I really enjoyed this mystery. I feel like the author did a great job of naturally weaving in indigenous culture to the story. I really connected with the themes of grief and I thought the weaving in of the podcast helped demonstrate how pervasive the MMIW problem is and how few people invest in finding these women. I also was shocked at how well the author kept the mystery alive. Just when you think you know - you realize you don’t know anything and then it twists again!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was utterly amazing! I never knew what was coming next, and the Native American setting was beautiful. I love how there was such a strong call for missing indigenous women underneath such a beautifully written book! I was guessing until the very end, the author had me so confused at multiple points in the story. I love when I can’t see an ending coming, that was definitely the case with this book! Amazing debut novel, can’t wait to find more from this author in the future.

A lot of the times a YA thriller can feel juvenile or unrealistic. This book was not the case at all! Although it it’s a slow burn, I feel immersed in this story from the beginning. This book touches base on a very real issue of the highly alarming numbers of missing Native American women. Something that is rarely talked about in mainstream media and a VERY serious issue. I thought this book really shed light on that topic and dived deep into the effects it has on the indigenous community.

I can write a whole synopsis on what the book is about. But I do not want to steer away from what I stated above. This book is 100% worth reading! I was shocked by a few twists and turns. I loved how complicated some of the characters are. They felt very real, mature, and trying to do their best for their friends/family. I cannot put words how much this book amazed me. I have a feeling this one will live rent free in my brain for a while. The mystery of the story is so realistic and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was questioning everything and everyone. I cannot believe this is the author's debut novel. They knocked it out of the park. I look forward to seeing more of their work in the future. A well deserved 5 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Looking for Smoke" is a fantastic mystery that kept me reading late into a school night! The characters and depiction of Blackfeet culture were so well rendered. I felt like I was experiencing Indian Days along with the cast of characters. This book is perfect for fans of Angeline Boulley.

LOOKING FOR SMOKE by K.A. Cobell follows four Indigenous teenagers--Loren Arnoux, Mara Racette, Brody Clark, and Eli First Kill--as they investigate the disappearance of Loren's sister, Rayanne, and their friend, Samantha White Tail. This book is filled with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way until the last page! I especially enjoyed the chapters from the "Unknown" perspective; they added an extra element of suspense, and the eventual reveal of who that character was was really satisfying. I also enjoyed the inclusion of the podcast transcripts, as they served as a mechanism to inform readers about the very real and serious issue of MMIW--Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Although fictional, this book provided a heart-wrenching look into what is really happening to many Indigenous women, as well as other issues facing Indigenous communities. The only thing that I didn't like about this book was that it seemed to lack exposition. I felt like the reader was just thrown right into the action before really meeting the characters and getting an idea of the setting and conflict.

I greatly enjoyed this story and felt that the author's ability to bring the reader into the culture of the Blackfeet was specifically exceptional. The story opens on the annual Indian Days celebration, which is a days-long festival that highlights the cultural traditions of the tribe. I was immediately pulled into the powwow, with the descriptions of the dancers and atmosphere creating an immediate, vivid image of the festivities.

The event that really sets off our story is a Giveaway, where members of a family that have suffered a recent loss honor their loved one by passing our gifts to the community. The Arnoux family has lost a grandfather and a daughter, with Rayanne Arnoux's disappearance still unsolved. Despite being new to the area and being only half Blackfeet, Maura is pulled into the Giveaway by Loren, Rayanne's sister, putting her squarely in the eye of suspicion when another young girl is found murdered after the event.

The story shifts perspectives between four teens; Maura, Loren, Eli, and Brody. Throughout the course of the story, you will suspect every single one of them, plus more characters on the side. The way this story and mystery are weaved truly had be questioning the culprit until very close to the end. I love when a story can keep the solution hidden without it feeling like the reader was deprived important information, and that is absolutely done here.

The story is definitely a slow burn and my one issue with it was the pacing. While the story does flow nicely in the first 25% and final ~30%, the middle of the book can feel slow at times. While some chapters introduce new information or build character relationships, some chapters rehash old information repeatedly and really only result in the POV character pointing fingers at someone else. Those chapters made me feel restless and I admit that I skimmed several chapters once it was clear that nothing new was going to be forthcoming.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable book and I would absolutely recommend it to others. Actual teenaged readers might find themselves having a hard time getting through the middle of the book, but as an adult, I'm a bit more patient and willing to work through the slower parts to get to the resolution. Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for this DRC!

The multiple POV characters worked really well for this mystery. Even getting glimpses into the different character's heads, I was still second guessing who might be guilty of the murders and who might be an unreliable narrator. Cobell kept me guessing right up to the end. Definitely recommended for readers who like Angeline Boulley's books, but also anyone who likes to read mystery and suspense.

This is a great book for readers looking for a good murder mystery and wanting to read diversely. The cast of characters are a part of the Blackfeet Nation and their community and culture are important to them. Each character has their own struggle throughout the book along with great information about the continuous abuse Native American people face today, especially the women. I was on the edge of my seat till the end!

Visceral. Stunning. KA Cobell is a force in her debut LOOKING FOR SMOKE. This book will empower Native readers and Native youth.

When Harper Collins offered the option to read Looking For Smoke by K.A. Cobell I immediately jumped at the chance. For starters, just look at that gorgeous cover, what’s not to want to read about that?! Then I read the synopsis and wanted to read it even more.

