www.dorkgasm.com posted review on Jim Butcher's Latest novel 'Turn Coat'.

The Wizard Who Shot Liberty Valance
By
Michael C. Riedlinger
Editor-In-Chief

Jim Butcher has been at this a while. His star character, Harry Dresden, has been running around Chicago solving mysteries on television, in comics, and in the flagship book series for almost a decade now. Over the course of the first ten books, Butcher has developed his entire cast, not just Dresden, and given readers a solid whodunit every time. In the background of each novel in the series is a grand metaplot, however, just as full of intrigue and mystery as each novel, but each installment so far has offered only a snippet of what was going on. Until now.

Almost as a reward for reading those first ten volumes, Butcher’s latest Dresden novel, Turn Coat, finally coughs up some answers, sort of. The main plot of this novel revolves around a traditional murder mystery/ frame-job. Harry’s long-time Nemesis, the Warden Morgan, winds up at his doorstep battered and professing innocence to a crime Harry hasn’t been informed of yet. As happens with Harry Dresden, everything goes south with a quickness. Be warned folks, here there be spoilers.

After picking up medical supplies for the fallen Morgan, Harry is attacked by a Native American Skinwalker. The monster is the stuff of legend, and kills one of Harry’s long-time allies. It is immediately apparent that Harry is more outmatched than ever, and that someone behind the scenes is pulling out the big guns to keep a secret. That secret is plainly the identity of the traitor on the Wizard White Council, a fact we’ve been building up to for a while. Of course, no one wants to believe it because the easier answer is, well, easier. In the words of Maxwell Scott, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”. The world wants to cover it up, damn Morgan, and build trust and peace on the fact that the killer was caught and punished so quickly, even if it means killing an innocent man.

That said, Harry is a stickler for the truth, no matter how damning it may be. He figures out the clues, tracks down the baddies, and sets up a final showdown on a mysterious island. Butcher has managed to grow as a writer over the course of this series, and as such, there are no easy answers or solutions in this novel, but there are resolutions. Often, when dealing with metaplot concerns, much of the subtlety a writer has goes to the curb. Not so with the true masters, and Jim Butcher is a true master of his craft. The secrets flow (like why the White Council didn’t like his mom), and we find resolutions to story concerns dating all the way back to the first book, Storm Front. Morgan, the Werewolves, and even Toot, all get updates and develop as characters. Oh, there is plenty of new mystery and action in Turn Coat, to be sure, but it is all in service to a larger story.

That isn’t to say that readers new to the series won’t find something to latch on to. Butcher’s wit is as sharp as ever, and the last two hundred pages had me reading until dawn. Butcher’s talent is such that he had me wrapped around his finger, racing to see how the mess turned out, and disrupted my expectations flawlessly every time I thought I knew enough to solve the crime. Butcher’s references to other pop-culture elements are so smooth, it feels like he wrote them first. In one magical duel, two heavy hitters have a shape-changing war that simultaneously feels viscerally dangerous while reminding us of childhood loves like Disney’s Sword in the Stone.

The funny thing about this novel is that it is only the halfway point in the series. Butcher has promised some twenty-odd books. Yet, this feels so self-contained, I have no qualms recommending it to first time readers of the series. Turn Coat is a complete work of fiction unto itself, much like The Hobbit, in that it is utterly enjoyable without knowing the rest of the author’s works. Sure, there’s a lot more to this book when a reader has all the other information, but without it, this volume is still a treat to read.

Final Verdict: 5 out of 5


Awesome, Can't wait for another week.

 

"The monster is the stuff of legend, and kills one of Harry’s long-time allies."

Spoiler

long-time ally = random werewolf whose name hardly anyone recognized, much less remember? Nice hyperbole there, cockbag reviewer.

That said, I can't wait for April 7.

 

Unless someone else is going die.

 

This. "The monster is one we saw as the opener to the TV show, and was taken out by a really complex version of a ouzzle cube." I hope the skinwalker goes super duper uber, or I'll be let down big time. Also, I hope they mean someone else, Michael would be good to go for the Molly-turning dark potential to get even with his killers. A red-shirt werewolf does not = long time ally.

