The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith

 

Worried about the whereabouts of his wife, Leo walks into the bedroom of their South African safari lodge and is met with a shocking sight. It is a scene of utter devastation, and there's something terrible lying on their bed.

The opening scene of The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith is one that will have your heart racing as you follow Leo Kennedy through his safari lodge, desperately trying to find his wife, Addison. As he approaches the bedroom, you find yourself in one of those situations where you want to look away, but you also need to know exactly what he's about to find. At this point, the author cuts away to two days before the shocking incident, and we meet Leo, who is at Heathrow airport, eagerly awaiting the return of his wife from South Africa.

When Addison doesn't materialise, there are frantic phone calls and text messages, all of which go unanswered. You can really feel Leo's confusion and his frustration as he strives for answers to his wife's no-show. Finding a draft email leads to even more confusion as Addison appears to be confessing to a crime. Leo knows his wife has been acting strangely since she was badly injured in a car accident; could her disappearance be part of this? And then strange texts begin to arrive from Addison. The way the messages hint at dark secrets builds up the tension. We slowly begin to realise that Addison isn't the only one who is keeping secrets.

Three other characters add further mystery to the narrative. Jake is an aspiring travel journalist who seems to have a fixation on Addison. Paige is Leo's ex-PA. Was there something more to their relationship? And then there's Addison's mother, a mother she claimed was dead. All of these characters add to the intrigue, making you wonder who can be trusted.

The story splits its time equally between England and South Africa. The parts set in the African wilderness sound amazing; the safari lodge is the height of luxury, and the sights are amazing, but as the story progresses, you begin to realise the danger that lurks just inches away. The terrain and its wildlife are very much a major part of the story.

I had all sorts of different ideas going through my head, and although I'd guessed one of the twists, I certainly didn't figure out what led to the eerie opening scene and how all the pieces fitted together.

The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith will be published on 2nd July 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Nikki Smith worked in finance until 2017, when a 'now or never' moment prompted her to apply for the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. She is the author of five novels and the co-host of the podcast In Suspense. She lives in Guildford with her family and loves to travel, ideally somewhere hot and sunny.