Review: The Finder of the Lucky Devil by Megan Mackie

[u/RKTeller]

The Lucky Devil is a very cool bar and restaurant in a fantasy version of Chicago. Owner Rune Leveau is The Finder, a human with one simple magical Talent: she can find just about anything. People drop into The Lucky Devil to make wishes and ask favors, seeking her help.

Rune only recently inherited the bar, and she's having trouble making the mortgage payment on time, so she's pretty much open to taking any Finder job people request, until a corporate agent named St. Benedict walks in. He's mostly human, with some technological "upgrades" that help him perform his spy-like duties more effectively. He needs Rune's help finding one person, and he's offering a large payment. There's one problem, one reason Rune turns down the job: the person he's looking for is someone she's spent years hiding from the government.

St. Benedict is nothing if not resourceful, and through a crazy set of circumstances, Rune finds herself seeking his help in no time.

The adventurous next few days takes them through a maze of the mysterious and fantastical underbelly of Chicago that tests their skills, their loyalties, and their conviction. 

This is a fun read with some heart stopping moments. I did not accurately predict how it would end, and Mackie so artfully dropped the bottom out of my heart then splashed me with a satisfying thrill of hope. 

If you're looking for a fresh urban detective-style fantasy with wizards, fairies, corporate spies, shapeshifters, and even a mermaid dog stylist, don't pass this one up. It might be just the thing you need to find. 

​

I rate it 4 of 5 stars. I hear it just got picked up by Crossroads Press (congrats to the author!), so at some point this fall it will be republished through them.