Bluff

By: Jane Stanton Hitchcock

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Winner of the 2019 Dashiell Hammett Prize for Literary Excellence in Crime Writing! 

One-time socialite Maud Warner polishes up the rags of her once-glittering existence and bluffs her way into a signature New York restaurant on a sunny October day. When she shoots Sun Sunderland, the "Pope of Finance", as he lunches with "accountant to the stars" Burt Sklar - the man she's accused for years of stealing her mother's fortune and leaving her family in ruins - she deals the first card in her high-stakes plan for revenge. 

Maud has grown accustomed to being underestimated and invisible, and uses it. Her fervent passion for poker has taught her that she can turn weakness into strength to take advantage of people who think they are taking advantage of her. It's uncanny how she reads them. 

Her intimates in New York high society believe that "Mad Maud" accidentally missed Sklar, her real target. But nothing is as it first appears as she weathers the unexpected while following her script. And while Maud is on the run, the dark secrets of men who believe their money and power place them above the law will be exposed. Betrayal, larceny, greed, sexual battery, and murder lurk beneath the surface of their glittering lives. 

One unexpected twist after another follows as we watch a fierce, unapologetic Maud play the most important poker hand of her life. The stakes? To take down her enemies and get justice for their victims. Her success depends on her continuing ability to bluff. And on who will fold. 

Can she win?

©2019 Jane Stanton Hitchcock (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Outstanding thriller re injustice and social intrigue

This is an excellent book! I have read all of Ms. Hitchcock’s books and this one is another outstanding thriller with many social dynamics and inside jokes. I loved it and already and sad it is over.

One of the best revenge stories ever!!!!

I challenge you to figure out what's REALLY going on. Two human beings (the author being one) on planet Earth could NEVER think this up. It could only be thought up once. Had me actually gasping out loud when the auther let me get it. LOVED this book.

Glad this author has written another!

I am a Jane Stanton Hitchcock fan. Her books (including this one) usually involve a crime committed in the world of high society. The focus is on the players, and not action. Her all time best, in my opinion, was Social Crimes, also available on Audible. Bluff does not deliver the clever plot of Social Crimes, but is nevertheless fun. Lovely to read another selection by this author.

Finally, A New Book By My Favorite Author!

First let me say that Jane Stanton Hitchcock's book Social Crimes is my favorite fiction book of all time, and has been for many years. That book has a sequel, One Dangerous Lady, which I adore because many sequels don't have quite the same tone or the author hasn't recaptured the characters previous personalities right-- but that one did. Her previous books Mortal Friends, Trick Of The Eye and The Witches Hammer are amazing as well.

Bluff is another book along the lines of her previous titles-- completely unwitting victim with demons who is forced to decide to outwit and kill/hurt their tormentor using trickery. I was surprised how short it was, but the story gets told efficiently and a lot of the time you are left guessing about what happened and is about to happen. I found it a little harder to connect with the main character, Maude, compared to her previous books, but still thoroughly enjoyed the book.

If you are a Jane Stanton Hitchcock fan and are very familiar with her previous works as I am, you will catch all the little nods to phrases and even characters/places from previous books. Such as a Mrs. Meers coming forward from Oklahoma, King Arthur's strip club, "paranoids are the only ones who notice anything nowadays", "tell me what you criticize and I'll tell you who you are," Marie Antoinette references, etc.

Obviously recommended!

SO SO GOOD!!

This book was so good when it was over. I started the book all over again, and enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first time.

Very original

What a plot and I loved how the whole story came together at the end. A great getting even story!

Clever story with outstanding narration

The author kept me guessing throughout the story after subtly drawing me into the main character's world and her need for revenge. I've added Jane Stanton Hitchcock to my favorite authors list! The narration by Lisa Flangan was excellent, and has me looking for more by her.

Loved it!

Great weaving of characters with several fun twists. Loved the poker references, they made the story edgier & more interesting.

Really good!

This book was suspenseful, clever, interesting, and unexpected. I never recommend a book but I’m recommending this one!

!!!!

One of the most amazingly satisfying books I have read so far! You will not be disappointed!