“An irresistible social noir.” —New York Times bestselling author Linda FairsteinThere has never been a better time for revenge.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 walks out again, a man will have been shot.Maud has grown accustomed to being underestimated and … has grown accustomed to being underestimated and invisible, and she uses her ability to fly under the radar as she pursues celebrity accountant Burt Sklar, the man she believes stole her mother’s fortune and left her family in ruins. Her fervent passion for poker has taught Maud that she can turn weakness into strength to take advantage of people who think they are taking advantage of her, and now she has dealt the first card in her high-stakes plan for revenge.
One unexpected twist after another follows as Maud plays 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?
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I don’t remember where I heard about this book, but I am SO glad I did.
It totally rocks!
If you have ever been underestimated because of being a woman, or older, or (heaven forbid!) both, this is the story for you.
Very cleverly plotted with great characters (both the “good” guys and the “bad” guys).
The reader is gradually allowed to see the author’s hand, card by card.
And it’s a doozy.
I love Maud Warner !!
From the opening the scene where she shoots a well known person in the middle of a restaurant to the last page , I was cheering Maud on !
You go girl !!!!
Bluff is a poker term of course and Maud is one of the best at poker !
You laugh with her, you cross your fingers for Maud and hope for the best !
I don’t want to give anything way, though its tempting but what a great read !
I need to have more of Maud in my personality !
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, dropping the gun 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!
Bluff starts off with a bang, literally. Because Maud, or Mad Maud as they call her, has shot Sun Sutherland while he was dining at The Four Seasons. What continues is an unfolding of the people connected to Sun and subsequently, his best friend Burt Sklar, who was Maud’s intended target.
Bluff is told through various pieces of information, not just Maud’s point of view, by Sun’s wife Jean, and Sklar and the stripper he’s chasing after. Maud is a very strong character, she’s smart, so much smarter than people give her credit for. I found myself cheering her on.
Sklar was such a sleazy character and I felt he was written so well. From scamming Maud’s mother out of money to cozying up to Sun, everything he does is with an ulterior motive, he’s a social climber who is always looking for the next easy paycheck.
I loved that the book centered around poker and the various aspects of playing it, hence the title, Bluff. Anyone who plays knows the cunning and skill involved is impressive. I think it will make a fan of non-players. As I’m writing this review, I find myself coming back to Maud again. She was such a fun character and I found myself surprised by her. I think because she lived so long as the outcast in society, people seriously underestimated her, and that label of Mad Maud allowed her to focus on getting what she wants.
The writing style is very unique and engaging because you find yourself racing through each chapter, anxious to piece it all together. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the author throws you a twist. It’s a fun and witty read, the characters are so well-written and you find yourself cheering Maud on. I loved the camaraderie among the woman, as it’s nice to see strong women in a book. Jane Stanton Hitchcock has a new fan!