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Small Town Sins
A Rust Belt thriller that captures the characters of a down-and-out Pennsylvania town, revealing their troubled pasts and the crimes that could cost them their lives.
In Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a former coal and steel town whose best days seem long past, five thousand residents have toughed it out, and have reasons for both worry and hope as this neglected place teeters between decay and renewal. For some of them, their biggest troubles have just arrived.
After years of just scraping by, three restless souls have their lives upended: Nathan, a volunteer fireman who uncovers a secret stash of money in a burning building and takes it; Callie, a nurse whose tender patient may not have long to live, despite the girl’s fundamentalist parents’ ardent beliefs; and Andy, a recovering heroin addict who undertakes a nightmare mission to hunt down and stop a serial predator.
Before long, Nathan’s stolen riches threaten to destroy everyone around him as he tries to cover his haphazard trail of lies. Callie risks her career to grant her young patient a final, and likely illegal, wish. And Andy’s hunger for vigilante justice becomes a fierce obsession that may end in violence.
As their stories barrel toward unexpected ends, Nathan, Callie, and Andy struggle to endure—or escape. They each face their pasts and gamble on their futures, and confront the underside of their rough Rust Belt town.
In Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a former coal and steel town whose best days seem long past, five thousand residents have toughed it out, and have reasons for both worry and hope as this neglected place teeters between decay and renewal. For some of them, their biggest troubles have just arrived.
After years of just scraping by, three restless souls have their lives upended: Nathan, a volunteer fireman who uncovers a secret stash of money in a burning building and takes it; Callie, a nurse whose tender patient may not have long to live, despite the girl’s fundamentalist parents’ ardent beliefs; and Andy, a recovering heroin addict who undertakes a nightmare mission to hunt down and stop a serial predator.
Before long, Nathan’s stolen riches threaten to destroy everyone around him as he tries to cover his haphazard trail of lies. Callie risks her career to grant her young patient a final, and likely illegal, wish. And Andy’s hunger for vigilante justice becomes a fierce obsession that may end in violence.
As their stories barrel toward unexpected ends, Nathan, Callie, and Andy struggle to endure—or escape. They each face their pasts and gamble on their futures, and confront the underside of their rough Rust Belt town.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2023
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July 28, 2023
4.5⭐️
Immersion Read-
Plot: 4⭐️ ; Audio Narration: 5⭐️
Set in the once thriving steelworks and coal mining small town of Locksburg in central Pennsylvania, population 5000, Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski follows the lives of three of its long-time residents as they try to navigate through a vicious cycle of financial struggles, personal demons, poor choices, and broken dreams.
Nathan Stultz, a middle-aged factory worker and volunteer firefighter finds a bag with a substantial amount of cash during a rescue operation in a burning building. Nathan dreams of leaving Locksburg with his wife Paula, a nurse, and believes that the money he found would be the solution to all his problems not realizing that his actions could have far-reaching consequences.
Callie is a kind-hearted nurse born with a cleft lip for which she has been on the receiving end of much unkindness all her life and suffers from low self-esteem. When she bonds with a terminally ill teenager under her care, she risks her reputation and her job to fulfill her patient’s dying wish.
Andy Devon is a former addict in his thirties who turned his life around after his special needs daughter was born. Reeling from a devastating loss, Andy is in a downward spiral. When he makes a shocking discovery that one of the respected townspeople in their midst is a predator targeting children, he sets out to expose the person and bring him to justice.
Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski is a powerful debut novel with compelling characters, an atmospheric setting and a gripping immersive narrative. The tone of these stories leans toward dark and depressing. Each of these characters and their stories are well-drawn and the author does an amazing job of describing the setting and dynamics of a small town. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Nathan, Callie and Andy in alternating chapters. While there are elements of crime, reckless behavior and an element of suspense in each of the storylines, these stories are about much more than that, revolving around themes of family, poverty, addiction and recovery, greed, guilt and grief among others. Each of them hopes to change their circumstances but has been held back by a dearth of opportunity, secrets from their past and questionable judgment. The threads of these three storylines read more like three separate short stories set in the same small town rather than a novel in the true sense of the term but this does not detract from the overall reading experience. I was emotionally invested in these characters and was hooked till the very last page. The ending is not neatly tied up which may not work for some readers but I found the same incredibly impactful. I look forward to reading more from this talented new author.
I paired my reading with the full-cast audio narration by Chris Ciulla, Jennifer Blom and John Pirhalla, who have done an excellent job of breathing life into these characters and their stories, making for a riveting immersion reading experience.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy gritty and realistic character-driven fiction.
Many thanks to Henry Holt & Company, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the digital review copy and the ALC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The book and audiobook are due to be released on August 1, 2023.
Immersion Read-
Plot: 4⭐️ ; Audio Narration: 5⭐️
Set in the once thriving steelworks and coal mining small town of Locksburg in central Pennsylvania, population 5000, Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski follows the lives of three of its long-time residents as they try to navigate through a vicious cycle of financial struggles, personal demons, poor choices, and broken dreams.
Nathan Stultz, a middle-aged factory worker and volunteer firefighter finds a bag with a substantial amount of cash during a rescue operation in a burning building. Nathan dreams of leaving Locksburg with his wife Paula, a nurse, and believes that the money he found would be the solution to all his problems not realizing that his actions could have far-reaching consequences.
Callie is a kind-hearted nurse born with a cleft lip for which she has been on the receiving end of much unkindness all her life and suffers from low self-esteem. When she bonds with a terminally ill teenager under her care, she risks her reputation and her job to fulfill her patient’s dying wish.
Andy Devon is a former addict in his thirties who turned his life around after his special needs daughter was born. Reeling from a devastating loss, Andy is in a downward spiral. When he makes a shocking discovery that one of the respected townspeople in their midst is a predator targeting children, he sets out to expose the person and bring him to justice.
Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski is a powerful debut novel with compelling characters, an atmospheric setting and a gripping immersive narrative. The tone of these stories leans toward dark and depressing. Each of these characters and their stories are well-drawn and the author does an amazing job of describing the setting and dynamics of a small town. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Nathan, Callie and Andy in alternating chapters. While there are elements of crime, reckless behavior and an element of suspense in each of the storylines, these stories are about much more than that, revolving around themes of family, poverty, addiction and recovery, greed, guilt and grief among others. Each of them hopes to change their circumstances but has been held back by a dearth of opportunity, secrets from their past and questionable judgment. The threads of these three storylines read more like three separate short stories set in the same small town rather than a novel in the true sense of the term but this does not detract from the overall reading experience. I was emotionally invested in these characters and was hooked till the very last page. The ending is not neatly tied up which may not work for some readers but I found the same incredibly impactful. I look forward to reading more from this talented new author.
I paired my reading with the full-cast audio narration by Chris Ciulla, Jennifer Blom and John Pirhalla, who have done an excellent job of breathing life into these characters and their stories, making for a riveting immersion reading experience.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy gritty and realistic character-driven fiction.
Many thanks to Henry Holt & Company, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the digital review copy and the ALC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The book and audiobook are due to be released on August 1, 2023.
October 20, 2023
In Small Town Sins, three disparate people’s stories play out in Locksburg PA. Locksburg is a small town of only 5,000 souls, a true rust belt community with a ten bed hospital.
Like the town, each of the three main characters is down on their luck. Nathan is a volunteer fireman who arrives first to a burning building and finds a bag of cash when he rushes in to save the man inside. Callie is a nurse at the hospital, caring for a young cancer patient. And then there’s Andy, a former junkie who embarks on a form of vigilante justice. The book veers between each of their stories.
Each story is like watching dominoes fall. One questionable decision leads to another which leads to another. The book is at times scary, funny, but always wild, always intense. All three individuals felt vividly real. I tore through this, wondering whether or how each would come out of their predicaments. And wow! That ending just threw me. This was a strong, emotional read and I will definitely be looking to see what Jaworowski produces next.
My thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy of this book.
Like the town, each of the three main characters is down on their luck. Nathan is a volunteer fireman who arrives first to a burning building and finds a bag of cash when he rushes in to save the man inside. Callie is a nurse at the hospital, caring for a young cancer patient. And then there’s Andy, a former junkie who embarks on a form of vigilante justice. The book veers between each of their stories.
Each story is like watching dominoes fall. One questionable decision leads to another which leads to another. The book is at times scary, funny, but always wild, always intense. All three individuals felt vividly real. I tore through this, wondering whether or how each would come out of their predicaments. And wow! That ending just threw me. This was a strong, emotional read and I will definitely be looking to see what Jaworowski produces next.
My thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy of this book.
October 4, 2023
They may be small town sins but they have huge, heavy impacts.
Drugs, theft, infidelity; moral compasses flipped over….people desperate; unhinged. Loss; grief; fear.
People doing the right thing for the wrong reasons or doing the wrong thing for the right ones.
Deeply flawed characters but ones with hope in their broken hearts.
Several triggers here. This is a gritty good debut!
4.25⭐️
Drugs, theft, infidelity; moral compasses flipped over….people desperate; unhinged. Loss; grief; fear.
People doing the right thing for the wrong reasons or doing the wrong thing for the right ones.
Deeply flawed characters but ones with hope in their broken hearts.
Several triggers here. This is a gritty good debut!
4.25⭐️
August 5, 2023
An amazing debut!
Three hard luck adult characters in a down and out Pennsylvania town, desperate to escape their past and dead end lives.
You do sympathize with these characters, and laugh at times, but my goodness…you keep wondering what they will do next!
I was hooked right away and read this one fast.. you just want to know what will happen next.
This was going to be a five star read for me but it had an abrupt end.. which I hate.. hoping for s sequel!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC!
Three hard luck adult characters in a down and out Pennsylvania town, desperate to escape their past and dead end lives.
You do sympathize with these characters, and laugh at times, but my goodness…you keep wondering what they will do next!
I was hooked right away and read this one fast.. you just want to know what will happen next.
This was going to be a five star read for me but it had an abrupt end.. which I hate.. hoping for s sequel!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC!
July 26, 2023
A declining Pennsylvania town, and those still there and trying to survive, live, thrive. Three of these souls, Nathan, Callie and Andy, different lives, different challenges, moral dilemmas. Harsh times, often seems hopeless. Their stories are gritty, pull at the heartstrings because these are people which with one can identify.. An intense read, not a happy.little story but a realistic one. The choices, decisions we.make in life, decisions that can impact.others. Right or wrong? Which way to.go? Hmmmm.
A remarkable and poignant first.novel. Kudos to the author.
Narration by a full cast was exceptional.
A remarkable and poignant first.novel. Kudos to the author.
Narration by a full cast was exceptional.
August 2, 2023
A dedicated nurse looking to grant a dying girl's wish. An ex-junkie trying to do the right thing. And, an average Joe hoping a found bag of money will change his life.
Three characters who get to experience the best and the worst life has to offer
Three people doing the wrong things for the right reasons.
One impressive debut about revenge, forgiveness, and redemption.
Three characters who get to experience the best and the worst life has to offer
Three people doing the wrong things for the right reasons.
One impressive debut about revenge, forgiveness, and redemption.
July 30, 2023
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Absolutely not. The book started out poorly and continued. Three people in a small town doing dumb crap with storylines that are barely interwoven.
I despised Nathan, was indifferent to Callie, and felt like Andy stumbled in from a different book.
So slow and tedious. I won’t lie when I finished this I was just glad to be done with it.
Full Review:
"Small Town Sins" starts off following a teen Nathan living in Locksburg, Pennsylvania. One day he gets dragged to a party by a girl he didn't know even knew his name. From that moment on it seems Nathan's life turned into a mess he can't dig himself out of. The book then jumps to a 40 year old Nathan, married to his wife Paula, but still frustrated he never managed to leave Locksburg, is stuck at a job at a machine metal shop with no children. When Nathan spots a house on fire and manages to save the man inside's life, there comes a way for Nathan to change his life around.
