Ben Pick
Written on Sep 23, 2020
“The wildest, strangest, best Dresden adventure to date...Butcher’s blending of modern fantasy with classic noir sensibilities ensures that there’s never a dull moment.”—SF Site
Paranormal investigations are Harry Dresden’s business and Chicago is his beat, as he tries to bring law and order to a world of wizards and monsters that exists alongside everyday life. And though most inhabitants of the Windy City don’t believe in magic, the Special Investigations Department of the Chicago PD knows better.
Karrin Murphy is the head of S. I. and Harry’s good friend. So when a killer vampire threatens to destroy Murphy’s reputation unless Harry does her bidding, he has no choice. The vampire wants the Word of Kemmler (whatever that is) and all the power that comes with it. Now, Harry is in a race against time—and six merciless necromancers—to find the Word before Chicago experiences a Halloween night to wake the dead...
- ISBN10 0451460278
- ISBN13 9780451460271
- Publish Date 3 May 2005
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 19 July 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Roc
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 396
- Language English
Reviews
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Dec 29, 2018
When Marva threatens to release information that would destroy Harry's good friend and head of SI, Karrin Murphy, Harry has no choice but to find the Word of Kemmler and bring it to her. Doesn't mean he can't read it first.
Mouse, his brother, Butters and others will add him. This was a crazy episode with necromancers, a T-Rex and moments with the council that were pivotal as Harry gets a promotion. Seriously, this book had it all from Morgan losing his wizarding mind, to Butters making me hoot with laughter.
“We are not going to die.”
Butters stared up at me, pale, his eyes terrified. “We’re not?”
“No. And do you know why?” He shook his head.
“Because Thomas is too pretty to die. And because I’m too stubborn to die.”
I hauled on his shirt even harder. “And most of all because tomorrow is Oktoberfest, Butters, and polka will never die.”
I loved the little tidbits about the Wild Hunt and the wars, not to mention understanding what makes Harry tick. While character growth is slow especially when it comes to Harry, I love him a little more with each book, or at least I understand him. In this we see a little romance. If you call it a romance. It was strange and I will leave it for you to discover. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
ibeforem
Written on Dec 23, 2011
When the book opens, Harry has found himself in a bit of a weird place in his life. His newly-discovered half-brother is still sleeping on his couch, one of his hands is essentially non-functional, and Murphy is jetting off to Hawaii with none other than the mercenary Kincaid. Harry is still dealing with that last piece of news when vampire queen Marva pays him a visit and saddles him with a nasty piece of blackmail: if Harry doesn’t find a mysterious book called the Word of Kemmler, Marva will frame Murphy for murder.
It’s hard to define what follows as anything other than a "romp". Harry is chased throughout the city by various unknown wizards and various undead things. With him is the medical examiner Waldo Butters, who is in danger because he has unwittingly learned too much. And they are on the clock, because the big bad is going down on Halloween. Harry once again is at the end of his rope and frankly, this ending is one of the most entertaining in the series.
I like to read about Harry’s personal life as much as his magical one, and I was glad that he had a bit of a love interest other than Murphy in this book (though he continues to feel conflicted about her). It’s too bad that his new lady wasn’t quite what she appeared to be.
I have especially enjoyed this series since I switched over to listening to the audiobooks. If this is a series you have been the slightest bit lukewarm about, I really recommend them.