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Ghost Story: A Novel of the Dresden Files by…
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Ghost Story: A Novel of the Dresden Files (edition 2012)

by Jim Butcher

Series: The Dresden Files (13)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
4,2021912,794 (4.07)1 / 126
"In his life, Harry's been shot, stabbed, sliced, beaten, burned, crushed, and tortured. And after someone puts a bullet through his chest and leaves him to die in the waters of Lake Michigan, things really start going downhill. But even trapped in the realm between life and death, Harry can't catch a break. He learns that three of his friends are destined to experience unbearable torment and agony. Only by bringing his murderer to justice can he save his friends and move on to what comes next--a feat that would be a lot easier if he had a body and access to his powers. Instead, Harry must work as a ghost, unable to interact with the physical world, invisible and inaudible to almost everyone. Unfortunately he's not the only specter roaming Chicago. There are malevolent shadows who haven't forgotten Harry's predilection for putting evil in its place while he was alive. And now that Harry's on their turf, they are looking for some serious payback. So the late Harry Dresden will have to pull off the ultimate trick without using any magic--or face an eternity as just another lost soul"--… (more)
Member:Wazeau
Title:Ghost Story: A Novel of the Dresden Files
Authors:Jim Butcher
Info:Roc (2012), Edition: Reprint, Mass Market Paperback, 608 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:****
Tags:None

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Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

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 Jim Butcher: Ghost Story (Potential for Spoilers)27 unread / 27daschaich, December 2015

» See also 126 mentions

English (190)  German (1)  All languages (191)
Showing 1-5 of 190 (next | show all)
This book has such a different feel and flow than the rest of the series, in a good way. Very fun spin. ( )
  Save_Mothman | Mar 7, 2024 |
I, um, kind of finished this one sitting because I couldn't let Harry stay a ghost for long. Definitely interesting to see said character work without their usual tools. ( )
  Daumari | Dec 28, 2023 |
Changes ended with a bang (literally) - some consider it a cliffhanger (despite Mr. Butcher's claims it sorta qualifies..). Ghost Story picks up where Changes leaves off. Its a good novel. We get character development from several recurring characters, Harry still angst's, the Nevernever gets explored from a different angle, we even visit Bob's skull (wow amazing !!), and there's a lot of action. (of course!) Harry is always up to the tip of his staff with trouble.. :D

Which brings me to Bob. WHAT ABOUT BOB! (Bob was epic in this book btw) Harry! You didn't even [ok can't say I don't want to give spoilers]..

Mr. Butcher how could you leave us hanging about Bob!!!

(have you guessed I'm a Bob fan yet?) ( )
  Kiri | Dec 24, 2023 |
I gave this entry in the series 4 stars, just because I was very curious to see how it would turn out, but I actually skipped probably about 100 pages' worth of narration -- philosophy and filler about the nature of the spirit, how ghosts can operate in the physical realm, etc. As well as Dresden's endless reflection on all the things he did wrong, which ultimately put him in this position. It is not a spoiler to note that his position is dead. He is dead. At least, he's in spirit form, roaming the earth (or the city of Chicago anyway), trying to work out how he became dead, how he can continue to participate and influence his world, and what happens if and when his time on earth actually does come to an end. While I appreciate the unfolding of the larger Dresden chronicles, and the expansion of his world, I do sort of yearn for the simplicity of an urban fantasy procedural. Everything is getting so complex, with spirits, fairies, and other (mostly evil) supernatural beings, all of whom have immortal agendas that involve controlling or manipulating Dresden -- it's getting a little repetitive. So, quick summary: Dresden's Ghost gets into about the same kind of trouble as Dresden himself usually gets into, with the involvement of his merry band of sidekicks. I read ahead a little, and I've put the next volume into my "to-read" list, though I won't be in a big hurry to grab it up. ( )
  karenchase | Jul 18, 2023 |
"Okay," Mort echoed, evidently speaking mostly to himself. "I mean, it's not like I'm trying to join the Council or anything. It's one hour. Just one little hour. What could happen in one hour?"

And that's how I knew that Mort was telling the truth when he said he wasn't a hero.

Heroes know better than to hand the universe lines like that.


Ghost Story is the thirteenth book in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I think any sort of synopsis would be a big spoiler for this installment, especially for those going through the series the first time, so I'm going to skip it. Let's just say that the title is very accurate.

Harry's unique situation gives this installment a very different framing than we're used to seeing in the series so far. It's a lot more introspective and philosophical and includes many flash backs to Harry's past. It also shows us the impact Harry's had on Chicago's supernatural scene and with his friends which makes his absence combined with the power vacuum left from the Red Court's demise profound. Yet, I can't believe I'm going to say this... I was bored a lot reading this one. How the heck can a Dresden novel be boring?? The story has an intriguing ending which helped though the book felt like a series reboot. Or the biggest transition novel of all time. I just wish it hadn't taken 500 pages to get interesting. ( )
  Narilka | Jun 18, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 190 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Jim Butcherprimary authorall editionscalculated
Glover, JohnNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lundgren, RayCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Marsters, JamesNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McGrath, ChrisCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Epigraph
Dedication
To Air, for introducing me to Mab by onion-colored light
First words
Life is hard.
Quotations
"Got a rocket," I sang, "in your pocket. Turn off the juice, boy."
Show tunes? Really? It wasn't bad enough that you've started talking to yourself, man. Now you're doing performing art.
But the musically inclined me had a point.
"Play it cool, boy," I whispered. "Real cool."
"What is teaching but the art of planting and nurturing power?"
"Names have tremendous power, Dresden. Yet mortals toss them left and right as though they were toys. It's like watching infants play with hand grenades sometimes." -Uriel
“Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden,” he said quietly – and he said it exactly right, speaking my Name in a voice of that same absolute power that had so unnerved me before. “Do not attempt to familiarize my name. The part you left off happens to be rather important to who and what I am.
“It is one thing for you to say ‘Let the world burn.’ It is another to say ‘Let Molly burn.’ The difference is all in the name.”
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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"In his life, Harry's been shot, stabbed, sliced, beaten, burned, crushed, and tortured. And after someone puts a bullet through his chest and leaves him to die in the waters of Lake Michigan, things really start going downhill. But even trapped in the realm between life and death, Harry can't catch a break. He learns that three of his friends are destined to experience unbearable torment and agony. Only by bringing his murderer to justice can he save his friends and move on to what comes next--a feat that would be a lot easier if he had a body and access to his powers. Instead, Harry must work as a ghost, unable to interact with the physical world, invisible and inaudible to almost everyone. Unfortunately he's not the only specter roaming Chicago. There are malevolent shadows who haven't forgotten Harry's predilection for putting evil in its place while he was alive. And now that Harry's on their turf, they are looking for some serious payback. So the late Harry Dresden will have to pull off the ultimate trick without using any magic--or face an eternity as just another lost soul"--

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