Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, should be happy that business is pretty good for a change. But he also knows that whenever things are going good, the only way left for them to go is bad. Way bad. Such as:

- A duel with the lethal champion of the Red Court, 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--and the possible involvement of Chicago's most feared mob boss...
- 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.