Bluff

By: Michael Kardos

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

At 27, magician Natalie Webb is already a has-been. A card-trick prodigy, she started touring at 17, took first place at the World of Magic competition at 18, and never reached such heights again. Shunned by the magic world after a disastrous liaison with an older magician, she now lives alone with her pigeons and a pile of overdue bills in a New Jersey apartment. In a desperate ploy to make extra cash, she follows up on an old offer to write a feature magazine article - on the art of cheating at cards.

But when she meets the perfect subject for her article, what begins as a journalistic gamble brings into question everything Natalie thinks she knows about her talent, and herself. Natalie is dazzled by the poker cheat's sleight of hand and soon finds herself facing a proposition that could radically alter her fortune - to help pull off a $1.5 million magic trick that, if done successfully, no one will ever even suspect happened.

With Kardos raising the stakes chapter after chapter, Bluff is a breathtaking work of suspense from a writer at the top of his game.

©2018 Michael Kardos (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

No Bluff -- This Book Was Outstanding!

Julia Whelan is one of my favorite narrators and, quite frankly, I could listen to her read the phonebook. And when Julia Whelan reads a book with an incredible plot and superb character development........the book is always impossible to put down. A case in point: I listened to this book in one day.. If I could give it 10 stars, I would do so.

In the beginning, this book seemed like it was a combo of "Molly's Game"( a true story about a woman who made many wrong moves while organizing/hosting poker games) and "The Magician's Lie" (a fictional account about a magician who kills her husband while performing). After the first few chapters, however, it was evident that this book wasn't anything like those two books and really took on a storyline of its own.

I am unable to comment on my favorite parts of this book because I do not want to reveal any spoilers.

I just listened to 4 dud books, so it was very refreshing to listen to a book that was truly extraordinary. I have read two other Michael Kardos books and this was definitely his best one yet.

I highly recommend this book.

Fast and Furious Tale

Great character, one I'd love to read more of. Writing captures the imagination. And the subject matter, magic always makes for a great mystery

Not bad

I know that’s not a catchy review title - But it wasn’t great and it wasn’t terrible.

I think there is a lot that was left on the table at the end. It could still go very bad if the jilted party went to anyone and said anything. That’s as close as I can come without giving anything away. I’m just saying that in the same situation - I wouldn’t just give up like her partner seemingly does.

Anyway - It’s still not bad

Good listen, but falls short of great

This book has an unusual premise, a different plot with some unexpected twists, and some intriguing characters. Interestingly, it falls short because both the author and narrator overplay the hand, trying too hard to build drama and tension instead of just letting the basic story do the work.

Kinda bounced...

between.. not so interested to fascination. Overall
worth it. Especially if magic and gambling interest you.