In one word: Damsels
Cannonball Read Bingo: Free! (From my local library)
The Dresden Files are what I would call a fun yet forgettable romp. Every time I am writing a review I’m typically behind so I’m already halfway into his next book and have completely forgotten the plot of the previous one. This was no different. This time around I’m actually 3/4 through book 10 already so book 9 is truly a thing of the past.
Butcher takes a page from Charlaine Harris (or I guess depending on the timeline, she took it from him) wherein in every book he reintroduces every single main character a la what I recall liking the least about the Sookie Stackhouse series. I mean. C’mon. This is book 9. Is anyone hopping in for the first time at book nine? There are only so many times I need the rehash. At this point, I could do it myself in shorthand. Dresden, Wizard; Karen Murphy, short capable lady detective; Bob, randy knowledgable skull; Thomas, sexy vampire brother. Move it along, Butcher. I just needed to get it off my chest because like I said, 3/4 of the way through 10 so I already know he does it again. Sigh.
Anyhoo, this time around the damsels in distress Harry is aiding are women of magical abilities who are dying by supposed suicide, but there is more going on than meets the eye. He is pulled in to investigate by Detective Murphy and racing to find the killer and uncover exactly how Thomas is involved. Hijinks ensue.
This book, and really, the entire series, has some pretty dated moments. In this installment, we get some cringy commentary regarding male hairstylists. It’s got a real stereotypical early 2000s feel but with Butcher you sort of know what you’re getting into. His stuff doesn’t age well, but if you look at it as a time capsule you can make it out okay.
I should say although I’m getting a bit weary of Dresden (and thus of Butcher) I’m still moving ahead which I think is 60% due to the audio stylings of James Marsters. At this point he IS Dresden, and I’ll keep coming back for more as long as he keeps reading them.