Ghost Story

June 27, 2011
Butcher's 13th supernatural crime novel featuring Chicago-based wizard Harry Dresden (after 2010's Changes) is less accessible to newcomers than many of its predecessors, though longtime fans will be gratified. The current volume opens with Dresden in a limbo-like state, after "a long, long day, battling the forces of evil, destroying the Red Court utterly, rescuing my daughter and murdering her motherâoh, and getting shot to death." Police captain Collin J. Murphy, the late father of Dresden's longtime ally Karrin, explains that an "irregularity" with Dresden's death requires him to go back to Chicago to solve his own murder. Dresden obligingly returns to the world he'd just left, experiencing a steep learning curve as he adjusts to his incorporeal state. The usual plot twists and high-stakes combat with an assortment of supernatural beings ought to hold Butcher's fans for another year.

Starred review from July 1, 2011
Harry Dresden's back for another adventure against forces far greater than himselfbusiness as usual for Chicago's favorite wizard. Except this time he has a bit of a handicap. He's dead, and he's been sent back to solve the mystery of his murder and make a last stab at saving the people he loves. His first stop is the household of a medium, Mortimer, who's none too fond of him. There are nasty spirits afoot, and Harry helps Mort's guardian spirit fight them off. In return, Mort reluctantly gives him an audience. Things are bad in Chicago, so bad that Murphy is working with Marcone. For various reasons, nobody wants to believe Harry's now a ghost, but Harry's cat, Mister, makes a compelling argument for the truth. Harry learns something about what's going on in ghostly Chicago and encounters an old enemy he barely managed to defeat once before before the proceedings come to a head in the worst place imaginable. As usual, Harry bumbles through some high-tension moments, managing to be extremely effective despite himself, then to almost fail before coming out in one damaged piece. Ghost Story is a high-octane addition to the series, and Butcher keeps pushing Harry to the edge in a way that makes the next volume something to anticipate eagerly. High Demand Backstory: Butcher is the dean of contemporary urban fantasy and as such his new novel will be clamored for and should be in all SF/Fantasy collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)