I hope that doesn't mean shape changing =/

 

I was searching Turn Coat reviews in google and come across this one.

http://www.coolscifi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243615

Spoiler

Thoughts:

The best Dresden in a while, I think. Finally progress on the black
council plot thread, which has been hanging around for a while,
although I expected the traitor to really be someone on the senior
council, not just their administrative assistant.

In James Nicoll’s review of the last book, he mentioned the tendency of
something horrible happening to Harry personally in each book, and that trend continues here. He has lost Luccio, and perhaps Thomas. At any rate, the Thomas development seems to preclude him being handed Amoraccius any time soon, which people have been expecting.

I'm looking forward to Harry inevitably building his stronghold on
Demonreach Island. Having Intellectus around your home base would be
awesome, and Harry’s apartment, and its vulnerability to fire/etc has
been an albatross around his neck for too many novels by now.

Harry did a lot of overt magic when talking with the lawyer Evelyn
Derek, and she seemed to be somewhat to well described to be a
disposable bit player. Harry rarely soulgazes people who don't end up
important.

Nothing from the Denarian conspiracy this time around, which surprised
me. I wonder who's going to be the next love interest. I don't think it's
Molly's turn yet.

While it's true that the book is out in Sweden, I'm not sure about the spoilers. But it was similar to the review posted in this thread, so I think it's not a fake. My copy arrives on April 9th, until then I'll spend my time reading Small Favor. What do you think about this spoiler?.

Even if you don't think it's real put it in spoiler tags you fuckface. ` Jon

 

Eh, doesn't read like a Dresden novel.

 

Spoiler

If true, administrative assistant = Peabody?

 

Peabody's the guy who listed names for, like twenty or thirty minutes in SK, right?

 

I got it yesterday, they released it early at my book store, I loved it.

That's all I can really say except it feels like we are finally moving into the meat of the overall story.

5/5

 

Jealous!

Just out of curiosity Cruentus since you have read the book, was there actually something to those headaches of Harry or were they just a red herring by Butcher? What was it all about?

 

I've got to agree with Datakim about being jealous and i've got a simple yes or no question for you as well Cruentus is the review posted by Montclair real?

 

This is bullshit right here, there was nothing remotely Disney reminding in any of it.

His review reads more like a bland add then a recommendation to the awesomeness that is Turn Coat.

Spoiler

That being said expect to see a lot of Lara and the White Court, as they play a pivotal role, and I think Lara's starting to see Dresden as more then just food.

Kill all thoughts of Molly/Harry cause I can tell you right now it just ain't happening.

Your introduced to four new characters, two of which will probably show up again, the other might, but you never know, and defiantly not the last.

There is a lot of Murphy/Harry friendship bonding in this one, which I like because I like Murphy, so a small heads up.

That mysterious island is, in fact, the one from Small Favor and while it answers some questions it also raises more.

You get to see Harry do some really sweet things with Soul Fire, I have a hard time seeing him doing alot of the same things with Hellfire, and learn more about the magic of the Dresden universe.

We get to see the White Counsels headquarters, and which of the Senior Counsel is actually worth their salt.

Oh and Harry will go bat shit insane at some point and become the definition of awesome.

Over all DLP is going to love this, especially the end.

As for the headaches well... you will just have to find out:awesome

Most cringe worthy part was a quote on the cover that said "Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Philip Marlowe - Entertainment Weekly"....

Somebody needs to die.


Edit: You also learn more on Harry's mom.

YOUR COUCH; FUCK IT. ~Love, Jon

Spoiler

Edit 2: I expected the traitor to really be someone on the senior
council, not just their administrative assistant.There is a lot more to this then meets the eye.

 

Damn, you have made me want the book even more now.

Do we see/hear anything of Lash, Lasciel, Nicodemus or the other denarians? Are they even mentioned?

Does Bob play any big role?

 

You will have to read and find out

 

I'm officially out of this thread until the book releases. Glad to hear it's not ass

 

YES!!! Middie had almost convinced me that Turn Coat was going to be shitty and that Butcher was selling out, so THANK YOU Cruentus for the great news.

I am SO unbelievably excited for this book. It sounds AWESOME!!!

 

What's the point of living in America if we don't get stuff first. Bah! Bah and humbug. Don't mind me, I need a fix.

 

I live in Oklahoma.

 

Address of your bookstore please. I have a long drive ahead!

 

Seriously Cruentus, I'm in Norman, you'll be my hero. Tell me your secrets !