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!

What About the Bodies by Ken Jaworowski has a lot going on. I’m not always a fan of three stories in one, but this works. Each story is well developed and has relatable characters. We move back and forth between these characters and stories with good pace. I was a little impatient to have the stories merge but when they did, it was worth the wait. This is a quick read, a thriller that moves along well and keeps you entertained. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The three central characters were extremely likeable but lived tough lives. The book mainly covers a day or two when all three are set with challenges upon challenges and when things look bad they only got worse.
Small town USA for the struggling characters is no easy life and their misfortunes and resolve to get themselves a better future were admirable.
I was surprised when the story ended as I thought there was motre to tell. But maybe that's not a bad thing but to me it was annoying.

Ken Jaworowski has done it again! What About the Bodies is a raw, heart-pounding thriller that’s impossible to put down. If Small Town Sins hooked you, this one will leave you breathless. Jaworowski has an incredible gift for crafting characters that feel so real, you can almost see them play out on a movie screen. His writing isn’t just descriptive—it’s immersive, placing you right in the middle of the tension and grit.

Carla, Reed, and Liz are unforgettable. Each is trapped in their own battle—Carla, a mother desperate to protect her son at any cost; Reed, navigating grief and danger while keeping a final promise; and Liz, whose dream of a music career is shadowed by an ex-con’s looming threat. Their paths collide in ways that are both devastating and powerful, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The moral dilemmas, the urgency, the way love and survival blur together—Jaworowski doesn’t hold back.

This is storytelling that’s sharp, cinematic, and unflinching. Fans of S.A. Cosby will feel right at home here, with the same tension-filled grit and deeply human characters. It’s a story about sacrifice, survival, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love.

Highly recommend picking this one up—just be ready for a wild ride that sticks with you long after the last page.

Bleak with (moments of) hilarity, what love drives us to do.

Three intertwined stories from small town Pennsylvania. Reed: a young autistic man, determined to keep all his promises. Carla: a single mum, determined to protect her son. Liz: a young woman, determined to realise her dreams and share them with her dad.

Brilliantly paced, all three are relatable and reliable characters and the reader wants them to succeed in each of their quests. Snappy dialogue, tragic decisions and realisations. A super fast, non put downable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Grove Atlantic for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first 80% was outstanding; the final 20% was very disappointing. It ends on an extremely depressing note.

A MORE DETAILED REVIEW WILL BE FORTHCOMING LATER.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

What About the Bodies by Ken Jaworowski is a sharp, tightly plotted thriller that keeps you hooked from the start. With a gripping mix of crime, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists, the novel pulls readers into a dangerous game where every decision comes with a cost. Jaworowski’s crisp writing and fast-paced storytelling make this a thriller that wastes no time, delivering tension and intrigue in equal measure.

The characters are complex and well-drawn, particularly the protagonist, whose motivations and choices add layers to the narrative. The dialogue is snappy, and the interactions between characters feel authentic, adding to the novel’s immersive quality. While some plot twists are more predictable than others, the execution is strong enough to keep the story engaging. Jaworowski does an excellent job of balancing action with psychological depth, ensuring that the stakes feel real.

The pacing is mostly strong, though a few sections could have been fleshed out more for greater impact. Still, the novel delivers a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion that lingers after the final page. What About the Bodies is a gripping and intelligent thriller that keeps you thinking—an easy 4-star read for fans of fast-moving crime fiction with a moral edge.

Very well done! The characters are well fleshed out, sympathetic and relatable. The plot lines move along well, coming together rather unexpectedly, but flawlessly, in the end. It was a pleasure to read. So much so that I read it one day, staying up much, much later than I should have.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Each of the three perspectives in the book were interesting and relatable. The dialect change was evident between characters. They were all well thought out and given just enough detail and back story.

This book genuinely made me laugh. Not many thrillers can add humor and have it work, but Ken Jaworoski pulls it off. Not everything in this book is “real-life” believable, but I don’t think that was the intent. However, if the realism in thrillers is a deal breaker for you, this probably isn’t your next read.

I have been in such a reading slump and I finished this book within 24 hours. The only bummer is it doesn’t come out until September 2025, so I have to wait to talk about it! I would recommend this book to any of my reading friends, and any whom are wanting to dip their toes into the thriller genre.

Thanks to Ken Jaworowski, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a three intertwined stories of a gritty Pennsylvania small town. The book is well written and the pacing and dialog were good. I found each of the stories bleak and then they would get even bleaker. Reminded me of the old song phrase “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all”

The stories come together in the end and are resolved well. But in the end the stories were too bleak for me.