Brief Cases: The Dresden Files (Dresden Files)

by Jim Butcher

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

Return to the world of the Dresden Files with Harry Dresden (the only wizard in the Chicago phone book) and friends as they solve supernatural mysteries, protect the helpless, and fight evil.

Brief Cases is a new collection of Dresden Files stories which will include an original novella, from international bestseller Jim Butcher.

Stories included in this collection: 'Curses', 'AAAA Wizardry', 'Even Hand', 'B is for Bigfoot', 'I was a Teenage Bigfoot', 'Bigfoot on Campus', 'Bombshells', 'Jury Duty', 'Cold Case', 'Day One', 'A Fistful of Warlocks', 'Zoo Day' (original novella taking place between Skin Game and Peace Talks)

• ISBN10: 0356511677
• ISBN13: 9780356511672
• Publish Date: 5 June 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Orbit
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Curses, from THE NAKED CITY, edited by Ellen Datlow. Hilarious! Dresden is hired to remove the curse plaguing the Chicago Cubs.
AAAA Wizardry, from the Dresden Files RPG. Harry teaches a group of young wardens a valuable lesson as he retells a case involving the boogeyman.

Even Hand, from DARK AND STORMY KNIGHTS, edited by P. N. Elrod. A story told from John Marcone’s POV. A young assistant requests safe haven for herself and a young child she freed. It was interesting getting Marcone’ perspective. His comments about Harry made me laugh.

B is for Bigfoot, from UNDER MY HAT: TALES FROM THE CAULDRON, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Republished in WORKING FOR BIGFOOT. Butcher’s insight to the writing of this story was hilarious and his imagined bigfoot wonderful. I still can’t believe Harry met a client in the woods!

I was a Teenage Bigfoot, from BLOOD LITE 3: AFTERTASTE, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. Republished in WORKING FOR BIGFOOT. We visit the bigfoot and his son as Harry investigates a mysterious illness.

Bigfoot on Campus, from HEX APPEAL, edited by P. N. Elrod. Republished in WORKING FOR BIGFOOT. This was an intense listen as once again BigFoot asks Harry for help with his son who is now in college.

Bombshells, from DANGEROUS WOMEN, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. This was told from Molly POV and takes place right after changes. I found the story fascinating.

Jury Duty, from UNBOUND, edited by Shawn Speakman This takes place after Harry’s return. Harry has been summoned for jury duty and as luck would have it finds himself a juror on a murder case. Guess what Harry does?

Cold Case, from SHADOWED SOULS, edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes. I previously read and reviewed Shadowed Souls. This is told from Molly’s POV as she struggles to hold the city together after Harry’s demise.

Day One, from UNFETTERED II, edited by Shawn Speakman. BUTTERS!! I love Butters and enjoyed hearing Butcher’s thoughts regarding him prior to this story beginning. Butters is given his first quest as a Knight of the Cross. Go Butters!!

A Fistful of Warlocks, from STRAIGHT OUTTA TOMBSTONE, edited by David Boop. POV of Warden Anastasia Luccio in the Wild West. It was interesting getting a pov from Luccio and I liked the setting. This was my least favorite of the stories it lacked some of the magic.

Zoo Day – brand-new novella, original to this collection. The story is over two hours in length and shares a day at the Zoo with Harry, Molly and Mouse. It is their first outing. I loved that Butcher gave us three separate POVs of the same story. Those of Harry first, then Molly and finally Mouse. I found the creatures fascinating.

Brief Cases only confirms that Jim Butcher is a master storyteller regardless of length.

The novellas range from forty-five minutes to over two hours. Most are an hour in length. Zoo Day and Bombshells are the longest.

The narrators did a stellar job, of course Marsters is the voice of the series, but it was fun hearing Butcher and the others even if I needed to adjust, especially for Harry’s voice. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[lisacee]

Such a great collection of short stories. I loved hearing the voices of characters other than Harry, characters that I've known for years but have only heard through Harry's voice. The stand out stories in this collection were told by Molly, Butters, and especially the last story told by Mouse (among others).

I highly recommend this book to Dresden fans who are caught up in the series and wanting more. It's not a new full-length story, but it may tide me over until Dresden # 16.

[thorngil45]

zoo day was awesome!

[Melanie]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

**No spoilers for this book, but spoilers for earlier books in the series. Do not read this book, if you’re not caught up with the series. These stories are in chronological order of the series.



A Fistful of Warlocks (from Straight Outta Tombstone, Edited by David Boon), Read by Cassandra Campbell
Set long before the events of the series.

