Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden

Harry and Susan have a date planned and are strongly attracted to one another. During the demon attack, a mistakenly consumed love potion intensifies Susan’s desire; Harry resists acting on it while she is under its influence. Their dangerous encounter deepens their flirtation.

Their relationship is strained by the events surrounding the investigation, but Murphy later rescinds Dresden’s arrest warrant, seeks his advice, and pays his expenses. Dresden considers them friends again, though old wounds remain.

Harry investigates Monica's connection to the murders and the lake-house party. She initially refuses to help and attacks him with a stunner, but after he recognizes her love for her children, she agrees to tell him what she knows.

Beckitt is among the named figures associated with the investigation, though these chapters provide no further detail about their interaction.

Bob is Harry’s resident spirit of intellect and magical adviser. He supplies potion recipes and knowledge, while teasing Harry and bargaining for chances to leave his skull.

Jennifer is a murder victim whose heart was magically torn from her chest. Harry sees her death as part of the same pattern as Tommy Tomm's and Linda Randall's.

Harry investigates Linda's murder and discovers that she arranged for Donny Wise to photograph a gathering at Victor Sells's lake house, apparently to obtain blackmail material. He feels grief and anger at her death despite not being romantically involved with her.

Mister is Harry’s beloved cat and companion, offering comfort while Harry recovers and reacting warily to the approaching supernatural threat.

Mrs. Beckitt is named in the character roster, but the supplied chapters do not establish the nature or dynamics of her relationship with Harry.

Tommy is one of the murder victims whose killing Harry is investigating. Harry fears suffering the same fate and names Tommy alongside Jennifer and Linda as victims of the Shadowman.

Dresden keeps his promise to Toot-toot and the other faeries by sending them pizza every night for a week and then weekly thereafter.

Harry confronts Donny at Linda's apartment and trades him the film for information about the lake-house photographs. Donny is frightened of the people involved and wants to escape alive.

Jenny asks Dresden to help her mother and seeks reassurance that he is one of the good guys. Dresden promises to do everything he can to help.

Harry turns to Mac’s pub for food and comfort, and they share a familiar, understated rapport. Mac offers blunt observations and occasional warnings, while generally staying out of Harry’s affairs.

Harry initially suspects Marcone ordered the attack that took his hair and confronts him at the Varsity. They discover they share an enemy, but Marcone warns that Harry's public defiance requires a response and says he cannot tolerate further interference in his affairs.

Morgan is Harry’s White Council Warden and believes Harry has committed black magic. He convenes the Council and intends to testify against Harry, expecting him to be sentenced to death.

Harry is searching for Victor, whom he suspects may be involved in sorcery and the deaths of Tommy Tomm and Jennifer Stanton. Victor is absent from their encounters in these chapters, but Harry’s investigation increasingly points toward him.

Harry confronts Bianca about Jennifer's murder. Their meeting turns violent when she attacks him, and she later threatens to make him regret exposing her true form.

The text does not identify the attacker by name; Harry suspects Marcone's organization after a man threatens him with a baseball bat. Hendricks is listed among the known characters, but this excerpt does not establish that he was the attacker.

The shadowy spellcaster sends a demon to kill Harry and Susan, declaring Harry an obstacle. Harry counters the caster’s projected image, but the identity remains unknown.

Gimpy attacks Harry and cuts off a lock of his hair, which could be used against him in magic. Harry tracks him to the Varsity and confronts him; Gimpy is killed during the confrontation.

Dresden has already banished the demon once and again defeats its control by speaking its name. He frees it from Victor’s binding, and it attacks Victor.

Carmichael distrusts Dresden and dismisses his abilities, while Dresden answers his skepticism with sarcasm. Their friction plays out at the crime scene as they dispute the value of Dresden’s conclusions.