fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsProven Guilty by Jim ButcherProven Guilty by Jim Butcher

After decades of reading SFF, and after stuffing hundreds of fantasy novels under my middle-aged belt (it occurs to me that this is not the most attractive metaphor), it surprises me when I finish book eight in a series and am eager to acquire book nine. It rarely happens anymore. But, I’ve just finished Proven Guilty, book eight in Jim Butcher’s THE DRESDEN FILES and I’m eager to move on to book nine, White Night. The only thing stopping me from diving right in is that I’m on the wait list at my library.

It seems like that’s all I should really have to say about Proven Guilty because if you’re reading this and you’re already a fan of the series, that’s all you needed to know — that Butcher is keeping up his end of the bargain by continuing to provide his readers with entertaining stories full of action, drama, characters we love, and a touch of his appealing humor. If you’re new to the series, perhaps you are just checking in to make sure that THE DRESDEN FILES isn’t one of those series that loses steam over the course of several books and eventually fizzles out before coming to an inglorious end. Rest assured that this is not the case. THE DRESDEN FILES just gets better and better.

The Dresden Files Series Kindle EditionIn Proven Guilty Harry is asked by a member of the White Council to discover who is using black magic in Chicago. The trail leads him to a Horror convention where attendees are being brutally murdered by monsters right out of the horror movies they love. What makes it worse for Harry is that Molly, his friend Michael’s daughter, is somehow involved. His investigation strains his relationship with Michael’s family and uncovers some important secrets.

The bigger story arc gradually progresses — Harry is concerned about treachery on the White Council, conspiracies in the Winter Court, the threat of war with the Red Court, and the possibility that a new unknown power is on the scene. Harry’s personal relationships are also changing — not only with Michael’s family, but with Murphy, Thomas, members of the White Council, and the fallen angel who lives in his head. Harry has some serious ethical dilemmas in Proven Guilty and he’s starting to think more about his lack of faith in the God he knows exists.

At the end of Proven Guilty, things are much different than they were at the beginning, and most readers will be as eager as I am to see what happens next. I think this is the best book in the series so far. I’m listening to James Marsters narrate the excellent audio version.

Author

  • Kat Hooper

    KAT HOOPER, who started this site in June 2007, earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience and psychology at Indiana University (Bloomington) and now teaches and conducts brain research at the University of North Florida. When she reads fiction, she wants to encounter new ideas and lots of imagination. She wants to view the world in a different way. She wants to have her mind blown. She loves beautiful language and has no patience for dull prose, vapid romance, or cheesy dialogue. She prefers complex characterization, intriguing plots, and plenty of action. Favorite authors are Jack Vance, Robin Hobb, Kage Baker, William Gibson, Gene Wolfe, Richard Matheson, and C.S. Lewis.