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The Bluff
From the bestselling author of How to Kill a Client comes a page-turning rural thriller of loyalties and lies, murder and greed.
People like Dash didn't die. He was only what? Mid-thirties? Well off. Adored. By some anyway. World at his feet. Well, Myddle at his feet, which was his world.
Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months for an old mate in Myddle. How hard can it be? she thinks. Turns out, very hard.
So when Ruth hears the front door of her office open, she's expecting a weird demand, or a question she doesn't know the answer to ... but it's Bea Baulderstone's mum, worried that she hasn't seen her seventeen-year-old daughter for five days, and Constable Gazza Parker is refusing to report the girl missing. Easily fixed, thinks Ruth, and heads off down Myddle's main street to charm Gazza into action.
But Victoria Baulderstone was Gazza doesn't care. That is until Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea's whereabouts.
And it's not just Bea who can't be found. Dash's wife Evie is AWOL too.
Then Troy, Evie's protégé and Bea's only friend, also smoke-bombs.
An unputdownable thriller of deception and greed, The Bluff reveals an enmeshed web of family and community loyalties, set in the lush rural hinterland of east coast Australia.
People like Dash didn't die. He was only what? Mid-thirties? Well off. Adored. By some anyway. World at his feet. Well, Myddle at his feet, which was his world.
Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months for an old mate in Myddle. How hard can it be? she thinks. Turns out, very hard.
So when Ruth hears the front door of her office open, she's expecting a weird demand, or a question she doesn't know the answer to ... but it's Bea Baulderstone's mum, worried that she hasn't seen her seventeen-year-old daughter for five days, and Constable Gazza Parker is refusing to report the girl missing. Easily fixed, thinks Ruth, and heads off down Myddle's main street to charm Gazza into action.
But Victoria Baulderstone was Gazza doesn't care. That is until Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea's whereabouts.
And it's not just Bea who can't be found. Dash's wife Evie is AWOL too.
Then Troy, Evie's protégé and Bea's only friend, also smoke-bombs.
An unputdownable thriller of deception and greed, The Bluff reveals an enmeshed web of family and community loyalties, set in the lush rural hinterland of east coast Australia.
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Published March 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 24, 2025
I loved MS Jenkins debut and I loved her second book just as much, this one had me captured from page one, I really liked Ruth in the first book and again in this one, such a different setting for her but she throws herself into what she does feet first and with much enthusiasm, this one kept me up very late last night, there was no way I was putting it down till I got the answers to who and why.
Ruth Dawson visits her old mentor and boss Roscoe at his new home in the country town of Myddle, the local lawyer happens to be an old friend of Ruth’s and when he asks her to look after his practice for six months Ruth decides to give it a go, maybe a short stay in the country will be good for her but then maybe not.
It all starts when Victoria Baulderstone arrives on her doorstep her first day to say that her seventeen year old daughter Bea is missing and the policeman Gazza Parker refuses to do anything about it, Ruth decides to do what she can but she is shocked about all that she uncovers as she does her best to find Bea.
Then one of the very popular locals, Dash is found dead out the front of his property with a gunshot wound, now it seems Gazza is concerned about Bea’s disappearance and is doing his best to pin the murder on a young indigenous boy Troy, who Ruth has taken under her wing, Dash’s wife Evie cannot be found and Ruth is determined to keep Troy safe and find Bea and get the answers she wants and of course uncover who and why Dash was murdered.
Ruth uncovers so much with her investigation, and it seems that it concerns a piece of land known as the Bluff which is on Evie and Dash’s property but is that all? She also uncovers racism, sexual assault and so much more and Ruth will get the answers.
This is one that I highly recommend, it was not putdownable, Ruth is the best at what she does I love her wit and understanding and her conversations with her son Jack, there are so many great characters in this small town and the twist at the end, very interesting. Huge congrats to MS Jenkins for another keeper.
My thanks to Netgalley and Allen& Unwin Au for my digital copy to read and review.
Ruth Dawson visits her old mentor and boss Roscoe at his new home in the country town of Myddle, the local lawyer happens to be an old friend of Ruth’s and when he asks her to look after his practice for six months Ruth decides to give it a go, maybe a short stay in the country will be good for her but then maybe not.
It all starts when Victoria Baulderstone arrives on her doorstep her first day to say that her seventeen year old daughter Bea is missing and the policeman Gazza Parker refuses to do anything about it, Ruth decides to do what she can but she is shocked about all that she uncovers as she does her best to find Bea.
Then one of the very popular locals, Dash is found dead out the front of his property with a gunshot wound, now it seems Gazza is concerned about Bea’s disappearance and is doing his best to pin the murder on a young indigenous boy Troy, who Ruth has taken under her wing, Dash’s wife Evie cannot be found and Ruth is determined to keep Troy safe and find Bea and get the answers she wants and of course uncover who and why Dash was murdered.
Ruth uncovers so much with her investigation, and it seems that it concerns a piece of land known as the Bluff which is on Evie and Dash’s property but is that all? She also uncovers racism, sexual assault and so much more and Ruth will get the answers.
This is one that I highly recommend, it was not putdownable, Ruth is the best at what she does I love her wit and understanding and her conversations with her son Jack, there are so many great characters in this small town and the twist at the end, very interesting. Huge congrats to MS Jenkins for another keeper.
My thanks to Netgalley and Allen& Unwin Au for my digital copy to read and review.
June 22, 2025
This is one of the best small-town Aussie thrillers that I have read in a while. Expertly crafted with such engaging characters, this is a must read for my mystery loving GR friends. Utterly compelling and thrilling all the way through.
June 6, 2025
The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins
Synopsis /
People like Dash didn't die. He was only what? Mid-thirties? Well off. Adored. By some anyway. World at his feet. Well, Myddle at his feet, which was his world.
Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months for an old mate in Myddle. How hard can it be? she thinks. Turns out, very hard.
So when Ruth hears the front door of her office open, she's expecting a weird demand, or a question she doesn't know the answer to ... but it's Bea Baulderstone's mum, worried that she hasn't seen her seventeen-year-old daughter for five days, and Constable Gazza Parker is refusing to report the girl missing. Easily fixed, thinks Ruth, and heads off down Myddle's main street to charm Gazza into action.
But Victoria Baulderstone was adamant that Gazza doesn't care. That is until Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea's whereabouts.
And it's not just Bea who can't be found. Dash's wife Evie is AWOL too.
My Thoughts /
January 2023. I was lucky enough to be granted an arc of How to Kill a Client, the debut book by author, Joanna Jenkins and my 5-star review followed.
March 2025. Joanna Jenkins next novel The Bluff hits the shelves.
