Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, struggles with a dry spell in his detective work until a grotesque murder demands his supernatural expertise. As Harry delves into the case, he encounters a trio of conflicting werewolf factions, endures mistrust from his closest ally on the police force, and dodges hostility from the FBI. With time running out and the next full moon approaching, Harry must solve the mystery behind the vicious killings and clear his name, while navigating a treacherous world where magic and monsters are all too real.