Really enjoy punctuating my regular reading with these audiobooks. ( )

One of the things that happens with these novels is that they launch right into the main plot and then they go full out until the dramatic conclusion. This one was no different, and I realized almost at the climax that this wasn’t preamble or some sidebar, but the action had in fact begun. Harry is tasked with tracking down the source of some black magic in Chicago, and he winds up at a horror movie convention where the bad guys from the movies have come to life and terrorized the fans. He discovers the involvement of his friend’s daughter, and winds up leading a mission to rescue her from supernatural kidnappers. All throughout, Harry feels as though there’s something else, something bigger, going on, and indeed that is how the book ends (no spoilers here) — the plot opens out into a deeper backstory and a new path for Harry. And also a couple of possible life-changing choices. It was all vastly entertaining in that violent and breathless sort of way that I’ve come to expect from the Dresden Files. I’m ready for a little break, but I’m sure I will plunge into the next one sooner rather than later. ( )

441 ( )

This is one of the best so far.
First it surprises me by going beyond the scope of what I had considered to be the main conflict, completely surprising me.
Second, it does a lot more set up for future books than 1-7 tended to do, making me eager to read more.
Lastly, it expanded on the Carpenter family who now houses my favorite supporting characters by FAR!!!
As usual, Butcher blends magic, humor, and suspense into a near-perfect concoction and that scratches every itch of my literary brain. Absolutely wonderful! ( )

This book is so far, for me, the best in the series. Well written, suspenseful and difficult to put down. Excellent novel. ( )