This was a new author to me. The book was definitely gripping and full of mystery. What an enjoyable read.

Thanks for the opportunity to review the book

Kate Breslow moved to a beautiful house on Crest Lake with her husband Ryan. It was against her wishes as she had a thriving job and really loved living in the city but she loved Ryan and didn’t want to go against his choice. Now Ryan is dead, having died in a car accident that is still under investigation. And the house she poured all her money into is sitting on a crumbling bluff.

Kate is on a committee to decide on a course of action to correct this but there are a number of different opinions and a group of extreme environmentalists who don’t seem to play by the rules. As things start happening to those on the committee, old secrets are brought up and indiscretions exposed. It seems someone is out for revenge, but the reason for the revenge might not be what they think it is.

This definitely had another edge coming into it than your usual thriller as there were so many characters keeping secrets that landed up intersecting with each other. It is a quick read but some arcs are slow in coming as the characters keep mentioning past secrets that are horrific or things they are hiding and yet they turned out not to be.

I found the technical aspects very interesting when it came to what could be done to stop the bluff from crumbling. It must be a nightmare to have land so close to the edge when Mother Nature decides to take some back. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to “pick your house up” and move it backwards.

I can well imagine that in such a small place people’s lives are going to interfere with one another and relationships will be tested but it also showed what a lack of communication and friendship can cause. The different POVs that drove the story made for an interesting look at different sides and the psychological explanations of narcissists/psychopaths/sociopaths were illuminating.

The story was easy to read if a little slow in places and there were some unanswered questions. No cliffhanger as such but when the end arrived, I did turn the page to look for more. The twist is also not that surprising as there are clues in the inactivity.

Overall a good read that brought an interesting perspective into a domestic thriller and made people question the severity of punishment based on what led to the crime.

This book was super twisty & kept me engaged throughout the whole book! I'd definitely recommend reading this story!!

The Bluff was a great mystery story that keeps you thinking of all the ways this could have been every person in the story. Also by the end karma really does work its self out for some characters.

It is so hard to give a review on a thriller/mystery that you loved so much without spoiling any details.

This is more of a detective, fact-finding mystery mixed in with the lives of the characters so it’s not as suspenseful as other thrillers and you get to see the perspective of Kate (the female protagonist) and the law enforcement.

With that being said, a lot of drama gets uncovered in a short period of time and you spend the whole book piecing together the clues that are beautifully laid out. It is well written, and keeps a nice steady pace, so you’re always hooked into the story. Highly recommend as a good start to thriller, spooky season.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC! I thought that this book was so good! It was a slow burn that kept me guessing throughout the entire novel - I found the characters to be complex with pretty well thought out backgrounds. I can't wait to recommend this to my friends! Get this book while it is hot!

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this eCopy to review

The Bluff was quite intriguing

The story revolves around a gripping mystery set in a seemingly idyllic town of Crest Lake on Lake Michigan, where secrets and lies are buried just beneath the surface. Traymore does an excellent job of building suspense and creating a sense of unease that kept me hooked from the beginning.

Kate, finds herself living in a house precariously positioned on the edge of a crumbling bluff and is on the committee to choose how to protect the bluff. The town’s serene and beautiful environment contrasts sharply with the underlying tension and danger posed by the eroding cliff. Who's proposal will be chosen? How far will people go to get the one they want?

The setting not only adds to the atmospheric tension but also mirrors Kate’s own precarious situation. The descriptions of the bluff, with its harsh winds and stunning views, create a vivid backdrop that enhances the suspense and drama of the narrative2.

However, I did find the pacing to be a bit slow at times. There were moments when the narrative dragged, and I felt that some sections could have been trimmed down to maintain a tighter, more engaging flow.

The character development and plot twists were well worth the wait. Traymore’s ability to weave complex characters and unexpected turns into the story kept me invested until the very end. The resolution was satisfying and tied up the loose ends nicely.

Overall, The Bluff is a compelling read for fans of mystery and suspense

Many thanks to Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Kate is still dealing with the death of her husband Ryan, he died in a fatal car accident, the police were suspicious of Kate at that time, did someone force his car off the road? She had married Ryan after a short whirlwind romance, she packed up her life in New York, spent a huge chunk of her money modernising and renovating the house he owned at Lake Michigan. Ryan had changed, no longer the romantic, now a bully and Kate suspected he was having an affair. Kate feels demoralised, with no one to turn to. Her marriage and new life is falling apart.
There is trouble in the small local community, Their home and other homes are at risk of the environment, there are several different plans suggested by the owners affected, one of the ideas is Kate’s. The owners gather for a meeting and to vote on the way forward, one of them is late, reported as missing and then dead. The circumstances are definitely fishy, the police question if this death is related to Kate’s husbands accident and death, they definitely seem connected.
This story moves at a good pace, told in a dual narrative, there are two death, marital affairs, and other secrets which are slowly revealed. 3.5 stars

The premise for The Bluff, was truly so interesting and truly gripped me. The execution although did not work it was so slow and I just think it was missing something to make it more exciting.

