I received this book in exchange for an honest review which has not altered my opinion of this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I gave it 50 pages to draw me in but I didn't get the mystery I was hoping for. I think it's a great idea for a book but unfortunately this book is just not for me.

A great fun read if you are into thrillers. From the very first page I was hooked by Mad Maude, she is a brilliant character. The plot developed well and was fast paced

The opening scene of this book is one of the best ones I've seen so far this year. 50-year-old socialite Maud Warner opens fire on Sun Sutherland in the Four Seasons restaurant in New York City. She then walks calmly away, boarding a train bound for Washington, D.C., on her way. But why did she kill Sun instead of Burt Sklar, the man she blames for the demise of her family's fortune, with whom he was having lunch?

The writing style is the book's greatest asset, in my opinion. Although a crime is committed, you aren't expected to take it too seriously because of the film's quirky nature and old-school feel. I thought the writing style was unique and refreshing, something you don't see very often in today's books. The book's first half was definitely better than its second. A novella version of this would have been more to my liking than the novel version. All in all, this was a good read, and I recommend it if you want to read something a little different.

DNF

I did not read this book and I know longer have any interest in reading it. This was during the beginning of my NetGalley “everything looks great so I am going to request it without looking into the book. I have definitely become more selective in choosing what books I want to request and read.

I started this one a while ago and then I think I got distracted by another book. From what I did read (I got through like half...) I enjoyed this tale!

This was quite a unique and quirky romp into the world of poker, murder, bluffing, and feminism. In the opening scene Maud, a middle-aged woman marches into the Four Seasons, pulls a gun out of her handbag, and shoots a man. It's the "wrong" man but that's an entirely a different story! He eventually dies and that's where his widow comes into play as well. We find that Maud was on a vendetta to avenge her mother's fortune being diverted into accounts that left them penniless. Fortunately, Maud is a poker player and understands how to get what she wants...and that's all I'll say. The novel has intrigue, humor, and "what just happened?" moments! How did I not know of Hitchcock before this??

This is not the book for me. Holy cow, the characters are awful. I did not care about any of these people, and the plot was dry and flat. I wish I had liked this more than I did.

"Bluff" was a great, fun, but also a very dark story. I was surprised by some of the plot twists and I loved the pacing. It captured my attention from the outset and never slowed down. I loved the multiple points of view and I thought it worked well for this story. The characters were so perfectly drawn by Jane Stanton Hitchcock and I found myself questioning who could be trusted.

The book was not so much a mystery, as a bit of a lark. It was light reading, but it was it still extremely well-written and well-told. I really enjoyed every moment of "Bluff".

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Jane Stanton Hitchcock has written a compelling story which inverts many of the tropes of murder mysteries. We know who the murderer is from almost the first page and we find ourselves rooting for the murderer. Our anti-hero Maud finds herself underestimated and invisible as a middle aged woman in an appearance obsessed world. She uses that invisibility and her fervent passion for poker to weave a web to ensnare the real villain. This is a fun romp through the social and financial elites of New York that will tightly hold your interest to the very end.

When I read Bluff I had no idea the author is a competitive poker player. That would certainly explain the authentic feel to her latest novel. Bluff is about Maude, a middle-aged woman whose family was left in financial ruin by a charming accountant/con artist. The one-time socialite begins to play poker in order to make ends meet and to take her mind off of her difficulties. However, she slowly begins to plan her revenge…

I really wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book but I found it to be a roller coaster of unexpected events and twists, and such a fun book to read. The characters are quirky and unique, and the plot original and clever. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, the setting and the story. Bluff is definitely a winning hand and I intend to read more of Ms Hitchcock’s books. Meanwhile, thank you for giving us Bluff!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

What fun this book was!! Great characters, a complex plot, and some truly jaw-dropping twists made this book a delight to read.

Bluff is an enjoyable mystery with a unique twist at the end. It did drag a little in spots and I was tempted to not finish it, but I'm glad I stuck it out. I would recommend this one for readers who like light cozy mysteries.

“I’m now playing the biggest poker hand of my life with no cards.”