Co-Worker: Have you read JJs new book yet?
Ange: Gah! No, not yet, so no spoilers!!
May 2025:
Co-Worker: Ange, have you read The Bluff yet? If not, why not? What's keeping you?
Ange: Sorry!!!! I have it down for a June challenge – I've been waiting to read it. No spoilers please!!!
June 01, 2025: Starts reading.
One word review: Underwhelmed.
After the collapse of the big city legal firm, Howard Green, where she worked as a partner, lawyer Ruth Dawson went on sabbatical, struggling in the void the firm's collapse had left in her life.
It was Roscoe who first lured Ruth to Myddle – a small town in the rural hinterland of Australia's east coast. The former Chairman of Partners of Howard Green had lost his way after the firm had collapsed under his watch. When Roscoe rang and invited Ruth for Christmas, she couldn't refuse – she was concerned about his state of mind.
The book starts on 'A Wednesday night in June' – a pivotal event occurs which we are not appraised of fully – it's just a hint. The story then swings back to December, six months prior and works its way forward.
The author wastes no time in setting up both a mystery and a crime with two seemingly unrelated incidents: a missing teenager and the death of a well known farmer who’s been found dead at the entry to his farm. The majority of the book serves as a vessel for the author to establish the timeline of events leading up to disappearance of the teenager and the death of the farmer.
The chapters alternate from the point of view of several key characters. There are small town vibes throughout. Everyone knows everyone and your business is everyone's business. There's the single mother; the vegan hippie yoga teacher; the good bloke – the one who's everyone's mate; and the local cop – who, rather than upholding the law, seemed more than happy to ignore all and any infractions to the rules.
There are themes in this story which might trigger some readers: racist dialogue; the depiction of sexual assault of a minor; and animal deaths and it's fair to say that there are paragraphs in this book where the dialogue is disturbing and I wanted to close my eyes and retreat to my happy place.
Just like in the first book, Ruth Dawson is a stand-out character – self-effacing and level headed. The author gives us more information into her background, her character and her relationship with her adult son, Jack. Ruth didn't disappoint this reader, the story did. It was a small town over-hyped on steroids. Every small town cliché you could think of was written into the story and for this reader it became a little unbelievable.
While this reader found 'some' parts of The Bluff enjoyable it fails when compared with the author's debut novel.
PS: Shhh, don't tell my co-worker.
Synopsis /
People like Dash didn't die. He was only what? Mid-thirties? Well off. Adored. By some anyway. World at his feet. Well, Myddle at his feet, which was his world.
Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months for an old mate in Myddle. How hard can it be? she thinks. Turns out, very hard.
So when Ruth hears the front door of her office open, she's expecting a weird demand, or a question she doesn't know the answer to ... but it's Bea Baulderstone's mum, worried that she hasn't seen her seventeen-year-old daughter for five days, and Constable Gazza Parker is refusing to report the girl missing. Easily fixed, thinks Ruth, and heads off down Myddle's main street to charm Gazza into action.
But Victoria Baulderstone was adamant that Gazza doesn't care. That is until Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea's whereabouts.
And it's not just Bea who can't be found. Dash's wife Evie is AWOL too.
My Thoughts /
January 2023. I was lucky enough to be granted an arc of How to Kill a Client, the debut book by author, Joanna Jenkins and my 5-star review followed.
March 2025. Joanna Jenkins next novel The Bluff hits the shelves.
Co-Worker: Have you read JJs new book yet?
Ange: Gah! No, not yet, so no spoilers!!
May 2025:
Co-Worker: Ange, have you read The Bluff yet? If not, why not? What's keeping you?
Ange: Sorry!!!! I have it down for a June challenge – I've been waiting to read it. No spoilers please!!!
June 01, 2025: Starts reading.
One word review: Underwhelmed.
After the collapse of the big city legal firm, Howard Green, where she worked as a partner, lawyer Ruth Dawson went on sabbatical, struggling in the void the firm's collapse had left in her life.
It was Roscoe who first lured Ruth to Myddle – a small town in the rural hinterland of Australia's east coast. The former Chairman of Partners of Howard Green had lost his way after the firm had collapsed under his watch. When Roscoe rang and invited Ruth for Christmas, she couldn't refuse – she was concerned about his state of mind.
The book starts on 'A Wednesday night in June' – a pivotal event occurs which we are not appraised of fully – it's just a hint. The story then swings back to December, six months prior and works its way forward.
The author wastes no time in setting up both a mystery and a crime with two seemingly unrelated incidents: a missing teenager and the death of a well known farmer who’s been found dead at the entry to his farm. The majority of the book serves as a vessel for the author to establish the timeline of events leading up to disappearance of the teenager and the death of the farmer.
The chapters alternate from the point of view of several key characters. There are small town vibes throughout. Everyone knows everyone and your business is everyone's business. There's the single mother; the vegan hippie yoga teacher; the good bloke – the one who's everyone's mate; and the local cop – who, rather than upholding the law, seemed more than happy to ignore all and any infractions to the rules.
There are themes in this story which might trigger some readers: racist dialogue; the depiction of sexual assault of a minor; and animal deaths and it's fair to say that there are paragraphs in this book where the dialogue is disturbing and I wanted to close my eyes and retreat to my happy place.
Just like in the first book, Ruth Dawson is a stand-out character – self-effacing and level headed. The author gives us more information into her background, her character and her relationship with her adult son, Jack. Ruth didn't disappoint this reader, the story did. It was a small town over-hyped on steroids. Every small town cliché you could think of was written into the story and for this reader it became a little unbelievable.
While this reader found 'some' parts of The Bluff enjoyable it fails when compared with the author's debut novel.
PS: Shhh, don't tell my co-worker.
May 17, 2025
4.5 stars!
This fantastic Aussie crime fiction story captured my attention from the start and kept me guessing right to the end!
Set in the rural hinterland of east coast Australia and told through multiple perspectives.
Lawyer Ruth Dawson is taking a break from city life, by helping out her old mentor and friend Roscoe, in his small legal firm in the tight-knit community of Myddle. She expected this would be easy, until she becomes embroiled in the investigation into the disappearance of seventeen-year-old Bea, and the suspicious death of Dash, a well-known local man.
Ruth uncovers greed, discrimination, abuse, hidden loyalties and so much other turmoil in this intricately plotted tale. There are many memorable characters, and life on the land is realistically depicted.
This is another fantastic story from Australian author Joanna Jenkins!
Format: Paperback, thanks to my local library
Page count: 432 pages
This fantastic Aussie crime fiction story captured my attention from the start and kept me guessing right to the end!
Set in the rural hinterland of east coast Australia and told through multiple perspectives.
