What About the Bodies
- Judith D Collins
- Sep 2
- 7 min read
By: Ken Jaworowski
Narrators: Michael Crouch, Keylor Leigh, Marni Penning
Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 9780802165473
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Publication Date: 09/02/2025
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
Three desperate lives are about to collide in Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a hard-edged, Rust Belt town.
There, Carla, a single mom poised to finally break free from her cycle of poverty, must join with her son to hide the body of a classmate who died while with him.
At the same time, Reed, an autistic young man, sets out on a journey to keep a deathbed promise. Along the way he’ll encounter both kindhearted residents and a cold-blooded nemesis.
And Liz, an aspiring musician on the cusp of a breakthrough, needs to quickly come up with the cash she owes a brutal ex-con. If she can’t pay him, both her dream and her life will be in grave danger.
In What About the Bodies, Ken Jaworowski cements himself as a master of the small-town thriller. As these three compelling characters intersect, the novel ignites into a story filled with explosive twists, hair-raising chills, and boundless love.
My Review
From the acclaimed author of Small Town Sins (a standout bestseller of 2023) comes WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES —an enthralling new crime thriller that delves deeply into the lives of everyday individuals and the pivotal choices they face.
This gripping narrative weaves together suspense and moral complexity, painting a vivid portrait of human nature in the face of extraordinary circumstances. Prepare to be captivated once again by a tale that explores the intricate dance between right and wrong and the choices we make.
About...
In the heart of Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a town grappling with the remnants of its industrial past, three lives are destined to intertwine in ways they could never imagine. Each character carries the weight of their own struggles and secrets, illustrating the complexities of human connection in a place marked by hardship.
Carla, a determined single mother, finds herself ensnared in the relentless grip of poverty. As she strives to build a better future for her son, she is faced with a harrowing decision: will she risk everything to protect him from the ramifications of a terrible secret that could shatter their lives?
Reed, a gentle and observant young man on the autism spectrum, is grappling with the profound loss of his mother. In his heart, he clings to the promise he made to her on her deathbed—to honor her memory and fulfill her dying wish. But as he navigates the uncertain paths of life without her guidance, he is left wondering where he truly belongs and who will care for him in this unforgiving world.
Then there’s Liz, a passionate and aspiring musician who dreams of leaving Locksburg behind for the bright lights of Nashville. With her guitar as her closest companion, she inches closer to a much-coveted opportunity that could change her life forever. However, she finds herself encumbered by a crushing debt that threatens to extinguish her dreams before they can even take flight. The clock is ticking, and if she cannot find a way to pay what she owes, her hopes and aspirations will be relegated to mere fantasies.
As their individual narratives unfold, the paths of Carla, Reed, and Liz begin to converge in unexpected ways, weaving a tapestry of hope, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of human connection amid the shadows of despair. How will these three poignant stories and characters ultimately intersect in the struggle for redemption and a brighter future?
My thoughts...
I was absolutely captivated by Ken's debut novel, Small Town Sins, and his latest work, WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES, proves to be just as mesmerizing. It features intricately developed characters and offers profound insights into the lives of ordinary people yearning to break free from the constraints of their impoverished surroundings in search of a brighter future. The narrative skillfully delves into their struggles and the far-reaching consequences of their choices.
This intense thriller pulses with heart, weaving between various points of view. The author masterfully paints a realistic portrait of life in a small rural town, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers eagerly turning the pages, desperate to discover how these lost souls will intertwine and confront their fates.
The story is character-driven, seamlessly blending elements of rural life, crime, thriller, suspense, and literary fiction. Gritty yet atmospheric, it invites readers to deeply resonate with its vivid characters. I find myself eagerly anticipating what the author will craft next, as I am thoroughly enamored by this writing style and the artful storytelling.
Hauntingly beautiful and narrated with genuine compassion and sensitivity, the novel evokes a myriad of emotions and explores themes of guilt, loyalty, loss, hope, justice, and redemption. It's a poignant story populated by unforgettable characters whose journeys will echo in my mind long after I’ve turned the final page.
I would love to see a Netflix or Apple TV series based on Small Town Sins and What About the Bodies.
Recs...
Ken Jaworowski is an author of well-deserved recognition! In my review of his extraordinary debut, I emphasized that readers who revel in the intricate and clever storytelling of Dan Chaon, the profound emotional landscapes crafted by Ron Rash, and the poignant life insights offered by Fredrik Backman will find much to cherish.
