Life in Locksburg, Pennsylvania, can stifle you if you allow it. Carla, the daughter of an inveterate gambler, is on the receiving end of more than a few of life’s hard knocks. Her son, Billy, is her pride and joy as he has surpassed the expectations of their small town and allowed his brilliance and hard work to take him to MIT.

As Carla is getting older, she decides to gamble on herself and open her own restaurant. Billy recently has arrived home for his summer recess, and as they catch up on local gossip, she mentions the case of a missing townie named Doreen. Billy then reveals something that leaves Carla gobsmacked: Doreen is buried in their yard.

"WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES is a rollicking good novel.... Ken Jaworowski...has written a superb narrative with unforgettable characters and excellent plot twists. The result is an unputdownable read."

Reed and Greg are mourning the untimely passing of their mother. Greg is concerned about Reed’s solo living arrangements and believes that he would fare better at a facility where he can be looked after. Reed would rather live with Greg and spend time with his nephew. Greg impresses upon Reed that this is not likely, primarily because Reed is culpable in their mother’s death. He admonishes Reed not to venture outdoors to avoid accusatory glances from neighbors. But Reed has a promise to keep. It involves a trip to the funeral home, where he hopes to leave his mother with a meaningful parting gift.

Liz is a struggling musician who is well acquainted with playing to small audiences in dank bars, where the stench of stale beer and vomit mix in with the sunken dreams of more than a few customers. The lack of an audience leaves Liz without the financial wherewithal to pay her debts; she would rather part with a limb than sell her guitar. When she receives a call from a renowned producer with the offer of a tryout, she is over the moon. However, her rotten luck strikes back as her car catches fire --- with her guitar in it. Liz’s headaches are only compounded by the scheming actions of her boyfriend, Luke, whose maneuverings will land her either in jail or in the morgue.

Once Billy tells Carla about the circumstances surrounding Doreen, Carla is decisive in her actions. They will disinter Doreen, bring her to an area far removed from their abode, and anonymously alert the authorities to her location. Reed’s venture to the funeral home doesn’t go quite as he envisioned once he learns that he can’t access his mother’s resting place with proper manners being his only tool. Soon, he is off to the hardware store as a side trip for his mission. Liz longs to travel to Nashville for her audition with the record producer and a shot at the big time, yet a lack of funds prohibits this. Her predicament will soon force her hand and contemplate the sort of idea that Luke normally has germinating in his larcenous brain.

WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES is a rollicking good novel. Necessity often leads to desperate actions, and nothing seems as important to Carla as protecting her only son. She believes Billy wholeheartedly as he explains how fear spurred his actions. The drama inherent in their situation only magnifies as they must navigate multiple obstacles on their way to dumping Doreen’s body. Reed may be considered different from most due to his autism diagnosis, but his love for his mother is clear and true. If he fails to leave her with the keepsake he gave her many years before, he may never get over it. Liz is meant to cast off the shackles of Locksburg, be free of her jailbird boyfriend, and fulfill her dreams.

Edgar Award nominee Ken Jaworowski (SMALL TOWN SINS) has written a superb narrative with unforgettable characters and excellent plot twists. The result is an unputdownable read.