Lawyer Ruth Dawson is taking a break from city life, by helping out her old mentor and friend Roscoe, in his small legal firm in the tight-knit community of Myddle. She expected this would be easy, until she becomes embroiled in the investigation into the disappearance of seventeen-year-old Bea, and the suspicious death of Dash, a well-known local man.
Ruth uncovers greed, discrimination, abuse, hidden loyalties and so much other turmoil in this intricately plotted tale. There are many memorable characters, and life on the land is realistically depicted.
This is another fantastic story from Australian author Joanna Jenkins!
Format: Paperback, thanks to my local library
Page count: 432 pages
April 5, 2025
The Bluff is compulsively readable – I ‘just-one-more-chapter’ed my whole way through. I was impressed with how Jenkins wove in legal issues that impact small town life: inheritance, divorce, development, discrimination. Just prepare yourself for some strange character psychology, some confusion at the end, and a lot of the brutal realities of farm life.
My full review of The Bluff is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of The Bluff is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
May 4, 2025
An excellent audiobook listen that had me hooked from the start. The dynamics of all the characters, many with overlapping relationships typical of a small town, felt authentic and well conceived. Keeping track of everyone required some concentration but it was an engrossing story. There’s the good bloke, everyone’s mate who’s actually a manipulative narcissist, the wannabe wellness retreat developer spruiking spiritual awareness but harbouring other agenda, a young Koori man disillusioned by a lifetime of racism, a disgusting policeman, a well-to-do woman with mental illness and more. When city lawyer Ruth comes to fill in for the local solicitor she gets more drama than she bargained for.
February 16, 2025
Not at all what I was expecting after How to Kill a Client…I loved having Ruth as protagonist again and gosh she should be a detective…incredible bush noir, really insightful connection to land. Such a twisty turner of a crime to solve, and big themes like racism and sexual assault to think about. Out March, so fun to read an early copy thanks to Allen and Unwin
March 6, 2025
Small towns are always such great settings for crime fiction. Everyone knows everyone and their business. There can be no secrets, or can there. The bluff was my first book by Joanna Jenkins and I really need to go back and read her previous book now. This was a page turner, so many twists and turns.
I do love it when we learn quickly who our victim is, but have no idea why or whodunnit. We start with the murder of local farmer Dash on his property. Then we go back to when big city lawyer Ruth arrives in Myddle in northern NSW. Months earlier. We start to learn all about the players, the locals who make up this story. Not only has Dash been killed, but 17 year old Bea is missing.
I really found myself drawn into this story, such drama and turmoil in this small town. Not everyone is somebody that I would want to be friends with that is for sure. Another great Aussie crime book that I can certainly recommend.
Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for sending this one my way. It is out now.
I do love it when we learn quickly who our victim is, but have no idea why or whodunnit. We start with the murder of local farmer Dash on his property. Then we go back to when big city lawyer Ruth arrives in Myddle in northern NSW. Months earlier. We start to learn all about the players, the locals who make up this story. Not only has Dash been killed, but 17 year old Bea is missing.
I really found myself drawn into this story, such drama and turmoil in this small town. Not everyone is somebody that I would want to be friends with that is for sure. Another great Aussie crime book that I can certainly recommend.
Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for sending this one my way. It is out now.
March 9, 2025
Missing girl and a murder in a country town. Lawyer Ruth has moved to this town and becomes involved in the goings on. The structure of the book goes back in time to show the events that led up to the murder and also from a few different points of view. Something about it didn’t quite work for me. It’s quite slow building and definitely covers a few issues.
March 18, 2025
Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Small town intrigue stories have an eerie realism and capture the essence of impact in small communities.
Rural communities provide rich fodder for writers and this narrative has the mystery, social fragmentation and heart for the reader to indulge.
Taking a break from her city high flying legal career in the small town of Myddle wasn’t the relaxing secondment Ruth had hoped.
Requests to financially preserve a farm and a subdivision that would see a rightful allocation was the start of a rumble.
Her office was broken into when suspicions were aroused about the future.
The disappearance of a seventeen year old girl and the reluctance of the local authorities to act was baffling to her. The death of a local farmer set off a chain of events that put the town under the microscope.
A series of mishaps, debauchery and murder all become intrinsically linked.
A read that had me guessing and predicting incorrectly. Thoroughly enjoyed the farm succession element and the social implications it would and did have. A few scenes were graphic but were written so well in a plot that was executed perfectly.
Small town intrigue stories have an eerie realism and capture the essence of impact in small communities.
Rural communities provide rich fodder for writers and this narrative has the mystery, social fragmentation and heart for the reader to indulge.
Taking a break from her city high flying legal career in the small town of Myddle wasn’t the relaxing secondment Ruth had hoped.
Requests to financially preserve a farm and a subdivision that would see a rightful allocation was the start of a rumble.
Her office was broken into when suspicions were aroused about the future.
The disappearance of a seventeen year old girl and the reluctance of the local authorities to act was baffling to her. The death of a local farmer set off a chain of events that put the town under the microscope.
A series of mishaps, debauchery and murder all become intrinsically linked.
A read that had me guessing and predicting incorrectly. Thoroughly enjoyed the farm succession element and the social implications it would and did have. A few scenes were graphic but were written so well in a plot that was executed perfectly.
April 11, 2025
• Addictive thriller
• Whodunit
• Suspenseful
• Rural town setting
• Twists and turns
• Great narrator
I loved How to Kill a Client by the same author, so when my friend Cassie suggested this one to me I grabbed it on audio straight away! It did not disappoint!
• Whodunit
• Suspenseful
• Rural town setting
• Twists and turns
• Great narrator
I loved How to Kill a Client by the same author, so when my friend Cassie suggested this one to me I grabbed it on audio straight away! It did not disappoint!
July 31, 2025
Recommended by my aunt who knows the author but I actually quite enjoyed this little Aussie thriller. Fast paced, good characters and very engaging. Great for a quick thriller read.
March 7, 2025
The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins is the first book I've read by the Aussie author as I missed her 2023 book, How to Kill a Client. It looks like it's similarly themed... featuring lawyers and some rather unlikeable (and misogynistic) characters. And I really enjoyed this, racing through it - forced to keep guessing until the very end. Jenkins throws a lot of threads in here, but does it brilliantly so it's not overly complicated, but sufficiently complex to keep readers* on their toes. (*Cannot think of book-themed metaphor!)
I very much liked Ruth - our main character and one of our narrators. And she's meant to be likeable - self-effacing and pragmatic. We also get a glimpse into her character—her thinking, her sense of right and wrong AND her sense of humour—through her What's App messages to her adult son who lives in the UK. Jack plays no role here, but helps humanise Ruth and their close relationship reflects well on her.
