Small Favor by Jim Butcher

Small Favor by Jim Butcher
RoC Books, 2008

If you were in the Chicago reality found in this book, were being chased by something in the dark, and happened to dart into a phone booth, who you gonna call?
You might open the phone book in a panic, scrabble furiously at the pages, and come across the only entry under “Wizard”:

Harry Dresden – Wizard
Lost items found.  Paranormal investigations.
Consulting.  Advice.  Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

The latest book in The Dresden Files series, Small Favor has what is probably one of the most endearing, sarcastic, deeply magical characters in literature: Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden.
Holding the tentatively elite title of Chicago’s only professional wizard, Harry ekes out a living as a private investigator, working mostly for clients who inadvertently get him into violent situations.  Then again, considering that Harry considers Chicago and all those who reside there to be under his protection from any supernatural nasties, he gets himself into violent situations pretty well all by his lonesome.

Jim Butcher does a wonderful job with The Dresden Files, combining folklore with excellent imagination to give every villain a clear personality.  His storylines are vivid, full of twists, and even include hints, so that on occasion, the reader can deduct right along Harry.

Of course, the protagonist is the best; chivalrous, brooding, armed with a magic staff and a wit like Sam Spade crossed with Gregory House, Harry blasts his way through a series of otherworldly obstacles with a biting word and a lot of physical punishment on both sides.  All in a day’s work.
I would recommend this series to anyone who would listen.  I have gnawed my way through seven of the books now, and am officially addicted.
Some adult content, including swearing.