*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.

Ken Jaworowski’s What About the Bodies is a tense, gripping thriller that delves into the moral ambiguities of crime, justice, and human nature. With sharp dialogue, an economical yet evocative narrative style, and a premise that keeps the reader hooked, Jaworowski crafts a story that is both thought-provoking and suspenseful.

Strengths

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its pacing. The storytelling is tight and direct, keeping unnecessary distractions at bay while maintaining a sense of urgency that compels the reader forward. The characters are morally complex, each grappling with difficult decisions that blur the lines between right and wrong. Jaworowski’s ability to craft authentic, engaging dialogue enhances this complexity, making interactions feel raw and believable.

Thematically, What About the Bodies goes beyond a conventional crime story. It raises compelling ethical dilemmas about guilt, consequences, and the price of justice. This deeper exploration adds weight to the narrative, ensuring that it lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page.

Weaknesses

While the book’s brevity works to its advantage in terms of pacing, some readers may find themselves wishing for more character development or background detail. The story moves quickly, sometimes at the expense of deeper emotional investment in its characters. Additionally, while the plot is undeniably engaging, certain twists may feel familiar to seasoned thriller fans.

Final Verdict

What About the Bodies is a smart, fast-paced crime story that offers more than just suspense—it challenges readers to wrestle with moral ambiguity and the weight of one’s choices. While some might desire a bit more depth in character exploration, Jaworowski’s sharp writing and compelling premise make this a worthwhile read for fans of tightly woven thrillers.

This is one of those crazy stories that has your head spinning the entire way through! It begins with Carla and her restaurant and then MIT graduate Billy announcing there's a dead body buried in the yard belonging to a woman who disappeared years ago! We go back and forth in time as we see fascinating characters, drugs, autism, and humor as we attempt to tie all these loose ends together to form a cohesive and intriguing plot! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I haven’t read anything by Jaworowski before but I was not let down! This was really well paced and exciting to read. I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc copy of this gem

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and diaadn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

What About the Bodies by Ken Jaworowski

Ken Jaworowski's "What About the Bodies" is a gripping small-town thriller that intertwines the lives of three distinct characters: Carla, a single mother trying to escape poverty; Reed, an autistic young man on a mission to fulfill a dying wish; and Liz, a musician struggling to pay off a dangerous debt.

The novel's strength lies in its well-drawn characters and their intersecting storylines. Carla's desperate attempts to protect her son, Reed's heartfelt journey, and Liz's fight for survival create a compelling narrative. However, the pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag on.

Jaworowski's writing is vivid and engaging, painting a gritty picture of a rust-belt town. The dialogue is realistic, and the emotional depth of the characters is well-captured. Yet, the frequent shifts between the three protagonists can sometimes disrupt the flow of the story.
The novel explores themes of morality, survival, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones. While these themes are thought-provoking, the execution occasionally feels heavy-handed, making the moral dilemmas less impactful.

"What About the Bodies" is a solid read for fans of crime thrillers and small-town dramas. It offers a mix of suspense, emotional depth, and character-driven storytelling. However, the uneven pacing and occasional heavy-handedness in theme execution might not appeal to everyone.

Four Stars: A Compelling Convergence This book grabbed me from the start and didn't let go. I devoured it in a day and a half, a testament to its compelling narrative and engaging characters. The author skillfully weaves together seemingly disparate storylines, each with its own distinct voice and atmosphere. While initially, I wondered how these threads could possibly connect, the payoff at the end was incredibly satisfying. The initial separation of these narratives was a bit of a gamble. It required patience, as I was eager to see how they'd ultimately intertwine. However, the author's ability to create intriguing characters and build suspense in each individual plotline kept me hooked. Each story, on its own, was interesting, but the anticipation of their eventual convergence was what truly drove me forward.
The writing is strong, and the pacing, despite the multiple threads, remained consistent. The emotional depth of the characters was well-developed, and I found myself invested in their individual journeys. The final act, where all the pieces fell into place, was masterfully executed. It wasn't just a simple tying up of loose ends; it was a powerful and resonant conclusion that left me pondering the themes long after I finished reading. While I wouldn't quite give it a perfect five stars (perhaps a few minor pacing issues in the initial separate storylines), this book is a solid four-star read. If you enjoy stories with intricate plots and a satisfying sense of resolution, and you don't mind a little patience for a big payoff, this one is definitely worth your time. Be prepared to lose yourself in its pages - you might just find

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC!

At the beginning it took me a bit to get into it but once I did it really hit a stride for me and had me hooked.