Comeuppance Served Cold by Marion Deeds, reviewed by Katy Mitchell-Jones
Seattle 1929 - A brief prologue features a masked woman fleeing a room housing the corpse of another woman draped over a couch. She walks into the autumn night holding a suitcase and requests that a taxi take her to a speakeasy. We are left wondering: who are these women, and how did one of them end up dead?
Thirteen days prior to this opening event, the protagonist, Dolly, interviews for a position as a companion for a wealthy girl in her early twenties. Mr. Earnshaw, the wealthy girl’s father, is an important man in the Seattle law-making scene. He explains that his daughter, Fiona, is growing irresponsible and reckless. She is to be married soon, though she is clearly unhappy with this prospect and rebels against her father and older brother, who both seem controlling and dangerous. Dolly is a mysterious protagonist, as the reader can never pinpoint her exact motivations for taking this job, or any specifics of her employment history for that matter. What were these obscure jobs from her past? Why does she continue moving from place to place?
Meanwhile, Mr. Earnshaw is involved in regulating magic to limit those who possess potentially dangerous powers. The Seattle government works closely with the Commission of the Magi to regulate the magic that some of the citizens possess. They wish to regulate the magic as there are growing concerns among Seattlites regarding shapeshifters—people who can turn into wolves, cougars, and other potentially dangerous animals. An attack in a downtown market causes many people to advocate for further restrictions. This criminalization, in addition to prohibition, adds an extreme unspoken tension as characters navigate their everyday lives. Though Dolly does not possess magical powers, she did spend time studying potion-making and can wield magical objects for her own protection.
In parallel to these developments, two new characters, black siblings named Violet and Phillipe, are introduced. Philippe is a bartender at a speakeasy as well as a cougar shapeshifter. His partner, Gabe, is white, blind and a tattooist; he can tattoo protective designs onto others, despite not being able to see. They discuss details about the Earnshaw family, referring to the father as the White King, and fear what he may do to their family. He could potentially have shapeshifters unlawfully arrested, separating families and leaving them with bad reputations. This is not only because of their skin color, but because of Gabe and Phillipe’s relationship, and the fact that Phillipe is a shapeshifter. Unfortunately, there are magical ways in which shapeshifters can be forced to change into their animal side, after which they are unable to control their animal impulses. Mr. Earnshaw’s cronies are suspected of doing this purposely, in order to make arrests. These desperate solutions from the government are dangerous; animals who are backed into a corner only see one way out and anyone in the area will get hurt.
Violet, much like Dolly, does not possess inherent magic. Violet’s past is also fraught with trauma, as her serious partner, Pedro, was killed in a fire. After his death, she had to pick up the pieces of her life and take extra care to be safe, moving cross-country to a new city, where no one knew of her past. She opens a speakeasy where Phillipe tends bar. At the front of this speakeasy is a hat shop. These hats and other descriptions of clothing are major contributors to the 1920s vibe of the story. Dolly often observes the features of clothing or accessories that she and others are wearing. She describes stitching, fabric, and texture. There is a satisfying balance between realistic, historically-based fiction and fantasy that blends together.
The author includes the sensitive topics of race, patriarchy, and heteronormativity in a way that reflects the 1920s; Phillipe and Gabe’s relationship is kept under wraps, and Phillipe and Violet must be cautious in the way they address the white people in power. Additionally, Fiona’s brother has a reputation for getting away with abusing women, and Dolly is repeatedly told to be careful around him. It is of course her responsibility to be careful, and not his responsibility to change his behavior. Dolly’s concerns grow as he becomes more and more forward with her, finally reaching the point where she has to utilize self-defense.
As the plot progresses, the perspective switches between the siblings’ story of survival and Dolly’s attempts to wrangle Mr. Earnshaw’s daughter. Eventually, their paths cross, and they work together in order to carry out a heist. The planning phase of the heist takes place behind the scenes, and is largely unclear until the end. Namely, what is being “stolen?” Little by little, pieces click into place, until the full picture comes together. Now the masked woman disappearing into the night, the body, and the circumstances all make sense.
The structure of the novel is a circular plot that keeps the reader intrigued. Though it is a quick read, the characters feel developed and whole. This quick read is exceedingly enjoyable, especially for one who likes atmospheric heist-style mysteries, or historical fantasy.
Comeuppance Served Cold by Marion Deeds, published Mar 22, 2022 by Tordotcom. 192 pages.