Thank you to the publisher for my arc!

I really wanted to enjoy this but sadly this wasn’t for me. The story didn’t keep me engaged

Thank you Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this book. I very much enjoyed it. While reading I learned a bit about native culture. The book was exciting and scary. It brought to my attention about how many native women go missing and nothing is done. I will be reading more about this.

Quill and husband, Crow, live on the rez in Minnesota. She’s training for a marathon but, what or who is she really running from? As I read her story her motivations became clearer - fear, anger, pain and the need for justice. The plot highlights the search for women missing and those searching for them. I’ve read several other novels which highlighted ongoing social disparity within the Native American people. The book reminded me of the short-lived TV show Alaska Daily. Women of many ethnic groups go missing by the hour, when will changes come? The area where this takes place is very unfamiliar to me, cold near the Canadian border. The characters were vivid and the search for the missing is an emotional journey. Quill is so focused on getting answers and finding the forgotten missing women, that her own husband and young children take a back seat. She doesn’t realize her priorities could leave them motherless. She’s impulsive, determined and puts herself in risky situations. Much of her frustration stems from law enforcement’s continued jurisdictional disputes with little to no cooperation between agencies. The cultural insights were relevant and valuable. This was another new author to add to my watch list. Thanks to Bantam Books, Penguin Random House for providing the Advance Reader Copy of “Where They Last Saw Her” by Marcie R. Rendon, via NetGalley, expected publication 09/03/2024. These are my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

First big thanks go to Net Galley for the DRC. Getting this early copy is much appreciated.

In “Where They Last Saw Her”, Marcie Rendon delves into the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women. While this topic was not new to me, how Rendon showed it from the point of view of a native woman watching this happen in her community was. I made the mistake of reading this late at night, resulting in vivid, heart racing dreams. Always a sign the book has me.

The book starts when Quill, the feisty protagonist, is out for a run and hears a woman’s scream deep in the woods. Not believing the authorities cared enough to investigate, she takes it upon herself to work the case. Of course there is a fair number of fantastical moments, if you’re able to move pass “that would never happen, oh please spare me”, you will enjoy this book. There were many moments I wanted to jump into the scene and yell “what are you doing!?” while holding my breath & rooting her on all the same.

In my opinion there were some side stories that weren’t adequately resolved. I like everything tied up nicely by the last page. Maybe Rendon will explore some of those stories in her next book. One can hope!

I was so excited to read this story as I live in MN and have long wondered about the stories I hear of missing and murdered Native American and First Nation women. I loved the setting and the introduction to the Ojibwe culture and language. I just couldn’t connect with the characters and after a while, the clunky writing and structure started to bug me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found that this story could have had so much potential, but I couldn’t connect to the characters. It was very intriguing in the beginning and wasted no time getting to the point: a women’s scream is heard and they try to find out what happened to her . Great awareness regarding g native women. Unfortunately, fell short for me

Marcie Rendon has another on-the-nose and current events thriller well worth reading for both the story and the true-to-life tension. What can we do to stop the abduction of First Nation/Native American women and girls (and children and young men)?

This had an interesting setting and premise, and covered the important issue of missing and murdered Native American and First Nation women. The main character, Quill, was a little infuriating, as her reckless and impetuous behavior made most situations worse than they needed to be. There were no real twists, and no real suspense, but I'll rate it pretty highly due to the integration of Ojibwe phrases and lifestyle.

Also, I think the cover is very striking -- one of the best I've seen this year.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Certainly not an easy read, but an important one. This focuses on Quill, a Native woman who is gets wrapped up in a case of missing women. It does a nice job of sharing the story, while making people aware of all of the missing Native women in years past. The protagonist makes choices that made me want to scream, but she as a hero!

This book is an important read. I feel like awareness should be raised about the missing and endangered Native women and children across the U.S.. this book was beautifully written with a thoughtful afterwards.

Where They Last Saw Her is the story of Quill, her Native American running pals Punk and Gaylyn, and husband Crow who become caught up in the search for one and then another and then another missing woman from their Northern Minnesota reservation community. A well-conceived novel chock full of regional and cultural detail, high emotions and hot topic issues (#mmiw) but somewhat raggedly written. I read this as a NetGalley edition that will hopefully go through a final edit before publication. I raged with, rooted for, and feared for the women in this story, was amazed by their strength and determination. On that level ane The Last Time They Saw Her is a highly successful novel, but it could have so much more. As a reader of literary fiction, I look for those phrases that stick in the mind, that beg to be copied out or highlighted. Maybe this is a rough story roughly told for a reason, a specific story of missing indigenous women that refuses to be trotted out as a universal human experience. Instead it represents a distinctly Native American experience, an ongoing race specific trauma. So I will forgo ratings and stars, and just land this here not as review but as shared sorrow.

I struggled a lot with this book. The plot was generally pretty good, but the writing felt a little repetitive and the incompetency of the main character made me mental. I definitely figured out fairly early who the bad guy was. Quill put herself in absolutely reckless situations which possibly made the book more interesting, but it was frustrating as a reader. I did think it was cool that it took place in northern MN, we my dad used to live in Duluth.

