I have been reading Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books for a while now. I catch each book in the series on e-book just after the paperback comes out in print (it's a little cheaper that way). All of which points to why I was really surprised and happy to pick up 2012's Cold Days, the 14th Dresden Files novel, on sale for Kindle back in December. For those who aren't familiar with Harry Dresden or the Dresden Files, let me catch you up (non-spoiler fashion).
We are first introduced to Harry Dresden, Wizard for Hire, in 2000 when Storm Front was published by Roc. Harry lives in Chicago and is a Private Investigator who uses magic to help his clients. Often, he is asked to find things that are lost or stolen, a specialty of his. Through Harry we are introduced to modern-day Chicago's supernatural world with normal human police trying to keep the peace while all sorts of urban fantasy types are creating havoc.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but each book in the series revolves around a case, mission or issue that Harry is trying to solve or resolve. He works with friends, his wits and, sometimes, brute force to try to overcome the obstacles set in front of him. He will get beat up along the way, but (since there are now 14 books with 15 on the way in 2014) makes his way through to the other side of his challenges.
The books are all written in the first person with Harry as the narrator. I can't recall that formula being broken throughout the series so far. We do sometimes get stories from other people's perspectives in the world in short story format in the Side Jobs collection. The books are fast-paced, somewhat hard-boiled detective, urban fantasy with a Wizard as the hired gun. The dialogue is witty and ready-made for translation to video (TV or movie) - which there was a short-lived SciFi (SyFy) show, The Dresden Files, that lasted for 12 episodes.
I like how the world keeps expanding and evolving through the series. We grow with Harry as he overcomes the obstacles in front of him. We see things change - neither he (nor his friends) are static. It is nice to see when often we don't want to have things change because we like the formula, but here it opens up more of the world and allows us to see things from different perspectives.
In the Dresden Files books, there is evil and good and a lot in between. Sometimes you have to walk the line of doing the wrong thing to achieve a good result and sometimes the hardest thing to do is not to submit to temptation. In Cold Days, that is similar to what Harry is dealing with. He has a job to do, but he may not like what it is or how it might affect him to do it. He also doesn't know exactly who he should trust or who he is willing to put in danger by asking for their help.
You see, after Changes and Ghost Story, things have really gone into new territory for all of the characters of the Dresden Files and Harry is working out his new responsibilities and how to handle the changes that have happened. We learn more about Harry, the world of the Dresden Files and again witness major character changes. It is surprising how big some of the reveals and story arc twists are in these later books in the series and they work. You also start to wonder how much more Harry can take.
If you like good urban fantasy with detective work, supernatural and magical elements then you probably have already tried the Dresden Files. If not, you should. Pick up Storm Front and get to know Harry and his friends. As I just finished book 14 of the series and I am eagerly awaiting book 15, I can tell you the journey is worth it and satisfying. Cold Days gets 5 Mick Happies. I hope Harry gets a little bit of a vacation before his next job.
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