This is the first book I've read by Jane Stanton Hitchcock and certainly won't be my last. Bluff is a rollicking good time, featuring an aging socialite in New York who happens to excel at poker. What she manages to pull off is the bluff that no one sees coming. This is a book filled with humor, fun twists, and little jabs at the elite, or those pretending to be. Really enjoyed and looking forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.

<i>Bluff</i> had me hooked right from the opening scene as a woman walks across New York City’s Central Park on a beautiful October day. She describes her outfit as she walks – from her suit, a St. Laurent from a few seasons ago, to her secondhand Louboutin shoes. The woman, Maud Warner, a 50+ yo former socialite, then enters The Four Seasons dining room, shoots a man, walks out, and hails a cab to take her to Penn Station where she boards a train for D.C.

As one might guess from the title, poker plays a leading role in the plot of <i>Bluff</i.> as both the main character and the author are avid, tournament-level players. Even though I don’t play, I quickly learned a few things and appreciated the strategies of the game as applied to the outcome of this twisty mystery.

The elements for an entertaining and thrilling pageturner are all here. In addition to the game of poker you have: money, power, high society lifestyle, secrets, betrayal, greed, bigamy, scams, and even a bit of commentary on ageism. If you’re intrigued by this combination - <i>Bluff</i> does not disappoint.

FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have yet to read a Jane Stanton Hitchcock book that
1) I haven't loved
2) hasn't had an original plot
3) hasn't had amazing characters with loads of depth
4) wasn't good for at least one incredible plot twist.

Thank you for the opportunity to read such a great book! I can't wait for her next one!

This was really a fun (but dark) story! I was really surprised by some of the plot twists, and I loved the pacing. It opens with a bang (literally) and doesn't slow down. I was put off by the multiple points of view at first, but it actually worked well for this story. This one really leaves you questioning who you can trust, and who just has a really great poker face.

From the opening scene of the book, I knew I was in good hands with this novel about high stakes in high society. "Mad Maud" is an aging ex-socialite who marches into a restaurant and shoots the "Pope of Finance", a man she holds responsible for stealing her mother's fortune many years ago. Just as in a hand of poker, a game that she loves with a passion, Maud bluffs her way through her madcap plans with a perfect combination of wit and insight. I won't recap the entire plot, which the publisher has already done, but if you're on the fence about reading this one, let me assure you that you're in for a fun ride.

I recently read another novel by Jane Stanton Hitchcock, and I'm eager to read her entire backlog at this point. Her first novel, A TRICK OF THE EYE, also dealt with high society dysfunction, but its tone was more serious and gothic, whereas BLUFF is more of a dark comedy. Hitchcock is a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an absolutely delicious mystery. Maud Warner, a woman of a certain age, walks into a top NYC restaurant and shoots the Pope of Wall Street Sun Sunderland and then calmly walks out, hails a cab to Penn station and boards a train to DC. Why on earth did she shoot Sunderland when it was his luncheon partner Burt Sklar whom she really hated. And so begins a wild ride through NYC society and the world of poker.

Maud's family was ruined by Sklar when he embezzled millions of dollars from her mother. Using the skills she learned from playing poker, first as an escape from her problems and then on a professional level, she deftly seeks her revenge on those who hurt her. It helps that, as an older woman she fades into the woodwork. People, especially powerful men, constantly underestimate her.

The reader cannot help but cheer for this delightful murderess and the traps she sets and the "clues" she leaves.

P.S. A reading of Hitchcock's entry in Wikipedia does give a hint as to where she got the plot for this novel.

A very clever plotline.

Maud Warner is an elderly lady who has fallen on hard times and keeps herself going by playing poker in which she has become an expert.

She has long hated Burt Skylar, the accountant whom she blames for losing all her mother’s money due to something called a Durable Power of Attorney, a devious arrangement that enabled him to steal her and her brother Alan’s inheritance.

