© James Pyles

Yesterday, I finished book seven in Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series Dead Beat. Like the rest of the books in this collection, the title is a play on words. This time, Harry Dresden faces the threat of necromancers, users of magic of the dead.

Harry’s life gets increasingly worse with each book and sometimes I marvel that he’s still alive.

Oh, before I go on, since this book was published in 2006, there are spoilers aplenty.

Harry’s detective friend Karrin Murphy goes off to Hawaii on vacation with a man (or being) of great power who Harry doesn’t trust. By now, the readers of this series know that at some point, Harry and Murphy are going to become lovers, but currently, he’s too noble and self-righteous to object to her plans.

He’s contacted by Mavra, his deadly vampire foe, who threatens to reveal certain illegal acts Murphy committed (all performed while helping Harry) and destroy her life if Harry doesn’t find and bring her something called the “Book of Kemmler.”

As it turns out, this book holds the secret to summoning a vast number of the spirits of the dead and focusing the energy in order to turn one necromancer into basically a god.

Harry’s half-brother, the White Court vampire Thomas is still living with him, but Thomas’ cavalier ways are making that a difficult proposition at best. The puppy “Mouse” that Harry previously acquired (and which has a mysterious lineage) is now a giant of Great Dane proportions, totally loyal to Harry, and not what he appears to be.

Harry’s left hand is still a burnt ruin from his previous misadventures and his new fear of fire magic is hampering his abilities.

All that’s just for starters.

We get a much better look at Waldo Butters, Harry’s polka loving coroner friend, who becomes involved neck deep in the search for the aforementioned book. Three pairs of competing necromancers are also looking for it, including the evil Grevane, a past student of the departed Kemmler, and Cowl, another apprentice who has what he considers to be more lofty goals for achieving great power.

In addition to Butcher’s reinterpretation of occult concepts like necromancy, zombies, ghouls, and the fae, he weaves yet another credible mystery which unfolds before the reader like a macabre blossom.

Another new character is a woman named Sheila, a recent arrival to Chicago with some knowledge of magic and who works at an occult bookstore owned by Artemis Bock.

At first, I thought I knew who Cowl and his associate Kumori were, but I was wrong. However, it was never revealed in the story why they were under thick hoods and their true faces always hidden. I thought that was a sure sign these were people we knew or at least who Harry knew.

The story has plenty of surprises and suspense. Once again, Harry incurs further injuries and yet, in spite of them, is still able to save the day while performing great feats both magical and physical (he always pays for this later).

Harry is also tempted to take possession of great power of his own from more than one source. Naturally, he refuses, at least on the surface, but as the danger to himself, his friends, and Chicago grows, he weakens and relents, but just a bit. We’ll probably see what that costs him in future books.

The reader gets more insight into the White Council Wardens, particularly their Captain Anastasia Luccio and the really annoying Morgan, a long time foe of Harry’s. They also spring a really big surprise on both Harry and us.

The hero of the day though, is Bob, the air spirit Harry uses for his great knowledge of magic and who normally resides in a fake skull. Bob’s own fearful past is revealed which presents a mortal danger to Harry, but he also rescues Harry and has a lot of fun doing it (hint: “Dino-Bob”).

In the end, the necromancers are all defeated, Morgan grudgingly finds a new respect for Harry (but still seemingly hates his guts), and Harry, behind the backs of the Wardens, fulfills his bargain to the vampire by giving her the Book of the Kemmler (I’m sure he’ll regret that in time).

The story ends on a hopeful note, but with many strings leading into future books (seventeen of them as of September 2020, so I’m not even halfway through).

Another intriguing, suspenseful, and fun romp through the Dresden Files. Naturally, it earns five stars.