Jenkins takes readers back and forth in time, though it's mostly the past and linear until Bea disappears and Dash is murdered. Then we jump about a little learning what transpired in the days prior to his death.
I very much enjoyed this. Jenkins's characters are strong and complex and I became invested in their lives. As for Bea's disappearance and Dash's murder... here there's a real sense of greed, idiocy and bad BAD decisions rather than evil at play.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
I very much liked Ruth - our main character and one of our narrators. And she's meant to be likeable - self-effacing and pragmatic. We also get a glimpse into her character—her thinking, her sense of right and wrong AND her sense of humour—through her What's App messages to her adult son who lives in the UK. Jack plays no role here, but helps humanise Ruth and their close relationship reflects well on her.
Jenkins takes readers back and forth in time, though it's mostly the past and linear until Bea disappears and Dash is murdered. Then we jump about a little learning what transpired in the days prior to his death.
I very much enjoyed this. Jenkins's characters are strong and complex and I became invested in their lives. As for Bea's disappearance and Dash's murder... here there's a real sense of greed, idiocy and bad BAD decisions rather than evil at play.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
June 14, 2025
3.5 stars - a pretty good time jump whodunit rural/domestic crime/legal. Audiobook could have been better with a different narrator, I was taken out of the story frequently by what I though were some odd inflections/intonation.
March 9, 2025
Well done Joanna Jenkins!! Great read I couldn’t put down until finally found out what happened. Compelling from first page to the last. Characters and complexities of small town living carried this story. Can’t wait to see what Ruth does next !!
April 29, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Only complaint the use of ‘big’ words that no one ever uses just for the sake of it.
Only complaint the use of ‘big’ words that no one ever uses just for the sake of it.
May 23, 2025
Ruth, a big city lawyer is taking an unexpected break from her role. She is going to look after one of her mate's rural law practice while he does the "death march" (aka grey nomad) travel around Australia. Ruth imagines this might be a nice break from the city while she figures out what life holds next for her. She's expecting not much to do and a slow pace.
Ruth recognises there will be challenges ahead in that she doesn't have the breadth of knowledge required of a rural law practice, but figures she can work it out with the right team behind her.
Then an addled mum, Victoria comes into the practice because her daughter has gone missing and the local police aren't taking her seriously. She is really concerned for her daughter Bea.
Then we have Evie and Dash, the perfect couple on a family farm, where all Evie wants is a baby to complete the picture. This desire is getting more and more urgent as time passes and at 38 years old, she is worried that time is really getting away from her. Time is not the only thing getting away from Evie, her husband Dash is the local larrikin who draws the eyes of all the local ladies and if only he could resist the temptation and make something of himself and do some work for a change.
All Dash can think about is converting Evie's family farm into a eco tourism wellbeing centre which would go against everything Evie and her family have built. Evie's mum dies in a nursing home and her wandering husband Dash turns up dead.
The bush telegraph is alive and well and you (the reader) are left wondering which one of the complex characters we have been introduced to have committed the crime. It could be any of them, it could be all of them, it could be some of them.
I loved the narration of this audio book and how the story is told from differing characters perspectives and from the differing timelines. This book had me guessing right to the very end. I enjoyed the ways in which the story wove all the characters together in complex and unexpected ways and feels so believable from a current day rural community. Family and community loyalties are tested, along with messaging about rural land rights and the appropriate use of rural land.
This book was very entertaining, along with educative from a range of legal perspectives as it is well researched and extremely well edited. This was an absolute pleasure to listen to. Thank you!
Ruth recognises there will be challenges ahead in that she doesn't have the breadth of knowledge required of a rural law practice, but figures she can work it out with the right team behind her.
Then an addled mum, Victoria comes into the practice because her daughter has gone missing and the local police aren't taking her seriously. She is really concerned for her daughter Bea.
Then we have Evie and Dash, the perfect couple on a family farm, where all Evie wants is a baby to complete the picture. This desire is getting more and more urgent as time passes and at 38 years old, she is worried that time is really getting away from her. Time is not the only thing getting away from Evie, her husband Dash is the local larrikin who draws the eyes of all the local ladies and if only he could resist the temptation and make something of himself and do some work for a change.
All Dash can think about is converting Evie's family farm into a eco tourism wellbeing centre which would go against everything Evie and her family have built. Evie's mum dies in a nursing home and her wandering husband Dash turns up dead.
The bush telegraph is alive and well and you (the reader) are left wondering which one of the complex characters we have been introduced to have committed the crime. It could be any of them, it could be all of them, it could be some of them.
I loved the narration of this audio book and how the story is told from differing characters perspectives and from the differing timelines. This book had me guessing right to the very end. I enjoyed the ways in which the story wove all the characters together in complex and unexpected ways and feels so believable from a current day rural community. Family and community loyalties are tested, along with messaging about rural land rights and the appropriate use of rural land.
This book was very entertaining, along with educative from a range of legal perspectives as it is well researched and extremely well edited. This was an absolute pleasure to listen to. Thank you!
February 24, 2025
Joanna Jenkins burst onto the Australian crime fiction with her lawyer-packed debut How to Kill a Client. That book had plenty to say about corporate culture, and particularly the gender politics at play at the big end of town. In the centre of the action was Ruth Dawson, a Sydney partner transferred to Brisbane. Ruth takes centre stage again in Jenkins follow up novel The Bluff, but this one is much more down the line Australian rural crime fiction.
The Bluff opens with a disappearance and a death in the rural town of Myddle. Teenager Bea Baulderstone has gone missing and despite her mother’s fears, local policeman Gazza Parker is not particularly interested in taking on the case. And not long after, local Dash Rogers is found shot dead at his farm gate. Before she gets to why, Jenkins drops back six months, to explore and reveal the complex web of relationships in the town and how city lawyer Ruth Dawson came to be running the local solicitor’s office, before eventually circling back to the crimes that opened the novel.
Beyond Ruth, Bea, Dash and Gazza, there is a large cast of characters in The Bluff, many of whom also get point of view chapters. Jenkins slowly builds a complex picture full of secrets and hidden agendas. But she also strategically withholds information in ways that as the solution comes into focus, feel a little contrived.
As with her debut novel, Jenkins in interested in more than just telling a story in The Bluff. One of the key elements of The Bluff is the town’s attitude towards its Aboriginal population. From whitewashing the violent history that followed white settlement of the area, to the treatment of young Aboriginal men by the police, Jenkins documents both institutional and casual racism that continues to persist. At the same time there is a story of conservation, development pressures and some of the hypocrisy of the wellness industry (a popular and fairly easy target these days).
