Blood Rites, by Jim Butcher is the sixth in the series following the adventures of Harry Dresden, Chicago's very own Wizard Private Investigator. The book opens with an action sequence involving Harry and his vampire buddy Thomas, who is helping him escape from a hail of flaming monkey poo. Thomas then asks Harry to look into a series of murders centred around the production of an adult film. It looks like someone is out to get the Producer, as the women he is closest to are being killed in unusual ways. Harry goes undercover on the set, discovers that dark magical forces are indeed involved and sets out to trap the perpetrator in his own inimitable fashion. However, it appears that two of Thomas's "sisters" are also involved in the film and matters inevitably become complicated. This novel entertains the reader with the usual mix of magical mayhem and sleuthing. However, we also get to know a more about Harry's long-dead mother, and that he might not be as alone in the world as he has always believed. This revelation is shattering and Harry is not sure he's equipped to deal with it - or even if he can live long enough to find out. Full of fun, flawed characters, most of whom are definitely in touch with their dark side, this is a book for fans of both fantasy and crime/thrillers. I read the audio version, superbly narrated, as always by James Marsters who is now, for me, the embodiment of the wizard himself.
My STAR rating: FOUR.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook
Length: 416 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84
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