I didn’t hesitate for one second to pre-order this book as soon as CL Polk announced it was coming. I had discovered their books last year when The Midnight Bargain was shortlisted for Canada Reads, and promptly read the entire Kingston Cycle as well. 

The book opens with a murder, and a private eye sent to investigate -- with magic. From there, we are very quickly pulled into the magical, sapphic, noir underworld of Chicago through Helen, a magically-trained private investigator and damned woman who sold her soul to the devil to save her brother’s life. Helen knows her debt is coming due, and is hoping to get this last job done to put away a little more money for the love of her life, Edith, who is not aware of Helen’s finite time on earth. The gorgeous Malone, Helen’s wealthiest client, wants this murder investigated, and Helen realizes she’s in way over her head when the investigation shows complex magic beyond anything she ever learned. 

The worst part about this book was its length. As a novella, I wanted more! More Helen and Edith, more Malone, more noir, more magic. But I won’t hold that against the story! Like with their other books, CL Polk pulls the reader into a rich world that hints at still greater depths. Like with their other books, it is up to the reader to draw conclusions and fill gaps in the world and the way of magic, but I love that! 

If you are looking for a dark, fun read, absolutely check this out! And since its short, be sure to check out some of their other books too! The Midnight Bargain is a fun period romance with beautiful feminism and magic, and The Kingston Series has a series of mysteries, queer romances, and fairly-type beings. All are great escapes for this long, dark winter.