Nina Reviews: Ghost Story

Jim Butcher
481 pages
Urban Fantasy
The Dresden Files #13
ROC

Synopsis:
When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn't doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...

Review:
I really don’t even know where to begin. I suppose I could start at WOW. And THANK YOU JIM BUTCHER! I finished the story in the morning, right before I had to run to work. (Yes RUN. I was late because of my refusal to put the book down.) So, I didn’t have any decompression time to stew over the happenings, and come to a conclusion. I found myself thinking about the story all day at work. I wanted to explore it deeper and discuss it with my fellow Dresden addicts. I wanted to read it again. Immediately. It’s very rare that I finish a book and am devastated that it's over. But this is one of those times.

I don’t want to talk story line too much and spoil it. Besides, there are way too many plot twists to mention here. It would take all day. During the course of this read I cried (certainly a few Kleenex moments), laughed uncontrollably, and had some WTF!? thoughts. There were a few parts when I shouted “I KNEW IT!!!” and promptly texted my read-a-long buddy to exclaim my amazing foresight. I was quickly forced to send a follow up message stating that I was out smarted by a plot twist.

Ghost Story, like the 3 books prior to it, are much darker than the rest of the series. While Changes was emotionally draining and heart wrenching, Ghost Story has a melancholy tone brought on by characters reminiscing bittersweet memories. Some of the recollections provide valuable back-story, while others make you feel lucky to know these amazing characters. When Harry is re-living his memories, it made me feel lucky for my friends and the people who care about me. It also made me feel a deeper connection to Harry.

After finishing a book, I often sit and think if there was anything out of place that didn’t belong; if I would add or remove anything. In thinking about it this time around, I loved the plot, tone, and character development. And do you know what? I wouldn’t change a thing.

5 Stars