Wizard for hire Harry Dresden gets mixed-up with the dead in this “haunting, fantastical novel”(Publishers Weekly) in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.Harry Dresden’s faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory, when you’re the only professional wizard in the Chicago area phone book.But in all … Chicago area phone book.
But in all Harry’s years of supernatural sleuthing, he’s never faced anything like this: the spirit world’s gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble—and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone—or something—is purposely stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn’t figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself…
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I was hooked on Harry Dresden years ago. Grave Peril is another great HD Files story filled with action, suspense and heart. It’s Urban Fantasy at its finest!
I’m reading the Dresden series as an author learning event. And this book didn’t disappoint. Just when you think Butcher couldn’t put his character in a worse situation, he does. And again. And again. Make your main characters earn their ending.
Cozy fans will love the paranormal mystery and the quirky, realistic wizard that’s just trying to be a good guy.
Well DAMN, what a hell of a ride this book was.
I finished the audio last night and I’m still not sure what to think and how to review it. I also think there is not much that can be said without spoiling it for the few souls that have to read this book series yet.
If you are one of them…. Stop what you’re doing and go get started on this … for real …l waited way too long to get this series started and wish I would have listened an started it earlier. But at least now I can binge it.
This book started out like the last books with what seems like a case for Harry, but all that changes quickly. There is a lot of things happening and some that I think will change the rest of the series.
I still love Harry (more than I should.. I think lol) and how he handles his things and even things that are not him or for him. I think his loyalty to his friends will be the death of him someday … for real that time lol. His sense of humor is just the best, hands down. Way to many times that I laughed out loud looking like a loon in public.
While Murphy is very important to the story, she is not as much in this book as I hoped, but for a reason. I still love her every time she is around. But mostly his friendship to her.
Susan…. Same with her , love her and a lot things are happening with her, that are vital to the story.
Bob …. Bahahahha …. I want my own Bob… for real.
We meet Michael (and his wife) in this book who I also really, really loved, I hope he will remain a big part of the series. He somehow balances Harry out and makes a good counterpart to him.
We also meet Thomas, I think we will see more of him in future book, I have a feeling there is more to him and am curious to see what that is.
The end left me a bit heartbroken and I’m curious to see how things play out for my darlings
Overall, I LOVED this book. We get action, humor, heartbreak, nail-biting suspense all jam packed full in one wonderful epic story.
I listen to the audio and highly recommend them as well if you are an audio fan. James Masters does a terrific job with these books.
Overall I can’t rate it any lower than full 5
I assume that Jim Butcher is in possession of a magical ring of imagination +5. He probably wears a cloak of protection vs plot holes and has boots of leaping narrative chasms.
In all honesty, I’m impressed with his writing, however I’m going to ping this book a star for losing my engagement. It lacked the power to fully immerse me in the otherwise dazzling magical world of Chicago that Harry inhabits.
I think I know what the problem is – it’s the villains. From the ghosts to the vampires, they have no depth…
Even Harry’s faerie godmother is predictable because she’s two dimensional.
It’s a sorry state of affairs when the villains lack charisma.
The Harry Dresden books just keep getting better as Butcher adds more depth to his world and characters to the roster. Here we meet Michael, a friend of Harry’s who is a knight of the cross. Michael is a fantastic addition to the world because he creates such a stark contrast to Harry.
They’re two sides of the same hero coin. Harry is volatile, often reckless with his immense power, and endlessly irreverent. Michael is serene, calm, and the template for a Good Man. He frowns at profanity and REALLY frowns when Harry curses using God’s name.
In the first two books, because we’re behind Harry’s eyes, it’s easy to see him -even as obviously flawed as he is- as the knight in shining armor. He bends the law, curses and kills. Harry is bent and battered, but we can accept that because we live in a bent and battered world. But once Butcher puts Harry side-by-side next to an ACTUAL knight in shining armor, we see Harry in a new light.
No, Harry’s no sterling hero; he’s something even rarer. It’s far more difficult to continue believing in yourself -and in doing good in the world- when you are flawed, emotional and mistake-prone. And that is far easier to identify with than the big-chinned Superman who always does everything by-the-book. C’mon, how many people are actually like that?
No, much as I love Michael and applaud what he stands for, give me Harry Dresden as the hero every time. I admire Michael, but I IDENTIFY with Harry.
Never a dull moment with Chicago’s only resident wizard Harry Dresden! While mundane Chicagoans go about their largely normal lives, the city’s supernatural goings on would scare them silly if they had a clue. Harry and his interesting collection of friends and colleagues somehow manage to keep the otherworldly evil in check at great peril to themselves. I’ve never read a Butcher offering that I could put down.
What can I say here? It’s Harry Dresden!! He’s fighting the supernatural and defending Chicago. I’m a fan, I love the series, I hope Butcher never stops writing them.
Harry Dresden is a wizard in Chicago, facing off against all kinds of supernatural bad guys and gals. Also love the cast of characters and the humor amid the danger.
In book three, Dresden finds himself in an several untenable situations. He is in love and stumbling to commit. Ghosts are going crazy and committing heinous crimes against humans. Something is killing the team he worked on a case on in horrible ways.
His precious Murphy is taken down, and his enmities are closing in.
On the plus side, Dresden has a new companion that is a steel rod of God, Bob the skull proves his value, and the WhiteCouncil is not pursuing him—-maybe.
Woo. Wee. Loved it.
“Some words have a power that has nothing to do with supernatural forces. They resound in the heart and mind, they live long after the sounds of them have died away, they echo in the heart and the soul. They have power, and that power is very real.”
I’m doing a re-read of the Dresden Files and with each book, I’m reminded why I’m so freakin’ in love with this series! If you are a fan of kick ass stories, even if you aren’t a fan of the paranormal, I can’t recommend this series enough!
The Dresden Files are just always fun urban fantasy.
O enjoyed the way the characters interacted.
Jim Butcher’s Dresden Series awakened me to new type of book. He is the kind of author that you can’t wait for the next one. I didn’t really think I would like these books, but boy was I wrong. Highly recommended.
Mr. Jim Butcher must be a very entertaining person! I have enjoyed reading his books.
This is part of a great series of books: The Dresden Files.
Great wizard fantasy
I loved this book. The Dresden books are all favorites of mine.. Wizards, witches, Vampires and Dresden is a consulting wizard. He faces problems with vampires, Celtic Deities and has to watch his step or he may wind up in trouble with The Wizards council.
One of my favorite Series.
Henry Dresden is such an amazing character, full of dry whit, eccentric, intelligent, reluctantly caring and self reproaching. He is a wizard of high caliber. His friends are completely loyal, his enemies evil and driven. This book is creative, fascinating and engaging. The performance was amazing. The storyline flowed smoothly and quickly. The mystery was action packed, chalked full of surprises, unexpected twists, danger, dead ends and on the edge of your seat suspense. I loved the mixture of paranormal with the everyday world that they lived in. Each chapter built on the last, keeping me engaged and anxiously awaiting the outcome. Simply terrific writing.
This series is addictive! I loved them all.