Pokerface

by Tucker Lieberman

Jack, a private eye in New York City in 1940, searches for a missing ruby after he is hired by a Brooklyn man who dabbles in ancient Egyptian magic. It might take multiple detectives to solve this one. A short story with a touch of the supernatural.

Genres: Mystery

14 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 17, 2018

About the author

Tucker Lieberman is the author of the novel Most Famous Short Film of All Time (tRaum Books, 2022).

He also wrote Ten Past Noon: Focus and Fate at Forty (2020), Painting Dragons: What Storytellers Need to Know About Writing Eunuch Villains (2018), and Bad Fire: A Memoir of Disruption (3rd ed., 2024). His bilingual poetry book, Enkidu is Dead and Not Dead / Enkidu está muerto y no lo está (2021), inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh, was a finalist in the 2020 Grayson Books poetry contest and nominated for a 2022 SFPA Elgin Award.

His essays and stories are in anthologies including Instant Classic (That No One Will Read) (2023), It Came From the Closet (2022), the 2021 Lambda finalist Trans-Galactic Bike Ride, the 2012 Lambda finalist Letters for my Brothers: Transitional Wisdom in Retrospect, and the 2011 Lambda winner Balancing on the Mechitza: Transgender in Jewish Community.

He and his husband, the science fiction writer Arturo Serrano, live in Bogotá, Colombia.

Reviews

[Nicki Chapelway · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun short story filled with twists and turns about a person just starting out in the gig as a private investigator. I'll admit now, I have a certain weak spot for private investigators. Add into the mix that there were Egyptian curses involved and well... I knew I had to read the story. It is clean except for one expletive and some violence that I wasn't sure was completely necessary, including the main characters acting a little heartless at the end- but I shan't say more for fear of spoilers.

This is an extremely short story that I read in only about ten minutes. However, I would have preferred if it could have had more in it. More info, more character development, and maybe a little more explanation. I wouldn't mind seeing more stories with these characters in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. Very short story- a little quirky. Many historical tidbits thrown in to let you know what year the story takes place (1940). Could use a little more development.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story has potential. The story is lacking in several areas including story and character developments, even as a short story.

[Laura Hundley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to say that I was able to read this book because I won it courtesy of the author and Goodreads. This is a very short story about a private eye whose first case as such was to find a missing 10 ct ruby that came with a curse. You will also meet his friends Clara and Marty. Marty is a police detective who has a case of his own that needs to be solved. There are bodies missing from the morgue. You will find that the two cases are together. The book was an easy read just not something that I expected as the ending. The story was full of mystery and suspense which are my favorite genres, however, I thought the ending was just a little rushed. The story started out perfectly and kept my attention. The ending was just not everything I was hoping for. Still a great story though.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway and it has not affected my review.

Goodreads says this is only 14 pages but I find that hard to believe since somehow there is an entire little story with mystery, suspense, and a bit of the fantastic fit into that tiny little length. A quick read but a satisfying one - I loved the solution to the mystery!

[Joan Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky

A quirky short story about jewels and servants. I received this book from Goodreads for free. This story would be useful in helping young readers get interested in reading.

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky short story that combines bodies going missing from a morgue and a private eye's first job investigating a missing gem. I thoroughly enjoyed, if there were more in this series I would definitely read it.

[Gloria Zak · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only thing good about it is its brevity

Short story, can read it in a few minutes, but why bother. The story isn’t credible, interesting, funny or sad. Skip this one.

[Nicole Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

super short read. ok story

[Ramona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Goodreads, Resplendent Tree, and Mr. Lieberman for this delightful short story. It takes only a few minutes of time to read and enjoy this and is worth the read

[Amileigh Gordon]

#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Tena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a kindle version #GoodreadsGiveaway