The Bluff

A Thriller

By: Bonnie Traymore

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

“What do you have to lose, Kate?” Ryan asked me, as we stood on the bluff looking out on Lake Michigan.

Turns out, almost everything.

When I first moved from Manhattan to this small town six years ago, I worried about many things. I worried about finding a job. I worried that I’d be bored. I worried that my relationship with charming photographer Ryan Breslow was moving too fast. But I never worried about whether the ground beneath my feet would crumble—both literally and figuratively.

My marriage didn’t go as I’d imagined. A year ago, Ryan met his untimely death in a car accident that’s still under investigation. Isolated and alone, all I wanted was to sell my home and leave Crest Lake and its painful memories behind. But with my home inching ever closer to the edge of the crumbling bluff, the property has become unmarketable. All of us on the lakefront have lost chunks of property, and tempers are at a boiling point about what to do next.

And now, on the evening of a contentious vote about how to fix this pressing issue, my nemesis on the shoreline committee has been murdered. I know how it looks, but it’s not what it seems. But I have to get my plan passed and cash out.

Because I do have secrets.

And they won’t stay buried forever.

©2024 Bonnie Traymore (P)2024 Bonnie Traymore

Critic reviews

"Gripping and full of surprises, THE BLUFF is a clever psychological suspense with layered characters and an atmospheric setting. Traymore masterfully ratchets up the tension little-by-little until the surprising, explosive end."—Tracey Devlyn, USA Today bestselling author

good story.

Terrible narrator! I kept changing the speed hoping her sing song voice might change. No such luck. It was so hard finishing this book.

Could have had better narration

Story OK but narrator did not convey emotions well and her sing song cadence was annoying

Mesmerizing Mystery with Unexpected Twists

The bluff on Lake Michigan is eroding quickly leaving some homeowners in desperate straits and fear of their homes sliding off into the lake. Kate Breslow just wants to leave, but to do so she must first convince the town council to accept her very expensive solution. Kate’s problem is anyone who opposes her solution winds up dead….

The author, Bonnie Traymore, is highly skilled at crafting spine-chilling, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, she weaves layered mysteries filled with action, secrets, and well-developed characters. Her meticulous attention to detail keeps the narrative riveting and the audience engaged. Her use of dialogue propels the story at a steady pace, while her unexpected, well-timed plot twists heighten the suspense.

The narrator, Meghan Kelly, delivers a riveting performance, creating distinct voices that capture each character's essence and energy. Her subtle intonations and well-timed pauses heighten the suspense, while her clear speech and precise emotional projection captivate the audience. Every book she performs is an engaging and delightful experience!

This was a captivating audiobook that I listened to in one sitting as the suspense prevented me from shutting it off.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Riveting, Suspenseful and Masterfully Plotted!

The Bluff is crumbling … If it collapses into the sea, several homes will go with it. It seems everyone on the shoreline committee has a different plan to “fix” the problem and someone’s determined to insure that Kate Breslow’s plan NEVER sees the light of day… Riveting, suspenseful and masterfully plotted, “The Bluff” kept me guessing long into the night! I loved the realistic interplay between the characters! Being from a small town with “complicated” politics, this plot AND these characters rang one hundred percent true and one hundred percent authentic! I could actually “see” real people in a few of the “locals” as I listened, … I have lunch at same the local eatery as they every day! Brought to life by astounding, emotive, clear, concise and consistent narration, I was thoroughly in the moment, RIVETED, from the opening lines of this brilliantly plotted thriller, to the stunning, heart stopping conclusion! Five fantastically fabulous stars! Oh how I wish I could give so many more! “The Bluff” was truly AMAZING and I loved every second!

Good!

I’ve never read anything by this author before, but after reading The Bluff, I believe I’ll pick up more from her. The beginning felt a little a bit convoluted, but it pulled together after a couple of chapters and seemed to flow much more smoothly. I think the plot was original, and I really did enjoy the way it played out. I liked the conclusions for most of the characters quite a bit.

The narration was good, though I did need to speed it up to more of a conversational speed than the standard 1.5 I usually listen at (I upped it to 1.7, which seemed perfect). The narrator did a good job at altering her voice and inflections for the different characters. I never had to wonder which character’s POV I was listening to.

I do think there was a small issue with splicing the audio towards the beginning - one brief section was jarring, and not the fault of the narrator - but the rest was good.

I look forward to seeing more from both the author and the narrator!