It's also a reflection on death, acceptance and the weight of choice, a dialogue on death and the life afterwards. I don't just mean with all the time, energy and emotion that the reader has invested over the previous twelve books. I loved to see these characters adapt, grow and make difficult choices, it's a big game-changer - more than any novel before it in the series. There is a lot more time spent with the secondary characters with Butcher putting a lot of thought into how the void that Dresden has left could be filled.

This book however is much more reflective, both a reflection on the series itself and that of the choices Dresden has made. The plot has the usual level of twists and turns you'd expect and all the usual humour and sharp wit are present and correct. The world-building of the disembodied spirit is great, Butcher building a wonderfully detailed set of rules and history which helping to define just what a ghost is and what it can do. He can't use brute force to fix his problems and the roles have been reversed - this time he's the spook looking in. For the first time the powerful and often feared wizard Harry Dresden can't use his magic.

This book is different to all Dresden Files stories before it, breaking new ground. Alas even dead, it doesn't seem he can get a break and this time the murder he has to investigate is his own, with his friends lives at stake should he fail. You would think by this point Dresden would be forgiven for taking a rest and leaving all the chasing, fighting and danger to those still breathing. Having said that, I'd recommend reading Changes before attempting Ghost Story, while any of the Dresden Files novels can be read individually, read this one without knowing the history will spoil it for you a little if you want to read the previous books.Īs the title implies, in Ghost Story Harry Dresden has become a spook, without his powers and unable to affect change in the corporeal world. It's difficult to write a review of Ghost Story without giving spoilers away about the previous book, Changes.

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