Body of Work

by E.L. Wilk

E. L. Wilk weaves a chilling, critically acclaimed thriller that blurs the lines between medical science, morality, and the human soul. At its heart lies a question both intimate and what does it truly mean to possess a body, and what happens when that body becomes a commodity. Body of Work is a haunting, fast-paced medical thriller that explores the razor’s edge where innovation, exploitation, and humanity collide. At its center is Olivia, a devoted mother of twins and a woman whose sharp intelligence and compassion mask deep vulnerabilities. Her family’s life on a quiet farm seems far removed from the corporate and clinical worlds of cutting-edge medicine. But when her path crosses with Haloderm—a powerful biomedical company promising to reshape the future of surgery, organ preservation, and long-distance space medicine—Olivia is drawn into a web that reaches far beyond her rural life. Haloderm presents itself as a force for developing robotic surgical suites that could save lives on Earth and beyond. Yet behind closed doors, it wages a battle against the “ghouls,” profiteers who traffic in human skin and organs. The company’s mission is shadowed by secrecy, ambition, and the ethical minefields of a medical industry where bodies are often treated as currency. As Olivia becomes entwined with Haloderm’s work, the stakes turn deeply personal. Her roles as mother, wife, and survivor collide with forces that would claim her body, her choices, and even her family’s future. On the farm, surrounded by the simple rhythms of rural life, she struggles to hold onto a sense of normalcy while navigating a reality where science and morality no longer align. At its heart, Body of Work is about not only the dangers of unchecked innovation but also resilience and love. What do we owe our families? How do we protect them when the body itself becomes a battlefield? And when corporations and traffickers alike see flesh as profit, who has the right to say what a life is worth? E. L. Wilk blends chilling real-world medical research with speculative possibility to deliver a story that is both intimate and universal. Body of Work is a meditation on motherhood, survival, and integrity in an age when every body has a price tag. Olivia’s fight—set against the stark contrast of a family farm and the sterile world of biotechnology—becomes a testament to the endurance of love in the face of exploitation. Thrilling, poignant, and deeply human, Body of Work leaves readers questioning the future of medicine, the cost of progress, and the lengths we go to protect those we love.

501 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2025

About the author

E. L. Wilk is an author and amateur astronomer originally from Boston, with roots that span Hong Kong and Brussels. A Wellesley College graduate with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she is also an alumna of the International School of Brussels.
Her third novel, Body of Work, blends science and storytelling to explore the boundaries of medicine, morality, and the human soul. She and her husband share their time between Boston and Florida with their dog Khaleesi.

Reviews

[Rostyslav Drachko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body of Work is a gripping medical thriller that goes beyond science and dives straight into the human soul.
It asks difficult questions about morality, identity, and how far we’re willing to go in the name of progress.
Both chilling and deeply human.

[Vasyl Kazmirchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive work. The writing feels authentic and emotionally strong. You can tell it was written with real passion — congratulations, E.L. Wilk.

[Keith Ballenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I couldn’t put it down! Great characters and a wild ride combined with the very real moral questions that AI introduces in society provided a page turner.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you E.L. Wilk and Goodreads for my Goodreads Giveaway. 3.5 Stars rounded up. Enjoyable read. It was a little different than I was expecting and had a slow start but it was still nice getting to know the characters. Interesting ending and open ended for a sequel. Kind of getting a peak into the dark side of potential scientific advancement and organ procurement for profit.

[Magdi Abdullah Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Body of Work — A Review Worth Reading

Body of Work by Elyse Wilk is a chilling, deeply thoughtful medical thriller that doesn’t just entertain — it haunts your mind and your conscience long after you finish the last page. Set at the razor’s edge of innovation and morality, this novel pushes the reader to confront what we are willing to sacrifice in the name of progress — and whether the human soul should ever be part of that cost.

Wilk demonstrates remarkable command over pacing and tension. This is a fast-moving yet richly layered narrative that blends medical science with philosophical urgency. As the plot unfolds, each twist feels organic, driven by character choices that reflect real ethical quandaries rather than contrived sensationalism.

What makes this book stand out in a crowded genre is its balance between smart science and human complexity. The stakes are scientific and intellectual, yet the emotional weight never feels shortchanged. The characters are believable, flawed, and deeply human — people whose decisions linger in your thoughts, long after the chapter ends.

The narrative also explores how far we’ll go to push boundaries. It doesn’t shy away from probing questions about morality, identity, and the cost of discovery, making it much more than a conventional thriller. Wilk raises issues that resonate in our contemporary world — where breakthroughs in medicine can feel as frightening as they are hopeful.

In short:

Gripping from page one
Thought-provoking ethical tension
Rich character work anchored in believable science
A finale that stays with you
Body of Work is a standout in modern thrillers — intelligent, daring, and haunting. If you love stories that make you think as hard as they make you turn pages, this is a must-read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommended.


Magdi A Ahmed

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the worst book I’ve read this year. It dragged on and ended up being completely unbelievable. If I could DNF a book, this would’ve been the one.