Taking place in 1940s Chicago, the environment becomes a character all its own. There is no shortage of books, movies, and television shows set during this period of time, especially in this part of the country, but Even Though I Knew the End managed to keep it fresh.

Helen’s voice swept me up into a world of dark, shadowy alleyways, full of magic and monsters. If you’ve ever seen a black-and-white noir film, you’ll understand what this book sounds like, the types of imagery it produces in your mind’s eye, the feelings it elicits. C.L. Polk subverts the typical tropes by writing a main character who’s not only a woman, but a sapphic woman at that. In everything else, Helen stands by the conventions of the genre—she’s a down-and-out detective who doesn’t get along with law enforcement, she’s as brusque as she is charismatic, and while she might have a rough exterior, she also has a heart of gold.

Polk keeps the story historically accurate: Helen and Edith meet in a queer speakeasy; they do not show affection in public and keep their relationship private for fear of harassment and retribution; religion and the Catholic Church plays a large role throughout the story, in part due to guilt and fear of going to Hell for leading a queer life. Books like Even Though I Knew the End remind us of a lifetime before ours, where living a queer life was not easy or even safe. The mention of these struggles puts into perspective how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go.

The true crux of this story is seeing Helen’s humanity set against the world of angels and demons. She is painfully mortal, and yet she must fight alongside and against divine beings. Seeing her navigate this world is just as interesting as the central mystery. Couple that with Polk’s stunning writing, and this story becomes a recipe for success. There are lines in this book that made me stop in my tracks, just so I could live with them a little longer before moving onto the next.

The beautiful Marlowe has asked private detective Elena Brandt to find the White City Vampire, a serial killer leaving a trail of blood across the city. The only thing is Elena is not an ordinary investigator; she is a magical warlock who the Magical Brotherhood had banned for selling her soul to the devil to keep her brother alive. And Marlowe, well, Marlowe isn’t your average client, Marlowe is a demon who promises Elena that she will return her soul if she finds the killer.
Elena desires to work alone, not wanting to risk the lives and souls of those she loves; after all, hunting a supernatural serial killer is dangerous work. However, she is soon forced to work with her one true love and companion Edith (who has a very interesting sec\ret of her own) and the one person she has put her spiritual survival at risk for, her brother Teddy.
This is a short, fast-paced novel that reads in the pulp fiction style of the dime store detective novels of the 30s. I loved it and wished it was longer to spend more time in the world of auguries, fallen angels and secret brotherhoods.

This novella packed a hell of a punch, but a pristine one. It managed to be atmospheric and tense and full of heart without wasting a single word, and I loved it.

EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END is a beautifully written sapphic fantasy (supernatural) novel with a cozy mystery edge. The story sucked me in on page one with the snappy writing and interesting murder scene (morbid, I know). I loved how Elena and Edith’s romance was woven into the stories tapestry, touching upon the taboo and dangerous nature of their relationship in 1940’s Chicago.

Overall, EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END is a very well-paced novel with great character development and enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned armchair detective on their toes!

Even Though I Knew The End by C.L. Polk is a magical mystery novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher MacMillan-Tor/Forge and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It's 1941 Chicago, and Helen Brandt has two days to live.  After selling her soul to the devil ten years ago to save her brother,  she has run out of time.  But now that she has found love, it's going to be hard to let go of Edith. 

Helen has gifts, and magic has helped her run a detective agency since she was banned from the Brotherhood for selling her soul, no matter what the reason.  One of her lucrative clients offers her a job that pays well, and may also save her soul.  But the job is to track down a serial killer, who may be more than human...and she only has two days.



My Opinions:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I may not be a romance reader, but the love between Helen and Edith was wonderful.

The book is about magic, and good vs evil, and family, and love.  It is also about both male dominance and homosexuality in the 1940's -- and that was just sad.

Heads up, the book  was also a little gory, but I love gore.

Overall, it was a fun and fast read with some fairly dark subjects.

There’s a moment, midway through C. L. Polk’s new novella Even Though I Knew the End, that captures that sense of endless hope that readers have on behalf of their characters. Helen Brandt, an intrepid private investigator and warlock, is taking a moment of introspection and thinking about a favorite novel, The Great Gatsby.