Overall, The Bluff is an engaging piece of Australian rural crime fiction from Jenkins. Although it has a large cast, Ruth Dawson is a likeable central character to anchor the book around. But given the amount of rural Australian crime, The Bluff, while enjoyable, fails to stand out after the more unique and interesting setting of How to Kill A Client.
The Bluff opens with a disappearance and a death in the rural town of Myddle. Teenager Bea Baulderstone has gone missing and despite her mother’s fears, local policeman Gazza Parker is not particularly interested in taking on the case. And not long after, local Dash Rogers is found shot dead at his farm gate. Before she gets to why, Jenkins drops back six months, to explore and reveal the complex web of relationships in the town and how city lawyer Ruth Dawson came to be running the local solicitor’s office, before eventually circling back to the crimes that opened the novel.
Beyond Ruth, Bea, Dash and Gazza, there is a large cast of characters in The Bluff, many of whom also get point of view chapters. Jenkins slowly builds a complex picture full of secrets and hidden agendas. But she also strategically withholds information in ways that as the solution comes into focus, feel a little contrived.
As with her debut novel, Jenkins in interested in more than just telling a story in The Bluff. One of the key elements of The Bluff is the town’s attitude towards its Aboriginal population. From whitewashing the violent history that followed white settlement of the area, to the treatment of young Aboriginal men by the police, Jenkins documents both institutional and casual racism that continues to persist. At the same time there is a story of conservation, development pressures and some of the hypocrisy of the wellness industry (a popular and fairly easy target these days).
Overall, The Bluff is an engaging piece of Australian rural crime fiction from Jenkins. Although it has a large cast, Ruth Dawson is a likeable central character to anchor the book around. But given the amount of rural Australian crime, The Bluff, while enjoyable, fails to stand out after the more unique and interesting setting of How to Kill A Client.
May 26, 2025
It is convenient to classify books according to their genre and The Bluff fits into the crime category – after all it does begin with a missing girl, Bea and the body of local man, Dash. However, this book is so much more than a whodunnit. It delves deeply into the issues of land rights, misogyny and what we are prepared to turn a blind eye to, to maintain the status quo.
The main character, Ruth, appears in Jenkins’ first novel, How to Kill a Client. The Ruth in the second novel is more multi-faceted and we learn so much about her through her delightful WhatsApp exchanges with her adult son, Jack, now in London. During a hiatus from her high-flying corporate law career in the city, she agrees to do a locum in a country town, Myddle, a role she is ill qualified for. She brings her intelligence, compassion and dry wit to her new position and her persistence and integrity bring dark town secrets into the light.
In fictional Myddle, set in the Northern Rivers Hinterland, grievances are unspoken but held tightly. Misogyny is overlooked, racism is rife and outsiders who challenge these long-held beliefs are met with distrust.
The book opens with the crime scene and then methodically takes us through the events that lead to the crimes committed. Every character has secrets and vested interests that make them a suspect in the crimes that unravel this small regional town. Slowly we learn about each characters’ history, their flaws, and longings and how these shape a motive for murder. After the ending, where the crime is resolved, the book leaves the reader with more questions than answers.
Uncomfortable truths sit unresolved and are left for the reader to ponder.
Will there ever be reconciliation with our First Nations people, with the shadow of The Voice referendum yet another dark shadow in our ugly history of colonisation?
And what needs to change for us to ensure that men who inflict violence on women face justice?
This book is wonderful. A dark and probing social commentary on white Australia.
The main character, Ruth, appears in Jenkins’ first novel, How to Kill a Client. The Ruth in the second novel is more multi-faceted and we learn so much about her through her delightful WhatsApp exchanges with her adult son, Jack, now in London. During a hiatus from her high-flying corporate law career in the city, she agrees to do a locum in a country town, Myddle, a role she is ill qualified for. She brings her intelligence, compassion and dry wit to her new position and her persistence and integrity bring dark town secrets into the light.
In fictional Myddle, set in the Northern Rivers Hinterland, grievances are unspoken but held tightly. Misogyny is overlooked, racism is rife and outsiders who challenge these long-held beliefs are met with distrust.
The book opens with the crime scene and then methodically takes us through the events that lead to the crimes committed. Every character has secrets and vested interests that make them a suspect in the crimes that unravel this small regional town. Slowly we learn about each characters’ history, their flaws, and longings and how these shape a motive for murder. After the ending, where the crime is resolved, the book leaves the reader with more questions than answers.
Uncomfortable truths sit unresolved and are left for the reader to ponder.
Will there ever be reconciliation with our First Nations people, with the shadow of The Voice referendum yet another dark shadow in our ugly history of colonisation?
And what needs to change for us to ensure that men who inflict violence on women face justice?
This book is wonderful. A dark and probing social commentary on white Australia.
March 10, 2025
I received a copy of The Bluff from Allen & Unwin Australia to review.
Rating of 4.5.
Impressive new Australian author Joanna Jenkins presents another captivating piece of crime fiction with the gripping and emotionally charged read, The Bluff.
Back in 2023 I had the very great pleasure of reading the fantastic legal thriller, How to Kill a Client. The debut novel of Australian author Joanna Jenkins, How to Kill a Client followed various members of a prestigious Australian law firm who are forced to deal with the fallout of the murder of one of their biggest clients, a man who everyone in the firm had a motive to kill. Jenkins produced an outstanding story in her first novel, and How to Kill a Client ended up being one of my favourite debuts and pieces of Australian fiction of 2023. Due to how good her first book was, I have been keeping an eye out for anything else from Jenkins and I was very happy to see she had a new book coming out in 2025 with The Bluff. A surprising sequel to How to Kill a Client, The Bluff has been on my to-read list for a while, and I was very glad that I finally got the chance to check it out.
The Bluff was an extremely captivating and complex Australian thriller from Joanna Jenkins that stands on its own feet while also serving as a great sequel to How to Kill a Client. Featuring a fantastic character-driven story loaded with mystery, impressive storytelling and an excellent rural setting, The Bluff had me hooked very quickly, and I ended up powering through it in a day.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/03/10/...
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 6 March 2025:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/03/10/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.5.
Impressive new Australian author Joanna Jenkins presents another captivating piece of crime fiction with the gripping and emotionally charged read, The Bluff.
