This is not Butcher's best work, which still makes it solidly better than most authors' best.

The book begins with an ultra-powerful Red Court vampire challenging Chicago-based wizard Harry Dresden to a duel. Harry knows that fighting this guy is a bad idea, but not agreeing to the duel may be even more dangerous.

Now that Harry has agreed to a duel he most likely won't win, he finds himself embroiled in a case involving the missing Shroud of Turin, the Vatican, horrific murders, a plague that makes the Bubonic Plague look benevolent, and powerful demons.

Only smart-mouthing Harry Dresden can waltz through situations like these and... How do I finish the sentence? He doesn't come out unscathed. he doesn't make it look easy. In typical Butcher style, he never loses his sense of humor, not even in the final shootout; but he also never loses sight of the gravity of his situation.

So how does this book fit into the Dresden universe quality wise? It's a damn-site better than Storm Front, but no competition for Small Favor (my personal favorite Dresden book) or Changes. This book, like the rest of the Dresden Files, seems to fall in between those extremes.

Again, just to make sure I have been clear, tis book is absolutely worth reading.