When it comes to needing a protector, fiction often turns to guardian angels to help a powerless hero. But what about a guardian demon? What can they bring to the table? According to author Kate Moseman, demons can provide a slew of revenge plots, breakfast in bed, and a well-dressed wedding date. This is the premise of her novel, A Good Demon is Hard to Find. Below is my review of A Good Demon is Hard to Find along with my interview with author Kate Moseman.
A Good Demon is Hard to Find book summary
School teacher Erin finds herself single again after her ex-husband, Mark, cheats on her with her best friend, Genevieve. In one of their many post-marriage arguments, she inadvertently lays a demonic curse on Mark and ends up with a demon in her kitchen named Andromalius, or Andy, for short.
Andy is an Earth-bound demon who has been waiting around for a mortal to help. Upon hearing Erin’s curse, he shows up determined to help her get her revenge on her cheating ex with a multitude of pranks meant to ruin his life. While brainstorming, he hangs around Erin’s house, cooking her meals, caring for her dog, and helping her at work.
Over the course of their time together, the two secretly begin to fall for each other. Andy provides Erin with a safe and comforting distraction from Mark until a good-intentioned witch discovers him and attempts to save Erin from her friendly demon.
The tone
Despite its supernatural premise and classically sinister otherworldly characters, A Good Demon is Hard to Find is a tame and playful twist on a simple romance story. It’s definitely the tamest demon story I’ve ever read. You’re not going to find any gore, crudeness, or so much as a four letter word within the text. It maintains a good-natured and even somewhat juvenile tone throughout.
Andy is more of a trickster than a demonic presence. To Erin, he becomes her own personal butler/therapist, cooking for her, listening to her problems, and creating a revenge plot that consists of making charts, posters, and binders full of ways to ruin Mark’s day rather than his life.
I was expecting the story to get darker, but it maintains its tame tone throughout the story. Magical elements are thrown in to build a world in which many religious figures and practices coexist. Witchcraft, tarot readings, and incantations play factors in a plot that blurs the lines between Christianity and magic. In this world, every belief coexists, and they all build on each other with no intervening from the powers above or below.
The characters
Erin is a very passive aggressive main character whose goodness makes her susceptible to criticism and betrayal. Whether its navigating the waters of her judgmental mom or allowing Andy to give her shoulder massages and enter her lucid dreams, she avoids conflict at all costs.
But she’s not a pathetic character. She still plays an active part in the story, even if she is learning of this supernatural world as she goes.
Her work friend Raya, and the demon she conjurs up, Phoenix, make for the comic relief of the story as the sidekicks along for the ride. They’re unexpected but welcome editions to the story and instigate an unexpected twist halfway through the plot.
Mark and Genevieve, while morally the villains of the story, are pretty wooden and unthreatening characters. It’s clear early on that Erin doesn’t need to punish them through Andy as much as she needs Andy to help her get over the situation and move on with her life.
The plot
A Good Demon is Hard to Find is a very character-driven story motivated by Erin’s newfound power in her previously powerless situation. It’s not to be taken too seriously or dissected too hard.
The paranormal/supernatural elements kept me turning the pages throughout this book. I especially liked the lucid dreaming and tarot-card reading scenes that helped to show the details of Erin’s back story rather than tell it. I also liked that she builds her own supernatural tribe of misfits as the result of her being shunned from her lackluster marriage and ends up all around happier after discovering this unorthodox crew.
Disappointingly, the story doesn’t build to an especially exciting climax for its paranormal premise. Instead, it shifts focus from a revenge story to a love story, playing on the idea that the best revenge is to live well.
My recommendation
I recommend A Good Demon is Hard to Find to anyone looking for a breezy, lighthearted romance novel with some paranormal elements and a good-natured tone. It’s an especially good bridge for those readers graduating from YA to adult fiction or those who shy away from trashy romance novels.
It’s also a quick read for those looking to catch up on their reading goals for the year but doesn’t feel thin or incomplete. You can purchase a copy using the links in my interview with the author below!
Author Interview with Kate Moseman
Author Name: Kate Moseman
Book Title: A Good Demon Is Hard to Find
Genre: Paranormal romantic comedy
Links
Book summary
Sometimes, a date from hell is just what you need…
When Erin thoughtlessly lays a curse on Mark, her cheating ex-husband, she doesn’t expect a well-dressed Great Earl of Hell to show up in her kitchen to fulfill the curse (and make damn good coffee while he’s at it).
Andromalius specializes in wickedness and revenge. He’s ready, willing, and able to rain down hell on Erin’s ex—but when Mark announces a hasty new marriage, Erin needs more than just revenge.
She needs a date to the wedding.
Book excerpt
Erin hurled another armful of clothes out the front door. “Take your stupid shirts”—she paused to reload, scooping up another pile beside the doorway—“and your stupid pants, and get lost.” The pants followed the shirts out the door, collapsing on the lawn like a flock of fainting birds under the rapidly dimming sky.
It was lucky he’d left a few things behind after the divorce—they made great ammunition.
“Be reasonable, Erin,” said Mark, her ex-husband. “Can’t we discuss this like adults? I only came over because you continue to refuse to answer your phone, and having this conversation at church is not exactly a good idea.”
Erin turned back into the house, found a shoe, and hurled it over her shoulder without looking. It narrowly missed Mark and instead nailed the driver’s side door of his cherry red convertible. She found the matching shoe, turned around, aimed, and flung it end over end to join its mate.
