Shrouded Plots

Death Masks
Jim Butcher

The first, second, third and fourth books of The Dresden Files have been previously reviewed in this venue. I guess it's pretty obvious by now that I totally adore that other wizard named Harry. Guilty pleasure, what else can I say?

As if his life isn't complicated enough, what with the war against the Red Court of Vampires still brewing not to mention members of their group particularly wanting Harry dead, my favorite wizard in Chicago is up against other formidable opponents this time around.

For one, there's Ortega, a Duke of the Red Court challenging Harry to a duel in an effort, so to speak, to stop the war between the vampires and the White Council.

Then, there's a handful of mafia boss Marcone's men trying to take Harry out for reasons yet unknown to him.

Plus, the Shroud of Turin's been stolen and Harry's been hired to locate and recover it.

But most important of all, at least in Harry's mind, is that the lovely Susan is back. Accompanied by the blandest man Harry ever saw in his life. Ooh, jealousy rears its ugly head!

Oh yes, the action never lets up in this fifth book in the series.

The good thing about picking up a series after ten books have been released is that any close encounters with death would be resolved in Harry surviving the ordeal. Seriously. The series is after all titled The Dresden Files, featuring Harry Dresden, right? And I'm still on the fifth book. So I can safely assume that Harry's alive up until I finish the last pages of the tenth book (well, because an eleventh book will come out next year, hahaha).

That notwithstanding, it still pains me to read about Harry's scrapes with the supernatural beings, demons and humans out to kill him.

But the complex plot is still there. It is still a detective story after all so a lot of things are bound to happen between the covers. It also follows the usual Dresden formula of making sure that Harry Dresden gets thisclose to being killed before the resolution of the story presents itself. Hahaha. But make no mistake, people get hurt in this book (as is the case in the previous four books). Magic after all should not be ignored.

The humor is still there. I think the main reason why I pick Harry's story every so often is due to the humor. That no matter how dark and dreary his world is, he's always up for a witty retort against those too willing to end his life. I find this one really funny:

"Such as why you chose this kind of life for yourself. To appoint yourself protector of mortal kind, and to make yourself the enemy of any who would do them harm. To live outcast from your own kind, laughed at and mocked by most mortals. Living in a hovel, barely scraping by. Spurning wealth and fame. Why do you do it?"

"I'm a disciple of the Tao of Peter Parker, obviously," I said.

I guess Nicodemus was a DC Comics fan, because he didn't get it.

Oh well.

While not my favorite of the five books so far (I love Grave Peril best), there's always that part where Harry's past or those relating to his parents are mentioned, giving us a few hints about possible situations in the future. Just morsels though. Enough to be wary of Harry yet knowing fully well he's worth the trust I've given him for the five stories I've journeyed with him. Oh dear, I should stop.

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This is the second book I finished out of my Readers Imbibing Peril III Challenge pool.