This is a return to an older style of Harry--a little more investigative, and little less non-stop action. This story entagles Harry a little more firmly in the wizarding world than he has been up to this point. Until now, other wizards were side characters who were generally used to make Harry sneakier about whatever it is he needs to do. While the same case can definately be made in the book, it also started to flesh them out a bit more in their own right and instead of being the main foils, politics actually are, and by the end of the book, it looks like Harry has finally decided that his responsibilities extend beyond Chicago. ( )

Yet another exciting and complicated entry in the Dresden Files. When Morgan, the warden who spent a good portion of Harry's life shadowing him, waiting for Harry to slip up and go to the dark side, shows up at Harry's door, badly wounded with wardens after him, Harry can help feeling sympathy for Morgan. Especially once he's heard that Morgan's been accused of murdering a member of the wizarding world's highest authority, the White Council.

Knowing that Morgan, the most annoyingly righteous rule-follower he's ever met, could never knowingly murder anyone, let alone a superior, Harry immediately suspects a black magic conspiracy. Now all he has to do is prove it.

This one is violent and scary - Harry runs into a shapeshifter, who's powers are so overwhelming it's all Harry can do to escape. A couple of people aren't quite so lucky. The twists and turns are at times hard to follow, but they all make sense in the end. Harry is awesome - an incredible wizard with quick wit and always armed with sarcasm. He can be my hero anytime... ( )

In Turn Coat, the eleventh book of The Dresden Files, Harry Dresden, wizard, is once again battling dark forces to save the lives of innocents... and his own. Donald Morgan, Warden of the White Council, stands accused of murdering a senior member of the Council. Despite his long standing distrust of Dresden, Morgan feels forced to turn to Dresden for help in proving his innocence and exposing a traitor within the White Council. As with the previous books in this series, nothing is exactly as it appears and Harri is generally struggling to fit all the pieces together while keeping at least one step ahead of those trying to kill him.
Turn Coat keeps the action moving and increases the political intrigue while providing some comic moments via Dresden's inability to control his smart remarks as people repeatedly threaten him. Harry is again surrounded by familiar friends and allies - Murphy, Thomas, Molly, and Mouse all take center stage at various points in the book. Although Harry has been hardened by the events over the years covered in the books, he has grown considerably. He is now able to connect seemingly isolated events together to form a larger picture and he has realized that, as much as he hates putting his friends in danger, he does need help to prevent the crazies from killing more people.
Each book in The Dresden Files keeps getting better as the reader is able to see the development in the larger situation and the growth in Harry's character. The relationships between characters grow stronger as well as they learn more about each other and face deadly situations together where they are forced to rely on each other for survival. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Changes, which is due out in April of 2010. ( )

Significant improvement over the last two, this is Harry back at his best - still missing a few wise guys lines, but maybe that goes with getting older and more experienced. Besides Lara steals the show with those.

One of Harry's least favourite Warden, the deputy captain Morgan shows up at his door heavily bleeding and desperate for help - even from Harry - claiming he's been framed for the murder of a Senior Council member and the other Wardens are out to get him. Harry has by now learned to spot a rat when it's trailed in plain sight and realises his 'black council' may have made another move in their game to destabilise the white council. Thomas' involvement soon brings Lara and the White Court into play and a very scary demon / shapechanger doesn't seem to happy either.

I am however starting to get very annoyed with JB's continual phasing out of Harry's companions and artifacts. They get a couple of books maximum and then 'poof' no more to be heard from them. At least Molly is still around, but I don't rate her chances much for the next few. Murphy has reappeared, briefly, but the major star in this book is the unmapped enchanted island in the lake that featured in the last book. An island! it's sort of cleaver but hardly the most engaging of Harry's new companions. And apparently it contains deep dark secrets that Harry isn't ready to know about just yet. Also, there is hardly any mention of anythign that happened in the last book. A lot of significant events occured, but they're all brushed un der the carpet. Hopefully JB will remember to pick up the points in the next book.

Apart from the obvious hooks to set up the next book in the series, the rest of the book though is very clever. Lots of action, lots of tension, some high power magics, some precision cleverness and a very entertaining blend of tricky politics as well, all combined with Harry's charm and wit. It's another fun filled and fast paced offering.

............................................................................................ ( )

Eleventh in the series about Chicago wizard Harry Dresden. In this volume, there is a traitor in the Wizard's Council, and the Council thinks it is Morgan, who comes to Harry for help. He and Harry have not been friends, but Harry knows that Morgan is not capable of such betrayal. So he has to find the real traitor and, to make things worse, the real traitor draws the vampires into the fight.

As usual, Harry is fighting against impossible odds. His assets are his smarts, his skills, and his friends. All are required this time, as well as an intriguing new being, the god of the island used in the conflict.

Good reading, as always with Butcher. ( )