May’s Book Pick!
Happy May everyone! Here’s this month’s book selection!
Find us on the @bookclubshq app & join us on 5/31 at 4pm PST for this month’s meeting!
📚Book Details📚
Title: Looking for Smoke
Author: K. A. Cobell
Synopsis: When local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway to honor Loren’s missing sister, Mara thinks she’ll finally make some friends on the Blackfeet reservation.
Instead, a girl from the Giveaway, Samantha White Tail, is found murdered.
Because the four members of the Giveaway group were the last to see Samantha alive, each becomes a person of interest in the investigation. And all of them—Mara, Loren, Brody, and Eli—have a complicated history with Samantha.
Despite deep mistrust, the four must now take matters into their own hands and clear their names. Even though one of them may be the murderer.
Reading 'Looking for Smoke' by K. A. Cobell was a captivating experience that drew me deeply into the intricacies of the Blackfeet reservation and the complex dynamics among the characters Mara, Loren, Brody, and Eli. What I found particularly engaging was how the story blends traditional Native American cultural elements, like the Giveaway ceremony, with a modern thriller plot. The way the book handles themes of trust and suspicion really resonated with me. Each character’s backstory and their complicated history with Samantha White Tail added layers to the mystery, making it more than just a typical whodunit. It felt authentic and respectful to the community it portrays, which enhanced my connection to the plot. If you enjoy mysteries with rich cultural settings, 'Looking for Smoke' provides that gripping debut thriller feel that Jessica Goodman praised. The narrative is suspenseful without relying on overused tropes, and the characters’ emotional journeys make you root for them despite their flaws. For anyone interested in book clubs or community reads, I recommend joining the @bookclubshq app and participating in the discussion scheduled for May 31st. Sharing thoughts on such a layered story with others adds to the experience and can unveil new perspectives. Overall, this book has definitely earned its place as an excellent May pick. Whether you’re a longtime thriller fan or new to Indigenous stories, it's a compelling read worth exploring.
