Death Masks cover art

Death Masks

The Dresden Files, Book 5

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Death Masks

By: Jim Butcher
Narrated by: James Marsters
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About this listen

The Dresden Files have taken the genre of paranormal mystery to a new level of action, excitement, and hard-hitting magical muscle. Now, in Death Masks, Jim Butcher’s smart-guy private eye may have taken on more than he ever wanted to handle.

Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only practicing professional wizard, should be happy that business is pretty good for a change. But he also knows that whenever things are going good, the only way left for them to go is bad. Way bad. Such as:

A duel with the lethal champion of the Red Court, who must kill Harry to end the war between vampires and wizards.

Professional hit men using Harry for target practice.

The missing Shroud of Turin—and the possible involvement of Chicago's most feared mob boss.

A handless and headless corpse the Chicago police need identified.

Not to mention the return of Harry’s ex-girlfriend Susan, who’s still struggling with her semi-vampiric nature. And who seems to have a new man in her life. Some days, it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed. No matter how much you’re charging.©2003 Jim Butcher; (P)2009 Penguin Audiobooks
Fantasy Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Magic Paranormal Chicago Classics Magic Users Wizardry

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Critic reviews

Praise for the Dresden Files

“Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Philip Marlowe.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Tanya Huff will love this series.”—Midwest Book Review

“Superlative.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“One of the most enjoyable marriages of the fantasy and mystery genres on the shelves.”—Cinescape

“Butcher...spins an excellent noirish detective yarn in a well-crafted, supernaturally-charged setting. The supporting cast is again fantastic, and Harry’s wit continues to fly in the face of a peril-fraught plot.”—Booklist (starred review)

“What’s not to like about this series?...It takes the best elements of urban fantasy, mixes it with some good old-fashioned noir mystery, tosses in a dash of romance and a lot of high-octane action, shakes, stirs, and serves.”—SF Site

“A tricky plot complete with against-the-clock pacing, firefights, explosions, and plenty of magic. Longtime series fans as well as newcomers drawn by the SciFi Channel’s TV series based on the novels should find this supernatural mystery a real winner.”—Library Journal

“What would you get if you crossed Spenser with Merlin? Probably you would come up with someone very like Harry Dresden, wizard, tough guy and star of [the Dresden Files].”—The Washington Times
All stars
Most relevant
As a brayniac I find James Marsters a lovely change of tone & pace.

Jim butcher hasn’t disappointed me yet.

Onwards and upwards!

Took me a while, but got there in the end!

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I love the Dresen files... I was soo looking forward to this and I started listening with anticipation.. Just as the story gets going the book just abruptly stops! Kinda feel quite cheated that I have to purchase the next book for the conclusion of the story. Usually, each book functions as a self contained story, so not happy with this!

Most of this "half of a" book is spent getting reacquainted with all the characters we know and love. The main story is the rescue of Harry's brother Thomas because he's killed someone but we don't know quite why. The story is building with white council politics brewing against Harry. Harry will be torn between the city under attack, his responsibilities to winter Court and his brothers fate .. And that's where it kinda just "runs out" abruptly ...

James Marsters is superb as always.. Lol.. Even the book cover is suspiciously looking more and more like him (from his buffy phase)!

The low star rating is mainly because you only get "half" a book.

Only "half" a book!! Not happy about that!

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I enjoyed this book, new bad guys introduced and we got to meet the other knights although that didn't end completely well. Was sad to see Harry and Susan's relationship officially end. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Excellent!

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The characters continue to evolve nicely and this was possibly my favourite in the series so far.

Great Read

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The story line is getting better and better .
The narration is amazing, very well done .

Very good story , Excellent narrating

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