The lush and vivid descriptions of place reminiscent of Randal Silvis, the raw, unfiltered authenticity of David Joy, and the inviting, warm narrative style of Elizabeth Berg all come alive. Moreover, fans of compelling character studies, such as those penned by Joyce Maynard, and the edge-of-your-seat plots constructed by Allen Eskens will be thoroughly engrossed. Lastly, those captivated by the richly woven tales found in Karen Katchur's The Greedy Three will discover an abundance of enjoyment awaiting them within these pages.
Special thanks to Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Crime and NetGalley for providing an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. As always, I can't wait to listen to the audiobook narrated by Michael Crouch (fav), Keylor Leigh, and Marni Penning.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Sep 02, 2025
Praise
"Life isn't fair, and nowhere is that truer than in Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a struggling Rust Belt town...As bad luck and bad breaks continue to plague the three well-meaning protagonists, Jaworowski steadily ups the stakes at pitch-perfect thriller pace. ...The story lines bob and weave around each other, as befits life in a small town, and there are surprises up to the ending, which is as satisfying as the circumstances will allow. A gripping, heartbreaking, wild ride." — Susan Maguire, Booklist (starred review)
"Intense...As Jaworowski’s desperate, three-dimensional characters cross paths and teeter on the edge of destruction, the author raises powerful questions about poverty, fate, and the ties that bind...This is a remarkably accomplished neo-noir."
—Publishers Weekly
"These all-too-realistic lives collide in a memorably character-driven story whose dialog—especially that of Liz—will make readers laugh even as they despair that anything can ever go right in Locksburg. Plenty of readers love a small-town thriller and this one’s just the ticket."
—Henrietta Thornton, firstClue
“With clear, spare prose and an ensemble of swiftly, vividly drawn characters, Ken Jaworowski conjures a twisty, chilling, and even touching tale in what promises to be a meaningful career.”
—Dean Koontz
“Ken Jaworowski’s new thriller What About the Bodies is the moving as well as unputdownable story of a struggling single mom, an autistic young man, and a singer about to get her big break. These characters resonate with heart as they face the most dangerous times of their lives, eventually colliding in a riveting plot that twists and turns its way through gritty, small-town Pennsylvania. If you haven't read Jaworowski yet, you should start right now.”
—Lisa Scottoline, author of The Truth About the Devlins
“Gritty and atmospheric, What About the Bodies, is the harrowing tale of three intersecting lives, each faced with a choice of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. Jaworowski writes with vigor and swagger. This is crime fiction at its best.”
—Alex Finlay, bestselling author of Parents Weekend
"Knife-edged heartbreaking noir, a total-immersion thriller, and an absolute master class in voice! The suffocating constraints of gritty small-town life—and the intense high-stakes struggles for personal survival—will captivate you from page one. This is a relentlessly powerful exploration of inevitability, loyalty, and the grasping hope of redemption. What About the Bodies is a complete triumph from a fiercely skilled storyteller."
—Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today Bestselling Author
"Propulsive and gritty, but also tender and big-hearted. What About the Bodies confirms Ken Jaworowski's dexterity in penning stories that are not only impossible to put down but also sweeping in their significance."
—Jahmal Mayfield, author of Smoke Kings
"What About the Bodies is a gritty Rust Belt crime novel of surprising tenderness. Following unlikely heroes battling monsters hiding in plain sight where the hope of escape, of freedom, of justice, is always just beyond their reach to an unexpected and moving conclusion. Jaworowski writes with great empathy about desperate and often neglected people, and the result is a fresh and modern thriller with heart."
—Meagan Lucas, Anthony-nominated author of Here in the Dark
"Oozing with empathy and simmering with suspense, What About the Bodies is a stellar follow-up to Ken Jaworowski’s classic Small Town Sins. Once again, stakes rise with every turn of the page. Once again, you’ll be so immersed in the plight of everyday characters that you’ll be surprised to find you’re reading words on a page and not, in fact, driving down a dark road with your life at stake. Once again, you’ll be delighted to see how the stories intertwine. Equal parts thrilling, haunting, and terrifying, What About the Bodies is a complete winner."
—Mark Stevens, author of No Lie Lasts Forever
About the Author
Photo Credit: Candice diCarlo.
Ken Jaworowski is an editor at The New York Times. He graduated from Shippensburg University and the University of Pennsylvania. He grew up in Philadelphia, where he was an amateur boxer, and has had plays produced in New York and Europe. He lives in New Jersey with his family. “Small Town Sins” is his first novel and second, WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES to be released Sept 2025. WEBSITE
