Tidhar, Lavie - The Big Blind
Her expression impassive, Claire studies the others round the table.
After a late night of card playing, gambling for small stakes, she returns home quietly. Donates her winnings, creeps to her chamber, dons her habit.
Day job, Sister Claire, convent nun.
I had grabbed this from a recent stack, ignored the cover art, and thus this turn came as a surprise. I mean, a poker playing nun?
Midway through this short novel, I must confess how much I was enjoying it. I started replaying scenes and moments as if this were already a film adaptation. Like those rollicking Irish comedies between 1995 and 2005.
The book itself is an effective crowd pleaser, whether or not you know a call from a flop from a river.
Entertaining beach read – which I mean as a compliment.