Many thanks to the author’s publisher, Sandy Lake Press, for supplying me with an advanced reader copy of Whatever It Takes by Karen Grose.
I thoroughly enjoyed Karen Grose’s first novel, What We Keep Silent, where we first meet Bri Watters so I was looking forward to continuing to follow Bri Watters’ transformative journey from a hospital diagnostic technician to private investigator. Although this is the second book in the Bri Watters Thriller Series, the book can be read as a standalone since the author provides enough previous history for the story to move along. There were a few times I took pause at the eloquence of Karen’s writing. Here is one of my favourite passages:
“But there were cracks. It was more like a Japanese Kintsugi vase, the chipped parts glued back together, and the seams painted with gold powder. Each piece a reminder to stay optimistic when things fell apart, and to celebrate and accept personal flaws.”
Another phrase which I found succinct in its brevity and really resonated with me was: “Grief was love with nowhere to go.”
I am reluctant to discuss the plot since I don’t want to be responsible for giving away any spoilers but suffice it to say this book has great character development, an excellent and exciting plot and I can’t wait to read book 3 in the series!