The Dresden Files

“Friday night, I went so see Bianca, the vampiress.

I didn’t just leap out of bed and go and see her, of course. You don’t go walking into the proverbial lion’s den lightly. You start with a good breakfast.”

Meet Harry Dresden; down-at-heels gumshoe working the PI circuit in Chicago. And like another Harry, he’s a wizard. The only one in the phone book; as his ad says:

“Lost items found. Paranormal investigations. Consulting. Advice, Reasonable rates. No Love Potions, Endless purses or Other Entertainments.”

Jim Butcher’s DresdenFiles novels have been around for a while over the pond, but are new to the UK. Orbit is releasing them in a similar manner to the Tanya Huff and Charlaine Harris novels – nice, simple packaging with the first few coming out quite quickly. Like Huff’s Blood books or Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Mysteries they look like they are nicer versions of the old pulp novels.

They’re not – they are actually very fun wee books, highly enjoyable and packing a good bit into a small package. Sometimes you just can’t face another 700 pages fantasy tome, no matter how well written; that’s when this neat little series comes into its own. It also makes them perfect for reading on the bus or train and they fit right into your jacket pocket. The first in the series, Storm Front, sees Harry called in as a consultant to the Chicago PD on a case of magical murder; soon he’s dragged into the middle of shady goings-on involving a missing husband, a gang drug war (with magical drugs) and a pissed-off vampiress.

Add in an unfortunate tendency to disrupt electronic devices and a talking, wise-ass skull, a constant problem with paying the bills (like the best Private Eyes) and you’ve got something rather cool. If you’re looking for something enjoyable to get into and aren’t quite ready to face the next 700 page volume, then try checking out Jim Butcher – good things do come in small packages sometimes.