Bluff

by John DeDakis

Lark Chadwick is back. The scrappy reporter for The Pine Bluff Standard is embroiled in another tale of intrigue.WHILE DOING BATTLE WITH an unscrupulous real estate mogul—and against the advice of her friend and mentor Lionel Stone—Lark impulsively flirts with diverting her career into broadcast journalism. But, as Lark quickly learns, the line between being famous and notorious is a thin one.In Bluff, book two in the Lark Chadwick mystery series, award-winning author and former CNN journalist John DeDakis once again gives readers a behind-the-veil glimpse at the good and the bad of journalism. DeDakis takes Lark from the small-town environs of Wisconsin to the ancient Inca Trail in Peru to help solve the mystery surrounding the death of Lionel Stone’s only daughter Holly.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 28, 2021

About the author

Journalist, novelist, and writing coach John DeDakis is a former Senior Copy Editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis (pronounced deh-DAY-kiss) is the author of five novels in the Lark Chadwick mystery-suspense-thriller series.

His fourth novel, Bullet in the Chamber, is the winner of Reviewers Choice, Foreword INDIES, and Feathered Quill book awards.

His most recent novel, Fake, is a winner of the 2020 Reviewers Choice Award. In Fake, Lark is a White House correspondent dealing with “fake news” in the era of #MeToo.

During his award-winning 45-year career in journalism (25 years at CNN), DeDakis has been a White House Correspondent and interviewed such luminaries as Alfred Hitchcock, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan.

DeDakis has taught journalism at the University of Maryland–College Park, and American University in Washington, D.C. He now regularly teaches novel writing online, at literary centers, writers’ conferences, and bookstores around the country and abroad.

He is currently at work on a memoir, working title: Pivot Points: A Life of Plot Twists

In his spare time, DeDakis is also a jazz drummer.
Website: www.johndedakis.com

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Bluff” by author John DeDakis, we see Lark Chadwick setting out on a new adventure, where everywhere she turns, trouble finds her. In Book 2 of this ongoing series, Lark will stop at nothing to get some real answers people are looking for regarding how real estate mogul Shane Duran is swindling retirees out of their retirement land they purchased from him years ago. As Lark peels back the layers of this entangled web of lies and deceit, she finds herself in some deep, hot water. Unfortunately, she may not be able to get out of this mess unscathed.

Mr. John DeDakis did not disappoint in “Bluff.” Right from the first page, it took me on a roller coaster ride right beside Lark, and I didn’t get off the ride until the very last page. The author has such a way of developing his characters and storyline to be 100% believable. I was completely engrossed in the storyline and he had me guessing how things might evolve as I turned the pages. I loved that he created Lark to be a flawed character that made mistakes – plenty of them- and she never had all the answers. She constantly had to probe for the truth for not only the retirees who were swindled out of their retirement land, but also the truth that could save her own neck.

The author led me down a path in which I started making assumptions, just like Lark did, throughout the story, and I learned right along with her whether I was right or not. I also enjoyed getting to know Lionel, her boss at the Pine Bluff Standard newspaper and his wife, on a much deeper level in this book. I felt these characters all worked extremely well together and I’m eager to see what Mr. DeDakis has up his sleeve with this ongoing suspense series.

“Bluff” would be good for teens and adult mystery readers. I also want to add that although this is an ongoing mystery series, I feel that each book could be read as a standalone, but to fully enjoy it, I highly recommend reading the books in sequence.

[Lee Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great second book in the series, tying an older event into the present day! Characters are likable (the ones that are intended to be so), timing and pacing works well, and the ending is nicely done.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bluff is a steep cliff, but in the skillful hands of mystery writer and veteran journalist John DeDakis, a bluff is also an attempt to deceive, and Bluff, the author’s second Lark Chadwick mystery is rife with both. DeDakis’s fast-paced novel, the second in the series, depicts both the noble and the seamy sides of modern-day news reporting as Lark investigates a lucrative real-estate scam, tries on the life of the TV news anchor, and gets nailed as a suspect in the suspicious death of her photographer boyfriend. Determined to prove her innocence, Lark follows a twisting trail of crumbs and false clues to the real culprit, a killer who is responsible for not one but two deaths

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved listening to Candace Fitzgerald. who brings out the action and intrigue.

Lark is an investigative reporter who is sucked into a murder mystery. One that Lark gets accused of murdering her boyfriend.
There is so many twists and turns and full of suspense and intrigue. The end was an exciting and unexpected

[Laurie Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when the storyline of a gripping book blindsides me with a twist that I didn't see coming. John DeDakis does it again in Bluff: A Lark Chadwick Mystery, Book Two, a pulse-pounding series I can't get enough of.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in DeDakis' mystery series about Lark Chadwick, a new investigative reporter. The pace is fast, the action is good, the characters are well-written and there's a great twist.

[Terri Karsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bluff, book two in John DeDakis's mystery series featuring Lark Chadwick, takes readers on an intriguing journey into the world of journalism in small-town Wisconsin. Lark is caring, smart, and tenacious as she brushes with danger as she tries to unravel two apparently unconnected murders, one in her own own and the other in far-away Peru. I really enjoyed the chance to meet Lark, and I'll definitely look for other books in John Dedakis's series.

[Valerie Biel · Rating 5 out of 5]

After such a strong start in this series with book 1, I was excited to read book 2 -- another excellent addition to this series! Great character building, excellent wordsmithing--DeDakis' writing should not be missed! Can't wait to read the next one in the series!