Title: Storm Front
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Wizards
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2000
5th sentence, 74th page: I planted my feet and faced him, without meeting his eyes.

Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever. There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks.

So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get interesting.

Magic – it can get a guy killed.

There’s nothing like a sassy, slightly left of centre main character. And when the story is told from their point of view? It’s fantastic! It’s little wonder that I loved this novel so much.

I’m a fan of both crime and paranormal fantasy books. After all, I love the wonders of the paranormal world. But I also love trying to figure who-done-it in the crime novels. Butcher hits on the combination of these two genres perfectly. Dresden runs around the streets of Chicago trying to find a missing man, solve a murder, and dodge killer demons. Honestly, what more could you want in a story?

Harry Dresden is a gangly, slightly awkward, attitudinal lead. Which, as with all good books, gets him in more trouble than anything else. Add to this a council member who wants him dead, and a talking head (literally) that is more than a little twisted, and it is ensured that Harry is going to have a dreadful time trying to solve his two crimes. Yet, everything is relevant – there isn’t a moment in this fantastically crafted novel that doesn’t serve a purpose, and I kind of love this fact. It doesn’t make it any easier to piece together who the baddies are. And it doesn’t lead to a predictable end to the story. But it does mean that I’m not let wondering why some random act happened, with no real answer.

The only problem that I have with this novel is the fact that now I have to wait until Fool Moon arrives in my bookshelves… it was just too good and the wait is a little too long!

Image source: Muneer Huda