Callie is a nurse at the local hospital and works alongside Nathan's wife Paula. Don't worry these two I think have barely a scene together. Just know that Callie has a lot going on with her (I won't get into it) and then becomes overly attached to a teen patient.
Andy and his wife are recovering addicts doing what they can to get help for their daughter who was born with Down's Syndrome and has a heart condition.
That's a lot isn't it? I am not even getting into everything that is being thrown at the three of them throughout the book. The only thing I can say is that it may have been better to just follow Nathan and have subsequent books (in a series) follow Callie, Andy, etc. This was just too much all at once. And I hated juggling my emotions back and forth between the three of them. There was zero saving grace to Nathan's entire story-line. You are going to start to wish a house dropped on him at the 50 percent mark.
The writing was so so and the flow was awful. The transitions between chapters are not there and you legit feel like okay let me recall what was going on with Callie the last time we checked in.
The setting of Locksburg was not put to good use. I grew up in Pennsylvania, Jaworowski did too, but he did not manage to capture the small town feeling of the state at all.
Another reviewer noted the ending was abrupt with no resolutions for anyone and she was right.
Absolutely not. The book started out poorly and continued. Three people in a small town doing dumb crap with storylines that are barely interwoven.
I despised Nathan, was indifferent to Callie, and felt like Andy stumbled in from a different book.
So slow and tedious. I won’t lie when I finished this I was just glad to be done with it.
Full Review:
"Small Town Sins" starts off following a teen Nathan living in Locksburg, Pennsylvania. One day he gets dragged to a party by a girl he didn't know even knew his name. From that moment on it seems Nathan's life turned into a mess he can't dig himself out of. The book then jumps to a 40 year old Nathan, married to his wife Paula, but still frustrated he never managed to leave Locksburg, is stuck at a job at a machine metal shop with no children. When Nathan spots a house on fire and manages to save the man inside's life, there comes a way for Nathan to change his life around.
Callie is a nurse at the local hospital and works alongside Nathan's wife Paula. Don't worry these two I think have barely a scene together. Just know that Callie has a lot going on with her (I won't get into it) and then becomes overly attached to a teen patient.
Andy and his wife are recovering addicts doing what they can to get help for their daughter who was born with Down's Syndrome and has a heart condition.
That's a lot isn't it? I am not even getting into everything that is being thrown at the three of them throughout the book. The only thing I can say is that it may have been better to just follow Nathan and have subsequent books (in a series) follow Callie, Andy, etc. This was just too much all at once. And I hated juggling my emotions back and forth between the three of them. There was zero saving grace to Nathan's entire story-line. You are going to start to wish a house dropped on him at the 50 percent mark.
The writing was so so and the flow was awful. The transitions between chapters are not there and you legit feel like okay let me recall what was going on with Callie the last time we checked in.
The setting of Locksburg was not put to good use. I grew up in Pennsylvania, Jaworowski did too, but he did not manage to capture the small town feeling of the state at all.
Another reviewer noted the ending was abrupt with no resolutions for anyone and she was right.
November 22, 2023
4 🎢🎢🎢🎢
This debut reminded me of how I felt watching the movie Collateral.
A roller coaster ride unfolding in a short time period where I was thrilled with dips and turns aplenty and sometimes unexpectedly.
Three different characters living in a small town during hard times experiencing unsettling and life changing events and making highly questionable decisions. I was entertained and the pages turned rapidly.
The perfect antidote following some serious and more challenging reads as of late.
This debut reminded me of how I felt watching the movie Collateral.
A roller coaster ride unfolding in a short time period where I was thrilled with dips and turns aplenty and sometimes unexpectedly.
Three different characters living in a small town during hard times experiencing unsettling and life changing events and making highly questionable decisions. I was entertained and the pages turned rapidly.
The perfect antidote following some serious and more challenging reads as of late.
August 13, 2023
Ken Jaworowski, a New York Times culture editor and playwright, delivers a smashing knock-out debut literary/crime thriller, SMALL TOWN SINS — Soulful, intense, lyrical, darkly funny, and deeply entertaining, with quirky, highly creative characters.
DAZZLING! The author has cleverly created a cast of well-developed, relatable, sympathetic characters all desperate to escape their dead-end life and past—mixed with despair, heartbreak, struggles, regrets, mistakes, heart, and humor for a highly satisfying, addictive read.
Set in the gripping Rust Belt, a town of 5K, where everyone knows everyone's business in Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a former coal and steel town where everyone wants a way out of this depressing dead-end town. How do they escape their environment?
Crossing moral lines, how far will these restless and desperate souls go for greed, money, and a better life? Will they keep repeating their patterns and crimes or learn from their mistakes? There are no do-overs here.
However, be careful what you wish for, as it may be worse than what you have. This slow depressing town has never seen so much action and DANGER!
Told from alternating three POVs:
NATHAN, CALLIE, and ANDY
As all their stories collide, Nathan, Callie, and Andy struggle to endure—or escape. They must face their pasts, gamble on their futures, and confront the underbelly of this depressing town. I LOVED THIS BOOK! What a wild adventure.
Ken Jaworowski is an author to watch! I loved his back story and how he came to write this story. Thank you for persevering! A HIT. I cannot wait to see what comes next! I will be anxiously awaiting. SMALL TOWN SINS definitely checks all the boxes for me.
Fans of authors (a mix of) Dan Chaon, Fredrik Backman, David Joy, Elizabeth Berg, Joyce Maynard, Allen Eskens, William Kent Krueger, and Karen Katchur's The Greedy Three (5 stars) will find much to like here!
I could see a mini-TV series with these memorable, quirky characters. Creative, heartwarming, witty, and bingeworthy! I enjoyed the writing style with cliffhanger chapters, so each story is alternating rather than separately, keeping you on the edge of your seat in suspense!
