Bluff takes us deep inside the fraught and fascinating world of a modern magician who becomes obsessed with magic's dark twin--the underworld of the card cheat.
Bluff begins as a noirish character piece, and the magic angle is very interesting. The story is held together by Webb, an intriguing and sympathetic protagonist with enough back-story to ensure her decisions carry an emotional weight. The introduction of Ellen changes the book into a heist thriller, but Webb’s first person narration keeps the tone the same throughout, and the change of pace is not at all jarring ... The magic is elevated by something unexpected, something extraordinary. I’m not going to spoil for you Kardos’ final twist, but be assured it elevates a good book in to an excellent one.
In the tantalizing new thriller Bluff, Michael Kardos reveals himself to be a master at dealing from the middle of the deck. More than once, you're sure of the fate of Natalie, a 27-year-old magician who has run out of luck, inspiration and money. But then Kardos fools you with his smooth shell game ... Bluff doesn't miss a trick.
Natalie is a sharp-witted survivor with a relatable self-sabotaging streak whose move into the dark world of card cheats climaxes with a spin worthy of the most adept con artists.
