Review: Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

Chicago's favorite wizard for hire, Harry Dresden, is back in Turn Coat, the eleventh novel of the very popular Dresden Files series. The action begins immediately when Warden Donald Morgan shows up on Harry's doorstep, gravely injured and apparently on the run from the White Council, the very organization that tasked Morgan to keep a watchful eye on Harry. Not able to help himself, Harry agrees to help Morgan find the real killer of councilman LaFortier and clear his name.

To make matters worse, Harry finds himself up against an ancient and powerful Skinwalker. The Skinwalker kidnaps Thomas Raith, Harry's vampire half brother, and offers a trade for Warden Morgan. Harry enlists the aid of Molly Carpenter, his "padawan", Toot Toot, the White Court of vampires, a pack of werewolves, another private investigator, and the White Council in an attempt to overcome the Skinwalker, prove Morgan's innocence, uncover the real murderer, and prove the existence of a Black Council. All in a day's work for Harry Dresden.

I believe this is the best book in the series. The story is thrown at you on page one, and it flows flawlessly to the last page of the book. There is plenty of action throughout and the pages flew by for me. I enjoyed getting a closer look at the White Court of vampires and how they operate. I also enjoyed the back story of Harry's involvement with Anastasia Luccio, the Captain of the Wardens.

Being told from Harry's point of view really gives the novels that personal connection with the reader. Harry Dresden is the hero, but he has flaws. Harry has to work hard to save the day. His self-deprecating and sarcastic personality endear him to us even more. Such lines as "Sometimes irony is a lot like a big old kick in the balls" will stick with us long after reading the book.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy/dark fantasy/urban fantasy novels. It's hard to lump the Dresden Files series into just one genre. Since this is the eleventh book in the series, you might be able to follow the story without having read the previous ten books, but you will get so much more out of it if you have. Now that I'm finished, I can't wait for the next installment tentatively set for April of 2010.