Back in 2023 I had the very great pleasure of reading the fantastic legal thriller, How to Kill a Client. The debut novel of Australian author Joanna Jenkins, How to Kill a Client followed various members of a prestigious Australian law firm who are forced to deal with the fallout of the murder of one of their biggest clients, a man who everyone in the firm had a motive to kill. Jenkins produced an outstanding story in her first novel, and How to Kill a Client ended up being one of my favourite debuts and pieces of Australian fiction of 2023. Due to how good her first book was, I have been keeping an eye out for anything else from Jenkins and I was very happy to see she had a new book coming out in 2025 with The Bluff. A surprising sequel to How to Kill a Client, The Bluff has been on my to-read list for a while, and I was very glad that I finally got the chance to check it out.
The Bluff was an extremely captivating and complex Australian thriller from Joanna Jenkins that stands on its own feet while also serving as a great sequel to How to Kill a Client. Featuring a fantastic character-driven story loaded with mystery, impressive storytelling and an excellent rural setting, The Bluff had me hooked very quickly, and I ended up powering through it in a day.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/03/10/...
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 6 March 2025:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/03/10/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
January 12, 2025
Confronting and atmospheric, The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins (out 4 March) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Australian Rural Thrillers, often called Bush Noir, are one of my favourite genres, with the past 5–7 years delivering some truly stellar reads. While The Bluff had strong moments, it left me with mixed feelings.
The story centres on Ruth Dawson, a lawyer stepping into a temporary role in the small town of Myddle. What starts as a quiet stint quickly escalates when she becomes entangled in the disappearance of a teenage girl and a murder that rocks the tight-knit community. Jenkins delivers a vivid and sobering portrayal of rural Australia, capturing the intricacies of loyalties, tensions, and unspoken divides. The themes of racism and sexual assault are powerfully and honestly explored—appropriately confronting, though undeniably difficult to read.
The plot is gripping, with plenty of twists to keep the pages turning, but the characters were harder to connect with. Most were deeply flawed and often unlikeable, which, while realistic, made emotional investment in their outcomes challenging. Ruth stands out as a strong, empathetic protagonist, though the inclusion of WhatsApp messages with her son in London felt unnecessary and didn’t add to the story.
Overall, this is a solid addition to the Bush Noir genre, but it doesn’t quite match the exceptional standard of similar books in recent years.
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of sexual assault and racism.
Acknowledgement: Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews: www.instagram.com/liisalovesreading
#BookReview #TheBluff #JoannaJenkins #BushNoir #AustralianFiction #RuralMystery #NetGalley #AllenAndUnwin #Bookstagram #RuralThriller #CrimeFiction #AustralianAuthors
Australian Rural Thrillers, often called Bush Noir, are one of my favourite genres, with the past 5–7 years delivering some truly stellar reads. While The Bluff had strong moments, it left me with mixed feelings.
The story centres on Ruth Dawson, a lawyer stepping into a temporary role in the small town of Myddle. What starts as a quiet stint quickly escalates when she becomes entangled in the disappearance of a teenage girl and a murder that rocks the tight-knit community. Jenkins delivers a vivid and sobering portrayal of rural Australia, capturing the intricacies of loyalties, tensions, and unspoken divides. The themes of racism and sexual assault are powerfully and honestly explored—appropriately confronting, though undeniably difficult to read.
The plot is gripping, with plenty of twists to keep the pages turning, but the characters were harder to connect with. Most were deeply flawed and often unlikeable, which, while realistic, made emotional investment in their outcomes challenging. Ruth stands out as a strong, empathetic protagonist, though the inclusion of WhatsApp messages with her son in London felt unnecessary and didn’t add to the story.
Overall, this is a solid addition to the Bush Noir genre, but it doesn’t quite match the exceptional standard of similar books in recent years.
Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of sexual assault and racism.
Acknowledgement: Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews: www.instagram.com/liisalovesreading
#BookReview #TheBluff #JoannaJenkins #BushNoir #AustralianFiction #RuralMystery #NetGalley #AllenAndUnwin #Bookstagram #RuralThriller #CrimeFiction #AustralianAuthors
March 12, 2025
After the collapse of the big city law firm where she was a partner Ruth Dawson has agreed to fill in for a few months as a locum for an old friend, a country lawyer in the small town of Myddle, while he takes a long overdue holiday. She’s a bit rusty in general everyday law of wills and property but it surely can’t be that hard to pick up again in a quiet rural town.
But things aren’t as quiet in Myddle as she might think. Not long after she starts, the mother of a teenage girl comes into the office to ask Ruth for her advice. Her daughter Bea is missing and the local police officer, Gazza Parker won’t do anything to find her. Then a local and popular would-be entrepreneur, Dash Rogers is found dead at his farm gate and suddenly everyone is interested in where Bea might be.
This is an enjoyable slow burn of a novel, starting with the murder of Dash and then going back six months to describe the events leading up to that point. As before in How to Kill a Client, Ruth is doing some sleuthing of her own, particularly as she doesn’t trust Gazza to find the truth. She’s also seen how badly Gazza treats the local indigenous kids, including her work experience assistant Troy, who he has his sights set on arresting for Dash’s murder and Bea’s disappearance.
Ruth is a good protagonist with a sense of humour who people seem to trust and talk to and it seems there are many secrets and resentments to be uncovered in Myddle. Greed, inheritance, racial prejudice and sexual assault will all play a part in the lead up to the murder with quite a few twists and turns before the murderer and their motive are exposed.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin via Netgalley for a copy to read
But things aren’t as quiet in Myddle as she might think. Not long after she starts, the mother of a teenage girl comes into the office to ask Ruth for her advice. Her daughter Bea is missing and the local police officer, Gazza Parker won’t do anything to find her. Then a local and popular would-be entrepreneur, Dash Rogers is found dead at his farm gate and suddenly everyone is interested in where Bea might be.
This is an enjoyable slow burn of a novel, starting with the murder of Dash and then going back six months to describe the events leading up to that point. As before in How to Kill a Client, Ruth is doing some sleuthing of her own, particularly as she doesn’t trust Gazza to find the truth. She’s also seen how badly Gazza treats the local indigenous kids, including her work experience assistant Troy, who he has his sights set on arresting for Dash’s murder and Bea’s disappearance.
Ruth is a good protagonist with a sense of humour who people seem to trust and talk to and it seems there are many secrets and resentments to be uncovered in Myddle. Greed, inheritance, racial prejudice and sexual assault will all play a part in the lead up to the murder with quite a few twists and turns before the murderer and their motive are exposed.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin via Netgalley for a copy to read
July 13, 2025
‘Bit of action here.
‘Missing girl and dead man’.
There’s a complex cast of characters in Joanna Jenkins’ second novel and, being set in a small New South Wales town, pretty much everyone is connected. Everyone except lead character, Ruth, a recently widowed corporate lawyer who is filling in for the local solicitor while he takes a well-earned sabbatical.
