Grave Peril – The Dresden Files Book 3 by Jim Butcher
Review by Jacqui Slaney
Having read and enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was pleased when this book came to the top of my too read pile and I soon found my self caught up in a tale of monsters, vampires and many ghosts.
This is the description:
Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them do not play well with humans. That is where Harry comes in. Harry has faced some terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you're the only wizard in town. But in all Harry's years of supernatural sleuthing, he's never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone loco. All over town, ghosts are causing trouble - and not the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone is stirring them up to wreak havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he might just wind up a ghost himself.
Magic - it can get a guy killed.
You definitely need to have read the first two books to enjoy this story properly, as there are quite a few references to what has gone on before, especially about the incident with the werewolves. However, for those who know Harry, you will find him as good a character as ever. His relationship with the reporter Susan has become more romantic, with Harry trying to say a certain three words, but failing miserably. To be fail to him though he is slightly busy working with his friend Michael, a sword wielding Knight of God, trying to stop a ghost from killing a hospital nursery full of newborns.
In this story, you see a small glimpse into Harry’s younger life and his relationship with his Godmother, who as you would expect is a genuine fairy and not someone who you would really want to mess with. You also read about the other creatures that seem to live in this world, if live is the right word. Again I seem to have found a book stuffed full of vampires, (everything I read lately seems to have a link to them, and I keep finding films about them on the TV!) here you read about the different types- who knew there were more than one!
However, you will love to hate Marva from the black court and will like Thomas from the white court I think, whist Bianca from the Red court who the reader has met before from Book 1 is definitely to be avoided
I want to be careful not to give away any of the plot, I know how annoying reviews are that spoil what is going to happen in the book, so just let me say that the plot line is clever, and the description of what is torturing Ghosts and humans alike is quite gruesome.
The same dry humour runs through the book, and the interaction between Harry and his ultra good friend Michael is well written.
If I have a complaint, it is because for a while at the start of the book, I thought I had somehow missed a book out. There is talk of an event that happened between the characters, which involved the police, Harry and Michael and has a direct link to this book. It is something quite major but it is just mentioned in passing so for a little while I was a bit lost and actually went back to check that this was actually book 3.
This is a small complaint, and as the story goes on, you do find out a bit more about it, the other small annoyance is Harry’s use of the phrase ‘ Hells Bell’s’ , which after a while grated slightly on me.
These are just minor things, and do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book at all.
8 out of 10
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