I’d read this book a dozen times, two dozen. I always held my breath, waiting for Daisy to come to him. Jay hoped every single time, and I hoped right along with him, even though I knew the end.

In a moment that gives away nothing about the story itself, Polk takes a beat to heighten the sense of hope that infuses the whole novella. There’s only one end to this story you’re reading, Polk seems to say to readers. But hope anyway. Hope, even though you know the end.
The beginning, however, is a bit of a mystery. Readers meet Helen Brandt in an alley, taking magical photos (despite an uncooperative moon) of a murder scene. Ritual markings fill the walls. Helen wants nothing to do with this case and the other murders related to it. She’d much rather spend time with her sweetheart, Edith because she knows her own time is running out. It turns out that it’s been ten years since she made a bargain with a devil, and her soul’s up for collection very, very soon. But when her client makes her an offer she can’t refuse, dangling her soul like bait on a hook, Helen starts digging into the murders and finds out that she’s in far deeper than she realized.
Helen’s voice evokes the private eye narratives of 1930s and 40s pulp (Helen’s client is named Marlowe, a nod to Raymond Chandler’s famous investigator of the same name). But where noir tales are traditionally heavily masculine, with dames and dolls and femme fatales, Polk places the majority of the story’s agency in the hands of its women. Helen navigates a society where women who love women must hide that affection in secret clubs and behind false wedding bands, where a wife must hand important medical paperwork over to their husband after the doctor gives her a pat on the head.
Despite the patriarchal structure, women do dance and love and live; they hold good jobs and work magic, both figurative and literal. There are hints at what the world could be, were they all free to grow and shine beyond their world’s limitations, if they could claim their power—even though they know the end.
But maybe, just maybe, they don’t know the end at all. Maybe there really is room to hope for more, and for a brighter future, no matter the plans of angels and demons.

Helen would love to keep the two people she loves most—her estranged younger brother, Ted, and her lover, Edith—out of harm’s way, especially when her case is so very dangerous. But Ted is a member of a magical brotherhood, the same one that expelled Helen when she made her demonic deal, and he’s working the very same case. Edith, despite her dislike of violence, has reasons she can’t stay away from the work, as well. Those connections are another departure from the traditional noir narrative, where the lonely PI ends the story alone and unchanged; here, Helen’s relationships set the stakes of the story, showing us what’s at risk if she fails. And Polk sets up those relationships to hook readers with both the fear that we know how things will turn out, and the hope that we don’t, and that maybe, maybe there’s a happy ending out there for the characters.
Despite the short length of the novella, Polk’s heart-wrenching, gorgeous story is the type to stick with readers long after they turn the last page. The prose itself is luminous, from heavenly descriptions of coffee to the way birds flit in and out of the narrative, their presence or absence carrying additional meaning. Helen’s outlook, her belief that the sacrifices she has made are absolutely worth it, beg the question of the value of a soul, both within the narrative and beyond. They also invite introspection about life: if you knew you only had ten years, how would you live? Would you spend each day with hope, even if you knew the end?

In an era of pandemic and uncertainty, that sense of infused hope hits home. Because even as readers think they know what’s coming next, there are surprises and twists in the narrative. Even looking out into a scary world, where certain endings seem all but inevitable, there is room for hope. More, there is a necessity to hope, to live like there are greater possibilities, like every day is worth what it took to bring you there.

And that is Polk’s gift to readers here, even more than their evocative prose and their mysterious tale of bargains and risks. Hope, the narrative seems to say. Despite everything, hope.
Because the journey to get to the ending is worth it.

Initially I was a little lost because this is one of those "all will be revealed books" I almost gave up but i didn't and I'm so glad. I really enjoyed the story and the character. The world building was so great! I hope we get a series out of this

I was so excited for this book but unfortunately it missed the mark for me.

We are following Helen, a private investigator who specializes in investigating magical cases. A past debt is about to come due for her which will take her away from the love of her life forever, so when the opportunity to pay the debt is offered she will do anything to get just one more day with her family.

