Back in May, I decided it was time to get back to the Dresden Files. So I grabbed the third book off my shelf, stuffed it in my luggage, and flew off to Michigan with it. At least, I assume that’s what happened, because I remember the intention to do so, but somewhere in the course of that weekend, the book disappeared into a mystical vortex or fell through a hole in reality, or something. You know how you’ll walk around life, and occasionally when you open a door you’re certain that instead of leading to wherever it’s supposed to lead, it will instead be a portal to someplace else entirely? That is what happened to my book, is what I’m saying.

Luckily, it only took a little over a month to find a replacement copy. So now I’ve read Grave Peril, and dude, this series is really maintaining its awesomeness. Only now, there’s added depth. We learn a little more about Harry Dresden’s possibly-dark past (but only a little), while he tries to figure out who or what is riling up all the Chicago-area ghosts; plus, he’s got to sort out his relationship issues with tabloid journalist Susan Rodriguez and represent the White Council (wizards who are also good guys, and all organized, and maybe a little to strict about the good guy thing for the realities of Butcher’s magical world) at the promotion party of local vampiric queenpin Bianca, with whom he has a tenuous relationship at best. (But still not the Anita Blake kind. Yay!)

All of those ingredients rate pretty well for some tasty plot soup, although I could wish that… well, there’s no way to clarify without massive spoilers; but one aspect of the mystery was heavy-handed, yet I’m not sure how it could have been handled differently without writing an entirely different book, so I’ll let it go. The mystery really is the least part of these, what with the continued greatness of Harry’s narrative voice. And now there are signs that the books are tying together into a slightly less episodic format, which also fills me with glee. At least, until I get to a book with a cliffhangerish ending and don’t have the sequel published and sitting on my shelf, waiting for me. But that day is a ways off, so for now: glee.