Brief Cases

May 7, 2018
This entertaining collection assembles 11 reprints and one brand new novella, all set in the world of Butcher’s popular Chicago-based wizard PI, Harry Dresden (last seen in 2014’s Skin Game). In a trio of lighthearted Bigfoot-centric stories, Harry helps out an erudite Sasquatch named River Shoulders on behalf of his half-human son, Irwin. In “Bombshells,” Harry’s apprentice, the quick-thinking Molly Carpenter, goes up against a powerful foe (while wearing a little black dress, no less), and in “Even Hand,” Harry’s sworn enemy, dapper crime boss John Marcone, takes drastic steps to protect an innocent child. The Wild West–set crowd-pleaser “A Fistful of Warlocks” features White Council Warden Anastasia Luccio, who teams up with Wyatt Earp to put a stop to some very dark deeds. The standout is the tender original novella, “Zoo Day,” in which Harry takes his 10-year-old daughter, Maggie, to the zoo. First they encounter a young warlock in need of Harry’s help, and then Maggie is attacked by a group of haunts. This collection mostly serves to whet longtime fans’ appetites while they wait for the next full-length installment, and newcomers will find little of interest here.

May 15, 2018

In a collection that follows Side Jobs, 12 stories, including a trio of Bigfoot tales and the never-before-published "Zoo Day," star wizard Harry Dresden and his associates once again. John Marcone shows that even criminals have rules when he defends those seeking shelter with him in "Even Hand." Apprentice Molly Carpenter learns WWHD--What Would Harry Do?--as she searches for vampire Thomas Roth in "Bombshells," then uncovers the truth of her new role as the Winter Lady in "Cold Case." It's been four years since the last full Dresden novel (Skin Game) was released, so readers will become reacquainted with Dresden's gritty wit, the Chicago setting, and the not-so-happy endings typical of these urban fantasy tales. Butcher shows there is a dark side, even to those considered heroes. And while these pieces will be familiar to those already acquainted with the series, as many have been previously published, newbies meeting the author's iconic protagonist for the first time will not be too lost within the pages. VERDICT Butcher's die-hard fans, along with fantasy short story enthusiasts, will find this compilation irresistible. [See Prepub Alert, 12/11/17.]--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

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