Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Whatever It Takes by Alan Brenham launches readers into a high-stakes undercover thriller where danger lurks behind every glittering facade. We’re with Detective Kit Hanover as she’s forced to shed her old identity and infiltrate Las Vegas’s criminal underbelly as an exotic dancer to expose a sprawling money laundering empire. But as she becomes a pawn in a volatile turf war, the question isn’t just whether she can crack the case, but whether she can survive the fallout. Brenham delivers a gritty, pulse-pounding story of deception, loyalty, and grit.

Author Alan Brenham has a clear vision and control over this story world that comes through in the confident narration and construction, delivering a tightly plotted narrative that keeps the suspense building with every chapter. Once you’re gripped by this story, it doesn’t relinquish its hold, zooming through a pacy plot but always with the right amount of detail so you stay hooked on what’s happening as Kit struggles with unpleasant situations and tests of her considerable wits. Her dialogue and close narration let readers get to know this fierce, smart, and deeply human heroine, and it’s easy to see how readers will root for her as the danger ramps up and the lessons she learns along the way shape her new persona. The layers of accomplished crime writing enhance our investment in her story, with vivid settings and authentic procedural detail that make the Las Vegas underworld feel all the more disturbingly real. Overall, Whatever It Takes is a highly recommended must-read for fans of fast-paced, high-risk crime thrillers featuring strong female leads.