Hello fellow bookworms, today, I’d like to share my thoughts about Death Masks by Jim Butcher. Book 5 in his bestselling urban fantasy series, The Dresden Files.
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Title: Death Masks (The Dresden Files, #5) by Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files #5
Published by Orbit on 4 March, 2010
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Formats Available: Audiobook, eBook, Kindle with Narration, Paperback
No. of Pages: 448
Narrator: James Marsters
Length: 11 hours 17 minutes
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 semi-vampiric 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.
Source: Bought
Purchase Links: Books2Read Universal Link ¦ Amazon* ¦ Audible* ¦ Book Depository* ¦ Foyles* ¦ Waterstones*
This year, as you may know, I set myself the long-overdue challenge of actually finishing some series! 😉 I’m linking up to the 2020 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge. Check out my progress here.
Today, I’m so happy to be able to check off another one from my TBR pile. I started The Dresden Files back in 2018! Eek!
So, what did I think of Death Masks?

An Urban Fantasy Adventure With Non-stop Action!
I’ve read the previous books in this series and really enjoyed them. The Dresden Files has become one of my favourite reads.
I love the way that the characters in these books are written. They’re multifaceted creations that feel believable; they have depth and layers to their personalities. Good or bad, light or dark is an illusion, the reality is actually one of the myriad shades of grey.
Death Masks was more than a good story, it had everything that I look for.
There’s a great balance between the various aspects of this story: Mystery, crime, thriller, horror, detective, mythology and the paranormal. Jim Butcher blends these harder aspects with well written humour, love, friendship and hope. This mix helps to keep the story from being too dark and heavy for me. Death Masks also managed to surprise me a few times too. I enjoyed trying to second guess where the story would take us next and how Harry would get out of the various pickles he found himself in.
I bought the audiobook format as well as the ebook and alternated between reading and listening to the tale. James Marsters performance was fantastic. The pace at which he read the narrative was appropriate for each scene, while the voices he gave to each character added another level of believability to the dialogue. I feel that James has also personified our protagonist, bringing him to life in his narration of Death Masks as he has done in the previous books.
Death Masks is a fantastic book. However, it’s part of an ongoing series so don’t expect all the loose ends to be neatly tied up. There’s no life-or-death cliffhanger at the end but although Harry may have won this battle we’re left in no doubt that the war still rages on. I for one, can’t wait to find out what adventures Harry is forced to go on in the next book.

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my thoughts. I hope I’ve sparked your interest in Death Masks and that you add it to your towering TBR piles. However, if you’ve already read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 😉
Bye for now,
Flora x

I’ve been doing a lot of series catch-up this year too lol. I’ve never read the Dresden Files but have heard of it. What you said about the characters has my interest! I’m glad you loved this book. Also glad to hear the audio is good!
I’m determined to finish at least a couple of series this year. I’m glad that I’ve tempted you to start the Dresden Files, Kristen.
YES!!! I love this series and it’s characters. I love re-reading the synopsis and hearing your thoughts. I listened to them all but have been collecting them on ebook.
Aww, thanks Kimberly. As I buy the Kindle I’m adding the narration. I’ve re-listened Fool Moon already. James’s voice is wonderful to listen to before bed. Lol! 😉