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Saturday, January 16, 2021

Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock, The Stolen Child by Alex Coombs, No Way Out by Fern Michaels, and a Reminder about Kelley Armstrong's A Stranger in Town


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


Publishers Weekly Top 10 Mysteries for Spring 2019

"Driven by the heart-pounding suspense of a high-stakes poker game, Bluff is a vivid, compelling novel about deceit, seduction, and delicious revenge that will keep you spellbound and cheering as you turn the last page." -Susan Cheever, New York Times bestselling author


Bluff is a mix of comedy of manners and revenge tale with an older society woman who plays badass poker!  It was fun and unpredictable as the reader is led along through a murder, escape, and many surprises.  Thanks to Cathy for this recommendation, I really enjoyed it!

Poisoned Pen Press                                                                                Mystery/Revenge.  2020.  Print length:  320 pages.


The Stolen Child.  DCI Hanlon #1  

Although I liked the characters and some elements of this one, the subject matter was depressing.  There weren't any graphic descriptions and yet....  

A good crime thriller, but you may want to consider that it is a dark look at evil and pedophiles.  

I will give the author another try and hope the subject matter doesn't distress me.

NetGalley/Boldwood Books      

                     

Crime/Police Procedural.  2021.  Print length:  302 pages.

I've never read Fern Michaels before, but I'd classify No Way Out as a cozy.  It started out very interesting with a young woman who never left her house. I wanted to know why and what she was afraid of.

A second thread involves a case of domestic abuse in the neighborhood.

What could have been a really suspenseful read turned into a "everything works out in the end"  sort of book.  That's fine, but building so much suspense and curiosity and then having half the characters reform completely--makes the original suspense feel false.

I didn't hate it, but it isn't really a genre I enjoy; however, it should appeal to those who are already fans of Fern Michaels.

NetGalley/Kensington Books

Cozy.  March 30, 2021.  Print length:  322 pages.


Although, I actually reviewed this months ago, this is just a reminder that A Stranger in Town by Kelley Armstrong will be published Feb. 2.  Reviewed in October.  

What else can I say--I like this series. :)



16 comments:

  1. I still have to read Armstrong's Watcher in the Woods and Alone in the Wild, but I have the 4th one checked out right now and am on track to get both finished before her new one comes out. I hope. I know...I'm always running a little behind on these series. ;D

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    1. :) We're always behind somewhere! I'm caught up with this series, but behind in many more!

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  2. Oh I remember I read a Jane Stanton Hitchcock book many years ago. I know I liked it but you know how it goes, now I can't remember anything about it. And, although the Alex Coombs sound very intense I'm curious about it - probably because it's set in the UK, right?

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    1. I enjoyed Bluff; bluffs are certainly part of poker and life!

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  3. Bluff sounds like a delight! I am adding that one to my wish list. I haven't read Fern Michaels before but think I may have one of her books on my TBR pile.

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    1. Bluff was fun, and I really liked that it didn't need to focus on youth or beauty to provide a great mystery/crime novel!

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  4. I really like the sounds of Bluff, and the MC, of an older society woman playing badass poker!!

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    1. It was a tricky book :) I enjoyed the way it developed!

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  5. I am so glad you enjoyed Bluff! Were you aware that Hitchcock actually experienced part of her plot?

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    1. I wasn't aware when I was reading it, but I did see later that there were some personal elements! It was a fun book and kept me either smiling or waiting for the next twist. :)

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  6. Bluff sounds good to me. I'll have to check out this book. And I need to catch up on that series by Kelley Armstrong!

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    1. Bluff was good! Kelley Armstrong's latest also prepares us for some changes, and I'm eager to see what they will be. :)

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  7. I've never been a fan of the cozy genre, but I couldn't explain even to my own satisfaction why that was. You nailed it in your review of the Fern Michaels book. That's why.

    Bluff sounds really good; I like the sound of that badass poker player elder.

    And...that teeshirt makes me nostalgic in so many ways. I am grieving every day lost to not being able to get on the road for an extended wandering around trip. The second we get the all-clear, I'm out of here.

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    1. Bluff was good! And Sam, I bet you are ready to hear some blue grass in person :)

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  8. Bluff sounds so good! An older society woman who plays poker sounds like so much fun to read about. :)

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    1. Maude is quite the character; she walks into the Four Seasons and shoots and kills a man. After that events keep changing--and poker strategy is part of the plot. :)

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