Proven Guilty

And here it is...it took eight volumes of this series, almost the halfway point, but this one easily earned the five star rating.

Butcher is now not just paying lip service to previous outings while telling an engaging story, he's now paying off previous events, showing the benefits and consequences of previous action, while also firmly setting the path for future novels and storylines.

His character work here, especially with Charity, is exceptional. Butcher's gone from wielding a battle ax to a surgeon's scalpel with his writing.

I absolutely loved this book. I finally get why fans love this series so much.

Proven Guilty is the eighth book in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. In this week's episode... Horrors from the big screen start coming to life at a local horror movie convention. Harry needs to investigate this one fast as it appears that black magic may be involved and a family friend has been caught up in the chaos.

I am impressed with how far Harry has come in eight books. Sure, there are horrors to fight and possible black magic to be stopped. The real focus of the book is Harry's relationships with some important women. Without saying too much, Harry and Charity are FINALLY forced to review their animosity and come to terms with each other's differing world views, even giving each other mutual (if grudging) respect and tentative show more friendship. Murphy continues to be the ultra bad ass. I really enjoyed getting to know more of Michael's family during this installment, primarily through Molly though others make an appearance too, though missed the big guy himself. Considering just how archaic Harry's views of women were at the start of the series, this is amazing progress.

As if that isn't enough, Harry is learning to adjust to his new role in the Council. Given the cause and resolution of the events at the convention, I think this is going to Give Harry some serious challenges in the future.

Proven Guilty is an engaging read. Given the main set up, there is plenty of horror and gory action to go around. It would make for a great Halloween read. Overall the book feels like a transition for Harry and the series. I'm not sure I see Harry as a teacher/mentor. This is an interesting set up for future books. show less

I hadn't realized how much I missed Harry Dresden until I started reading this book. As usual, good pace, good start, intriguing story line from page one.

One thing I like about Jim Butcher and his writing is the sudden appearance of a twist you couldn't ever consider appearing. Charity has magic? WHOA! yet it fits the storyline better than when others wait to reveal facts about the villain. His reveals usually deal with side characters.He also tends to hint that things are going to go one direction, then pulls a left turn, which makes perfect plot sense, that makes you also go WHOA!

Much as I hate to say it, Bob and Lasciel have a point. Harry is never going to get laid. And with his description of Molly... Um, yeah. Charity probably show more overreacted, but what mother bear is going to stop and listen when she thinks cub is in danger... Sorry. Gotta side with the lascivious skull on this one.

There's a great scene where Harry and Murphy cleared some of the tension, only to make more tension. If you've been reading this series through, you'll see how there is a hint at a possible shift, but not just yet. Hilts and Blades, Goddess of the Holy might. The tension could find the bad guy! But I hope the change never comes.

The beginning is a slow burn build, but once it's rolling, the snowball gathers a lot of speed and can't be stopped. So much so I couldn't put it down. Loved a lot of things about this book... Just not enough to give it that full final star. show less

Proven Guilty, the eighth book in The Dresden Files, opens with the reader’s first glimpse of Harry in his new role as a Warden of the White Council. As a position he has always despised, he must reconcile his abhorrence at the blind following of the law that the Council tends to adopt with his own sensibilities and ethics. It is a complication that lends sobriety to a series that tends to veer towards the jocular as often as possible and a major clue that Harry will have to master his tendency to crack jokes first and think through his words carefully if he hopes to prove capable of attending to the Big Bad storyline that is brewing a little stronger with each novel. In fact, everything about Proven Guilty establishes Harry’s show more growing involvement in White Council business, political and magical, and paves the way for future character maturation before Mr. Butcher reveals the final master plot.

