The Dresden Files: Death Masks (Jim Butcher)

Title: Death Masks

Series: The Dresden Files

Author: Jim Butcher

Released: 2003

Rating: 4.5/5

Basic Plot: Harry Dresden has to find the missing Shroud of Turin (which leads to a deeper plot), duel a Red Court Vampire, and deal with his feelings for his ex-girlfriend when she comes back to town.

The Detective Work In This Book
Even though Harry Dresden is a detective there is an obvious lack of being a detective in this series. However, in this book, it is the most detective like of the books in the series (that I have yet read). That doesn't last by the end of the book, but it is good enough.

Susan Coming Back
Harry and Susan were a couple. I like how their relationship was dealt with in this book. You can tell both still love the other but life has pulled them apart. In the sex scene the raw emotions that get released seem very real. And this is a sex scene that has a huge payoff in Changes (another book in The Dresden Files series).

The Plague That Was Going to Be Released
Many people may think that the plague was a doomsday event. However, I do not believe that is the case. The Denarians tell Harry that the plague is not to be the end of the world, but a spreader of chaos. So the plague would last a little while but would probably not cause the end of the world.

Final Thoughts
If you liked the other books in the series, you will like this one. I feel this is the weakest of the books, but it still does an excellent job. Some things in this book don't make sense like how all of the Knights of the Cross are not Christians. It's a very odd plot point that just confused the heck out of me. The Denarians are a great group of villains.