The biggest problem with this story is that there is too much plot for the amount of words so the characters and the worldbuilding don't have the space that they need to really shine. Because the character development wasn't as much of a focus I didn't connect with Helen and found some of her actions hard to believe. I also wanted to know more about the supporting characters like Helen's girlfriend and her brother who are both central to the plot but feel like cardboard cutouts. The atmosphere was really well done and it captures the feelings of a classic detective story, but the worldbuilding around the magic felt lacking. I could have used more information about the limitations of the magic because it felt like the magic was just whatever was needed to move the plot forward.

I was also disappointed that C.L. Polk didn't lean into the vampire serial killer element which was promised in the description of the book, and instead almost immediately has Helen raising doubts about the murders.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.*

This story feels like a fairytale set in a 1920s film noir detective novel. Helen is dying. She has days left to live, and she’s fine with that. Helen has squirreled enough money away that Edith, the love of her life, the sun in her sky, the woman who brings her joy and love and light and laughter, can live comfortably when she’s gone. But a little more couldn’t hurt. When Marlowe asks Helen to take a few pictures of a crime scene and try to get a magical reading, Helen agrees. And it ends up being both the best and the worst choice she ever made.

Step by step, Helen is drawn into circles she never knew existed. Angels and demons using human bodies — hosts, vessels, victims — to do their great works. Bloody offerings left in quiet parts of the city, but to what end, and to who? All of the victims have one thing in common, and Helen might just be next on the list. Or so Marlowe hints. Marlowe who, like Helen, isn’t exactly what she seems.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, because it’s twist after twist, with some honestly heartbreaking moments — while the young girls in the asylum whose minds are cruelly emptied of all thought are tragic, it’s the women who can still think, still feel, and are just as trapped that linger in my mind — and creative, wonderful world building. It’s a dash of Supernatural, a smidge of Constantine, and the wit and dry humor of the Thin Man.

This is an era, where patronizing misogyny — does your husband let you do that? — flavors a lot of the background scenes, but Helen views it with a mixture of contempt and disdain, while still being a member of that society, living in it, working in it, and enduring it. Helen knows who she is, what she wants, and isn’t trying to be a woman in a man’s world. She’s a woman in a woman’s world, moving effortlessly through the nonsense and the noise. She’s not snarky, or throwing cutting jabs; she’s empathetic, solemn, understanding, and kind. (And I will read every book she’s in.)

Edith, the light to Helen’s dark, is as angel. Beautiful and sweet, she feeds the city birds, attends her church, and puts up with Helen’s moods and strangenesses. She lets Helen show her how to use a gun because it makes Helen happy; she waits, knowing Helen — who is late; very late — will come, eventually, and forgives as easily as breathing. It’s easy to see why the two of them get along so well. They’re both madly in love, supportive and protective of each other, and Helen leans on Edith almost more than Edith leans on her. It’s such a balanced, happy romance, and you just want them to have everything they ever wanted, because that’s what they’d want for you.

I’m not usually big on detective series, but if C.L. Polk ends up turning this one into a series, I will be there for every book. Please join me in reading and loving this story. It’s soft, sweet, and a perfect romance set in an imaginative world with gorgeous writing. I cannot stress enough just how much I truly enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book.

A Sapphic Chicago noir that tugs at the heartstrings, Even Though I Knew the End is a great read worth revisiting. An exiled augur who sold her soul to save her brother's life is offered one last job before serving an eternity in hell. When she turns it down, her client sweetens the pot by offering up the one payment she can't resist—the chance to have a future where she grows old with the woman she loves. To succeed, she is given three days to track down the White City Vampire, Chicago's most notorious serial killer. If she fails, only hell and heartbreak await. Proving the adage that angels are dicks, Even Though I Knew the End manages to make clear that the good guys are most certainly not on the side of the angels. The love story is sweet and domestic, the type of love proven through waking up next to someone everyday and not through grand gestures.

