Turn Coat

February 23, 2009
The search for a traitor in the highest circles of power forms the main plot thread of Butcher's 11th hard-boiled fantasy novel featuring Chicago's wizard detective Harry Dresden (last seen in 2008's Small Favor
). Harry, a warden of the magic-governing White Council, finds himself in an unusual position when Morgan, his fellow warden and frequent antagonist, asks for his help. One of the White Council's leaders has been murdered, and Morgan was found at the scene of the crime holding the murder weapon. If he has been framed, then another senior wizard is behind the killing and may be trying to destroy the council entirely. Aided by werewolf and vampire allies, Dresden investigates with his trademark sardonic noir flair. Despite the sprawling plot, both fans and newcomers will get into the fast-paced action.

April 1, 2009
When fans of the immensely popular "Dresden Files" series last left the urban wizard in "Small Favor", he was dealing with the aftermath of an adventure that might have left his best friend's life and family in danger. But Harry is back in fine form in his 11th outing, which begins with another, extremely unexpected White Council Warden begging for sanctuary at Harry's place and ends with several frightening revelations. Once again, Butcher's urban fantasy features excellent, irreverent humor, the return of favorite characters, and new challenges from unexpected foes. Harry's cop friend, the tiny but fierce Murphy, sticks by his side here, as do the werewolves Harry befriended in 2001's "Fool Moon". Longtime readers will not be disappointed. Recommended for public libraries collecting the series; this is also a great book to plunge newbies into the dark, magical side of Chicago.Stacey Rottiers, Warren Civic Ctr. Lib., MI

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2009
Butchers series star, wizard detective Harry Dresden, has been facing ever more varied and dangerous trials. Once just Chicagos only wizard PI, Harry is now a warden of the White Council of Wizardsthat is, one of the enforcers of its rulesand it seems as though every time he gets a better grasp on his magical strength, his enemies worsen. When the parole officer of Harrys youth, Morgan, grievously injured and pursued by the wardens, comes to Harry for help, its the opening salvo of serious confrontation with the council. Morgan stands accused of killing senior council member LaFortier. The murder was certainly an inside job, and time is short to find the real killer before Morgan is summarily executed. Simultaneously, something unbelievably horrible and by all accounts far too powerful to take on alone is stalking Dresden. Searching for the killer, Harrys caught up in a plot leading to the White Court vampires and the very halls of the White Council. Meanwhile, his dogs daily duty is keeping Harrys apprentice and Morgan from one anothers throats. Fortunately, Harrys sense of humor lightens the tone of even the most serious confrontation, so though Butcher has turned up the tension here, this is an amusing, satisfying, and action-packed addition to the Dresden Files.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)