Bluff is an entertaining and fun read! I don’t usually read mysteries but the outstanding cover grabbed my attention and piqued my curiosity. And I am glad it did. Bluff is a fine read which will keep you guessing and wondering, perfect for the beach or a rainy day at home.

Bluff is a somewhat atypical mystery in that the murder occurs in the opening pages and the novel is devoted to Why it happened. This does not diminish the book’s entertainment value at all. In Hitchcock’s capable hands, knowing the outcome does not detract from the suspense of discovering and understanding the Why.

Maud Warner, the protagonist, is a 56 year old socialite who was cheated out of her mother’s inheritance by an overly zealous, greedy and immoral accountant named Burt Sklar. The reader will come to despise Sklar nearly as much as Maud does as well as admire the clever Maud while rooting for her to succeed.

The book begins with a great sentence - “Death is colorful in the fall,” which for me, sets up an imaginative mystery. We meet Maud as she its heading over to The Four Seasons in NYC. At the restaurant, she tells the maitre d’ that she is meeting Burt Sklar, who is dining with Sun Sunderland. The maitre d’ leads her to their table and, while standing behind him, Maude pulls a gun out of her purse and shoots at Sklar and Sunderland. Who was she aiming for? She then walks out of the restaurant and goes to Penn Station where she grabs an Amtrak train back to her home in Washington D.C.

As it turns out, Maud killed Mr. Sunderland and this raises a number of questions for the reader — What was Maud’s relationship to Sunderland and why would she want him dead? Was the bullet meant for Sklar? Clearly there was motive with Sklar but what was the motive for killing Sunderland? Was Maud a poor shot or unfamiliar with guns and how to use them? Did Maud have a psychotic break with reality that caused her to act this way? Could it be something else entirely? Well, you will have to read the book to find out why Maud did it and what ultimately happens to her.

Hitchcock is brilliant at creating the overarching analogy between life and the game of poker. In fact, Maud has learned important life lessons from poker.

“The great truth of poker—and of life—can be summed up in two words: ‘Next hand’.”

“I lied, of course. The bluff was my specialty, in poker and in life. But then, all poker players lie—just to keep in practice.”

“Convincing bluffing is the real key to a successful poker career. And like pretty much everything in life, poker is about people. You have to know when and whom to bluff.’

Hitchcock’s writing is user-friendly and the book flows well. It is hard to put down because of its intricately woven plot and desire to know the Why.

I liked Hitchcock’s writing and in particular, the amusing lines narrated by Maud. Hitchcock excels at turning a phrase and comic timing in her writing. She takes familiar phrases and re-invents them and uses certain words in an entirely new context, where you would least expect to find them.

“My parents had many famous friends. Their glamorous parties were so packed with celebrities, I used to refer to myself as ‘the only person there I didn’t know’.”

"Greta knows that great hostesses have to be vampires, ever in search of new blood to keep their parties lively.”

“Although, as a once-great beauty, she considered aging to be the ultimate terrorist attack.”

“When I met Burt Sklar, our family was misery on a stick, ready to be gobbled up by a hungry predator.”

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

BLUFF
Jane Stanton Hitchcock
Poisoned Pen Press
$26.99
264 pp.

When “Mad” Maud steps into a Manhattan restaurant and shoots billionaire financier Sun Sunderland, she starts a journey that rushes the reader from the high society of the Upper East Side to the flops, folds, and flips of rhe world of poker. From salons where tea is sipped in bone china cups, to poker parlors where pizza crusts are plucked from the garbage, author Hitchcock takes us on a highly entertaining ride. Familiar with both New York Society and poker—she’s played in the World Championship—she creates a vivid context for the BLUFF.

Because this is not just a story that makes fun of society, and elevates poker to philosophy for life. It’s about Maud, a master poker player who is playing for the biggest stakes of her life. When Maud shoots Sun, he’s sitting next to Burt Sklar, the man who made Maud mad. Many years ago, Sklar, taking a page from Bernie Madoff’s playbook, swindled Maud’s mother out of the family fortune. Maud hasn’t been able to get anyone’s attention—until now. A master poker player herself, Hitchcock keeps her rnarrative cards close to her chest as the game unfolds. When she plays a card, the plot twists so hard it gives the reader whiplash. Maud’s plan comes out of Hitchcock’s pen slowly, but steadily.

