Dead Beat

Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, finds his chaotic life spiraling further out of control when a dangerous adversary resurfaces. The formidable vampire Mavra, a nemesis from his past, blackmails Harry into undertaking a perilous mission: recover the fabled 'Word of Kemmler,' a tome of dark necromancy. Failure to comply means the public exposure of his friend and ally, Lieutenant Karrin Murphy, potentially ruining her career and life. As Halloween approaches, a night when the veil between worlds thins, Harry is thrust into a desperate race against time. He must contend not only with Mavra's threats but also with a cabal of six ruthless necromancers, all vying for the Word's immense power. With the fate of Chicago hanging in the balance, Harry must delve into the darkest corners of magic, confronting walking dead, powerful dark mages, and his own moral boundaries to prevent a catastrophic resurrection event and protect those he cares about most.