Bluff

A down-on-her-luck female magician is drawn into a dangerous criminal scheme in this "hopelessly addictive" thriller (Megan Abbott, Edgar Award-winning author of Give Me Your Hand). At twenty-seven, magician Natalie Webb is already a has-been. A card-trick prodigy, she took first place at the World of Magic competition at eighteen and has never again reached such heights. Now she lives alone in a New Jersey apartment with her pigeons and a pile of overdue bills. In a desperate ploy for extra cash, she follows up on an old offer to write for a glossy magazine and pitches the editor a seductive topic: the art of cheating at cards. But when Natalie meets the perfect subject for her piece--a poker cheat who dazzles at sleight of hand--what begins as a journalistic gamble soon leads her into a dangerous proposition with the highest of stakes . . . "Truly gasp-worthy." --Library Journal, starred review "[A] delightfully surprising thriller." --The Florida Times-Union "If you haven't read Kardos yet, Bluff is the perfect place to start!" --Lisa Scottoline, New York Times-bestselling author of Someone Knows

About the Author :
Michael Kardos is the author of the story collection One Last Good Time. His short stories have appeared in The Southern Review, Crazyhorse, Prairie Schooner, Blackbird, Pleiades, Prism International, and many other magazines and anthologies, and were cited as notable stories in the 2009 and 2010 editions of Best American Short Stories. He lives in Starkville, Mississippi, where he co-directs the creative writing program at Mississippi State University and edits the literary journal Jabberwock Review.

Review :
Advance Praise for Bluff "As lithe and cunning as its characters, Michael Kardos's Bluff is a masterly exercise in narrative sleight of hand. This is suspense in its purest form--character-driven, immersive and hopelessly addictive. Prepare to be taken."--Megan Abbott, Edgar Award-winning author of You Will Know Me "Michael Kardos is a master at ratcheting up the suspense, and Bluff combines poker, a brilliant con game, and two terrific women who run the show. If you haven't read Kardos yet, Bluff is the perfect place to start!"--Lisa Scottoline, bestselling author of Exposed "Terrific writing, great characters, an insider's knowledge, and a killer plot with a leg-breaker of a twist. What are you waiting for? Buy this book."--Peter Blauner, author of Proving Ground and Slow Motion Riot Praise for Michael Kardos: "Original. . . a carefully calibrated study of how even the most highly evolved members of our species can become feral under pressure."--New York Times Book Review, on The Three-Day Affair "Brilliant. Before He Finds Her is one of the most innovative and compelling thrillers to come along in recent years. Read the first page and kiss the next 24 hours goodbye. Bravo!"--Jeffery Deaver, on Before He Finds Her "Kardos delivers another outstanding crime thriller . . . Sophisticated characterizations enhance the intricately constructed story line."--Publishers Weekly (starred review), on Before He Finds Her "A gripping literary thriller."--Columbus Dispatch, on Before He Finds Her "The Three-Day Affair never stops roaring, the pages blurring by, dangerously accelerating."--Esquire, on The Three-Day Affair "Utterly compelling, innovative and packed with beautifully drawn characters, Michael Kardos' second thriller propels him into the front rank of contemporary American thriller writers."--Independent (Ireland), on Before He Finds Her "A wonderful piece of literary suspense craftsmanship. Line by line, Michael Kardos dazzles with prose strength and style . . . A fascinating character study and engaging thriller."--Michael Koryta, on The Three-Day Affair Advance Praise for Bluff "Michael Kardos is a master at ratcheting up the suspense, and Bluff combines poker, a brilliant con game, and two terrific women who run the show. If you haven't read Kardos yet, Bluff is the perfect place to start!"--Lisa Scottoline, bestselling author of Exposed "Terrific writing, great characters, an insider's knowledge, and a killer plot with a leg-breaker of a twist. What are you waiting for? Buy this book."--Peter Blauner, author of Proving Ground and Slow Motion Riot Praise for Michael Kardos: "Original. . . a carefully calibrated study of how even the most highly evolved members of our species can become feral under pressure."--New York Times Book Review, on The Three-Day Affair "Brilliant. Before He Finds Her is one of the most innovative and compelling thrillers to come along in recent years. Read the first page and kiss the next 24 hours goodbye. Bravo!"--Jeffery Deaver, on Before He Finds Her "Kardos delivers another outstanding crime thriller . . . Sophisticated characterizations enhance the intricately constructed story line."--Publishers Weekly (starred review), on Before He Finds Her "A gripping literary thriller."--Columbus Dispatch, on Before He Finds Her "The Three-Day Affair never stops roaring, the pages blurring by, dangerously accelerating."--Esquire, on The Three-Day Affair "Utterly compelling, innovative and packed with beautifully drawn characters, Michael Kardos' second thriller propels him into the front rank of contemporary American thriller writers."--Independent (Ireland), on Before He Finds Her "A wonderful piece of literary suspense craftsmanship. Line by line, Michael Kardos dazzles with prose strength and style . . . A fascinating character study and engaging thriller."--Michael Koryta, on The Three-Day Affair Praise for Michael Kardos: "Original. . . a carefully calibrated study of how even the most highly evolved members of our species can become feral under pressure."--New York Times Book Review, on The Three-Day Affair "Brilliant. Before He Finds Her is one of the most innovative and compelling thrillers to come along in recent years. Read the first page and kiss the next 24 hours goodbye. Bravo!"--Jeffery Deaver, on Before He Finds Her "Kardos delivers another outstanding crime thriller . . . Sophisticated characterizations enhance the intricately constructed story line."--Publishers Weekly (starred review), on Before He Finds Her "A gripping literary thriller."--Columbus Dispatch, on Before He Finds Her "The Three-Day Affair never stops roaring, the pages blurring by, dangerously accelerating."--Esquire, on The Three-Day Affair "Utterly compelling, innovative and packed with beautifully drawn characters, Michael Kardos' second thriller propels him into the front rank of contemporary American thriller writers."--Independent (Ireland), on Before He Finds Her "A wonderful piece of literary suspense craftsmanship. Line by line, Michael Kardos dazzles with prose strength and style . . . A fascinating character study and engaging thriller."--Michael Koryta, on The Three-Day Affair