STORM FRONT.

STORM FRONT by JIM BUTCHER.

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 - and not just because he's the only one who does it. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal capabilities, they come to him for answers. Because the everyday world is not as 'everyday' as it seems. It's actually full of strange and supernatural things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a - well, whatever the police are having trouble with this time.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him into consult on a grisly double murder committed with 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.

....... Outer back cover

FIRST SENTENCE: I heard the mailman approach my office door, half an hour earlier than usual.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: Faeries didn't think too much of mortals' idea of 'sporting' unless there was a lot of nudity and lust involved. They had a penchant for shadowing necking teenagers and playing tricks on them.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: Not but only because I will be passing it on to a friend with a passion for this genre and I know she will love the book even more than I did.

An ex-library stock read, I really, really enjoyed this tale of Harry Dresden, a  modern-day wizard who just happens to be a private eye specialising in paranormal investigations. Not just a crime novel but also a tale of the supernatural, I thought this was an intelligent, well written novel that was just that little bit different.

Gently accumulating pace throughout Storm Front ended with something of a bang - talk about ending on a high note, I can't wait to read the further cases of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden 'the only openly practising wizard in the country who can be found in the yellow pages, listed under wizards'.

I adored Harry as a character, funny and caring, he walked the line between being a 'supernatural' and a regular guy who, when we first met him, had been 'having a slow month' until he got a call from Monica 'No-Last-Name' (apparently people don't like to give their real names to a wizard) who fears her husbands disappearance might have something to do with his recent interest in magic. But it doesn't stop there, Harry is then contacted by Lieutenant Karrin Murphy, director of Special Investigations for whom he is a 'consultant' called in to help with any crimes dubbed unusual - Karrin has, not one but two dead bodies for him. Then, there is gentleman/villain Johnny Marcone who wishes to pay Harry not to investigate recent events. Are all three jobs linked? As if I'm going to tell you, you'll have to read this one for yourself.

Though largely about Harry (he really stands out as the main character) we also get to meet some other fascinating beings, both human and otherwise. Harry's relationship with women is interesting, if not altogether successful, but it is the events concerning non-humans that I found particularly readable. Take Toot-toot for example, a six inch faery with a passion for bread, milk and honey (a common vice for the lesser fae or so we are informed) who has a rather, shall we say, unconventional working-relationship with Harry. Then there is 'Bob' (Bob I ask you) some kind of spirit who resides in a skull (where else?) and aids Harry in the more complicated spells often with humorous results. My only complaint? We don't get to know more about these characters.

The 20th book read for the 100+ Reading Challenge as well as the 11th book and my final choice in the Loving The Reviews Reading Challenge for which I hope to have a wrap-up post on Tuesday or Wednesday.