by Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files #5
Narrator: James Marsters
Length: 11 hours and 21 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 5 cups
HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, should be happy that business is pretty good for a change. But now he's getting more than he bargained for.
A duel with the Red Court of Vampires' champion, who must kill Harry to end the war between vampires and wizards...
Professional hit men using Harry for target practice...
The missing Shroud of Turin...
A handless and headless corpse the Chicago police need identified...
Not to mention the return of Harry's ex-girlfriend Susan, who's still struggling with her semivampiric nature. And who seems to have a new man in her life.
Some days, it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. No matter how much you're charging.
Death Masks by Jim Butcher is the fifth audio in the Dresden Files. When life seems to good..you know trouble is coming and that is just what Harry finds, as Marsters rocks the narration.
HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.
Due to characters growth and alliances I recommend that this series be read in order.
We spend time with Michael, his family and other Knights of the Cross as Harry finds himself dealing with a vampire of the Red Court who wants a duel and a priest who wants Harry to find a lost object for him. Easy right? Wrong. It seems others want it as well and are even willing to kill for it.
In the meantime, Harry’s old girlfriend Susan shows up and things get mighty interesting. Her return allows Harry to move forward so to speak. We get a little romance and even some heated scenes as these two make peace. Susan grew on me a little, as you might remember I wasn’t her biggest fan, but by book end, I won’t be if she becomes a larger part of Harry’s story.
I love the secondary characters like Thomas, John Marconi, and Karin. With each book we see Harry go through growth and this remains true in Death Masks. While Harry may come off as sexist and often pessimistic, I cannot help but love him. He feels real, heck all of the characters feel real; ugly flaws and all. At his core he is a really good guy trying to protect the innocent.
Butcher shares some things that make me wonder how much of this world we do not yet understand. It had me excited.
As I’ve stated previously I’ve bought all of the audios. James Marsters has become the voice for these characters and I can’t fathom not listening.
This almost gained a five cup rating, but I wanted more from the ending. I will let you decide. Fans of snark, the supernatural world and private eyes who carry a staff will want to check out this urban fantasy series. Each book is stronger than its predecessor and I cannot wait to being the next audio.
Come along with Harry as he solves another case and faces down death in Death Mask. I cannot wait to being Blood Rites.
Death Masks by Jim Butcher is the fifth audio in the Dresden Files. When life seems to good..you know trouble is coming and that is just what Harry finds, as Marsters rocks the narration. #loveaudiobooks Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
I love the cover. It really grabs me. 5th in the series. Ughh have to start with the first. =)
Mary
Olivia Roach
It’s always great when you are in a series but the author still is unpacking and revealing elements of the world to keep the world building active and still part of the enjoyment of the story! Reading mysteries that involve magic to them too always makes me happy.
Kimberly
Agreed Olivia!
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra
It’s great to hear that you are still loving this series 5 books in. I’m going to have to see if my library has these on audio.
Kimberly
I a looking forward to diving back in, but first holiday books and an audio challenge 🙂
Jen
I love, love, love this series on audiobook. I got the first several from my library, but when they didn’t carry the rest, I bought them all, too. Most of these get As and A+s from me… Just reading your review – I want to go back and listen all over again! Thanks!
Kimberly
Glad I could take you on a trip down memory lane. I am anxious to dive into the next audio.
blodeuedd
I really should give them a go., and yes maybe in audio then
Kimberly
Sweet. You will laugh at the earlier ones with squeaking chairs and heaving breathing..but I love them on audio
Anisa Mcdaniel
This has been a fun series for me. I find myself listening to it and not getting anything else done. Not that it’s a bad thing though. My read at night in bed has been Jake Warner’s Coming of Age in Berkeley. If you need a good forbidden romance, or a novel that is a bit taboo then this is the one! Pretty good!
Kimberly
Thank you for the rec Anisa. I will look it up 🙂
Melanie Simmons
I’m glad you continue to love this series. It is a favorite of mine. I’m currently waiting for another book (it has been forever since a full-length novel has been released). I did enjoy the anthology Brief Cases while I wait.
Kimberly
I hope to read/listen to some of the anthologies. I keep hoping that authors like the Andrews and Butcher will take all the novellas and create one book/audio.
Melanie Simmons
YES!!! That would be awesome
sjhigbee
Yes… I’ve read the whole series, but I can imagine James Masters narrating these books must be a real treat…
Kimberly
I am happy to finally be listening. They have been on my backlist forever.
Sophia Rose
I do love that UF series offer the scope for a character to keep growing as they go, but also have some pretty exciting adventures that start off all simple and easy. One of these days, I will get to this series. Good to know that the narrator makes it even better.
Kimberly
You sound like me when I check out a review on one your long running series. I am really determined to figure out where I am in the JD Robb series though.
Mary Kirkland
I haven’t read one of his books but from your reviews maybe I should.
Kimberly
I think you’d have fun with these.
Anne
I LOVE these so much. I love the snark. I love James Marsters’ narration. I’m finally caught up and I just want to listen to them all over again because it’s like one big 10 stars story for me.
The very first audio books I purchased were Harry Potter and Harry Dresden. There might be a theme there. The next though were Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland vampires and Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Kimberly
LOL..theme indeed. Have you listened to the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne?
Anne
On my TBR. I read the first one and got sidetracked. I’ll go back and start over on audio. I’ve been on blogs which were somewhat romance focused and I love romance but I REALLY love fantasy, mystery, suspense, scifi,… with a little romance too.
I don’t suppose you know any other series about wizards named Harry? That seems a sure-fire hit for me.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Kimberly
LOL, nope but I do think you’d like Changeling by Molly Harper.
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
I want to start this series as I have heard really good things about it. With your review, it makes want to read this right away!
Mary
Kimberly
I hope you start them. I am having a good time with the characters
Heidi
I have had this series on my wish list for far too long. Your reviews are spurring me to finally get after it on audio. I need to find a replacement for Kevin Hearne.
Kimberly
Yes. I hope you enjoy them Heidi.
Debbie Haupt
Kim your reviews of this series are making them sound good to me. As you know it is a series I have not read. Hmmm I’m just about to click the wish list for them 🙂
Kimberly
Really? I am trying to be so vague because spoilers. I felt it lacked substance.
Debbie Haupt
I don’t think it lacked substance at all. Maybe because I haven’t read any it sounds really good, romance, mystery, paranormal characters, the fact that you didn’t like the girlfriend before. Oh yeah it does not lack substance 🙂
sherry fundin
I know I have read some of his work, but would have to go back and check what. This is a series I want on my reading list. Great review.
Kimberly
Thanks Sherry. These are widely available and pop up on sale often for Kindle.
Melliane
Oh that’s so great there! I need to read book 2!!
Nick
I love that you see growth from the secondary characters too. Now that’s a sign of the strength of a good author!
Kimberly
They are really forming this team and I like it.
Nadene
You are on a roll with series.
Kimberly
I am trying to listen to at least one a month.
Tash
I need to check this series out as I like the concept of this series. I enjoyed the one another book of his I read and I need to fill in the need for the next Cinder Spires book
Kimberly
I’ve been doing that with beloved series, replacing them with series from my backlist etc.
Ailyn Koay
why does the shroud of turin sounds familiar? poor harry, not a good day is it?
Kimberly
Cloth wrapped around Jesus when he was laid to rest.
Ailyn Koay
Thought it was that, or something from Lord of the rings