Harry Dresden has survived the events of Fool Moon—barely—but all is not well in his world. He's still alienated from his closest friend, Karrin Murphy, and on exceedingly poor terms with Chicago's number one gangster, John Marcone. And that's just the small stuff—the creatures of the Nevernever don't take vacations and aren't particularly worried about Harry's friendships or love life

Harry's traveled from his home turf of Chicago to investigate a series of inexplicable murders in a small Missouri town. He's already managed to turn half the burg against him, with the other half's motives even murkier. And that's not even taking the Ghoul and Goblin who've both separately nearly killed him. Unfortunately, they may have succeeded in murdering the eldest of the cursed family he's trying to protect-a man who harbors his own dark secrets. It's time for Harry to seek the help of a higher authority...

Harry Dresden came to rural Missouri to free the star-crossed Talbot family from the curse that's nearly wiped out the bloodline. Unfortunately, his only two allies have been fired from the local police force and revealed as a carnivorous ghoul, respectively—oh, and he's been arrested, leaving the aforementioned Talbots virtually defenseless against the supernatural creatures hunting them. Aside from that, things are great...

Harry Dresden, a Chicago private investigator and wizard, heads to a small, isolated Missouri town terrorized by Nevernever monsters. The singularly unfortunate Talbot family has suffered a curse that has decimated their number for generations, and only our hero can save them... that is, if he can survive hostile lawmen, the dark secrets of townsfolk, an ancient guardian spirit, and two deadly carnivores! Can Dresden cleanse the Talbot bloodline of its curse without a blood sacrifice of his own?