The highly emotional themes and topics could be ripped from today's headlines of small rural towns—from opioid abuse, depression, suicide, religion, child abuse, pedophile priests, murder, addiction, poor neighborhoods, corruption, and more. (economic, social, moral)
AUDIOBOOK: The audiobook was fantastic! I enjoyed listening and reading; the audiobook was superb! I heard in one sitting and then re-listened again weeks later. The narrators, Chris Ciulla, Jennifer Blom, and John Pirhalla, were perfectly matched for the characters/voices. I highly recommend the audiobook.
A home run out of the gate! OK, you have figured out I loved this book. A must-read! Get this stunning literary thriller set in a rural small town, rich in character, captivating, heartfelt, and infused with dark humor on your TBR list.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an ALC and Henry Holt and Co. for an ARC via NetGalley for an honest opinion. I loved both so much that I purchased the hardcover copy for my home library!
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Day: Aug 1, 2023
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books
DAZZLING! The author has cleverly created a cast of well-developed, relatable, sympathetic characters all desperate to escape their dead-end life and past—mixed with despair, heartbreak, struggles, regrets, mistakes, heart, and humor for a highly satisfying, addictive read.
Set in the gripping Rust Belt, a town of 5K, where everyone knows everyone's business in Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a former coal and steel town where everyone wants a way out of this depressing dead-end town. How do they escape their environment?
Crossing moral lines, how far will these restless and desperate souls go for greed, money, and a better life? Will they keep repeating their patterns and crimes or learn from their mistakes? There are no do-overs here.
However, be careful what you wish for, as it may be worse than what you have. This slow depressing town has never seen so much action and DANGER!
Told from alternating three POVs:
NATHAN, CALLIE, and ANDY
NATHAN: Nathan was trapped by a young girl years ago with blackmail. She says she is pregnant and needs money for an abortion. To dig himself out, he stole from his family, and then due to his misdeeds, the innocent people in his life died. Now years later, he still lives in this same dead-end town and meets Paula, a caring nurse, and they marry.
They built a big house and want children. No luck after 15 years and tons of money spent on specialists. Paula is always cheerful, but Nathan is negative. He thinks he has finally won the lottery and a way out of this dead-end town for a better life when he uncovers a stash of money in a burning building as a volunteer fireman. Nathan takes it and hides it at home. He thinks it is drug money, so who will miss it? His wife is totally against it and wants him to turn it over to the police, and will have nothing to do with it. The burn victim is at her hospital.
Karma comes back to bite again when the same girl who blackmailed him is back like Eve with an apple tempting like a femme fatale. He falls for her tricks again. However, in the end, this will be the worst tragedy of his life. Nothing is as it appears. The money is not what he thought, and he will lose the love of his life. Once again, tragedy due to his mistakes. (this is a good one).
ANDY: Andy was a former heroin addict, as well as his wife, Katie. They have each done bad things for drugs to escape their miserable lives. However, their lives change when Katie finds out she is pregnant, and they both quit cold turkey—no more drugs.
Their beautiful baby girl, Angie, is born with Downs Syndrome. They loved and cared for her, but one day it was too late, and they knew her heart would not last. Now Katie and Angie are gone from Andy's life. He wants to end his life to be with them, but someone stops him. From here, the detective gives him a name of a priest to help. However, the priest is a pedophile, and Andy has found a briefcase full of child porn. He is determined to take this guy down after seeing a photo of a child with Downs Syndrome, among other innocent children. However, his plan of revenge does not go the way he planned. I loved Andy, Katie, and Angie!
CALLIE: Then we come to Callie. Your heart will go out to Callie and her patient, Gabriella. Callie, a nurse, has had a tough life. She is sarcastic and funny (I love her dark humor). She has lived with disfigurement daily from a craniofacial disorder she was born with—a cleft palate and harelip with operation complications. She has no dates or life, and everyone looks at her like a freak. She liked it when everyone wore masks during the pandemic so they could not see her scars. She has little patience with whinny patients.
Her life changes when a young girl, Gabriella, is brought to the hospital by her father. She is dying, and he could have been helped, but the dad thinks religion will heal and does not give her the medicine or treatments. The doctor said to keep her father away.
Callie develops a friendship and close bond with Gabriella during her time at the hospital. She wants to see the ocean before she dies—her last wish. The parents will not now allow it. So Callie decides to kidnap her from the hospital, and they both can see the ocean simultaneously. If she gets caught, she could lose her license.
However, the trip did not go as expected. She offers someone a ride, and they steal Gabriella's medicine. From there, it is one disaster after another, with bad at every turn. However, in the process, they go to a bar to pick up something from someone offering to help, and she meets a man without an arm. He does not care about Callie's scars. They dance. Gabriella and Callie turn into partners in crime for a Thelma and Louise WILD ride road trip. I love these two!
As all their stories collide, Nathan, Callie, and Andy struggle to endure—or escape. They must face their pasts, gamble on their futures, and confront the underbelly of this depressing town. I LOVED THIS BOOK! What a wild adventure.
Ken Jaworowski is an author to watch! I loved his back story and how he came to write this story. Thank you for persevering! A HIT. I cannot wait to see what comes next! I will be anxiously awaiting. SMALL TOWN SINS definitely checks all the boxes for me.
Fans of authors (a mix of) Dan Chaon, Fredrik Backman, David Joy, Elizabeth Berg, Joyce Maynard, Allen Eskens, William Kent Krueger, and Karen Katchur's The Greedy Three (5 stars) will find much to like here!
I could see a mini-TV series with these memorable, quirky characters. Creative, heartwarming, witty, and bingeworthy! I enjoyed the writing style with cliffhanger chapters, so each story is alternating rather than separately, keeping you on the edge of your seat in suspense!
