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Bones of Dead Man's Bluff

By: Robb Grindstaff
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Publication Date: August 28, 2024
ISBN: 979-8890251107
Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki
Review Date: September 25, 2024

Robb Grindstaff packs a punch with his latest attention-grabbing thriller, Bones of Dead Man's Bluff, as he explores morality's gray areas through his dynamic and believable cast.

Worth Sullivan, a prominent cleric based in Missouri, was dubbed the Millennial version of Billy Graham, with the Washington Post referring to him as the "American Pastor." He had had a decades-long friendship with Kirk Madison, a Senator, and a retired four-star general. Kirk, after barely two years of holding the Senate office, was vying for the presidency, a dangerous endeavor that Worth felt was likely to unearth an incriminating secret that they had kept hidden and that would likely damage his reputation as a reverend, given the intense scrutiny of a presidential campaign.

Years earlier, the two had witnessed the death of a girl during a camping trip and had both agreed never to talk about it. Kirk seemed to have moved on from this incident, but Worth had been having nightmares for years and was consequently plagued by mental anguish. Secrets have a way of resurfacing, after lurking impassively and in silence in the dark, inflicting a blow that threatens to bring down every brick one has laid in life. As the political temperatures continue to rise and reverberate through social issues in America, Worth turns to prayers as his way out of the turmoil he is experiencing, while hoping to convince his friend to abandon his ambition as Kirk struggles to redeem himself from a past that comes knocking.

A page-turner, Bones of Dean Man's Bluff hits the right chords of a high-stakes suspense thriller. Hinged on intricate plot twists and great suspense that is interlaced with hope and anxiety, the story takes on dual timelines, allowing readers into the intricate details of the characters. Just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don't. Grindstaff confronts the nature of the human mind, both the unconscious and sub-conscious mind, often pitting the self against the self. In doing so, he masterfully blurs the line between fiction and reality while delving into the complex and universal themes of guilt, power struggles, and religion. At the core of this story are two main characters whose emotional and psychological transformations will keep readers hooked until the last page.

The author does a great job with his descriptions of Worth's nightmares, which are unsettling and baleful, reflecting on the unstable emotions that he experiences and adding to the plot's layers of complexity. He writes with precision and candor, crafting convincing dialogue across the pages, as the threads of the story are skillfully unwoven, culminating in a satisfying conclusion.

Quill says: Literary enthusiasts who enjoy narratives that dig into the human psyche will find themselves a keeper in Robb Grindstaff's latest offering, Bones of Dead Man's Bluff.

For more information on Bones of Dead Man's Bluff, please visit the author’s website at: www.robbgrindstaff.com.