might be a book that will capture your attention.

First of all - stunning cover. The story captivated me right away. The awareness of MMIR (missing and murdered Indigenous relatives) is so important. I am not familiar with the culture of the Blackfeet, but was so thankful that KA Cobell did a great job including it. With her vivid descriptions of the environment and the dancers, Cobell made the reader feel like they were there [at the powwow]. It was, of course, a bit YA, but that was okay for me. A bit of a slow burn, yet again, okay for me. I may be a bit biased because I love to see Indigenous stories and authors get mainstream attention - bringing awareness, appreciation, and love is so important. Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this ARC.

YA whodunit that kept me guessing. The plot centers around the missing Rayanne who disappeared on her way to school one morning and the murdered Sam whose body was discovered in the back of a trailer during the Indian Days festivities; both young women members of the Blackfeet tribe who live on the reservation in Montana. The Tribal police and an FBI agent are investigating, but don’t seem capable of finding the culprit or culprits. Rayanne’s sister Loren is determined to find out what happened to her beloved sister and best friend. She pulls newcomer and perceived outsider Mara into it, possibly endangering her life as well. It’s a twisty thriller. Atmospheric, I loved the descriptions of the regalia, dances and horse racing taking place during the Indian Days celebration. I first became aware of this appalling issue affecting indigenous women watching Alaska Daily starring Hillary Swank. It was a great series that unfortunately got cancelled, but at the end of every episode the stars of the show talked about how, “in some areas of the United States, Native American women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average,” and called for action to end this crisis. This book brings that crisis front and center. It talks about MMIW which stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and tells us that, “84% of Native women have experienced violence and 56% have experienced sexual violence. The murder rate of Native women is 3 times more than that of white women, and in some locations, the rate is 10 times the national average.” I hope lots of people will read this book and then maybe more will be done to help these poor women. The book is nicely done with a compelling story. It educates and entertains as well. Highly recommend.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. I did however end up listening to the final publication version of the audiobook. I highly recommend the audiobook, as it is narrated by a full cast, which really helps bring the story together.

This follows four teenagers in the wake of one of their own being murdered. As the murder investigation proceeds, it looks like it may be connected to another murder victim. All four teens band together to try to figure out what is going on and how Rayanne and Samantha's murders are connected. As we get to know the characters it is clear that everyone is hiding something, while they may not be the murderer they each have a secret that could ruin them. During the course of the investigation, everyone is a suspect and you aren't really sure who to point the finger at until the very end. The way the story was told was engaging and kept me on my toes wanting to know what was going to happen next.

This book while fictional shines a light on very real issues within the Native American community. There is very real issue with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, drugs, violence, and a broken justice system. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It is perfect for teen readers as there isn't anything overly graphic in the book, but I think readers of all ages will enjoy it.

3.5 stars

This book tackles the MMIW movement (murdered and missing Indigenous women). The statistics for how many Indigenous women are assaulted or worse is horrifying and I think the plot does a great job of helping you get into someone else's shoes who's experiencing this. Uplifting BIPOC authors and stories is so important and I am glad to have read this.

The mystery sometimes felt like it took a backseat to interpersonal relationships and I would have liked a bit more action involved. The two main male characters got a bit mixed up to me and I think they could have been differentiated more. I did like getting the prospective of a character that felt like an outsider for not having grown up on the reservation and I liked finding out that it was based on the author's real experiences.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Heartdrum and NetGalley for the copy.

Book Review
Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell

Tropes and Triggers
MMIW
Indigenous MCs (Blackfeet)
YA or New Adult
Neglect, drug use, foster care, bullying
Murder, missing persons
Generational trauma
PTSD- not diagnosed or specifically stated but present
Mental Health issues


Thoughts

I binged this read in one afternoon!
I cant believe its a debut!
This book drew me in with its socially relevant subject matter. The writing and pace were fluid and time disappeared while I sunk between the covers of this book. The author delved into a variety of complex issues faced by Indigenous people with obvious care and compassion. Cobell’s respect and love for her Blackfeet culture shines through her words.

I Loved the use of “smoke” throughout book- as a description for behavioural traits, spiritual references, actions- the author consistently embedded the word through the story making connections between relationships and people as she went- this strategy caught my attention right away - each time it was used my ears perked up and I knew something significant was happening
Was this intentional? Who knows … but it felt purposeful whenever I came across it.

Overall
This book was a pleasure to read 😊
And not just for YA audiences

Thanks to @frenzy @netgalley @harpercollins for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are My own

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I was slow to get into this stroy at first (I've always hated stories where the MC is bullied) but once this story picks up, IT REALLY PICKS UP. After the first few initial chapters there was hardly a dull moment with this story. Mara and Loren were incredible characters and their slow and steady build towards friendship and loyalty was really something to behold (especially since Loren didn't really care for Mara at first). I also loved Eli TO DEATH. His relationship with Mara was unexpected and then quickly became a "Oh, DUH" in my brain. Their chemistry together was amazing. The scene where he takes off his sweatshirt to give it to her and then the sense of happiness he has seeing her in it afterwards was *chefs kisses*. They were so good together and I was happy to see them find some happiness in the madness of this story. Brody I never really got around to liking. He was always very whiny and entitled so I couldn't get behind him (and I'm glad I didn't). The big reveal at the end was what really got me though in the final chapter. I hadn't seen that coming at all. Overall this was such an incredible book and I'm going to be buying a physical copy of it for myself!!!

This was such a magnicificebt 5 star ya mystery about the crisis of missing indigenous women in America. This was written so well and the authors note jury solidified how much this book will be engraved in my brain. A lot of times ya thrillers/mysteries the characters could be annoying but this author displayed these teen characters in an age appropriate manner and they were so likeable.

Although right before the reveal happened i guess both twist, i think this is just because i am over thinker.

I will be recommending this to my booktok fam!

Sadly this was a DNF for me. I was hoping it would be similar to the firekeeper's daughter, but I found the multiple POVs a bit hard to follow.

Looking for Smoke got off to a bit of a slow start, but once I was in it, I was IN IT. I practically inhaled the whole book in an afternoon. It had just the right amount of everything good that goes into a thriller, and I’m really happy to have had the opportunity to read it.