Ruth is expecting a quiet time in Myddle. Instead, she finds herself caught up in a missing persons case and a murder investigation. She needs to get her head around this town and its people fast.
There’s missing teenager Bea and her volatile mother Victoria; dead man Dash and his AWOL wife Evie; Ruth’s friend from the legal world Roscoe and his yoga-teaching love interest Chandra; and young Indigenous man Troy and his clear-sighted mum Rita. Woven in to the story sporadically are two men in Rita’s life: her London-based son Jack and recent paramour Charlie.
Myddle is a one-cop town. The cop in residence is Constable ‘Gazza’ Parker, a police officer more interested in protecting his job than his community.
It’s a murky world.
The Bluff opens with Bea’s disappearance and the discovery of Dash’s body. It then backtracks six months to Ruth’s arrival in Myddle. From there, the story moves around within that time frame, as Ruth explores the connections and relationships that led to Bea’s departure and Dash’s demise.
Ruth keeps Jack appraised of her progress via WhatsApp. As Jack asserts in one of his replies: ‘You’re the woman for the job.’
* * * * * * * * * *
You can find more book reflections on my blog, Thoughts from an Idle Hour.
February 5, 2025
"He had the same ironic expression Jack had when she said something he thought stupid of boomerish, even though, as Ruth pointed out to him, she wasn't a boomer. She was Gen X. She'd looked it up. Several times." The Bluff's lead protagonist, Ruth Dawson, is a middle-aged lawyer slumming it after being sacked by doing conveyancing in a small town called Myddle. Like most of the characters in this rural Aussie noir, she's hard to connect with, which, despite all the twists and turns, makes it hard to really care about the outcomes for any of them. As a fellow Gen X, I also found the constant undermining of social media and the people who use it and care about likes, a bit tedious (and boomerish): "That thing is a portal into a nightmare."
There are also some lazy writing devices, like the inclusion of WhatsApp message dialogue with her son Jack to explain Ruth's thoughts in places. They were unnecessary and irritating to the reader. I could see some attempts at good descriptive writing, but not all of them are successful. For example, I don't know how many sausage sangas that the author has had, but I'm pretty sure none of them "tasted of smoke and vast blue skies." The best bits of writing were about the namesake location, The Bluff, everything else felt like it was written about rural Australia from the perspective of an outsider who didn't quite capture its charm: "A drive through the Australian bush at night has a million witnesses, their eyes reflected in the headlights low on either side of the road."
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
There are also some lazy writing devices, like the inclusion of WhatsApp message dialogue with her son Jack to explain Ruth's thoughts in places. They were unnecessary and irritating to the reader. I could see some attempts at good descriptive writing, but not all of them are successful. For example, I don't know how many sausage sangas that the author has had, but I'm pretty sure none of them "tasted of smoke and vast blue skies." The best bits of writing were about the namesake location, The Bluff, everything else felt like it was written about rural Australia from the perspective of an outsider who didn't quite capture its charm: "A drive through the Australian bush at night has a million witnesses, their eyes reflected in the headlights low on either side of the road."
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy to read.
March 10, 2025
The Bluff – Joanna Jenkins
A teenage girl, Bea, is missing.
A local farmer, Dash, is found dead.
And the small rural settlement of Myddle is thrown into turmoil.
City lawyer Ruth Dawson arrives in Myddle to help out an old friend but soon finds herself pulled into the search for Bea. At the desperate request of Bea's unpredictable mother, Victoria, Ruth steps in—especially as the local police, led by the heavy-drinking and morally questionable cop Gazza, seem to be dragging their feet. But when Dash is found murdered, the urgency to find Bea escalates.
This was a gripping and immersive read, though at times infuriating—particularly the small-town racist attitudes toward the local Koori people. Told through multiple perspectives and shifting between past and present, the story slowly reveals the truth behind Bea's disappearance, Dash's involvement, and, ultimately, his death.
Ruth was my favorite character—self-effacing yet strong, she refused to tolerate the small-town nonsense around her. Every character, however flawed, added to the tension and complexity of the plot. Some were downright unlikeable—creepy, selfish, or motivated by greed—especially Gazza and Dash. But I had a fondness for Evie - Dash's wife and Troy friend of Bea and worker for Evie.
I found Dash's death especially intriguing. In the moments leading up to it, the crime scene almost felt like Grand Central Station, with so many characters passing through place.
There is an emotionally brutal SA scene that is deeply unsettling and difficult to read; however, it is pivotal to the storyline.
Overall, The Bluff is a captivating rural thriller with a strong, likable protagonist. It delves into small-town life, family loyalties, and lingering prejudices from the past, exploring the consequences of bad decisions.
A teenage girl, Bea, is missing.
A local farmer, Dash, is found dead.
And the small rural settlement of Myddle is thrown into turmoil.
City lawyer Ruth Dawson arrives in Myddle to help out an old friend but soon finds herself pulled into the search for Bea. At the desperate request of Bea's unpredictable mother, Victoria, Ruth steps in—especially as the local police, led by the heavy-drinking and morally questionable cop Gazza, seem to be dragging their feet. But when Dash is found murdered, the urgency to find Bea escalates.
This was a gripping and immersive read, though at times infuriating—particularly the small-town racist attitudes toward the local Koori people. Told through multiple perspectives and shifting between past and present, the story slowly reveals the truth behind Bea's disappearance, Dash's involvement, and, ultimately, his death.
Ruth was my favorite character—self-effacing yet strong, she refused to tolerate the small-town nonsense around her. Every character, however flawed, added to the tension and complexity of the plot. Some were downright unlikeable—creepy, selfish, or motivated by greed—especially Gazza and Dash. But I had a fondness for Evie - Dash's wife and Troy friend of Bea and worker for Evie.
I found Dash's death especially intriguing. In the moments leading up to it, the crime scene almost felt like Grand Central Station, with so many characters passing through place.
There is an emotionally brutal SA scene that is deeply unsettling and difficult to read; however, it is pivotal to the storyline.
Overall, The Bluff is a captivating rural thriller with a strong, likable protagonist. It delves into small-town life, family loyalties, and lingering prejudices from the past, exploring the consequences of bad decisions.
April 21, 2025
Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months at a mate's small-town legal practice in Myddle. She tries to find seventeen-year-old Bea Baulderstone, but the town is indifferent. Then well-off and adored thirty-something-year-old Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea's whereabouts.
I had loved Joanna Jenkins’ debut, so I jumped at the chance of reading this! Despite of not expecting this to be a rural crime (because the debut was set in corporate world, which I loved), it didn’t disappoint!
