This book pulled me in quietly and then refused to let go. Smith’s writing is understated but emotionally sharp, turning ordinary moments into something tense and unsettling. I loved how the story lingers on grief, memory, and the spaces between people, trusting the reader to feel what isn’t always said. A thoughtful, haunting read that stays with you after the final page.

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Nikki Smith and Penguin UK📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

I love Nikki Smith's book and this one was another belter!
Such a brilliantly tense and gripping thriller that keeps you guessing until the final page. Nikki Smith masterfully weaves suspense with complex characters, making every twist feel both shocking and inevitable. A compelling read for fans of psychological mysteries and fast-paced crime fiction

I absolutely loved Addison in Nikki’s new book. She’s so tenacious and smart, I always enjoy Nikki’s new book and this does not disappoint. Perfect to enjoy whilst soaking up the sun somewhere.
Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read #LastPlaceYouLook

I’m a big fan of Nikki Smith’s thrillers and this is her best yet. The characters are so brilliantly drawn that you can’t help being fascinated by them, even when they’re doing very bad things, and the story is so cleverly put together, constantly delivering surprises and leading to an incredibly satisfying conclusion.
Nikki Smith has a gift for bringing the settings of her novels vividly to life, and here you can absolutely feel the heat of Africa and the raw danger of a beautiful but unforgiving landscape.
If you like your thrillers intelligent and beautifully written as well as page-turningly compulsive, I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Really enjoyed reading this book, it had me hooked quite early and kept me wanting more, definitely want to explore this author more. 5 stars 🌟

Loved this latest book from Nikki Smith which had me hooked from the very start!
Leo and Addison are a wealthy couple who have a second home in South Africa and the story starts with Leo waiting at the airport to pick Addison up after her trip to visit their African home.
However, she doesn't turn up and also doesn't answer his calls. So feeling anxious, he decides he should go out and find her. There's an intricate story woven into it all which unfolds and some twists I never saw coming!

Lots of complex twists and turns. Keeps you on your toes the whole time. A great read. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Riveting part-destination thriller about a missing woman that turned the trope on its head. Don't want to say too much without giving away spoilers but the twists were fab, and the three perspectives came together nicely towards the end. Kept me gripped throughout and I wanted to know what was going on!
Also a great descriptions of the well-off life in the UK and the richness of the landscape in South Africa.

The Last Place You Look is an absolutely brilliant book. The story, the descriptions of the wild life in South Africa are really good and very well written. I always enjoy Nikki Smith's books and this is my favourite one so far. This book is one of the best I have read this year. I highly recommend this book, an easy 5 stars from me.

I loved this book! It’s such a great read and the plot is delightfully unique. I was quickly drawn into the characters and plot and found that I had to keep reading on. I’ve read all of this author’s other books and enjoyed them, but think this is likely my favourite.

I DEVOURED this book. I finished with my mouth hanging wide open. What did I just read? There were so many twists that you just couldn't even keep up at times. It was a thrilling rollercoaster ride and I read it entirely in one sitting.

It was A BRILLIANT page-turner! It had an incredibly satisfying ending that sent shivers down my spine Loved, loved, LOVED it! This ticked all the boxes I was totally hooked and I’d highly recommend this book.

With brilliantly drawn characters and a beautiful setting in South Africa, "The Last Place You Look" is my favourite of Nikki Smith's novels - and I've rated each one so far as 5 stars! The storyline begins with Leo racing with their home in South Africa to find his wife and just as we reach the shocking discovery, the storyline jumps back in time and leads up to the present day and how Leo and Addison came to this situation. This ramps up the tension nicely and ensures that we are excited for what happens next. 5 stars, I loved it!

This book pulled me in straight away with a premise that feels fresh, unsettling, and deeply compelling. Leo believes he knows his wife until she vanishes without a trace, and what follows is a gripping descent into paranoia, grief, and danger that never lets up.

The South African setting adds an intense atmosphere, heightening the sense of isolation and unease as Leo searches for answers. The missing poster twist is genuinely shocking and instantly raises the stakes, flipping expectations and keeping the tension razor sharp throughout. From that moment on, the story becomes increasingly unpredictable, with every chapter revealing another layer of deception.

The characters are brilliantly drawn and complex, making them fascinating to follow even when their choices are morally questionable. Their motivations feel believable, their flaws human, and their secrets are revealed with careful precision. The plotting is tight and clever, constantly delivering surprises without ever feeling forced or messy.

The pacing is excellent, balancing suspense with emotional depth, and the final act is incredibly satisfying. Everything comes together in a way that feels earned, leaving no loose ends and delivering a conclusion that lingers long after the final page.

A tense, intelligent, and addictive book that will appeal to anyone who loves psychological thrillers packed with twists and unforgettable characters.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Set in both South Africa and England this book has a steady pace with a hint of so much more than we know. It made me want to keep reading to find out exactly where this was going. Everything came together perfectly and was completely unexpected. This is an excellent read and one I’d recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.