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The Bluff
By Joanna Jenkins
Published by Allen & Unwin
ISBN 9781761470646
At first when I read the title, The Bluff I thought the book might be something to do with gambling. I soon discovered this is a rural thriller based in the fictitious country town of Myddle, New South Wales, Australia.
It begins with a young girl, Bea Baulderstone, who appears to be making her escape from a house on a farm. Next we meet ex-big city lawyer Ruth Dawson who is taking a break, filing in for a friend in the office of the local solicitor in Myddle.
Ruth receives a visit from Victoria s mother who wants to report a missing person, her daughter, as the police don't seem concerned. Ruth says she will talk to the police and see if that helps.
Sometime later, the news, that a murder has been committed, hits the town we are transported to a flashback of six months and where the crux of the story forms.
This is a gripping story with many twists and turns, including on a cattle breeding farm, whose owners are in a rocky marriage, a retired solicitor and his yoga-teacher wife and a racist, lecherous, beer-swilling police constable. Quite an interesting mix of characters.
Despite the considerable profanity and some rather unpleasant sexual activity in this novel, I found it difficult to put it down. It is a page turner that just keeps on entertaining.
This whodunnit will keep you on tenterhooks until the very end and readers are likely to fall in love with the characters - well, most of them.
Joanna Jenkins writing is cleverly planned to keep the reader’s interest and it is well written although it is disappointing to note that there a few American English words that have crept in, particularly irksome reading the word “dove” instead of the correct past tense, dived.
The author is a retired solicitor who grew up on a farm in Queensland and through her life experiences she has given The Bluff, her second novel an air of compelling authenticity.
Reviewed by Ken.
The Author
Joanna Jenkins grew up on a small farm in country Queensland. After graduating from the University of Queensland with degrees in English Literature and Law, she practised as a solicitor, including for many years as a partner of an international law firm. She now writes full-time. Married with three sons, Joanna lives in Brisbane. Her debut novel,
How to Kill a Client, was published in 2023.
The Bluff
is her second novel.
This is an independent review, I am not paid by the book publishers, so.If you Liked this review - please Buy me a coffee
