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Comeuppance Served Cold    by Marion Deeds Amazon.com order for
Comeuppance Served Cold
by Marion Deeds
Order:  USA  Can
Tor, 2022 (2022)
Softcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Here's something different in historical fantasy, Marion Deeds' Comeuppance Served Cold, set in an alternate 1929 Seattle, where magic runs rampant.

As the story opens, a masked woman magically adjusts her appearance and leaves a dead body, taking with her a bag of stolen jewels. She's heading to Wichita by way of a speakeasy. We then jump back to 'Thirteen Days Before', when the city's Commissioner of Magi interviews Dolly White to be a companion to his rebellious daughter Fiona, who's about to be engaged to 'the scion of a fine magical family.' Fiona's brother Francis runs the Order of Saint Michael the Protector, a thuggish vigilante group.

Dolly takes the job and helps Fiona to withdraw from an addiction to shimmer-shim. It soon becomes clear that Dolly knows more than she shows. She's a grifter and she has her own agenda. Next we meet the speakeasy owner, Violet, whose husband was murdered by the Order of Saint Michael and who fears for the safety of her shapeshifter brother Philippe. Dolly makes contact with Violet and the pieces of her plan start dropping into place. The tale continues to move back and forth in time.

It's a wonderful mix of fantasy and mystery, with plenty of action and a remarkable lead. I really hope to read more Comeuppance adventures!

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