Leah knew that Harry had Bob and Mab probably found out about it when she had to take over Leah's godmother duties while Leah was on ice.

It's all a Nemesis plot. The Outsiders have a long-time plan that is winding down to a major confrontation, the BAT.

The Formor would have probably risen after the Reds took out the White Council except for Harry taking out the Reds. The Reds would have been weakened by the fight and squabbling among themselves for leadership. (Remember, taking out the Red King was part of the plan.)

Instead, the Reds are gone from the table leaving a major power vacuum. The Formor have probably been secretly watching all coastal cities for hundreds of years. They had their own low profile spy network and were getting subtle guidance from Nemesis all along. They merely sent in their advance forces to establish beachheads and covert slave taking. They didn't do all this in just a few days, they had the better part of the two years between Changes and Peace Talks.

And the Formor were always a major power among the supernatural nations. As long as they stay in the sea, no one could take them out. But with the Reds gone, the White Council at its weakest and Winter occupied by the Outsiders, they saw an opportunity. Even if they failed, they have 2/3rds of the plant to hide in and their strongholds are not only well hidden but in places that are well defended just by the environment.

Chichen Itza was always going to be a big event because seemingly the casting of a Bloodline Curse takes a huge amount of power. It got even bigger because it was going to be a shot that reopened the war with the White Council while also heralding new leadership in the Red Court. Martin's scheme (Which he had over a century to plan) required a great deal of luck to get a newly fledged vampire like Susan in place by the altar or it's possible that he had an alternate strategy of killing Maggie and then having Susan sacrifice him as he turned as a fallback.

Yes, Mab and the other powers are trying to clean house before the BAT. They're going to need as unified a front as they can get to hold reality from within and without. One wonders how big a contribution normal humanity can make. Individually mortals are outmatched but determined mobs with torches and pitchforks have always been a threat. We have bigger, better organized and far better armed mobs today.

Eh...

the Demon being what it is, I have my doubts Lara could be redeemed without booting the Hunger. In which case she might live a good few years, but she'd need some supernatural boost to be 300+.
Something like becoming the next Winter Queen after Mab? The Knight is to some extent consort of the Queens of Faerie, too, which a wedding would fit quite adequately.

I have my own doubts about Lara being redeemed. It would take either a change in the nature of her personal Demon, say to feeding off Love rather than Lust and thus weakening the urge to kill. Or Harry could get a further power-up to say the level of a Forest Person where a feeding wouldn't be fatal. I'm just speculating though. Most likely Jim will keep Lara and Harry to a once twice per book interaction even if the wedding goes through and is consummated.

If you think Harry will have trouble adjusting, just imagine how much mileage Jim can get from Thomas's reactions if he is ever freed. Thomas and Michael would be 1a and 1b for best man or would you make Thomas the ring bearer?

Lara’s eyes became grim, and she gave me a small, firm nod and offered me her hand. “Shake on it, wizard?” I nodded and traded grips with her. “Agreed.” And a flickering something went between us. It wasn’t White Court mojo, I didn’t think. Just . . . a shivering note of energy. A harmony. It was a promise both of us had put a measure of will behind. It was a promise both of us meant to keep. We both had the same feelings about family. “Excellent,” said Mab from behind us. “Lady Lara, upon due consideration, your third favor is granted. You have my permission to court my Knight. The wedding will commence at sundown.” “Uh,” I said, “what?” Lara arched an eyebrow. “What?” “WHAT!!??” sputtered Molly.

Butcher, Jim. Battle Ground (Dresden Files Book 17) (p. 388). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.


I mean, Mab states the favor outright here.

While I anticipate that most of these dates will be to political and social soirees, a Cubs game should definitely be on the docket if Harry gets to choose any date sites. And there will definitely be one or two events involving Marcone as host or guest.

You guys aren't being fair to Ghost Story Harry. While learning all the rules of his ghostly existence and putting down a threat from Corpsetaker and Evil Bob, he steadily worked toward solving his murder with limited assistance in the span of 4 days.

Actually, the last time Harry was a detective was in The Law. It's not a super tough mystery, but it is more in line with real life PI work.