⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Ken Jaworowski’s What About the Bodies is a tightly woven, emotionally charged thriller that delves into the lives of three individuals in a struggling Rust Belt town. Through the intersecting narratives of Carla, Reed, and Liz, Jaworowski crafts a story that is both gripping and poignant.​

Carla, a single mother struggling to rise above poverty, is faced with a moral dilemma when she and her son have to keep a catastrophic accident a secret. Reed, an autistic man, embarks on a journey to fulfill a deathbed promise, encountering both humanity and danger along the way. Liz, a young musician on the brink of stardom, gets caught up in a life-or-death situation with a brutal ex-con.​

Jaworowski's depiction of the characters is realistic and sympathetic, and their struggles and aspirations are communicated with sensitivity and depth. We can observe in him the influence of his experience as an editor at The New York Times in meticulous attention to detail, and in being able to create a good sense of place. The small town of Locksburg, Pennsylvania, is a fertile setting, recalling the sense of isolation and desperation that pervades the book.

The author's format, which switches the story between the three main characters, provides a dense examination of the action in the story. While this format makes the story more complex, sometimes it also disrupts the narrative flow and requires readers to shift to another point of view. Some readers may also find the plot development to be somewhat predictable, although the emotional resonance of the story makes it an acceptable compromise.

Overall, What About the Bodies is a riveting read that combines suspense elements with a serious examination of emotion and character. Jaworowski has produced a novel that is both entertaining and intellectually stimulating, offering a clever examination of human decision-making under life-or-death circumstances.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for this complimentary review copy.

Slick, engaging writing throughout .. very impressive .. almost like a challenge to reader (and for writer) to connect three voices each with their own hurdle .. different levels of necessity. The writer 'cheats' sometimes by lobbing surprises, sometimes misleading .. like autistic boy's brother telling him he'd killed their mother (who had died of cancer).... just kind of bravura! Very effective drawing us on .. Best read fast probably .. in one 'go' .. I'll look out for new ones ..

I read the ARC from netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Wow, what a book. I started reading it at 8am and finsihed reading it at 3pm. From the starting page I was hooked. Four people's lifes are intertwined and you'd expect that they commit a crime together or something of that sort, but the characters are surprisingly nuanced. These days thrillers are all about fast paced cardboard characters.

Won't go through the details as that's spoil the book

After DEVOURING his debut novel Small Town Sins, I knew I would be reading anything he writes!! Oh I loved this. He really is solidifying his spot as the small-town thriller guru.

This book was different than his first. It wasn’t as wild or as twisty but it was still so damn good. This one was filled with a lot more compassion and heartache. I loved the characters. I loved their emotions as they navigated multiple tragedies. My only complaint is wanting a little bit more of Carla & Billy’s story.

This was amazing which I knew it would be. Auto-buy author for sure.

“What about the Bodies” is a book I won’t soon forget. Following Liz Reed and Carla was a thrilling adventure. The characters left lasting impressions (some better than others if I’m being honest). It’s definitely a book I would recommend to someone looking for a mystery thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

This mystery/thriller follows three main characters; Carla, Reed and Liz. Carl is a single mom who has to help clean up after her son. Reed is an autistic boy who is hated by his town as a result of his mom’s death and Liz is a wannabe singer (songwriter) who is in money trouble because of a lousy boyfriend. In this book we follow these three as they eaxh try to fix the mistake central in their lives.

To start, this stories of the three main characters are not as connected as the synopsis makes it out to be, so be prepared for that. Secondly, the mysteries within the three stories was not that interesting to me and the outcomes were easily predictable, espacially the one from Liz and Carla. Reed his story was the most interesting in that aspect. However, overall I think Carla her part is the most classic thriller/mystery and that’s why her story drew me in the most.

The writing style is easy to follow and the chapters aren’t to long. I think though because we follow 3 characters and the book isn’t that long that we lack a bit of characterization. I think for me this book could have just been Carla her story, but more detailed and with a focus on the reveal and the repercussions. Overall, the book is fine but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone I know.

2.5 stars

thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an eArc for my honest thoughts. I LOVED this book. This is the kind of book that got me into reading thrillers in the first place. We follow Carla, Reed and Liz while they are trying to conceal huge secrets and get themselves out of the mess theyve created or someone close to them has created. From the first page in was completely entranced. Theres dead bodies, short chapters, cliff hangers (only at the end of chapters, the book itself wraps up quite nicely), and small town drama. My heart was beating so hard the whole time, if i didnt have responsibilities this would have been a read in one sitting kind of book. The author doesnt pull any punches while we follow our friends through their misfortunes. My favorite books always have multiple POVs that intertwine by the end and this did that so well. definitely on my 5 star list for the year

I received a free copy of, What About the Bodies, by Ken Jaworowski, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Liz, Reed, and Carla, all have their secrets and reasons for doing things, right or wrong, morally or immorally. I did not care for any of the characters in this book at all. It was a gritty read.