“Watch it!”
“Oh, did I ding your midlife crisis-mobile? I’m sorry,” said Erin, without a shred of sincerity.
Reader reviews
“This book is hilarious. Erin and Andy’s relationship is one of the best I’ve read about in a while. The pace wasn’t rushed at all, nor was it too slow . . . I absolutely loved every character. Erin and Raya were an amazing duo; their friendship was absolutely admirable. Andy was very sweet, especially for a demon, and he reminded me of Michael (Good Place). Phoenix was a great sidekick, and I always looked forward to his ideas and remarks. He and Raya were extremely amusing together, and I hope there’s an additional book that focuses on their friendship.”
“This was a super unique and cute story. I loved it! It was funny and sweet and I just adored Andy and Erin. I hope Phoenix and Raya get a story too, because that would also be fun to read! They added a lot of humor to the story.”
“This was a paranormal rom-com I truly enjoyed. Erin is a newly divorceé after catching her cheating ex and ex-best friend and when by mistake she summons a demon it’s not at all what you’ll expect. It’s well-written, funny and sweet.”
Talking Shop
What is the central theme or message of your story? What do you want readers to take away from it?
The message of A Good Demon Is Hard to Find is that we deserve to be cherished for who we truly are. The main character, Erin, has been living a life that didn’t quite fit; Andy, our friendly demon, is the catalyst who helps her learn to appreciate herself. And, of course, they fall for each other! If readers take away a lesson, I hope it’s that true love never tears you down; it always builds you up.
Name a fact or detail about your story that can’t be found within the pages of your book.
Destiny Park, which is mentioned briefly in A Good Demon Is Hard to Find, is actually the setting of my first book, Roller Coaster Romance. It’s a complete theme park with a story all its own, and Roller Coaster Romance takes place entirely within it.
What famous books can you compare to your own?
The most similar famous books are supernatural humorous fantasy like Good Omens by Terry Pratchett, The Night Life of the Gods by Thorne Smith, and the MythAdventure series by Robert Asprin. Good Omens, of course, was recently made into a TV series, and The Night Life of the Gods was made into a movie in the 1930s.
What is a fun or strange source of inspiration that ended up in your book?
The hotel in A Good Demon Is Hard to Find was partially inspired by a stay at the Grand Floridian hotel and partially inspired by exterior photos of Casa Batllo, a famous Art Nouveau building in Spain. I love hotels and interesting architecture.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of all time great writers?
Terry Pratchett, Erma Bombeck, Roger Ebert, and Jane Austen.
Terry Pratchett because he’s simultaneously the master of world-building, humor, and characters; Erma because she makes great writing look easy; Ebert because he could craft a perfect description or observation like no one else; and Jane Austen, because, well, she’s Jane Austen! Runner-up mentions go to Roald Dahl and Anthony Bourdain.
“What If” Scenarios
If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?
I’d give it to Michael Schur in hopes that he would turn it into a TV series. I enjoyed watching The Good Place (also an inspiration for A Good Demon Is Hard to Find) and Brooklyn 99.
Your favorite character that you’ve written comes to life for one day. What do you do together for 24 hours?
I’d have Andy, the demon from A Good Demon Is Hard to Find, show me around Paris. I’m sure he’d know all the best places to visit, considering he seems to have some mysterious past in France.
You are transported into your book for one day. What role do you play? How do you alter the events of the story?
I’d be a witch. I’d summon something fun, like a demon companion, and explore the world of lucid dreaming to see what I could do there. Then I’d buy a ticket to Destiny Park (the theme park that features in all of my books) and spend the rest of the day there with my book characters.
You’re offered a contract to rewrite your book in another genre. Which genre do you choose and why?
I’d definitely rewrite it as a thriller, because thrillers are romantic comedies turned inside out. Think about You’ve Got Mail—wouldn’t it be easy to turn it into a dark story of obsession? Everything about a romantic comedy is one twist away from being scary: trust, desire, proximity.
Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?
I’d renovate my 1970s kitchen! Then I’d get right to work on writing the next bestseller, in between visits to Disney World, New York City, and Paris. I’ve been to Disney hundreds of times, and New York once, but I’ve never been to Paris. There are a lot of macarons and chocolate croissants calling my name.
Just For Fun
Your trademark feature.
Black tops and denim skirts. It’s my uniform. My hair is my signature, too: wildly wavy and mostly out of control.
One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.
I’ve visited New York City, but I haven’t been to Paris yet.
A movie or piece of music that changed your life.
Going to see the play Burn Notice on Broadway, starring Adam Driver, changed my life. It inspired me to start writing fiction.
Favorite time of/part of your day.
Late evening in Florida, just before sunset, when the breeze kicks up and the air is sweet. In fact, this time of day is depicted on the cover of my debut novel, Roller Coaster Romance.
The topic you can’t shut up about/the topic you wish everyone would shut up about.
I love to tell other writers about my favorite writing book, Anatomy of Story, but I wish they would stop trying to tell me about Save the Cat. We writers love to proselytize our favorite craft books!
A talent you have and a talent you wish you had.
My talent is that I’m a reasonably skilled belly dancer. I really wish I had the talent to draw or paint.
Buy it!
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Terrific review and interview!
Great interview! book sounds really interesting