Harry Dresden, Chicago's very own crime fighting wizard is back for his fourth adventure in Summer Knight. And this time, it's very, VERY personal. We find Harry in a bit of a slump ... he's broke, has no work and is spending all his time trying to find a cure for his girlfriend, who was infected by the Red Court of Vampires in the last book. And as if that wasn't bad enough, he is called before the White Court of Wizards to answer charges of murder, which, if proven will mean his execution! Into this mix come the Faeries, a notoriously tricky bunch of creatures who have a knack of getting exactly what they want at everyone else's expense. The Winter Queen "hires" Harry to find out who murdered the Summer Knight - the Summer Queen's right-hand man - and clear her own name in the process. It's an offer he cannot refuse and he gets to work, enlisting help along the way from Chicago PD's Murphy (his very human friend) and the Alphas (the local werewolf pack). Harry gets himself, and those around him, into a series of increasingly dangerous scrapes as he works the case while trying to stay alive ... oh, and then there's the small matter of saving the world as we know it! The action comes thick and fast as do the surprises and witty dialogue. More of Harry's back story is revealed, which helps to create a more rounded character. Author Jim Butcher has certainly hit his stride with this series and these books are becoming a guilty pleasure for me ... combining crime and fantasy fiction in a most satisfying way. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio edition, which is excellently narrated by James Marsters, who brings a world weary sarcasm to the proceedings that hit just the right note. Roll on book number five!
My STAR rating: FOUR.
Length: 448 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; unabridged MP3; ebook.
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