Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7)

I really liked this one, probably my favorite so far. It really dove into the characters personally and into their emotions. It lacked some of the normal characters, but some great new ones as well.

Another solid entry in the Harry Dresden Files. This time you get a zombie flavor to it, as Harry Dresden has to stop the disciples of the necromancer Kemmler who want to turn themselves into a god on Halloween in Chicago. This time there are no poo-flinging demon monkeys, but a revived tyrannosaurus rex. As always, I like the continuity, always adding up to make Harry a more complex person. Should be interesting to see what all develops from here on out. If you liked any of the previous books, you will enjoy this one as well.

Minor pet peeve: almost at the end of the book, Ramirez is suddenly addressed as Rodriguez, how did that happen? Who snoozed through that one? Also, why the fuck couldn't the author properly research the name of the book they're hunting. I am sorry, if you manage to look up stuff about the Erlkönig from Goethe's work, you should manage to properly form a possible name for the book: Das Lied vom Erlkönig. Not 'Die Lied von Erlking'. Grar.

Quick impression: Good one liners for Thomas. Some of Harry's jokes are getting old. Great character development of Butters (with plenty of encouragement by Harry). And, of course, Sue. This one should have made it into the TV series.

When I first started this book, I thought it would be a continuation of Harry's relationship with Thomas established in [b:Blood Rites|99383|Blood Rites (The Dresden Files, #6)|Jim Butcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1272455867s/99383.jpg|227172] , and given that Thomas is having trouble adjusting to not being wealthy ... well, I thought he was the dead beat in the title. It took me a couple of chapters and re-listening to a few sections before I got it. I suppose that's one drawback to listening to the book instead of reading it.

So, if you like zombies and vampires and sexy demons who play mind games, and of course listening to [a:James Marsters|169487|James Marsters|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1252176950p2/169487.jpg], I highly recommend the audible version. I think the last Dresden book I actually read was [b:Storm Front|47212|Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1)|Jim Butcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327195767s/47212.jpg|1137060], so I imagine that the print version of Dead Beat is just as fast-paced as the audio.

I see lots of people, six and seven books in, still complaining about Harry's old-fashioned chivalrous attitude towards women. Some find it condescending. I find it endearing. Harry knows that he's old-fashioned and that his attitude isn't PC, but he accepts that flaw in himself and we should too. Hell's Bells, he's finally learned to let Murphy and Susan take care of themselves and let them have his back. The series wouldn't be as good if Harry didn't have some very huge flaws that he works through in each adventure.

Now on to [b:Proven Guilty|91474|Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, #8)|Jim Butcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1329103912s/91474.jpg|576222].