Publisher : Tordotcom (March 22, 2022)
Publication date : March 22, 2022
Language : English
A Most Anticipated Pick for The Nerd Daily | Autostraddle
“I love a good heist, and this is a beautifully constructed magical heist in turn-of-the-century Seattle.” ―Mary Robinette Kowal
“This fierce magical heist tale is as smooth as gin and jazz.” ―Beth Cato
“Catnip for those who like watching con artists walk the tightrope of trickery and lies.” ―Marie Brennan
“[A] captivating noir fantasy. . .Deeds presents all this intrigue in reverse chronological order, spinning out mysteries that will keep readers guessing till the end. The result is a well-crafted puzzle; readers’ only complaint will be that they want more.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A fun, fast-moving heist story that will immediately hook readers who love 1920s-era worlds and soft-fantasy world building.” ―Booklist, starred review
“Readers who love heist and caper stories will be thrilled with Dolly and her quest to deliver much-deserved comeuppance to those who believed they are above the law. The gas-lamp setting gives just the right touch of magic and creeping dread to Deeds’s novel.” ―Library Journal
“A deliciously fun novella set in 1929 Seattle is just what is needed for your bookshelves. . . .Beginning at the ending and following the path backwards through a magical heist, this story brings comeuppance to all.” ―Buzzfeed
“Deeds tells her story with nuance and subtly, luring you into a false sense of pleasantry. From the first page to the very last word, I was enthralled with this tale of thievery and lies.” ―Grimdark Magazine
Seattle, 1929—a bitterly divided city overflowing with wealth, violence, and magic.
A respected magus and city leader intent on criminalizing Seattle’s most vulnerable magickers hires a young woman as a lady’s companion to curb his rebellious daughter’s outrageous behavior.
The widowed owner of a speakeasy encounters an opportunity to make her husband’s murderer pay while she tries to keep her shapeshifter brother safe.
A notorious thief slips into the city to complete a delicate and dangerous job that will leave chaos in its wake.
One thing is for certain—comeuppance, eventually, waits for everyone.
She’s fascinated by the unexplained, and curious about power: who has it, who gets it, what is the best way to wield it. These questions inform her stories.
Deeds has published Aluminum Leaves and Copper Road from Falstaff Books, with short works in Podcastle and several anthologies. She reviews fiction and writes a column for the review site Fantasy Literature.
Chapter One
Part 2
“Fiona is about to be engaged to Antonio Arbelio, the scion of a fine magical family. But she, lately . . . in the past six months, she has been frequenting a vile criminal enterprise, a speakeasy run by a loathsome colored woman named Violet Solomon. Fiona’s behavior grows wilder and more outrageous each day.” He cleared his throat. “We haven’t even had the en- gagement party yet. I’ve thought of moving up the wedding date, but—”
“Oh, no, you mustn’t.” Dolly shook her head. “That leaves both families open to the worst kinds of gossip.”
“I see you understand. She’s gotten wilder and wilder. Last week she drove her car into a light pole. As if I didn’t have enough on my mind last week, what with . . . well. Something must be done. The trouble . . . the drinking is even worse, be- cause I believe the gin is spiked with shimmer-shim. That ter- rible stuff should be outlawed.”
“The herb shimmer has a valid use, Mr. Earnshaw, as a pain reliever.”
He stared then smiled a bit sourly. “I forgot you were a scholar of potions. Well, once Fiona is safely married, there might be a place for you on the Commission staff. Unless Fiona wants to keep you on. If you can keep her away from the precipice until—”
The doors opened, and his troublesome daughter reeled into the room, wrapped in a pink silk dressing gown. Fluffy pink feathered mules covered her feet. “Are you interviewing my new jailor, Daddy?”
“Don’t be flippant. Miss White, my daughter, Fiona.”
Ignoring Dolly’s outstretched hand, Fiona staggered over to the other chair and fell into it. The diffuse afternoon light from the French doors bleached her wavy blond bob to the color of a dandelion crown. “I hope he’s going to pay you plenty, Miss White,” she said. She yawned. “You’ll need it. Lord! I’m tired.” “How can you be tired? It’s two in the afternoon. You’ve
slept through breakfast and lunch.”
Dolly leaned forward, staring into the girl’s face. “You’re un- der the influence of shimmer-shim right now.”
“Good Lord,” Earnshaw said.
Fiona smiled and closed her eyes. “Gin and shim, my fa- vorite.”
“I can help with this,” Dolly said. “We’ll try an infusion of Paean’s Touch.”
Earnshaw tugged the bellpull once. As Fiona struggled to her feet, a young maid came into the room.
“Inez, get Miss White what she needs,” Earnshaw said. “Hot water in a teapot, with honey, please,” Dolly said. “And
we’ll take it in the drawing room.”
“I hate tea,” Fiona said, “and I hate the drawing room.”
“Too bad for you, then,” Dolly said, taking the girl’s arm.
They crossed the marble foyer into the drawing room.
Ambrose Earnshaw waited until they left the room. He opened a small wooden box on his desk. Inside, a green jewel nestled into a nest of gold wire. He touched the stone and pre- pared to listen.
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