This story is about Luccio, so it takes place way before the beginning of the series. It is also the story that I had the hardest time connecting with. I think it is the lack of characters that I really liked. Luccio was a character that I never really liked and her POV didn’t change that. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the Wyatt Earp tie in. Not a bad story, but this was my least favorite in this group (which truly says more about the other stories than this one).



B Is for Bigfoot (from Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron, Edited by Jonathan Strahan), Read by James Marsters
Takes place between Fool Moon and Grave Peril.

So, these Bigfoot stories are my favorite in this series. I love that Butcher felt the need to include Bigfoot in this world that he’s created. So Bigfoot is one of the “forest people”. This particular forest person is named River Shoulders (actually it’s longer, but this is what Harry calls him). He has a son named Irwin. I really liked both characters.



AAAA Wizardry (from the Dresden Files RPG), Read by James Marsters

This one I had a bit of an issue with. It took me a little bit to figure out that we went back in time. I think it could’ve been portrayed better that there was a flashback as Harry was teaching a group of kids. I don’t know if reading would’ve made this better known. But I got lost when he first went into the story.



I Was a Teenage Bigfoot (from Blood Lite 3: Aftertaste, Edited by Kevin J. Anderson), Read by James Marsters
Takes place circa Dead Beat.

Again, River Shoulders has asked Harry for help with his son. His son seems to be sick, which shouldn’t happen to one of the forest people, even to one that is half human. The boy’s mother is away on a digg, so Harry goes to investigate.



Curses (from the Naked City, Edited by Ellen Datlow), Read by James Marsters
Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat.

In this story, Butcher decided to tackle the billy goat curse on the Cubs. I thought this was a cute way to explain the curse. Also, there is a lot of Bob the skull in this story and I just love him to pieces.



Even Hand (from Dark and Stormy Knights, Edited by P. N. Elrod), Read by Jim Butcher
Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.

This is the only story that I had read prior to this book. It was also featured in Urban Enemies, which was an anthology of POVs by villains. While I wasn’t a huge fan of that anthology, I loved this story. This story is told from the POV of Gentleman Johnnie Marcone. He is a great villain. He is basically a human mob boss, but knows all about magic and highers magically people. I really liked Johnnie Marcone. I love that he his own rules that he follows and that he will stand up for them. Don’t screw with children in his territory.



Bigfoot on Campus (from Hex Appeal, Edited by P. N. Elrod), Read by James Marsters
Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.

This is the last of the Bigfoot stories. Irwin is in trouble again and Harry comes in to help. This was my least favorite of the Bigfoot stories. I felt there were some unanswered questions. I also wasn’t a fan of Harry meddling between Irwin and River Shoulders.



Bombshells (from Dangerous Women, Edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois), Read by Julia Whelan
Takes place between Ghost Story and Cold Days.

This is told from the POV of Molly. It takes place when everyone thinks Harry is dead. Molly is struggling to hold the city together. You could really see the effect that Harry had on everyone around him, especially Molly.



Cold Case (from Shadowed Souls, Edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes), Read by Julia Whelan
Takes place shortly after Cold Days.

Another Molly story, but later in her life. She’s now acting as the Winter Lady. She’s sent on her first mission from Mab. She also works with Carlos Ramirez, a young warden of the Wizard Council. It was a fun story.



Jury Duty (from Unbound, Edited by Shawn Speakman), Read by James Marsters
Set after Skin Game.

I love seeing just a normal day in the life of Harry Dresden. Or at least as normal of a day as Harry can have. Yes, even the city’s only professional wizard has to go to jury duty. And of course, it couldn’t just be easy.



Day One (from Unfettered Ii, Edited by Shawn Speakman), Read by Oliver Wyman
Set after Skin Game.

This is told from Butters POV. This is his first outing as a Knight of the Cross. I really like Butters. In the lead up to the story, Butcher mentions that Butters was supposed to be a throwaway character, but I guess Butters had other ideas. I really like him.



Zoo Day (original), Read by James Marsters
Set after Skin Game.

So this is a story of Harry taking Maggie and Mouse (he’s a registered service dog for Maggie, so he’s allowed to go everywhere with her) to the zoo. We are about how the day goes with POV from all three. I really liked hearing from all three POVs. A very cute story.

Narration
James Marsters continues to do a great job with the narration of Harry Dresden. I can’t imagine anyone else doing the narration of this series. He just is the Dresden Files for me. (Maybe the TV should would’ve done better with him playing Harry, just an idea. I even like Paul Blackthorne as Harry, but I think Marsters would’ve been better).

As for all the other narrators in this book, they all did a great job. It was a little bit weird listening to someone else voice these characters after hearing Marsters voice them for fifteen books. They still did a great job. I’ve listened to most of these before and will listen to all of them again.

**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.