In Las Vegas, informants learn the hard truth that snitches get stitches. Or in Myra Taylor’s case, shot and buried in the desert. An unfortunate setback for the FBI as they try to build a case against Sonny Holman, Leon Benuzzi, and Boris Krakov. Myra wasn’t the first casualty either, so the FBI needs to step up its game to nail this slick money laundering ring. Fortunately, they have an ace up their federal sleeve in the form of a relentless homicide detective with a maverick mindset. Willing to do whatever it takes, Kit Hanover accepts an undercover assignment as an exotic dancer for Sonny Holman at his Pink Kitten Gentlemen’s Club. Although the stunning Native American detective isn’t crazy about pole dancing, she’ll put her introverted nature aside to win Sonny’s trust and find concrete evidence of his shady dealings. But working a demeaning dancing gig and being ogled by lecherous patrons aren’t Kit’s only obstacles. She’s been trying to reconnect with her estranged sister in Las Vegas, though now is hardly the best time for a family reunion. Can the FBI keep her sister safe without blowing Kit’s cover? A death at the club puts Kit on everyone’s radar, and the more she digs, the more dangerous the assignment gets, with money laundering just the beginning of the crimes that can be traced back to Sonny and his associates. With prostitution, trafficking, and murder among the offenses, Kit must navigate the escalating danger and stay alive long enough to dismantle a powerful criminal organization.
Gritty and rough, Whatever It Takes is a sharp-tongued crime novel with a spunky lead character. Bringing down a crime ring is the broad story arc, but facing racism, evading predatory sexual advances, and maintaining personal dignity are a few significant thematic elements developed throughout the book. Whether it’s an ugly cat fight or a torturous interrogation, it’s just another day on the job for scrappy Kit. Her tenacity in the face of adversity makes for an interesting read, while the raucous strip-club setting keeps danger at every turn. Interactions with an unsavory crime boss, handsy patrons, or Sonny’s out-of-control assistant ratchet up the adrenaline and maintain a brisk pace. And these encounters all occur in the first few chapters! As Kit earns trust with the crime bosses, her safety is never guaranteed, building to a tense desert showdown that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Whatever It Takes is a harsh, old-school take on crime and corruption, a no-nonsense thriller where survival is anything but guaranteed.
