Despondent over the loss of his vampire girlfriend, private detective and wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden undertakes a mission for the Winter Queen of Faerie to find out who murdered the Summer Queen's right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen of the crime.

"In his life, Harry's been shot, stabbed, sliced, beaten, burned, crushed, and tortured. And after someone puts a bullet through his chest and leaves him to die in the waters of Lake Michigan, things really start going downhill. But even trapped in the realm between life and death, Harry can't catch a break. He learns that three of his friends are destined to experience unbearable torment and agony. Only by bringing his murderer to justice can he...