The life of Quill on the Red Pine reservation in Minnesota takes a dark turn after she hears a chilling scream during a morning run while training for the Boston Marathon. This story hooks the reader from the start with its urgency and heartbreak.

Quill isn't just a runner; she's a mother and wife, trying to balance her love for her family with the trauma and injustices surrounding her. Her husband, Crow, and their children provide a poignant contrast to the unfolding horrors, grounding her determination with their love and support. This contrast strengthens Quill’s resolve to investigate the pipeline workers, as she is driven by a fierce need to protect her loved ones and her community.

The narrative skillfully blends past and present, shedding light on the historical and ongoing struggles of Native American women. Quill’s mission to uncover the truth behind the disappearances is not just a personal quest but a collective fight against a culture of silence and oppression. The novel's depiction of these women’s plights is both heart-wrenching and illuminating, showcasing the deep-seated issues within their society.

Quill’s character is beautifully complex. Her connection to her Anishinaabe heritage and her struggle to navigate her identity within it is relatable and deeply moving. She embodies resilience and determination, making her a protagonist worth rooting for. Crow’s unwavering support adds a layer of warmth to the narrative, emphasizing the strength found in family bonds.

As Quill delves deeper into the mystery, the suspense builds relentlessly. Each revelation brings her closer to a dangerous truth, raising important questions about bystander culture and the long-lasting trauma inflicted on marginalized communities. The story’s dark undertones and unflinching portrayal of violence against Native American women make it a compelling read.

Overall, this novel is a dark, captivating read that sheds light on critical social issues while delivering a gripping mystery. Its emotional depth and relentless suspense keep readers hooked until the very end. It’s a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of Native American women and a call to acknowledge and address the injustices they face. This book is a must-read for those looking to be both educated and profoundly moved.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for sharing this fascinating reading' s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange of my honest thoughts.

Where They Last Saw Her follows Quill as she is on a journey to help find a missing Native woman, she heard scream in the woods. As she takes it upon herself to investigate, she is faced with more woman and children,

I loved the cover art for this book. It is absolutely beautiful in my opinion. I also felt connected to the book as I grew up in Minnesota near a reservation, I knew the area that the book takes place in. This book could really open the eyes of people who maybe don't know what it is like being targeted because of race. It felt so real hearing how Quill and the others felt about all of the missing and murdered Native Americans. The fact that she felt neither the tribal nor local police were doing anything is justified. I understood why she took the investigation into her own hands. The only reason I didn't give it a 5-star rating was because there was a scene that just felt repeated almost to the exact detail and it made the ending feel rushed. I know the author said that it was like last time but maybe it could have used a little rewriting. It was sad that the ending brought little closure to the missing woman but honestly that is reality to a lot of families. All in all, it was a good book. I would also mention as a trigger warning there is domestic violence and talks about drugs/drugging woman.

This book was hard in a lot of ways, from anger at the men who traffic women to frustration with the authorities who can’t keep up with all the missing and murdered indigenous women and children to disgust with the media who doesn’t cover these stories — and also feeling lazy for not running enough!

Rendon does a good job painting the bleakness of a Minnesotan winter and also of rez life. But she also shows us the joy and resilience. Quill is a strong and complicated character doing the best she can to survive and make life better for others. I’m very interested in reading Rendon’s other works now.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Quill loves her family and his happy. She learns that several women from the area have gone missing and decided to do sone investigating. This book kept me guessing.

Thank you Netgalley and Bantam for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Wow. Everything about this book was amazing, horrifying, compelling. Quill lives on reservation with her husband and two children. While on a run, she hears a cry but upon investigating cannot locate the woman or where the cry came from. She finds some evidence, however with friends she begins to investigate the matter on her own. Will Quill draw danger to herself, her friends, her family while investigating???

Quill is running her usual route through the woods one afternoon when she hears a single ear-piercing scream. Convinced it was the scream of a woman, she senses danger and grows increasingly concerned over the following days. Weaved in to this unsettling event are groups of unruly, brute men arriving to town to work the pipeline. Quill’s small town of Red Pine—where everyone knows everyone and they all look out for each other—is beginning to feel more and more unsafe.

As concerned as she is about recent events, she’s also angry. She’s tired of the kidnapped and trafficked, the missing and murdered Indigenous women. It’s all happening on her land and she’s determined to protect it and bring justice to the women who are so easily forgotten by those outside of the reservation.

<i>Where They Last Saw Her</i> is rich with Native American history as well as the present day turmoils they face. In a way that’s difficult for me to explain, this feels like one of the most touching and effective Native American novels that I have read; one of the most heart-breaking renditions of the epidemic their women—and by extension, their men and families—face. The storytelling is superb and kept me invested the whole way through; never once loosening its grip on me. At times, however, Quill’s thoughtless actions drove me nuts—though she was a woman on a mission so who can blame her?—and the writing started to fall apart a little towards the end.

Overall, this Native story will capture readers attention with its relentless suspense and headstrong MC.

Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 09/03/2024!

This book was very well written. It gives insight to the disappearances of so many women. While remaining an entertaining storyline. Poignant and well worth the read. Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy.

Missing Indigenous women – such a timely and upsetting news topic. Hopefully, law enforcement agencies are waking up and beginning to treat each missing person’s case as if it is a member of their own family. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.