What a crazy ride! I opened the book to page one and had a hard time putting it down until the end! One small town. Three main characters/families: Carla, proud mom of son at MIT and restauranteer, Reed, a young man grieving his mother's death and Liz, following her musical dreams. Fate connects them in circumstances beyond control.

If you want to read this one, keep your schedule clear because you won't want to put it down!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book was gutted when it ended I feel like I need a part 2! I loved how it was based on multiple views and the characters were great too. I liked how it all comes together. I wish the book went on a little bit longer. This was a easy fast paced read and each chapter kept me wanting to read more would definitely recommend this.

This is a really good story and the pace of it is so quick I could not flip the pages fast enough. The story is told through three separate people, Reed an autistic young man, accepted into MIT, Carla a single mom determined to protect her young son and Liz a woman on the cusp of realizing her life long dream. Reed had promised his mom that he would place a stuffed toy he had made when he was younger into her casket on her death, she was dying from cancer, and when she passed he gave the toy to his brother to put in the casket, which he did not do, so Reed undertakes to do it himself, even though the casket has been placed into a mausoleum. Carla's son shares with her that he had buried the body of a young woman who had died of a drug overdose while he was passed out, when he woke she was gone so he buried her, a year has passed and he wants to find resolution by digging her up and placing her where she could be found, their journey to doing that is both darkly humorous and thrilling. Liz has always dreamed of being a singer, playing her guitar anywhere she can to both make a buck and get her voice out there. A random tape of her music sent to a music producer earns her a call and an invite that would make her dream come true. An encounter with a brutal local drug king who also fixs cars on the side results in a series of events that nearly do her in. Overall a very quick and enjoyable read that I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Grove Atlantic for the ARC.

Sometimes I don't love the way books are written to connect different characters with vastly different stories--but this one makes sense! The overlap at times was comedic even, such as knocking on the door of someone actively in the process of beating someone and asking for a spare tire. The pace of this book is fairly quick, and the alternating chapters are easy to follow without feeling spoon-fed. I would recommend this for fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendricks.

I had a hard time getting through this one. The writing just didn't do it for me. I thought the pov's were off. I can't really describe what I felt. It just wasn't for me.

This is a book that took me a bit to get into, and the characters seemed to be vaguely similar, but once the pace moved along and the personalities began to emerge, it became clear. The storyline is intriguing, and I found myself moving through, eager to see what would happen next. Thrilling, with parts that became a bit gory, but with cause, I found myself cheering on the band of misfits. As the stories rose to the surface, I couldn’t help but release the breath I found myself holding. A good read, and a big thanks for #Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing a sneak read that was intense, yet so good.

Jaworowski has a remarkable talent for narrating stories set in small-town rural America. "What About the Bodies" is the second book of his I have read, and I found it thoroughly engaging. Set in Lockburg, PA, the novel follows the lives of three individuals and families who are facing significant hardships. Their experiences reflect the realities often encountered by those living in rural America today. I highly recommend reading this book to discover how the lives of Carla, Liz, and Reed intertwine and the impact this has on each of them.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC. This review is my genuine opinion.

This one is a DNF for me, which doesn’t happen often. Although there are some interesting parts, I found the repeated racial references unnecessary. After about the 4th mention, I decided to not finish because they are pointless to the movement of the story so could have easily just not have been included, therefore distracting.

*A Gripping, Unpredictable Thriller*

Ken Jaworowski's "What About the Bodies" is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling. This propulsive crime novel weaves together the complex lives of three characters in a gritty rust-belt town, each with their own secrets and desperate struggles.

With its breakneck pace, explosive twists, and memorable characters, this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat. Jaworowski's writing is evocative and immersive, conjuring the bleak landscapes and desperate lives of his characters.

A must-read for fans of crime fiction and thrillers, "What About the Bodies" is a gripping, unpredictable ride that will leave you breathless.

*Rating:* 4 ⭐

I loved the writing style of this book as well as the 3 pov's. It was a quick read and I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you NetGalley and Atlantic for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Solid crime novel with interesting characters and surprising twists! Don‘t want to spoil but I believe a fan of crime will be entertained well!

Thanks a lot to the publisher for the ebook!

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC!

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. I absolutely loved the writing style and chapters. Each character had just the right amount of development. I would have given this book more than 3 stars if the end didn’t seem so abrupt. I feel like Carla’s story was not really finished. I also would love to read more about Reed’s next steps. Overall, it was an interesting read!