I was intrigued to see how Ruth would adapt to the rural legal office life, so I was a bit surprised that the book flashed back to the previous 6 months before finally resuming the timeline. I understood why, though. It wouldn’t have felt the same had we not been properly introduced to the characters over the period.
I loved the rich character portrayals in this. Each was complex and real. The dialogues made sense. I really connected with Evie and felt her struggles. There were some scenes involving deaths that just hit me in the heart.
In the same vein as her debut, I loved that Joanna again showcased the strength of female friendships in this one. The female characters here were assertive, smart, strong and independent, albeit in different ways. This was a superb read!
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
I had loved Joanna Jenkins’ debut, so I jumped at the chance of reading this! Despite of not expecting this to be a rural crime (because the debut was set in corporate world, which I loved), it didn’t disappoint!
I was intrigued to see how Ruth would adapt to the rural legal office life, so I was a bit surprised that the book flashed back to the previous 6 months before finally resuming the timeline. I understood why, though. It wouldn’t have felt the same had we not been properly introduced to the characters over the period.
I loved the rich character portrayals in this. Each was complex and real. The dialogues made sense. I really connected with Evie and felt her struggles. There were some scenes involving deaths that just hit me in the heart.
In the same vein as her debut, I loved that Joanna again showcased the strength of female friendships in this one. The female characters here were assertive, smart, strong and independent, albeit in different ways. This was a superb read!
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
April 24, 2025
This is one of the best books I have read this year and it will take a lot to beat it.
Bea Baulderstone has been missing for five days. The police won't do anything so Bea's mother goes to see Ruth Dawson, the locum lawyer, to see if she can help.
We are then taken back six months and we see the lead up to Bea's disappearance from a number of perspectives.
Ruth, who is learning that overt racism is still rampant in rural towns and that country law is a hell of a lot different to city law.
Bea, a seventeen year old girl dealing with an unwell mother, no parental care or direction and every woman's worst nightmare.
Gazza, a sad excuse for a man let alone the town policeman.
Evie, local farmer and wife to the charismatic Dash. Pushed to the edge by her husband, neighbours and family secrets.
This book was so well written and had me invested in the story hook, line and sinker. The plot was so intense, and there were so many tangents and so many incidents that could have led to Bea's disappearance. The way it was written working back towards the first chapter was masterful.
The misogynistic attitudes of some of the men in this story were sickening, as well as the systemic bullying and harassment of the local indigenous families particularly the young men.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be hunting down Joanna's debut, How to Kill a Client
Bea Baulderstone has been missing for five days. The police won't do anything so Bea's mother goes to see Ruth Dawson, the locum lawyer, to see if she can help.
We are then taken back six months and we see the lead up to Bea's disappearance from a number of perspectives.
Ruth, who is learning that overt racism is still rampant in rural towns and that country law is a hell of a lot different to city law.
Bea, a seventeen year old girl dealing with an unwell mother, no parental care or direction and every woman's worst nightmare.
Gazza, a sad excuse for a man let alone the town policeman.
Evie, local farmer and wife to the charismatic Dash. Pushed to the edge by her husband, neighbours and family secrets.
This book was so well written and had me invested in the story hook, line and sinker. The plot was so intense, and there were so many tangents and so many incidents that could have led to Bea's disappearance. The way it was written working back towards the first chapter was masterful.
The misogynistic attitudes of some of the men in this story were sickening, as well as the systemic bullying and harassment of the local indigenous families particularly the young men.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be hunting down Joanna's debut, How to Kill a Client
March 19, 2025
The Bluff opens with a terrified young woman (Bea) trying to escape from a farmhouse late at night. Five days later, her mother is raising the alarm because Bea is missing and then a local farmer is found dead at the same farmhouse. Despite being married, Dash was a ladies’ man and a chancer, so there are several possible suspects for his murder.
I like thrillers that keep me guessing and this one certainly did. There are multiple strands to the plot and some VERY skillful misdirection. Honestly at one point I actually gasped. The momentum kept building and after a slightly slow start it became a book that I didn’t want to put down.
I should point out that it’s a sequel but I hadn’t read the first and I don’t think it mattered. That earlier book featured the main character Ruth, a lawyer who has come to work in the town for a few months and who gets drawn into the investigation. On occasion there are references to history between a couple of the characters and it took me way too long to figure out that the person that Ruth exchanges WhatsApp messages with is her son not her partner, but that was about it/
It’s really well crafted, with well developed characters that keep you invested and a suspenseful and twisty narrative. It also weaves in themes like racism and sexual assault.
I received an ARC from Allen & Unwin NZ.
I like thrillers that keep me guessing and this one certainly did. There are multiple strands to the plot and some VERY skillful misdirection. Honestly at one point I actually gasped. The momentum kept building and after a slightly slow start it became a book that I didn’t want to put down.
I should point out that it’s a sequel but I hadn’t read the first and I don’t think it mattered. That earlier book featured the main character Ruth, a lawyer who has come to work in the town for a few months and who gets drawn into the investigation. On occasion there are references to history between a couple of the characters and it took me way too long to figure out that the person that Ruth exchanges WhatsApp messages with is her son not her partner, but that was about it/
It’s really well crafted, with well developed characters that keep you invested and a suspenseful and twisty narrative. It also weaves in themes like racism and sexual assault.
I received an ARC from Allen & Unwin NZ.
March 19, 2025
This is a book, where up front you get told of a particular scenario, then the timeline goes back a few months and you start to learn how you got to that place.
The Bluff is set in regional New South Wales, Ruth is an established corporate lawyer from Sydney who reluctantly agrees to locum for the small town's lawyer so he can finally take an extended holiday with his wife. Ruth starts to see the racism and misogyny that threads through day to day life and she does not like what she sees. Then when local 17 year old Bea disappears there turns out to be a lot of people the local police officer would like to arrest and accuse, but is he in fact hiding something himself?
The book does delve into abuse, rape, mental health issues, infertility and racism without pulling any punches, so be aware of this if any of these topics are triggering for you.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author and happy to recommend this as a great read for fans of Garry Disher, Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
Thank you Allen & Unwin Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
The Bluff is set in regional New South Wales, Ruth is an established corporate lawyer from Sydney who reluctantly agrees to locum for the small town's lawyer so he can finally take an extended holiday with his wife. Ruth starts to see the racism and misogyny that threads through day to day life and she does not like what she sees. Then when local 17 year old Bea disappears there turns out to be a lot of people the local police officer would like to arrest and accuse, but is he in fact hiding something himself?
The book does delve into abuse, rape, mental health issues, infertility and racism without pulling any punches, so be aware of this if any of these topics are triggering for you.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author and happy to recommend this as a great read for fans of Garry Disher, Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
Thank you Allen & Unwin Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
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