Jim Butcher

The only wizard in the Chicago phone book, Harry is given the task of investigating rumors of black magic in the Windy City, while, at the same time, searching for some malevolent entities that feed on fear who have been set loose on Chicago. Reprint.

A Novel of the Dresden Files

Proven Guilty

Sarah Sammis

The non-council part of the story opens with Harry having to bail out Molly and her friend. Their arrest leads to trouble at a local comic convention. Dresden is at the convention when a horrific murder happens — one that he can't explain. 

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Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Harry has no friends on the White Council of Wizards, who find him brash and undisciplined (and they may have a point). However, now vampire wars have thinned out the wizards a little, they need him. So before he can blink, he's assigned to investigate rumours of black magic. Harry's other problem is an old friend's daughter - all grown-up and in trouble already. Her boyfriend insists he's innocent of something resembling a crime straight out of a horror film. This first impression turns out to be . . . well, pretty accurate, as Harry discovers malevolent entities feeding on fear. All in a day's work for a wizard, his dog, and a talking skull named Bob. Magic - it can get a guy killed.

Wynter

*read in Don LaFontaine voice* In the book where everyone chews their lip when baffled, and world hunger, slow wifi, and the existence of Justin Bieber are all Harry's fault, something dark encroaches on the land of magical Chicago. Just when you thought it was safe to enjoy your favourite B-movie in the dim lights of the theater, there comes a hoard of bloodthirsty, Lawyer-Friendly Cameos out of the deepest corners of your childhood fears. Hammerhands. Reaper. And yes, Bucky the Murder Doll. Will Harry Dresden save the world, or will he yet again drown in self-loathing? *end trailer*

In other news, what in the heck Butcher?! Why on earth did you think that touching upon sexualization of an underage girl would be a good idea? I was seriously grossed out by scenes with Dresden checking Molly out and wondering about her "hidden" piercings. And there are two shower scenes, yo! Not cool, not cool. I don't want to be grossed out by a book, so the next one better be darn amazing. Or else.

Jeff James

Continuing my slow but steady progress on the Dresden Files books, which are always a good time and always marvelously narrated by James Marsters (except for the one temporarily released with another narrator until the fan outcry). This one introduces Molly Carpenter, Dresden’s apprentice, as a major character. I felt like Butcher engaged in a bit of unnecessary leering in Molly’s first character descriptions, but you could argue that they set up a plot development at the end of the book that defines clear boundaries and a line that Dresden will not cross with his new apprentice. That said, I wonder if he’d make the same creative choice today.

Charity. Who'da thunk it. You badass, you.

laura

Yoomi

This book felt more like a setup for the next but it still had plenty of action. And James Marsters can make anything sound good.

But a couple things bothered me. The minor thing was the overuse of the word "ululating". It stood out for some reason and I wished it had been edited.

The major thing was the sexualizing of Molly. Made my skin crawl. I'm glad Harry sets things straight in the end but I can't shake the uncomfortable feeling it gave me when he described her.

Pam Sartain

Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files 8) has Harry at a horror film festival which Molly (Michael's eldest daughter) is working at, and something hinkey is going on there.  Harry has also been warned that there's black magic being practiced in Chicago.  And there's something odd going on with the faeries.  We wouldn't want Harry to get bored now, would we? 

Harry's world is one that has been built very well, and you've been introduced to extra characters gradually, so Michael (for instance) can come back, is a consistent character, we know what to expect of him, and is a distinct character.  There's no confusing people in the Dresden Files, which is a great thing.

There is good development with Harry's character and world, and makes me excited about the next book (and the next, and the next!).  

Proven Guilty was published on 6th February 2007, and is available on  Amazon ,  Waterstones  and  Bookshop.org .

You can follow Jim Butcher on his  website ,  Twitter  and  Facebook .

Proven Guilty A Novel of the Dresden Files

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