One day she calmly gains entry to the Four Seasons Restaurant where Burt is having lunch with his friend and client, Sun Sunderland, whose wife Jean is an old friend of hers, produces a gun and shoots Sun. She then walks out of the restaurant and escapes, her actions were so unexpected that nobody reacts in time to stop her leaving.

It then transpires that Burt had pulled Sun across himself to avoid being shot. Surely Maud was really aiming at him, wasn’t she? It is only when a young ex-stripper arrives at Sun’s deathbed calling herself Mrs Sunderland that the world discovers that the outwardly happily married and upright citizen of New York’s society was a bigamist. When it is then discovered that there is another Durable Power of Attorney with Sun, his wife Jean and his other wife, Danya, Maud realises that Burt is up to his old tricks again.

To go into much more detail would be to spoil the plot and the ending. Suffice it to say all is not what it seems. Maud has a devious plan which she has worked out fuelled by years of hatred of Burt. Due to her expertise in poker, she knows how to play everyone and more importantly has learnt how to bluff anybody and everybody. No-one but Maud knows the real truth and only Maud knows what the outcome will be.

This was a very clever story and I enjoyed reading it but never having played poker in my life I wasn’t really drawn into the story or the characters involved. However, it was worth reading and I was impressed by Maud’s revenge.

Dexter

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Poker serves as the back drop for Jane Stanton Hitchcock’s novel Bluff. A murder mystery, Bluff, is not so much as a whodunnit as it is a whydunnit. Hitchcock’s novel entertains and ensnares the reader in its interesting story line with fascinating characters. Each chapter is precision-blended with sophistication, suspense, and an appealing amount of clever sarcasm about modern day villains masquerading as elite entrepreneurs in New York City’s high society. What’s particularly refreshing about Hitchcock’s novel is its not-so-pure, grey-haired female protagonist, Maud. Maud is a poker player whose histrionics have earned her the nickname “Mad Maud.” She is introduced in the first chapter with a description of the contents of her purse. Everything she needs she carries in her purse— a cell phone, lipstick, a compact, . . . and a gun. Chapter one starts with a bang and continues with non-stop excitement and intrigue until its satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to the publishers of Bluff and to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for this honest review—no bluffing.

If this were summer, Bluff would be the top book to read in my beach bag. But since it is too early for that trip, do not wait, read Bluff now! What a great way to spend a long afternoon, whether snowbound, beach bound or holed up on a rainy day.

Maud is a woman of a certain age. She is stylish but not as though she stands out. She is clever and a great poker player. People underestimate her, which always works in her favor. She is also hell-bent on revenge. Maud came from money, but now the fortune is gone. So are her parents and brother. Someone needs to pay!

This is an unusual murder mystery since the reader knows immediately who did it – Maud! The delicious part of the murder is discovering how she planned it and how she may get away with it. Minor characters are buzz worthy gossipy, amusing and over the top. The descriptive locations range from the toney Four Seasons restaurant in NYC to a seedy back alley poker joint in Washington, DC. Wherever the author takes you, you’re in good hands with Maud. Snappy dialog, twisty plots all hang on a light scaffolding of the game of poker. One does not need to know the game to enjoy this book. And you will! Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fun book.

From the time I was a little girl I've played cards and loved a little gambling. My dad taught both my sister and I how to play every kind of poker at our kitchen table on Sunday nights. To this day, we all still play together and apart, so I knew this book would be fun and feel familiar.

Fortunately, you don't need to know a thing about cards to love Maud, her acerbic wit, her unapologetic posture and her nimble mind. Maud is a 56 year-old badass who has had enough.

This story opens with Maud walking into The Four Seasons, shooting a prominent member of society and walking out. We always know Maud is the shooter but as the book unfolds we learn why she did it...and boy, what a story.

This is a cutting, gossipy romp and I loved the brilliant characterizations and very clever plot.

I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it highly!