The Good:
This book pulls you in, right from the get go. There was already a mystery that required solving, but you weren’t yet given the pieces to be able to put it all together. I really enjoy when stories unfold that way. I also really appreciated the look into a culture that is not my own. I’ve had very small glimpses into Indigenous culture, and this was just another small piece, but one I am so grateful to have read. MMIWG (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls) was something I knew of, but in the grand scheme of things something I know very little about. The stats are absolutely staggering. The more light we can shed on it the better and this book is a beacon.

Looking for Smoke is told from multiple perspectives and I honestly was very confused at first. I struggled with whose perspective I was in, especially in the beginning. It did get easier as the story went. There is one perspective though that I never quite got use to. I’m not sure if it was the wording of the person or the unknown of it, but I alway had to do multiple reads of their chapters to make sure I didn’t miss something.

The Mentionable:
Trigger Warnings to be aware of: strangulation, alcohol consumption, mention of drug use, attempted rape, MMIWG, fist fights, gun violence, violent attacks, blood, child abandonment, drug dealing, suffocation and evidence tampering.

If you get the chance to read this book please do! The messages it carries are so important. Despite my struggles with perspectives I will still be adding this to my collection when it releases on June 4th.

Big thank you to Harper Collins for the E-Arc and the opportunity to read this fantastic book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book so much. A true pages turner. I have to come back with more thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eARC.

A solid 4, maybe even a 4.5. I love well written realistic fiction! This one includes a mystery, a nice little sprinkle of romance, and a bunch of badass women and girls. Those of us who fell in love with ‘FireKeepers Daughter’ will find another powerful voice here. I’m so ready to see more Native and indigenous writers bring good story to a worldwide audience. The characters here are great, they’re complex, with strong feelings and experiences students will relate to. I could totally teach this one in class, especially with the real issues it brings to light. And the ending, I didn’t know until I was there, and it makes perfect sense. #MMIWG #NativeAlly

Loveeeeeed this! Definitely had Firekeeper's Daughter vibes, but definitely seemed more accessible to a younger audience.

The characters all had their struggles, and you didn't know who to trust the entire time. It was so sad reading the events that happen constantly on reservations, but I loved learning about the Blackfeet culture and am making an active effort to read more Indigenous voices. This felt so real and I loved every second of it.

A searing and insightful thriller that'll keep you glued to the page (or, screen haha) until the explosive ending. An incredibly impressive debut!

This was an incredible story about four teens of the Blackfeet reservation dealing with missing and murdered girls, inspired by the devastating real-life statistics about how much more likely Native women are to experience violence.

Told in 4 alternating POVs, this story eases us into the world of teens on a reservation—and then the action starts in. We have Mara, new to the reservation and feeling like an outsider; Loren, sister of the first missing girl; Brody, who lives in the shadow of his brother; and Eli, who has a temper but is just trying to hold things together for his little sister. Through their eyes we try and figure out who is abducting and killing girls on the Blackfeet reservation. We shift from suspect to suspect, all while exploring the inner lives of these teens, some of whose have been dealt a bad hand in life. An often brutal but at times hopeful story that I hope will do as the author says she intends: shed light on the real-life injustices faced by Native women today.

WOW - what a read! I can't believe this is her debut novel, but Cobell is exactly who we need in the YA thriller genre! I loved how the writing style paired with the alternating POVs really made for a snappy writing pace. With plenty of twists (some that certainly caught me off guard!), I had a hard time putting this one down. I also appreciated the cultural context - I learned a lot that I was previously knowledgable about! This is going to be a hit upon its official release and I have my eye on future works. Thanks so much for the ARC!

I just blew through the last 50 pages of this without blinking because WOW!! This book feels like exactly what the YA mystery genre has needed for a long time. The incorporation of the author's personal background combined with the way she so expertly wove in awareness of the MMIW movement... The way some beats felt familiar, in a way that will appeal to Sadie and One of Us Is Lying fans, yet were given a whole new meaning and impact within the novel's context... Incredible stuff. The perfect balance too (for me) of being able to guess a couple twists (feeling proper smug) while also howling in shock over others. I could go on, but tldr; this was DAMN good.

I always hesitate to call a book important, but this book is absolutely important. More than that though, it's truly incredible. Cobell is definitely a new auto-buy author and I can't wait to see what she does next. The last 1/3 of this book was so impeccably paced I almost physically could not put it down. 10/10. All the stars. Highly recommend to literally everyone.

This is a book everyone needs to read and everyone will want to. I wasn’t able to put this down until the last page. A mystery entangled in the missing and murdered ingenious women MMIW this book takes you into the lives on a reservation and makes you feel and see things through a different lense. We need more of these books and more from this author.

This book is INCREDIBLE. It is a mix of the compelling multi-POV characters of One of Us Is Lying with the gritty reality of life in Sadie, all set on a reservation with traditions and culture that pulse through the text. Near the end, I could not stop flipping pages or gasping-it was one or the other. i was especially struck by the complexity of each character; they all have so many sides and angles to them, like a Rubik's cube you want to keep turning over to solve once you see them in a new light. If you like surprising twists and turns, a splash of romance, and complicated characters who will leave you wanting more, BUY THIS BOOK.