Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5) by Jim Butcher Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)
Book Review: He’s more than a long leather coat
Summary: 5 Stars
The fifth in the Dresden Files pits our hero Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only working Wizard – well, the only one in the Yellow Pages at any rate – against the demands of the other world, the underworld and those of his day job as a Private Investigator. The opening chapter sets up nicely the simultaneous conflicting pressures that Harry’s supernatural friends and enemies place on him. And by the second chapter, there has been an attempt on his life and he’s been given notice that the Red Court is threatening not only his own life, but that of those he cares about. Top that off with his human friends and their demands, and a bad day gets that much worse.All in a days work for Harry, but that’s all the better for those of us following his adventures. Here the central mystery is a couple of gruesome deaths and the theft of the Shroud (that covered Christ’s body until he was resurrected). As events move forward it becomes clear that both are linked. As usual there’s much more to the book than just mystery – fantasy, adventure and an element of romance as Susan turns up in Chicago again also take precedence from time to time. This serves to heighten or slow the pace as required to drive the plot forward. There are no new threats here – it’s essentially the Red Court as we’ve met in the previous 2 books of the series - and the mob has it’s influence too. However the danger Harry faces is very real, unrelenting as the story is told over just a few days, and from all sides. This makes for a fast paced, action packed style that any who have read the series will recognise and appreciate.
While the majority of the players are those known already to Dresden file followers, Butcher has not fallen into the trap of making his story inaccessible to potential new readers. Past events influencing the story are briefly described, but in enough detail that the book need not be read as part of the series, although as a Dresden junkie I do think that because events are so skilfully handled in the ups and downs of being Harry, the books would be best read in order.
I did find the ending of Death Masks left me feeling a bit down – the roller coaster ride of not only the dangers Harry faced but the various emotional storms carried me along and left me a little wrung out. Also, although the danger has receded for a time, like the tide it is inevitable it will resurge again, giving that there is more to follow. Cool.
Book Review: Best Dresden yet
Summary: 5 Stars
This volume is the best in the Harry Dresden series so far. Harry fights new bad guys helped by some new and old allies.The action is non-stop. In the first 50 pages, Butcher kicks of five or six parallel storylines (which of course turn out to be connected), and from there the story never lets up. This book has no slow passages, and gives you no time to catch your breath. Read it, but if you're new to the series, go back and start at number one - it's definitely worth it.
Book Review: An Excellent Addition to the Series.
Summary: 5 Stars
Typical of most of the Dresden Files this book is a non-stop page turner. The best thing is that Jim Butcher is improving in his craft. In comparison to his first two novels, which were a little awkward, the plot twists and characterisations in 'Death Masks' are markedly improved. The especially nice to see.Another enjoyable aspect is that Dresden's actions have long term consequences; the war with the Red Court is a reaction to a minor scene in the first book and there is definitely a major future plot point that is set up in the last pages of this book. Jim Butcher handles this much better than most other authors.
Book Review: one of the most underrated writers
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, Jim Butcher writes books you just can't put down!Every book is so good, you just want to know how it ends, so you keep on reading and reading and when you finally come to the end, you look at the clock and it's 5 a.m. But it's definately worth the hours of sleep that you are going to miss,. Just buy this!!
Book Review: Getting better all the time
Summary: 4 Stars
The Harry Dresden series is an undiscovered gem at the moment. The books were until recently only available in the US, and it took a while for the public to catch on to this cool, smart PI/practising wizard who risks fates much, much worse than death to save us poor oblivious mortals.With the Dresden Files about to become a TV show, now is your chance to catch up with the first few books in the series. Each one is darker and more complex, and in Death Masks we see Harry (a non-believer) forced to help the Church recover the stolen Shroud of Turin, meeting new monsters and new friends along the way.