Play Your Cards Right
What starts as an idyllic weekend escape shatters when a member of the friend group is found dead. As Demi investigates, a chilling truth emerges: this wasn't a tragic crime of passion—it was a meticulously orchestrated execution.
- Demi - Eli’s wife
- Eli - Demi’s husband
- Darcie - Demi’s aunt, William’s twin
- Liam - Darcie’s husband
- William - Demi’s aunt, Darcie’s twin
- Maya - William’s wife
- Maw - Darcie and William’s mother
- Everyone gathers at a cabin in the mountains.
- They sit down to play Pedro, the family’s favorite card game.
- The lights go out and a man screams.
- The lights come back on to reveal Liam dead on the floor with a wound to his throat.
- They find a bloody knife in the kitchen sink, but no other clues.
- They get through to 911, but the call soon drops.
- Maw admits she killed Liam because she knew he was abusing Darcie.
- Maw asks Demi, Darcie and William to play one last hand of Pedro before police arrive.
- While they play cards, Eli walks around outside in a pair of Liam’s shoes to make it look like there was an intruder.
- When police arrive, no one tells them Maw confessed, and the footprints convince them there was an intruder.
This short story left me feeling underwhelmed. For a genre that relies on suspense, it unfortunately falls flat and didn't feel like a thriller. Overall, I found the plot to be boring and lacking the tension I look for in a good suspense read.
The most frustrating part of the story was the setup. Chauvin introduces a really interesting and unique family dynamic right off the bat, which gave the story a lot of potential. However, that dynamic doesn't end up mattering to the plot at all. The exact same events could have easily unfolded with any random group of friends or distant relatives, making the specific family ties feel like a completely wasted opportunity. It’s a quick read, but it misses the mark on delivering a gripping experience.
- Murder
- Domestic violence
Publisher: Independently Published
ASIN: B0GTMVBML6
Publication Date: June 8, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