Thank you to Jane Stanton Hitchcock, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for giving me an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

"Bluff" certainly is a pleasant surprise! I love it. The plot is a bit far-fetched but ingenious in its own way. Taking the bluffing tricks during poker games, the protagonist extends the same trick to achieve the ultimate goal she wants to accomplish, "candidly, honestly, truthfully."

In fact, we're dealing with two villains in "Bluff" - a habitual one (the ultimate bad guy) v.s. and a novice (yet a likable heroine at the same time) who wants to seek revenge. This premise is slightly different from most of the mystery novels which are usually about the definite good guys v.s. the bad ones. Two villains try to outwit the other by bluffing and manipulating constantly. Fun, fun, fun. And the author supplies readers many tiny twists and turns from the beginning to the end makes "Bluff" a highly entertaining novel.

Entertaining, ingenious and engaging. I can't praise "Bluff" enough. Go pick up your copy, mystery lovers!

This was a fun read! Bigotry, murder and larceny, oh my!

Maud Warner, middle-aged former socialite and poker savant, walks into the Four Seasons and shoots, the “Pope of Finance”, Sun Sunderland. And so begins a high-stakes game of poker - not with cards but with Maud’s life. Will she be able to pull off the biggest bluff of her poker career?

So many colorful characters in this story - just skating the edge of caricature-ish. Slimy Burt Sklar, the slippery “accountant to the Stars” - I felt the need for a shower after every chapter in which he appeared.

I don’t know anything about poker but I enjoyed the parallels between poker and life throughout the story.

There were some cheesy lines throughout and a few plot points were a little far-fetched but none of this took away from the entertainment value of this book (not for me at least).

Overall this a very fun and enormously clever novel. Highly recommend!

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This is a stay up all night novel. Each chapter pulls the reader deeper and deeper into the plot. The characters are wonderful. Women of a certain age unite!! We are not invisible, but smart. The plot weaves itself into your reading, without you realizing it's power. Suddenly, a small kernal is revealed and it is an AAHHH!! moment. What's wonderful is the story continually builds these moments as it rushes to the surprise ending!! Need to re-read this to get more, and more enjoyment.

“Bluff” by Jane Stanton Hitchcock begins with socialite Maud Warner walking into The Four Seasons and shooting a man. The mystery that follows is a whydunnit with a cast of wacky characters.
I liked the story, but felt like the writing could have been better. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Bluff starts with a bang, but like a game of poker, it's the cards we can't yet see that build the tension. When Maud murders a man in a crowded restaurant there's no doubt she's guilty - or is there. Hitchcock twists a web of lies and deceit, we never know who is telling the truth and who the real villain is. A great book and I highly reccomend.

Loved it! I especially loved the older Maud. So great to read about someone of the same age. The story had plenty of red herrings to where I was simply stunned at the end. I will be looking for more by this author! I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher Poisoned Pen Press. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review!

Engaging and entertaining in a film noir style, this book grabs you and you won't want to put it down until you've finished. Add it to your TBR list as soon as possible!

I liked Bluff. It's a fun read. The heroine is a fifty something woman, which I find refreshing as characters go. She's likeable. The plot is complex and unpredictable. A great ending and entertaining throughout. I recommend this one.

An absolute delight with a fabulous heroine, fiftyish former socialite Maud Warner makes her biggest poker bet ever in an intricately woven, well-plotted novel that ranks among this observant writer's best. When Maude walks calmly up to the power table at Manhattan's exclusive Four Seasons restaurant and aims a pistol at the man who bilked her mother out of a fortune she kills his good friend instead. A mistake ? That's what everyone believes, including the police. But when the back story of the victim's bigamy is revealed at his deathbed, a different theory of the crime emerges, and the relationship among his two wives and the missing Maude soon proved that revenge is a dish not only enjoyed cold but also shared among an unlikely trio of fascinating women. Clever, smart, satisfying, and fun to read.

This book was a great discovery! It's entertaining, fun to read and you're hooked till the last page.
I loved the style of writing, the well developed characters and the amazing plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC