White Night (novel)
 White Night | |
| Author | Jim Butcher |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Christian McGrath |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Dresden Files |
| Genre | Fantasy/Mystery |
| Publisher | Roc Hardcover |
Publication date | April 3, 2007 |
| Publication place | United States |
Published in English | April 3, 2007 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 416 |
| ISBN | 045146155X |
| Preceded by | Proven Guilty |
| Followed by | Small Favor |
White Night is the 9th book in The Dresden Files, Jim Butcher's continuing series about wizard detective Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Small Favor had a release date of April 3, 2007.
The cover art by illustrator Christian McGrath depicts Harry walking down a snowy street with his glowing staff. On Butcher's website, the first 3 chapters may be previewed.
Plot summary
Someone is targeting the city's magic practitioners, the members of the supernatural underclass who don't possess enough power to become full-fledged wizards. Many have vanished. Others appear to be victims of suicide. But the murderer has left a calling card at one of the crime scenes--a message for Harry Dresden, referencing the book of Exodus and the killing of witches.
Harry sets out to find the killer before he can strike again, but his investigation turns up evidence pointing to the one suspect he cannot possibly believe guilty: his half brother, Thomas. Determined to bring the real murderer to justice and clear his brother's name, Harry attracts the attention of the White Court of vampires, becoming embroiled in a power struggle that renders him outnumbered, outclassed, and dangerously susceptible to temptation.
Harry knows that if he screws this one up, a lot of people will die--and one of them will be his brother.
Plot points introduced
- Harry's Mysterious Past: Lasciel tells Harry that his birth was orchestrated to give him the potential to wield power over Outsiders.
- Lasciel: Harry resolves his possession by a spirit of Lasciel (the Fallen who inhabits the coin he touched in Death Masks).
- Johnny Marcone: Assists Harry in return for Harry's help in making him the first human Free Lord of the Unseelie Accords.
- The Council: Capt. Luccio enchanted the Wardens' swords and cannot make more at this time. Cowl (last seen in Dead Beat) reappears. Ramirez is also aware of the Black Council and of a likely traitor in their midst.
- The War: The White Court is negotiating a cease-fire with the White Council during this book. Harry has a flashback to a ghoul attack on Captain Luccio's boot camp for new warders.
Characters
Characters that return are in bold, major characters are Italic.
- Harry Dresden: Professional wizard and main character of the book
- 'Bob': A intelligent air spirit who lives inside a skull in Dresden's sub-basement laboratory, formerly owned by the infamous necromancer Kemmler
- Molly Carptenter: Michael Carpenter's daughter; Harry's apprentice
- Elaine Lilian Mallory: Harry's first love and a former apprentice to Justin DuMorne, now working as a wizard in San Diego.
- Madrigal Raith: White Court vampire who first appeared in Proven Guilty.
- Thomas Raith: Harry's half-brother, White Court vampire. By the end of this book, he has been restored to favor among the Raithe family and his source of income and food has been revealed.
- Carlos Ramirez: Harry's fellow Warder in North America.
Minor Appearances
- Helen Beckett: ex-wife of __ Beckett, and ally of Victor Sells in Storm Front. Member of the Ordo Lebes and working for Marcone.
- Waldo Butters: medical examiner who became very aware of the supernatural in Dead Beat.
- Cowl: powerful wizard and likely traitor on the White Council. First appeared in Deat Beat.
- Justine: Thomas' lover, now working for and under the protection of Lara Raith
- Lasciel: One of the Fallen. Harry touched a coin and made contact with her in Death Masks.
- Mac: owner of McAnally's tavern
- Gentleman Johnnie Marcone: Chicago's lead gangster and, by the end of the book, a Free Lord under the Unseelie Accords
- Mister: Dresden's 30+ pound house cat
- Mouse: Harry's dog(introduced in Blood Rites) is clearly established to be a Temple Dog.
- Sgt. Karrin Murphy: Detective Sgt. and former head of Special Investigations.
- Lara Raith: Effective head of the White Court.
New Characters
- Anna Ash: head of the Ordo Lebes, an organization of minor female practitioners.
- Priscilla: member of the Ordo Lebes. A disguised Skavis (White Court vampire who feeds on despair).
- Vittoro Malvora: White Court vampire working with Madrigal Raith
White Night in Other Media
White Night is not yet available as an audiobook.
External links
The first three chapters of the book may be found on the author's official site.