Bluff by Michael Kardos
Serena, Grade 12
Rating: 4/5
‘Bluff’ by Michael Kardos is about Natalie Webb, a magician in her late twenties. She was once known by many, but now, she is struggling to pay her bills and she is feeling the loneliness of her small apartment in New Jersey. At a gig one night, Natalie makes a big mistake that could end up costing her a fortune. Unsure of how she will pay for everything, Natalie considers every possible option. She remembers an offer she received a while back about writing an article for a famous magazine, and she has the perfect idea for it. She wants to write all about card cheats. It would not only pay for her mistake, but she had a chance to be a well-known magician again.
Natalie observes a game with a cheat that she is told is one of the best, but when he does not meet her expectations, her attention turns to someone else-- Ellen. Unlike the first cheat, Ellen’s moves are flawless and are almost impossible to catch, but Natalie sees them. Natalie is disappointed when Ellen declines the offer to be the subject of her article, but Ellen has something else in mind. She wants to partner up with Natalie for a huge poker game that she guarantees they can win, if they cheat, of course. Eventually, Natalie gives up on her article and agrees, partly due to a dark and unfortunate connection with the person who would be hosting the game. Ellen and Natalie train together endlessly up until the game. The game where they could walk away with 1.5 million dollars.
I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone interested in magic and cards, but also for those who like mystery and suspense. I felt that the plot was moving somewhat slowly at first, but towards the end, everything started moving so fast, and I think it added more to the twist. It was something I could never have expected, and kept me thinking about it even after it was over!