The highly emotional themes and topics could be ripped from today's headlines of small rural towns—from opioid abuse, depression, suicide, religion, child abuse, pedophile priests, murder, addiction, poor neighborhoods, corruption, and more. (economic, social, moral)
AUDIOBOOK: The audiobook was fantastic! I enjoyed listening and reading; the audiobook was superb! I heard in one sitting and then re-listened again weeks later. The narrators, Chris Ciulla, Jennifer Blom, and John Pirhalla, were perfectly matched for the characters/voices. I highly recommend the audiobook.
A home run out of the gate! OK, you have figured out I loved this book. A must-read! Get this stunning literary thriller set in a rural small town, rich in character, captivating, heartfelt, and infused with dark humor on your TBR list.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an ALC and Henry Holt and Co. for an ARC via NetGalley for an honest opinion. I loved both so much that I purchased the hardcover copy for my home library!
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Day: Aug 1, 2023
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books
October 7, 2023
4.25/5
I didn't really go into Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski expecting all that much, but what a debut this was! We have a few different storylines going on and while they are kinda/sorta connected, they are also basically each a standalone about each specific character. This was a dark, raw, and honestly, really sad book, and at times incredibly hard to read as well. Some characters are more likable than others, and my heart ached for Andy and what he goes through. Emotions run rampant throughout the entire book, and I would say my least favorite person was Nathan (of the MCs that is). He is just so undeniably greedy, and while he does a couple of good deeds besides being a firefighter, he doesn't have all that much likability as the story goes on.
I thought the audiobook was really well done, and Chris Ciulla, Jennifer Blom & John Pirhalla did an excellent job of bringing their characters to life. The audio isn't even 8 hours long and it wasn't hard for me to make quick work of it. Small Town Sins has plenty of action and it was nice to read something with such a fast pace after a lot of slower-paced novels. Jaworowski holds nothing back in this story and be warned that there are most definitely triggers as well as violence galore. A lot of it hurt my heart to read, but I was glued to the pages and didn't want to let go. I really hope this author continues his writing career because I can't wait to read more from him.
I didn't really go into Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski expecting all that much, but what a debut this was! We have a few different storylines going on and while they are kinda/sorta connected, they are also basically each a standalone about each specific character. This was a dark, raw, and honestly, really sad book, and at times incredibly hard to read as well. Some characters are more likable than others, and my heart ached for Andy and what he goes through. Emotions run rampant throughout the entire book, and I would say my least favorite person was Nathan (of the MCs that is). He is just so undeniably greedy, and while he does a couple of good deeds besides being a firefighter, he doesn't have all that much likability as the story goes on.
I thought the audiobook was really well done, and Chris Ciulla, Jennifer Blom & John Pirhalla did an excellent job of bringing their characters to life. The audio isn't even 8 hours long and it wasn't hard for me to make quick work of it. Small Town Sins has plenty of action and it was nice to read something with such a fast pace after a lot of slower-paced novels. Jaworowski holds nothing back in this story and be warned that there are most definitely triggers as well as violence galore. A lot of it hurt my heart to read, but I was glued to the pages and didn't want to let go. I really hope this author continues his writing career because I can't wait to read more from him.
December 7, 2023
***3.5 Stars****
July 31, 2023
Darker, grittier, small town crime fiction has really grown in the past 5-7 years and this fits the genre nicely. The front half was better and showed promise. Once you reached the halfway mark, the characters made some really dumb (and in some cases odd (even out of character) choices), which I think were written more to propel the plot further along and in more of a mess, but it kind of ruined the book for me. With the book gradually introducing you to each of the three main characters, I felt that I got to know each one pretty well (thought each character was well written up to midpoint), but then things just seemed chaotic for chaos' sake. Since the first half was a slower pace, the rapid pace of the second half was a little puzzling because the end was kind of abrupt for so much build up.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the performance of each narrator. Ensemble casting in audiobooks is the best and it was a good listen.
Overall, I felt this had a lot of promise, but I'm not sure I would pick up the next book by the author right away.
Thank you to Henry Holt books for the gifted copy and Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy.
Review Date: 07/31/2023
Publication Date: 08/01/2023
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the performance of each narrator. Ensemble casting in audiobooks is the best and it was a good listen.
Overall, I felt this had a lot of promise, but I'm not sure I would pick up the next book by the author right away.
Thank you to Henry Holt books for the gifted copy and Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy.
Review Date: 07/31/2023
Publication Date: 08/01/2023
August 9, 2023
A Stunning Original
To me, there’s no better or more satisfying story than that of the Everyperson who, pressed against the wall by circumstance and poor choices made and unmade, finds a hidden higher gear within themselves and surprises themselves — and everybody who thinks they know them — with what they can do.
SMALL TOWN SINS is a superior example of this kind of story. Andy, Nathan and Callie do terrible things. And, in the service of trying to fix the terrible things they’ve done, they do amazing things. I can’t put it any more succinctly than that. The twists all come from different facets of characters, and so do the moments of grace and transcendence, and you won’t see a one of them coming because this novel hews to no formula but its own. It is a miraculous accomplishment, and Ken Jaworowski, its gifted author, deserves epic acclaim.
To me, there’s no better or more satisfying story than that of the Everyperson who, pressed against the wall by circumstance and poor choices made and unmade, finds a hidden higher gear within themselves and surprises themselves — and everybody who thinks they know them — with what they can do.
SMALL TOWN SINS is a superior example of this kind of story. Andy, Nathan and Callie do terrible things. And, in the service of trying to fix the terrible things they’ve done, they do amazing things. I can’t put it any more succinctly than that. The twists all come from different facets of characters, and so do the moments of grace and transcendence, and you won’t see a one of them coming because this novel hews to no formula but its own. It is a miraculous accomplishment, and Ken Jaworowski, its gifted author, deserves epic acclaim.
February 10, 2023
I connected to this book in various ways. The characters were similar to everyday people. What makes us make the choices we do? It felt like a jigsaw puzzle with each piece revealing more of the picture. It was a wild ride for all three of the small town sinners. One of the better books I’ve read this year. I wish it didn’t have to end.
Thank you NetGalley and Ken Jaworowski for allowing me to read this captivating book in exchange for a review.
Thank you NetGalley and Ken Jaworowski for allowing me to read this captivating book in exchange for a review.
January 21, 2023
Welcome to Lockesburg, Pennsylvania, once a thriving coal town, now a struggling backwater that’s lost three-quarters of its population. And welcome to the lives of the story’s three main characters:
Nathan, Callie, and Andy are all from the small-town with successful lives with sins from their past. We follow along as Nathan, a firefighter that wrestles with what to do with a find he had while rescuing a man in a burning building; Callie, a dedicated, by the books nurse who really connects with a terminally ill young woman; and Andy, a recovering drug addict who is struggling to be a good father to his special needs child. Each of them and their families contemplate decisions that could change their futures and the decisions they make, for right or wrong, have far reaching consequences.
This is Jarowoski’s debut novel! It’s hard to actually believe. His storytelling gifts are striking. His writing, which uses shifting narrators, is assured and compelling across each transition. This is a page-turner. It’s intense and moving. I said “oh my god” multiple times!! It offers sharply realistic glimpses into the characters lives that are so deeply raveled into a total mess. Yes yes yes to this story that debuts in August. Add this to your list immediately.
Thank you, Henry Holt and Co for a gifted digital copy! Here is my honest review. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Nathan, Callie, and Andy are all from the small-town with successful lives with sins from their past. We follow along as Nathan, a firefighter that wrestles with what to do with a find he had while rescuing a man in a burning building; Callie, a dedicated, by the books nurse who really connects with a terminally ill young woman; and Andy, a recovering drug addict who is struggling to be a good father to his special needs child. Each of them and their families contemplate decisions that could change their futures and the decisions they make, for right or wrong, have far reaching consequences.
This is Jarowoski’s debut novel! It’s hard to actually believe. His storytelling gifts are striking. His writing, which uses shifting narrators, is assured and compelling across each transition. This is a page-turner. It’s intense and moving. I said “oh my god” multiple times!! It offers sharply realistic glimpses into the characters lives that are so deeply raveled into a total mess. Yes yes yes to this story that debuts in August. Add this to your list immediately.
Thank you, Henry Holt and Co for a gifted digital copy! Here is my honest review. I can't wait to read more from this author.
April 25, 2024
If you think small towns have nothing going on, then you don’t know Locksburg, Pennsylvania.
“It’s the kind of place that generous people would call quaint, dismissive ones would call the boondocks, and smart-ass ones would call Pennsyltucky.”
Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski is a stunning debut. After the first couple of chapters, I said “goll-ee!” this is going to be depressing. But then…what felt like a blink of an eye, I was half way through with a smile on my face. I’m used to thrillers spiraling down into the dark, ugly side of life, but this little gem starts there. So, it might surprise you where it ends up.
Three main voices escort us through Locksburg’s cracks and corners: Nathan, Callie, and Andy. Nathan is a townie who used to dream of leaving town. Currently? He’s struggling with the age ‘ole question…What to do when you find a humongous bag of cash? We all know bad news when we see it, yet we stumble deeper and deeper into the dark every time. Callie is a nurse about to risk her career for her dying patient. If you could help a young girl see the ocean before she dies, would you act or turn away? And then we have Andy, a recovering heroin addict who gets shit done. He’s survived some hard, painful living (some of his own making). The horror he just fell into has a VIP section all its own in hell though. Now, Andy is on a mission. It’s him against evil. Because why not? He doesn’t have anything else to live for. Or does he? Come see who survives these mighty small town battles.
Andy was the first one to win me over. This former addict and thief made me tear up. The soul-crushing pain and loss this man goes through will have you hugging your loved ones, but somehow he makes you laugh along the way too. For me, it's the I-don’t-give-a-f*ck-what-you-think-of-me attitude underscoring his stories and humor that makes me smirk and smile. He’s brutally honest and it catches you off guard.
I don’t want to say too much more about Andy, Callie, and Nathan, but I’ll babble on a bit more about everyone else. These pages are peppered with so many voices to love--from Brain Dead Brian to the hardass librarian in town, Jane Kimmel. Towns are chock full of characters. Most times that’s what makes a town what it is—the people who call it home. Come meet everyone! They all add love and layers to the pain, sorrow, and mystery.
For all the sadness this book contains, you’d think it’d be a difficult read. It’s not! The pages turn themselves. It’s a quick moving story. One I want to read all over again. I have to tip my cap to Mr. Jaworowski for the ending as well. It’s one of my favorite kinds. The closing words and actions say and don’t say so much. Readers can take it all in and hope.
Just in case I didn’t make it clear…I loved this book. I’ll be right here waiting for whatever and whoever Ken Jaworowski comes up with next.
Highly recommended.
August 26, 2023
3.5⭐ rounded up. This was a good debut crime fiction! It's dark, gritty and full of secrets. Taking place in Locksburg, PA. A small, old, rust belt town. You get the POV 's from three main characters who are down on their luck and just trying to survive in this town. They all go on to make decisions that are not the smartest, and then their lives become very chaotic. I thought the characters were really well developed and you feel like you can empathize with them even if they are unlikeable at times. The beginning really pulled me in. What I wasn't a big fan of was the abrupt ending. I was expecting to find out what happened with the characters and that just doesn't happen. The loose ends that you're left with kind of bugs me. I wish there was more. Oh well…still a good read!
Out now. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Out now. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
January 10, 2023
What a fantastic debut novel from this author! This story takes place in Lockesburg, Pennsylvania in America's Rust Belt. The town was once a thriving coal town and now struggles as industries dry up and residents move away. The story is told from the viewpoints of three of Lockesburgs inhabitants: Nathan, a metal shop worker and volunteer firefighter, Callie, a nurse who works at the local hospital, and Andy, a recovering addict who lives with his wife and child. None of these characters are perfect and most of the obstacles they encounter are of their own doing. Each story line is compelling, filled with twists and turns. Just like in real life, their storylines do not end tied up neatly, but each comes to a satisfying conclusion.