Meanwhile, of course, all the sympathy in the book goes to Maud. Very rarely has an author succeeded in actually getting readers to cheer a killer so heartily. Like the best of heist movies, BLUFF puts us on the edge of our chairs. After the “river,” when all the cards are out, Maud pulls the BLUFF—and it’s a beauty. Both she and the reader are all in by now, and the denouement is most satisfying. As one of the book’s blurbs says, BLUFF is a royal flush of a novel.

Sent to Briar Patch Books blog. Not yet published.

"Bluff" by Jane Stanton Hitchcock.

My first time reading that author.

WOW! 5 stars.
A good clever mystery! Well written, interesting, captivating, fast paced... I love a good revenge!
It makes me want to try to play poker again, I say try because I've only played a few times years ago and wasn't really good at it, it was hard!

Get that book, you won't be able to put it down!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

“Poker has its own moral universe. Lying is called bluffing. Deception is the norm.”—from the new humorous revenge thriller Bluff

Maud is convinced that her parent’s financial advisor, Burt, stole all their money. However, she cannot get anyone to believe her.

Broke, Maud plays online poker. Skilled at the game, she wins. When the online casinos are shuttered by the government, Maud turns to live games. Throughout it all, she continues to nurse her grudge with Burt.

One morning, she walks into the Four Seasons and shoots Burt. Luckily for Burt, he is able to shield himself with his lunch companion, and longtime friend, Sun. While Sun is in the ICU, his secrets begin to unravel leading to a domino effect on his entire social circle.

Structured like poker itself, Bluff manages to surprise at every turn. Plus it has many moves like tournament poker. Honestly, if you love thrillers where the motive is cunningly plotted revenge, you will love this tale as much as I do. 5 stars!

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bluff is a whydunnit with a bit of howdunnit thrown it. We know whodunnit from the opening scene when “Mad” Maud Warner walks into the Four Seasons and shoots billionaire financier Sun Sunderland, though everyone is certain she was aiming for Burt Sklar, having accused him of stealing her family’s wealth. While this all sounds very serious, it has the light touch and spirit of a caper.

Since the narrative mostly follows Maud, we begin to identify with her and even root for her. Yup, she killed someone and somehow, we want her to get away with it. Does she? Well, that’s the question and what she gets away with may be very different than readers expect.

Jane Stanton Hitchcock’s inspiration for this story comes from her own life., her mother was similarly swindled though Hitchcock intervened before everything was stolen and Hitchcock is quite the poker player herself. She writes with confidence about poker and people. I loved this book for its light touch, the humor, and the sense of justice. It was smart, clever, and ingeniously enlisted readers in the outcome of the caper. A book that puts me firmly on the side of the killer is rare.

Bluff will be released on April 2nd. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.

Bluff at Poisoned Pen Press
Jane Stanton Hitchcock author site

Ingenious and wonderful. Hitchcock was unknown to me. After finishing Bluff I immediately ordered 2 more of her novels. Agatha Christie often used her mystery format as a way to write clever social commentary. Hitchcock does this here. This is a timely, fun commentary on social classism in the United States. I loved the protagonist Mad Maud.

Maud is a plotter and planner who has learned to play the game of life from playing poker. I do not a thing about poker. I do know a great read when I find one. If you are needed a laugh, or hoping for a book that combines suspense with joie de vivre, this one is for you.

Very highly recommended.

High marks for the cover! This quirky mystery has some very unexpected twists and turns. The main character is an aging socialite named Maud Adams. When Maud's family realizes they have been swindled out of their money by a trusted family friend, it is too late. Tragedy ensues and Maud decides to make is right by shooting the culprit while he is eating lunch at the Four Seasons. Can Maud bluff her way out of a murder charge?

A big thank you to Poison Pen Press, Bookish First and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this intriguing mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed BLUFF. Jane Stanton Hitchcock has written another terrific novel. Would love to see this come out in audio too.