"The Bluff" is a riveting thriller that combines suspense, mystery, and psychological drama into a story of personal upheaval and community tension. The setting is the most captivating aspect of the novel. The novel is set against a beautiful yet dangerous crumbling bluff, something that creates tension and terror from the mere mention. There is a web of suspicion and deceit, where the protagonist is unable to trust anyone. The author building up suspense, creates a sense of unease and horror that keeps you turning the pages quite quickly. The crumbling bluff symbolizes instability and horror, a fitting metaphor for the novel.
With complex, relatable characters and a gripping writing style, "The Bluff" completely draws the reader in. This novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries alike.

Are you ready for your next thrilling adventure?? Check out The Bluff. This book was stellar and will suck you in.

This was the first story I have read from this author, but I can see a lot of potential for future novels. This story itself started off slow. There were not many twists or turns in the story, and I felt I was looking for some more chararacter development earlier in the story for our two main characters. They are likeable characters, but I felt like I wanted more from them, earlier. t is a very interesting premise, and I did enjoy the last quarter of the book a lot.

This was such a gripping read and I read it very quickly especially as the tension and pace built up to a fantastic crescendo.

I had fun reading this book. It's definitely a classic "who done it" so if that is your thing, you'll probably like this one! I enjoyed the setting of the book. I felt like it gave it a bit more creepiness and suspense. The characters, however, weren't my favorite. Some were okay to like while others just downright annoyed me. I think this book is certainly worth reading, it just wasn't mind-blowing for me! 3.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC of this novel.

A disintegrating bluff is the main plot line and leads to a classic who done it mystery. The characters have a lot of secrets and it’s a slow burn to the end. A nice twist to wrap up the story.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for sending this ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advanced copy of The Bluff.

Kate is still dealing with the fallout of her husband’s death a year ago when her neighbor goes missing and is soon found dead. Six years prior Kate meets her husband Ryan and it is a whirlwind romance. He shows her a home he purchased on Lake Michigan that he thinks they should renovate and build their life together in. Kate agrees to leave New York behind and try something new! As the years go by Kate realizes she made a mistake giving up everything she knows especially when the community they live in is fighting over how to deal with ground issues threatening their homes and their safety. Then people on the committee start receiving threats and Kate constantly feels like she is being watched. Then when she is questioned about her missing neighbor the police wonder if she had a hand in his murder because they believe she is not being truthful about her husband’s death. Kate definitely has secrets about her husband but they are not what the police think. Are the deaths connected? Can Kate clear her name?

I enjoyed this book. It is told from a dual point of view which I liked and I also enjoyed the writing style. There are just things I wish we as readers would have gotten answers about. But I did not see some of the twists coming!

Here is my confession…

“The Bluff” has a very compelling premise, but needed some work to be a better read.

This is more of a mystery, than full blown thriller.

The characters, their motivations, and their actions, needed more ‘fleshing’ out. As a reader, I was left with an incomplete feeling, not satisfied, period. I will also say, the ending was empty too. The whole story was piece mill, and didn’t come together in an engaging and gripping way.

I will say, the costal setting was terrific. The highlight, for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a lot different than I was expecting. I was hoping for a quiet, spooky mystery but it was more of a small town legal thriller, in my opinion. I felt like in a pursuit to ratchet up tension that it took itself too seriously and I just couldn't really stay focused on it. I needed something juicier.

This was a really good thriller with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. It took a little while for me to get hooked so I'd call it more of a slow burn but still super enjoyable. The characters were likeable and I was rooting for Kate the whole way. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

An interesting dual narrative, The Bluff (2024) by Bonnie Traymore features the police detective investigating a suspicious death and the wife assumed to be responsible. Kate Breslow and her husband Ryan moved to the shore of Lake Michigan and their cliff-top house, which is at risk due to coastal erosion. The local council must decide between two different options for restoration works for the crumbling bluff. Yet, the death of Ryan in a car accident and then the disappearance of the neighbour pushing for the alternative repair option, sets off a chain of events in this suspense thriller. As tensions arise over the competing stabilisation plans, suspicious deaths, romantic affairs and other secrets are revealed. There is also the activity of a local environment group, who want no action taken to stabilise the crumbling cliff face. An enjoyable standalone crime mystery tale with a brooding atmosphere and dubious characters makes for a three stars read rating. With thanks to BooksGoSocial and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.