Author Ken Jaworowki is a playwright and that background can be felt throughout the book. The plot is compelling and written in a way that draws the readers in emotionally as well as visually. I found myself cringing, crying, laughing, and at times even covering my eyes. It is rare that I have such visceral reactions to books and I look forward to reading future books by this author. I think this would make an excellent pick for book clubs as there is much to discuss about the characters and the social and moral dilemmas they encounter.
I received a free digital copy of the book from Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review of this book.
Author Ken Jaworowki is a playwright and that background can be felt throughout the book. The plot is compelling and written in a way that draws the readers in emotionally as well as visually. I found myself cringing, crying, laughing, and at times even covering my eyes. It is rare that I have such visceral reactions to books and I look forward to reading future books by this author. I think this would make an excellent pick for book clubs as there is much to discuss about the characters and the social and moral dilemmas they encounter.
I received a free digital copy of the book from Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review of this book.
June 30, 2023
Wow! This book is amazing. I don’t think I have encountered a book that has such a crazy mix of feel-good and messed up. This book is intense! There are three main storylines and that can be hit or miss with me, but Jaworowski pulls it off well. I was invested in all three storylines. The audio narration was also excellent. I don’t know if I would classify this as a thriller - I mean it definitely had elements of a thriller but it’s more of a book about the thin line that holds back chaos. All the characters feel like real people and you can see how they come to their decisions. I wish that this book was the beginning of a series because I went on a wild ride with all the characters and now I want to know what happens next. I am really impressed that this is a debut novel and I look forward to more by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2023
I had hemmed and hawed over adding this book to my to-read list numerous times whenever I would come across it, which is kind of weird because I’m a bit of a sucker for small town crime thrillers. Last week, I finally added it. The book summary pretty much lays out the premise of the primary storyline: how the lives of three people in a small, run-down PA town mired in poverty and drug addiction, and whose lives became irrevocably changed one night.
Nathan is a 41yr old, married man who is bitter over how his life has turned out, and who steals 2M dollars from a burning house and is angry that his wife, Paula, won’t go along with his scheme to get out of town with the money and move to FL. Callie is a 28yr old, sad, and single woman with a noticeable birth defect on her face, who is compelled to help a 16yr old girl fulfill a dying wish to see the ocean before she dies. Her religious parents refuse to grant her dying wish. Andy is a widower and recovering addict (10+yrs clean) in his mid-30’s who is suicidal since his wife committed suicide right after their daughter died of a heart condition related to her Downs Syndrome. Early in the story, Andy unwittingly discovers a pedophile priest (in the process of trying to rob him) and is determined to extort money from him (so he can buy drugs to kill himself with) before exposing the priest’s crimes.
Most of the story revolves around the behavior and actions of Nathan, Callie, and Andy and the repercussions and consequences of a series of one bad decision after another. The ending comes fast with a really abrupt ending for all of the characters, which left me really unsatisfied, hence, the 3star rating. This was a classic story where "actions have consequences." I liked Callie’s and Andy’s stories the best; Nathan was a dirtbag!
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators, Chris Ciulla; Jennifer Blom; John Pirhalla, all did a really good job with the narration. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacMillanAudio #SmallTownSins
Nathan is a 41yr old, married man who is bitter over how his life has turned out, and who steals 2M dollars from a burning house and is angry that his wife, Paula, won’t go along with his scheme to get out of town with the money and move to FL. Callie is a 28yr old, sad, and single woman with a noticeable birth defect on her face, who is compelled to help a 16yr old girl fulfill a dying wish to see the ocean before she dies. Her religious parents refuse to grant her dying wish. Andy is a widower and recovering addict (10+yrs clean) in his mid-30’s who is suicidal since his wife committed suicide right after their daughter died of a heart condition related to her Downs Syndrome. Early in the story, Andy unwittingly discovers a pedophile priest (in the process of trying to rob him) and is determined to extort money from him (so he can buy drugs to kill himself with) before exposing the priest’s crimes.
Most of the story revolves around the behavior and actions of Nathan, Callie, and Andy and the repercussions and consequences of a series of one bad decision after another. The ending comes fast with a really abrupt ending for all of the characters, which left me really unsatisfied, hence, the 3star rating. This was a classic story where "actions have consequences." I liked Callie’s and Andy’s stories the best; Nathan was a dirtbag!
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators, Chris Ciulla; Jennifer Blom; John Pirhalla, all did a really good job with the narration. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacMillanAudio #SmallTownSins
December 4, 2022
This book was amazing! It follows 3 people from a small town in Pennsylvania. Each have their own skeletons and each is trying to forge their own path as well as forget their past sins. It is very relateable, I think everyone has regrets in life and things they would like to forget but can't. The characters aren't saints and make new sins along the way, some for good reasons but sometimes not turning out quite they way they expected. There were some twists and enexpected turns I didn't expect which made it so enjoyable. The writing was really good, each chapter kept me wanting more. The characters were very well written and each story ended in a bittersweet sort of way. Each characters story concluded pearfectly in my opinion. I would definitely read this again and can't wait to see more from this author. I definitely recommend this book!
July 17, 2023
My experience of this book is definitely in the minority. It started off well, I was turning pages quickly and really interested in the characters we were meeting. Then things changed a bit for me. The writing lost it's allure and the characters seemed to blend together, they didn't seem to have their own voices. This is just my experience. If you check out the reviews there are many who really enjoyed the pacing, the writing and the characters. I would say see for yourself what you think.
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 31, 2023
Definitely not my usual type of read, this fast-paced small town thriller debut is full of shocking twists and morally reprehensible decisions. Great on audio with a full cast of narrators this was perfect for fans of authors like S A Cosby! Many thanks to @libro.fm for the complimentary ALC!
CW: contains some graphic/gruesome scenes
CW: contains some graphic/gruesome scenes
August 6, 2023
This book was a total gut punch and I loved everything about it.
