The Biggest Bluff

It seems natural that Maria Konnikova – a journalist who has studied confidence, deception and human psychology – would be drawn to poker. In her new book, she writes about the lessons she learned while studying with a member of the Poker Hall of Fame. She had originally wanted to learn the game to better understand chance and luck. But before long, she was earning money as a professional player.

Death in Her Hands

In this novel – which Ottessa Moshfegh described as a loneliness story – a widow, Vesta Gul, finds a cryptic note on her daily walk: “Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn’t me. Here is her dead body.” There wasn’t a body in sight. But soon, Vesta is consumed by the mystery, imagining suspects and possible motives, even inventing a life for Magda as she loses her own grip on reality.

Friends and Strangers

Written by J Courtney Sullivan, the story tells that life as a new mother hasn’t been easy for Elisabeth, a best-selling author who recently left Brooklyn for a small university town. She’s exhausted by caring for her son, her relationship with her best friend has been reduced to text messages, and she’s struggling to adapt to her new life. When she hires a local college student to babysit, the women become unexpectedly close – until a secret threatens to rupture their relationship.