First things first, Harry Dresden, our main character, is a wizard and private investigator in Chicago. He is, for the most part, a good person and someone who, in his own words, can’t turn down a woman in distress. These factors make up a large portion of our narrator’s psychology and how he will react to situations.  

These books throw a lot at you at once which, given the point of view of our narrator, makes sense as it seems Harry Dresden, the only professional wizard listed in the phone book, can never catch a lucky break. In this first book of the series we see Harry being hired by a woman, Monica Sells to find her husband who has gone missing. Simultaneously (or nearly anyway) Harry is contacted by Lieutenant Karrin Murphy, the head of Special Investigations Unit in the Chicago PD. Murphy is currently on a case that involves peoples hearts being ripped out of their chests. The odd murders landed in Murphy’s lap because the SI Unit deals with things the normal cops cannot explain. In light of that fact you can expect to see a lot of Karrin Murphy which, for me, is a great thing. Murphy and Dresden have amazing banter and a good, steady working relationship/ pseudo friendship which makes you appreciate both of the characters.

In an effort to both help Murphy and produce results for his client Dresden sets out on the winding path of private invstigation which ultimately leads him to a local crime boss, Gentleman Johnny Marcone. Marcone is one of those bad guys you can’t hate fully but you want to. All three things tie together and Harry has to race against the clock to find out how it call connects before more people die.

The narration is great in the sense that we feel what Dresden feels just by his sarcastic thought process and an easy to understand psyche. An orphan, a wizard with a checkered past (which has him under the constant watch of Warden Morgan of the White Council) and someone who hates injustice Harry is easy to understand. Women and children are a soft spot. He doesn’t deny or ever act, even in his own mind, that he’s better than anyone. It’s refreshing for the hero to be so self aware that he can make jokes at his own expense, mid fight.

The sarcasm and banter throughout, whether with Murphy, Marcone, Morgan, (wow there are a lot of M names in this book,) made me laugh. Harry likes to be a smart-ass and doesn’t deny it. He knows it’ll get him into trouble but like most people with a smart-ass mouth he says it anyway, at his own peril.

Supporting characters, whether it’s the clients, the bad guys, the mentioned but not yet fully seen forces surrounding Chicago or even Dresden’s cat, Mister, are all fleshed out enough for you to understand them but not be distracted by them. Rather than spending pages on describing characters motivations Butcher does a good job of keeping it simple. For example we’ll look at Warden Morgan. Morgan, a Warden of the White Council of Wizards, is an old wizard who does not trust Harry Dresden. Now, for a SPOILER which I think will affect the rest of the series. Harry, in his youth, killed his mentor Justin DuMorne, whom had been trying to brainwash him into becoming a Warlock (dark wizard, essentially.) As a result Harry was shown a rare instance of lienancy by the White Council and placed under the Doom of Damolces which meant one thing; if Harry broke another law of magic, he’d be killed.