The Bluff by Wade Rouse @authorwaderouse @htpbooks @htpbooks.bsky.social @htp_hive @readmirabooks #BookSky #FullCast #TheBluff

the setup…
Meet the Chapmans who are assembled for Christmas at Brigadoon, their family vacation home on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Charli Chapman, the matriarch, has led the festivities each year, following the same traditions for decades. But this year, her daughter-in-law Kat is presiding and is upsetting things with some radical changes, the first being the inclusion of her parents. Patriarch CS Chapman is ruthless and loves the bloodsport, pitting sons Chris (he leads the family business) and Cormac against each other and trying to shape his nephew Chip into his mirror image and diminish granddaughter Leah. This is not your traditional family or Christmas.

the heart of the story…
This was positioned as Succession meets The Family Stone and they weren’t far off. CS most definitely has that ruthless vibe and couldn’t be more unlikable. Charli is the proverbial ice queen and is politely caustic. There’s so much drama and secrets brewing within and without but Kat Chapman developed a spine and was committed to having a much different holiday. There’s so much to dislike about these people but glimmers of humanity do rise.

the narration…
The multicast narration was outstanding as each performer seemed to skillfully inhabit their characters and carry their end of the storytelling. They made such a difference in me fully understanding the characters and dynamics.

the bottom line…
Every person in the family has a significant role to play in the drama so there’s a lot going on. But amid the bad behavior were moments of humor and poignancy. Rouse weaves it all together masterfully to blend all those elements to make it feel relatable. Holidays don’t always bring out the best in family but it’s certainly the reality and authentically messy. I loved it.

Book Info

• Release Date: October 13, 2026
• Narrators: Andrew Eiden, Cassandra Campbell, Dan John Miller, Andrew Gibson, Alexandra Hunter, Dawn Harvey, Arthur Morey, Kate Marcin, Petrea Burchard, Michael Crouch & Kristen Sieh
• Audio Length: 8 hours, 48 minutes
• Publisher: MIRA

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(Thanks to HTB Books, MIRA and NetGalley for the invitation and my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)