Three characters, all telling their own story, all living in the same run down town. Life isn't perfect for anyone, especially these three. They each make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives and it all comes together on the same day.
I can't even describe how I felt reading this. All I know is by the end I was a weepy mess and I cannot wait to tell everyone I know to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Three characters, all telling their own story, all living in the same run down town. Life isn't perfect for anyone, especially these three. They each make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives and it all comes together on the same day.
I can't even describe how I felt reading this. All I know is by the end I was a weepy mess and I cannot wait to tell everyone I know to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
June 19, 2023
WOW. Opened this book up on my birthday, around 6pm. Finished it at 1:45 AM the following morning. Just could not put it down. This book is Ken Jaworowski's first novel and what a piece of writing. Great characters. Several I could relate to .....CALLIE . I felt I would have done the same for one of my patients in a case like this.
A great story of several people and their lives , some entwined. The darkness that we probably all have had touch our minds, hearts, souls and lives. A perfect fitting together of all the puzzle pieces in this novel. I loved it. I won this book via Goodreads giveaways. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. ❤🖤🤎💔🏖
A great story of several people and their lives , some entwined. The darkness that we probably all have had touch our minds, hearts, souls and lives. A perfect fitting together of all the puzzle pieces in this novel. I loved it. I won this book via Goodreads giveaways. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. ❤🖤🤎💔🏖
April 7, 2024
it starts off promising, but before long descends into undignified melodramatic tackiness, serving every possible cliché about people from small towns that you can imagine, including (gasp) a final wish to see an ocean. what a wasted opportunity.
August 1, 2023
This was an amazing debut! This story was well-formed, raw and gritty, and full of nuance and life lessons for the characters and beyond. It didn't take long to get sucked into this story and it was atmospheric, as you felt the small town hopelessness, or maybe that was me because I get it. I live in Small Town Tennessee, not exactly the land of opportunity these days.
Locksburg, Pennsylvania is a dead-end town that used to be great.. before the closing of the coal and steel facilities that brought wealth to their neck of the woods. This is a classic American problem that is often forgotten, as it's more interesting to the masses to talk about other polarizing things.
Many of those left behind are quite bitter. Their lives just didn't turn out how they expected, still suffering the consequences of things from decades ago. Time moves differently when you're in a small town and some of their struggles are ironic, given their situations.
We directly follow three residents in particular and their lives intersect in strange and interesting ways. Nathan, a volunteer fire fighter who hits it rich unexpectedly. Callie, a nurse whose terminal patient is making her consider different things existentially, and finally, Andy, who brings probably the wildest and saddest story of the 3, but as addicts often do, he lurks on the outskirts.
Each of them have something to say and it isn't always comfortable but it's necessary to hear. The time has finally come to grapple with the past they've never truly left behind and danger is beyond every corner because, as most of us know, nothing is a secret for long in a small town.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. This is a new author to keep an eye out for. I can't wait to see what he has in store. I listened to the audio and the narration was fantastic.
Locksburg, Pennsylvania is a dead-end town that used to be great.. before the closing of the coal and steel facilities that brought wealth to their neck of the woods. This is a classic American problem that is often forgotten, as it's more interesting to the masses to talk about other polarizing things.
Many of those left behind are quite bitter. Their lives just didn't turn out how they expected, still suffering the consequences of things from decades ago. Time moves differently when you're in a small town and some of their struggles are ironic, given their situations.
We directly follow three residents in particular and their lives intersect in strange and interesting ways. Nathan, a volunteer fire fighter who hits it rich unexpectedly. Callie, a nurse whose terminal patient is making her consider different things existentially, and finally, Andy, who brings probably the wildest and saddest story of the 3, but as addicts often do, he lurks on the outskirts.
Each of them have something to say and it isn't always comfortable but it's necessary to hear. The time has finally come to grapple with the past they've never truly left behind and danger is beyond every corner because, as most of us know, nothing is a secret for long in a small town.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. This is a new author to keep an eye out for. I can't wait to see what he has in store. I listened to the audio and the narration was fantastic.
August 6, 2023
3.5 stars.
This one is really difficult for me to review. Right up until the very end, I was completely engrossed. I loved the richly developed characters, the multiple points of view and the vivid setting. The pacing was just right, and the buildup was intense which was enhanced by the exceptionally well-done full cast audio narration.
But then came the ending. It was so very abrupt with no resolution whatsoever for any of the storylines or characters. I was incredibly disappointed and still can’t believe it ended the way it did. Even if a sequel were in the works – and I see no sign that there is; I checked – the ending was still just like running headfirst into a brick wall for this reader.
How do you rate a book you loved right up until the very, very end?
My thanks to @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This one is really difficult for me to review. Right up until the very end, I was completely engrossed. I loved the richly developed characters, the multiple points of view and the vivid setting. The pacing was just right, and the buildup was intense which was enhanced by the exceptionally well-done full cast audio narration.
But then came the ending. It was so very abrupt with no resolution whatsoever for any of the storylines or characters. I was incredibly disappointed and still can’t believe it ended the way it did. Even if a sequel were in the works – and I see no sign that there is; I checked – the ending was still just like running headfirst into a brick wall for this reader.
How do you rate a book you loved right up until the very, very end?
My thanks to @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 13, 2023
I did not want this book to end!
It follows 3 characters living in a small town of Locksburg, PA, who's lives are just barely entertwined. All facing major life obstacles and decisions that come with it.
The character development is amazing, no matter how gritty or wrong, I really felt for these people. The pace not to fast but just enough to keep you hanging on full of emotions.
Look forward to more reads from Ken Jaworowski!
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC!
It follows 3 characters living in a small town of Locksburg, PA, who's lives are just barely entertwined. All facing major life obstacles and decisions that come with it.
The character development is amazing, no matter how gritty or wrong, I really felt for these people. The pace not to fast but just enough to keep you hanging on full of emotions.
Look forward to more reads from Ken Jaworowski!
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC!
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