What makes Dresden’s world so interesting is the interconnectedness of his circle of friends and acquaintances. Every novel adds another level of depth and understanding to these side characters. In Proven Guilty, the readers get the chance to know more than just Michael but the entire Carpenter family. Charity’s disapproval and distrust of Harry, as well as Molly’s teenage confusion, establishes a better knowledge of the Carpenter family dynamic and Michael’s special role in the battle between good and evil than Michael’s direct involvement in Harry’s cases ever did. While Harry’s story is essential to the overarching plot of the entire series, it is the spotlighted side characters that bring heart and added tension to the individual storylines.

What can be said about James Marsters as narrator that has not already been said? His ability to move beyond the words on the page and bring to life Harry and the entire cast of characters is practically unparalleled. Dresden’s Chicago comes to life through his narration better than any reader’s imagination could create. Let’s face it – Mr. Marsters actually makes an old Volkswagen Beetle a sympathetic secondary character. If he can do that with inanimate objects, imagine what he does with sentient beings and then go experience it for yourself. You will not be disappointed!

With Proven Guilty, Mr. Butcher continues to build upon a strong series. This is no series built haphazardly but rather a full and carefully plotted story reminiscent of J.J. Abrams and Joss Whedon, whereby each successive story is better, more engaging, and more informative than the last. Harry’s future is building towards something big – that is something careful readers unequivocally know thanks to subtle hints and clues. However, what it is remains tantalizingly unknown. As the stakes get higher, and the reader gets closer to uncovering the Big Bad Plot, the series gets more and more interesting, if that is even possible. Proven Guilty uncovers a few new clues for readers to contemplate while allowing the characters to sufficiently develop to continue to make them realistic and at the same time providing an intriguing standalone story. This means that Proven Guilty is not exactly what fans of The Dresden Files series have come to expect; it is even better than expected show less

This is one of the best so far.
First it surprises me by going beyond the scope of what I had considered to be the main conflict, completely surprising me.
Second, it does a lot more set up for future books than 1-7 tended to do, making me eager to read more.
Lastly, it expanded on the Carpenter family who now houses my favorite supporting characters by FAR!!!
As usual, Butcher blends magic, humor, and suspense into a near-perfect concoction and that scratches every itch of my literary brain. Absolutely wonderful!

Another very solid entry.

Basically, there's black magic afoot. Fear monsters from the Nevernever are attacking a horror movie convention and it's up to Dresden to find out why. Add to that complications with Michael's now almost adult daughter Molly. The interactions between Molly and Dresden are weird and uncomfortable at times, but on the other hand they seem for the most part disturbingly realistic.

I like a lot of the characterization here. We get more on the Carpenters, in particular Molly and Charity. I really love that entire family. Charity shines in this book in particular. We learn a bit more about why she dislikes Dresden so much and how much of a badass she is when the need is right. Molly is in and out of the spotlight show more quite a bit, but it's obvious she'll be central to future books.

We also get a bit of a hint about how other wizards bend the rules. It's heavily implied that the Gatekeeper has a warning from the future that he passed on to Dresden. It's not time travel strictly speaking... but still.

Then, there's the ending. While there is still a monster-of-the-book thing going on, we're really seeing more of the larger implication of the Dresdenverse. There are a few questions raised here (who is the person behind the person behind the curtain) which we don't even get an answer to... Yet. It's annoying in the first book or two of a series, but this many along, it's something that can really make a series.

Amusing aside: Thus far there are baddies with the same name as my wife and my daughter in this series. It's a bit jarring each time I come across them.

Fun quote of the day: "It is far easier to avoid inappropriate amorous desires if one runs screaming from the room every time a pretty girl comes in." show less

It's been a hot second since I picked up a book in this series and boy was I glad to get back in it! Harry Dresden never catches a break. Tasked with finding out about possible black magic brewing in Chicago, he gets side tracked by a bunch of movie monsters that attack a horror convention. To make matters more complicated, his good friend, Michael's, daughter is somehow involved. What's a poor wizard to do? Narrated brilliantly by James Marsters, this book kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed it immensely. On to book nine in the Dresden Files series!