THIS WAS SO GOOD. I wanted this book because I knew it was sapphic and took place in the 40s and was a murder mystery. IT WAS SO MUCH MORE. Angels??? Demons??? A brother and sister bond? LESBIANS. This was such a perfect nugget of enjoyment. I adored Helen and her snappy sarcasm and wit. Edith was SO WONDERFUL and oh my heart adored Ted. This book was full of love and sacrifice and grief and so many thrilling elements that kept me on my toes. Thank you tor.com for the galley!

Thank you to net galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

This was my first book by this author but it will not be my last! It was utterly fantastic and just brilliantly written. The world building was phenomenal, the plot twists so well done, I never knew what was happening but just grateful to be along for the ride. I need a sequel!

In this noir-ish novella, Helen Brandt is a private investigator who specializes in occult-related crime scenes. She’s also a woman who, years earlier, sold her soul in exchange for her mortally-wounded brother’s life.
With only days left before her bargain comes due, all Helen wants is private time with the woman she loves. But when a particularly gruesome murder takes place, she’s pulled into a battle between demonic forces, powerful magicians, and fallen angels.

As a novella, the action by necessity is fast-paced, and the storytelling moves quickly from one set-piece to another. I’m not that big a fan of stories about bargains with the devil or battles between angels and demons, but what really sucked me in was the love story and the desperate need for just a bit more time.

Gorgeous writing and atmosphere make this novella a must-read.

A quick sapphic mystery with an interesting world that's well-drawn and easily understood (thank God), this book still manages to cover a lot of ground while racing through the usual paces of a twisty whodunnit–character-wise, plot-wise, and emotionally.

This was a beautifully written novella that was so easy to dive into. Well written characters and a concise plot to fit the short format, this should definitely be on your list. That said, the overall vibes I got from this novella was a sapphic 1950s spin off of the tv franchise Supernatural… and I wasn’t mad about that at all!

Thank you Tor and NetGalley for granting me early access to this novella

I've adored all of C.L. Polk's published writing. But Even Before I Knew the End takes them to a new level. Just reading the first couple of chapters, I knew this was a book that would have my whole heart. I loved the characters, the voice, the story. It is tender, it is heartbreaking and it is wonderful. A true gem of a novella.

I'm unsure how I feel about this. Polk's writing is stylistically really great and the story itself is incredibly compelling, but unfortunately it just didn't quite *click* for me. It lulls at times and just isn't as fast-paced as something like this typically needs to be to really be engaging. I do think Polk's succeeded in writing something that's good and interesting, but it just doesn't quite hit the nail on the head. This WAS incredibly easy to read, though -- I didn't want to put it down, even with how it didn't quite connect for me. Overall this is a win, even with its flaws.

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk is about a detective and it’s set in Chicago. This is a fun book for those who loved Enola Holmes.

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I've been a huge fan of C. L. Polk from the first time I read one of their books. They write with an emotional openness that I rarely experience with other young authors. When I got the opportunity to read Even Though I Knew the End, I didn't know what to expect other than more of that raw emotion. In that, it delivered.

Like This is How You Loose the Time War, the emotions are center stage as our characters navigate this vivid hyper-realized world. There are angels and magicians and damsels in distress. Yet at its core is the love story between the two women. I came close to devouring it in one sitting. Polk delivers yet another delightful character study that should not be missed.

This sapphic, paranormal noir story is a lot of fun. The main mystery is full of twists and turns, and if you love demons and angels fighting for souls in the gritty streets of Chicago, you're going to love this.

I really liked the protagonist, and her narrative voice; it had exactly enough grit to really fit the genre while still being uniquely about the character herself; her love interest and she had a really believable ... not just chemistry, but the weight and romance of an established relationship. I also loved that it didn't pull back from things like the prejudices they'd deal with (and those common in the era)

The one thing that didn't quite work for me was the pace. Obviously, a lot of noir stories are shorter, but this was still a good 50-100 pages shorter than the standard, and while I love novellas a lot, it forced the pace to increase to the point that there was no breathing room for details as they were revealed. With the number of twists, turns, and revelations, I wished it was significantly longer just to give the reader more of a chance to take something in and interpret it before having the next revelation laid down.

Still, a really great read.