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I just finished reading Jim Butcher’s fantasy/horror novel Grave Peril, book number three in the Dresden Files series.

Harry Dresden is the only professional wizard listed in the Chicago phone book. He’s like a private detective, but the mysteries he’s called to solve always involve the supernatural and usually something very, very nasty.

While he’s on retainer with the Chicago P.D. “Special Crimes” unit, he often goes out on his own when something deadly threatens the community, or often himself and those he knows and loves.

“Grave Peril” started differently than the previous two books I’ve read. Harry was in the middle of confronting a hostile ghost with a very unlikely ally, Christian and Knight Michael Carpenter (the last name is especially cheesy given his faith).

Something has stirred up the spirit world and weakened the barrier between our reality and the Nevernever, the realm of ghosts, demons, fairies, and darkness. Ghosts are being brutally tormented by a mysterious “Nightmare,” something from Harry’s past. He and Michael confront the spirit of a maniacal nurse from Chicago’s 19th century in the maternity ward of Cook County General, and unless Harry and Michael can stop her, she will murder scores of newborn infants.

That’s how the story begins. It proceeds with many people being threatened and savaged by the Nightmare, including Harry’s police ally Detective Karrin Murphy.

The trail leads back to an ill-conceived bargain he made with his malevolent fairie Godmother which he has broken more than once leading to dire consequences.

It leads to a battle against a second-rate wizard and a first-class demon, both of whom Harry, Michael, and several others believed they had defeated.

It also leads to an unknown young woman and magic user who begs for Harry’s help. This on the heels of Harry and a “plus one” being invited to a board meeting of Chicago’s local vampire population. The Baroness Bianca heads the board and she already has a grudge against Harry. In order to solve the puzzle of the tormented ghosts, Harry and Michael must attend a costume party filled with thirsty vampires.

Finally, Harry’s girlfriend, reporter and supernatural investigator Susan Rodriquez puts herself in a situation well beyond he ability to manage or even survive, in spite of Harry’s attempts to protect her.

Harry reminds me a little of Magnum P.I. (the 1980s original, not the remake). Harry and Magnum often find themselves in peril in spite of their best efforts or sometimes because of them. They’re both good people who want to help, but they don’t always make good decision. They also both have the talent of alienating those they are closest to, again, all in the attempt to protect them from harm.

Dresden’s adventures tend to go from bad, to worse, to more worse, to worst, and then go down hill from there. This book ramps up that intensity, and as in the prior two books, by the end, Harry’s still alive, the evil is gone or held at bay for the moment, and Harry’s decisions have produced some rising horror he’ll have to deal with in the future. It’s really, really bad this time.

At the end of this book, it’s Susan who pays the price costing both she and Harry their dearest love.

The series is addictive, kind of like “vampire venom,” so don’t start reading if you don’t want to stop.

Jim Butcher is a wonderful master of suspense, worldbuilding and unique interpretations of the supernatural beings we’ve taken for granted as far back as Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster.

Grave Peril is another successful entry into this book series and yes, I can’t wait to read the next one.

As an aside, the character of Michael was interesting. In Harry’s universe, a strong faith possesses its own power. Harry’s faith is in the principals of magic and that gives him strength. Michael’s faith is in Christ and Harry’s ability to see beyond the surface shows him (and the reader) that such a faith protects the Knight from great evil. Vampires even burn when they touch Michael.

Michael is rendered as a Catholic. There’s nothing wrong with that except that non-Christians tend to depict ALL Christianity as Catholicism (which is why when I write Christian characters, in almost every case, they aren’t Catholic).

Michael and his family are a tad stereotypic. His wife Charity is feisty and pregnant. They already have a lot of children. Their local priest watches the children when Michael is chasing evil with Harry and Charity is otherwise indisposed (read the book for more on that).

Michael, though fond of Harry and their shared quest against darkness, disapproves of much of his lifestyle and behavior (swearing, having sex outside of marriage, making potions with a spirit named “Bob” who lives inside a skull). For his part, Harry likes Michael, is intimidated by Charity, and doesn’t understand God.

At least a Christian character is related positively and as I was carried along by the narrative, I wondered how much “power” might be attached to my own faith.

I say all this for the sake of any Christians who might be attracted to this book and book series. This is the first time Michael participated in Harry’s adventures. I hope it’s not the last.