Review - Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) By Jim Butcher

I watched the SciFi Channel series adaptation of the Dresden Files but did not care for the Harry Dresden character as portrayed on the show. Now, that I have read Storm Front, the first book in the series, I find I like the anti-hero, who is a cross between Merlin and Robert B. Parker’s Spenser. Dresden does not hide the fact he is a wizard from the rest of world. Instead he tries to make a living as just that, a real wizard. This means he is usually broke and in some sort of trouble. He ekes out a living locating lost objects and people and works part time as a paranormal consultant to the Chicago police department
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Dresden is a rather dark figure; with a wicked, yet self deprecating sense of humor; his own sold code of honor; and a dedication to his clients. He lives with a 30 lb cat and Bob, an oversexed, grouchy spirit that lives in a skull. Harry really does know his magic, but is a bit hapless, losing his staff, getting ambushed, having the wrong potion go off at the wrong time.

In the opening book we find Harry, broke as usual, take on case to locate a missing husband and then get called in by Detective Karrin Murphy, of the Chicago PD, on a case where two people have had their hearts explode out of their chests. Murphy wants answers fast. The problem is Harry is under an eidetic called the Sword of Damocles, a sort of probation, from the White Council (the group of wizards who enforce the laws of magic). Morgan, a Warden for the Council suspects him of being the killer. He must prove his innocence to the White Counsel and Murphy who has also begun to suspect him. To complicate matters he must navigate around one of Chicago’s must powerful underworld bosses and find the killer before the White Counsel connives and decides he is guilty. Harry’s problem is the killer is a wizard equal to Harry’s power, if not his skill, and unlike Harry is not bound by the Laws of Magic, and he has Harry lined up to be the next victim.

Storm Front has a real mystery, well plotted with supernatural twist and turns. In the course of his investigation Harry has to deal with vampires, faeries, demons and even giant scorpions. I have become a fan of this series and plan on reading them all.