Brief Cases: Book Review

So, last week I finally got around to reading Brief Cases, the second anthology from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files.

Side Jobs proved that a Dresden Files anthology could be just as popular as a Dresden Files book. So while it’s certainly not Peace Talks, most fans of the Dresden Files will probably love Brief Cases. If nothing else, it’s something to hold you over until Jim finally gets around to publishing the next book.

Let me just say that you shouldn’t read Brief Cases until you’ve actually read through the Dresden Files. If you’re wondering what that is and why you should read it, here’s a link to my original review. Trust me, guys, it’s awesome.

Now, if you’re a Dresden Files fan, you might be wondering, “this isn’t a sequel to Skin Game! Why should I buy it?”

The answer to that is, of course, because if you’ve made it this far into the series you’re hooked on all things Harry Dresden, and you need your fix. Butcher’s short stories are just as good as his novels, and Brief Cases contains some of his best stories to date. They fill in some of the blanks between the books, talking about the rise of the Fomor, and introduce some new characters that I suspect will return later in the series — though I have no idea how many books Butcher intends to write. For all I know, he could be getting ready to wrap up the series, or he could have decided that he’s going to write Dresden Files books until he dies.

But like I said, Brief Cases fills in a lot of the gaps between the books, and fleshes out some major character arcs. For example, we get a couple stories Molly’s perspective, in which she deals with her new duties as the Winter Lady. We get a story from Johnny Marcone, who showcases his particular breed of morality. We see Butters as he deals with becoming new Knight of the Cross. We even get a story from the perspective of Harry’s foo dog, Mouse, and if that’s not enough to make you want to pick up the book then I don’t know what is.

We also see Henry’s character develop as he struggles to adjust to his new role as a father and a teacher to the new Wardens. The stories retain all of the wit and action that make the Dresden Files what they are, while also, at times, being very touching. If you’re a Dresden Files fan, then I can’t recommend Brief Cases enough, and if you’re a Fantasy fan, then I can’t recommend the Dresden Files enough.

Get reading.

5/5 stars