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Dead Beat: 02/27/17

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

Remember how I've said that books all have their own pace they want to be read at? Typically the Dresden File books require a fortnight of my time. This time though, I made the silly mistake of beginning the book right before first round reading for the CYBILs. That sort of commitment gets in the way of the majority of my fun reading.

So with this post bear in mind that my internal sense of the book's pacing is off. Had I read it at my usual fashion the review would be more upbeat. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher is the seventh book in the Dresden Files. This time Karrin calls in a favor. A vampire wants the Word of Kemmler or he will destroy her reputation. Since Harry owes her more favors than he can count, of course he says yes.

The big thing threatening Chicago this time is necromancy. It means too that Dresden has to let others in on his secret, namely the rather vanilla medical examiner, a guy name Waldo Butters. As Dresden himself is a bit one note with his stock phrases and favorite spells, adding to his ensemble cast is a good thing.

Butters in my mental vault of characters is like a combination of Mr. Buttler and Dot, both in the employ of Phryne Fisher. Except he works with dead bodies is now forced to come to terms with all number of paranormal beings.

Animo from the Washington BC episode of Ben10
Animo from the "Washington BC" episode of Ben10.

The final scene, my husband's favorite of all the books and one he was eagerly awaiting me to hit, didn't wow me like it did him. Again I was finishing this book while in that post reading binge daze of the CYBILS. To me the ending was a bit like Dresden taking something from Dr Animo's play book (see "Washington BC" from Season 1 of Ben 10).

Three stars

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