What You Break

While I enjoyed the first book in this new series, I think the Sophomore outing is actually better. The first book had a plot which I found difficult to follow with a resolution that felt unsatisfying. And, as a first book in a series, it needed much exposition about the character and his past. With the character firmly established, “What You Break” is able to hit the ground running.

There are two mysteries which Gus seeks to solve. The first is saving the life of his co-worker with a past from killers from that past. The other mystery seems mostly present focused - why did a killer murder a rich man's granddaughter - but it also reaches into this character's past. The plot developments which move the book toward the conclusion are straight-forward and yet still somewhat unexpected. And the two mysteries come together in a pair of climaxes which feel satisfying and set the terrain for the next book in the series.