Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8)
by Jim Butcher
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jim ButcherEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-05-02
ISBN: 0451460855
Number of pages: 406
Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews of Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8)
Book Review: "Dresden Taxidermy - you snuff it, we'll stuff it."
Summary: 5 Stars
In the late 80s, I remember coming across Mike Resnick's STALKING THE UNICORN, which tells of a New York P.I. hired to locate a missing unicorn. Shortly after, I started reading Glen Cook's series of Garrett books and thinking how cool the premise was: an old-school-type private eye plying his trade in a fantasy setting. Jim Butcher, in this decade, has seemingly taken up Glen Cook's mantle as Harry Dresden is proving to be an even more popular, higher profiled character than Garrett. While I've grown quite disenchanted with Cook's more recent Garrett efforts, Butcher's Dresden books seem to keep getting bigger and better. PROVEN GUILTY, the eight installment in the Dresden Files, is yet another example of how entertaining this series has become.
Plot SPOILERS here. After the vampiric Red Court's decimation of the ranks of the White Council of Wizards (in DEAD BEAT), self-advertising wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden now finds himself reluctantly enlisted as a new Warden. While maintaining his acrimonious relationship with stuffy head Council member Merlin, Harry is tasked by another senior Council elder to investigate acts of black magic being perpetrated in Dresden's Chicago hometown. Harry's plate of trouble gets even more heaped on as he is begged by Molly Carpenter, the daughter of a friend, to help out her boyfriend, who just might be in magical peril. Molly is the daughter of Michael Carpenter, a Knight of the Cross and a friend whom Harry had been guiltily avoiding due to Harry's tainted passengering of the ancient fallen angel Lasciel upon his consciousness.
Add to his woes the further machinations of the fairy Summer and Winter factions and it all boils down to Harry and his tiny group of friends venturing into a monster convention (Splattercon!!!), fighting off phobophages (malignant creatures who siphon off their victims' fears), invading the heart of the Sidhe Winter court on a rescue mission, and even possibly defying the White Council itself.
In seven books, Jim Butcher has gradually enlarged his cast of characters within the world of Harry Dresden, some of whom return here. PROVEN GUILTY treats the reader with appearances by the devout knight Michael Carpenter, Lily and Fix (now respectively the Summer Lady and Summer Knight), Harry's incubus brother Thomas, and Karrin Murphy, head of Chicago PD's Special Investigations Department and Harry's potential romantic interest. This time, the spotlight shines bright on Michael's frosty but loyal wife Charity, who proves she's more than just about nagging and hating on Harry, and her rebellious teen daughter Molly, who's keeping her own secret. Meanwhile, Harry's immoral though invaluable skull familiar Bob continues to provide the lighter moments, while Harry's faithful dog Mouse makes me want to buy a pet and go hunting for vampires.
There are events unfolding here which will have huge repercussions down the line for Dresden as he persists in challenging the Council's stringent policies and defiantly following his own personal code of ethics. PROVEN GUILTY is another excellent read as it rapidly involves the reader in its breakneck pace, engaging characters, and a plot rife with implications, monsters, and magical showdowns. The series' prevailing arc involving the war amongst the Council, the Red Court, and the fairy assemblies continues to be given great weight and attention as Harry's place in the ongoing struggle is defined even more clearly. As usual, Jim Butcher toes the line as he infuses elements of humor, pathos, and heroic drama into his efforts. He succeeds admirably. Harry Dresden is a nifty character who, with his wise-cracking yet ethical and darkly tainted persona, proves to be appealing and popular enough to garner his own television series on the Sci-Fi Channel. Jim Butcher's next Harry Dresden hardcover is WHITE NIGHT and comes out in April 2007. Can't friggin' wait!
Summary of Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8)
Elevated "into the front rank of urban fantasy heroes" (SF Site), professional wizard Harry Dresden is pledged to fight crime, banish evil, and outwit the masters of dark arts in the shadowy corners of Chicago.Harry, the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, is drafted to look into rumors of black magic in the Windy City. And if that wasn't enough, he must help the daughter of an old friend, whose boyfriend was the only one in a room where an old man was attacked. He insists he didn't do it. And what looks like a supernatural assault straight out of a horror film turns out to be-well, something quite close to that, as Harry discovers that malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in Chicago.
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