Ghost Story: The Dresden Files, Book 13

I enjoyed this story for the most part -- it did indeed take a slightly different course than the previous twelve tales in the series, which is a good change of pace. But I do have to agree that the change in narrators was tough to accept, despite the story. I like some of John Glover's other works, but this wasn't one of them, unfortunately. It didn't quite fit in with Marster's previous takes on Harry's character, especially since these are told in the first person.

A more inspired stand-in for James Marsters, if truly necessary, would have been to enlist Paul Blackthorne, the actor who played Harry Dresden in the TV series, to narrate. The two actors sometimes sound quite a lot alike, after all, in delivering Dresden's words, to me at least.

In any event, the publisher has _got_ to get Marsters back.

I loved the story, but it was ruined for me because the Narrator John Glover just isn't "Harry Dresden". To me he sounds more like James Marsters version of "Butters". I will definately re-buy the book if James Marsters narrates it later. I'm sorry I just didn't read this one as a hardcover. I loved the story as much as all the rest of the series, I just didn't care for the narrator.

Sounds to me like the powers that be were more concerned with a quick turnaround on their investment than they were with the overall quality of a product that had developed a cult following over 12, count em TWELVE former performances.

This should be a case study on how not to treat your audience.

Fair is fair, the narration wasn't bad. Were this the first Dresden book I'd read, I'd have no problem with it. But Glover doesn't have Dresden's voice, Maab's cadence, Murphy's chutzpah, Molly's nubility (is that a word? It should be). He couldn't possibly have it because this is his first crack at a LONG established format.

That's not his fault, not Jim Butcher's fault, no one but whoever the idiot was that decided that we would just be okay with a summary "Hey, we wanted to make some cash and figured you'd be so anxious to get your Dresden fix that you wouldn't notice our little switcheroo".

So, I'm writing the first review I've ever written in the hopes that someone reads this and recognizes that a large swath of us are simply not going to purchase the next one unless Marsters is reading it.

For those of you looking for another great Urban Fantasy series, look for the Iron Druid Chronicles.

Cheers.

Oh what, you wanted a review of the story? Look at my stars, that's all you need to know, its all an opinion and we all have one. Cheers!

I found the subplots a bit Dickensian and they didn't totally contribute to the story for me. John Glover is a very good actor and he read the story, all right, but if you get James Marsters to record it I will even buy it again. I listen to audiobooks when I'm too tired for anything else, and James Marsters makes Dresden come alive.

It looks as if audiobooks are going to be the entertainment of choice for a while. It's a long tiring drive to the movie theater and then the ticket gives me sticker shock. TV is an uninspired hodgepodge of the parade of police procedurals, mean-spirited elimination contests, gleeful exterminators and fishermen, and, of course, the potty-mouth chef! In short, audiobooks have to be entertainment now, not just, "here, I'll read it to you."

Loved the book but hated the narrator. Not that John Glover is a poor narrator, he is just not Harry Dresden. Please bring back James Marsters and in the future there are deadlines to meet and you can't get James at that moment...... Please wait for him!!!

I loved the story, but it was ruined for me because the Narrator John Glover just isn't "Harry Dresden". To me he sounds more like James Marsters version of "Butters". I will definately re-buy the book if James Marsters narrates it later. I'm sorry I just didn't read this one as a hardcover. I loved the story as much as all the rest of the series, I just didn't care for the narrator.

As someone who only recently began this series, I was glad to have caught up just in time for the new book. But, since I began the series via audiobook, I was heavily invested in James Marsters' narrative style. Honestly? I wish they'd delayed the audiobook release until Marsters could be available to read it. And I hope that, with all the reviews on Audible, Penguin considers that when handling their next series book.

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Another reviewer commented that, because of where this book picks up, it makes sense to have a different voice. I tried to tell myself that as well but, when it comes right down to it, I think that John Glover's voice wasn't the right one to pick. To me, Harry Dresden now sounds like Waldo Butters (and when the two of them talk, forget about keeping them straight!). I kept thinking about Butters long before he appeared in the story. I could have lived with it if Butters (and any of the other secondary characters) hadn't sounded the same as he had before, but the pitch of Glover's voice just isn't right for the character I've been following for 12 books now, which is too bad.
That being said, Glover does a good job with the book. If it hadn't been a series where we'd had a consistent narrator for so long, I think I'd have been very pleased with him.
But no, he's just not Harry.

No, no, no, no, no! Mr Glover sounds more like Kasey Kasem instead of Harry Dresden. Please do whatever it takes to get Mr Marsters to pick up the narration. If this continues, I would most likely go back to reading the book instead of listening.

Mr Glover is talented and excellent in his other roles, but this is not one of them.

It took us a while listening to the other Dresden audio books to stop hearing Spike and start hearing Harry from James Marsters, but the last half dozen books had really sold it.

So it was jarring to get the switch to John Glover on this book. Glover's got a nice voice, but frankly, he sounds too old to be Harry - more curmudgeonly old fart than late-30-something action hero. He also lacks the edge of sarcasm that Marsters brought (we thought correctly) to the characterization. We missed Marsters.

This book returns more to the noire gumshoe storylines that made the series famous and that the last book (Changes) kind of dropped, so that was a good thing.

Like all books, there are a couple of plot inconsistencies but on the whole it's a return to roots. It moves the story forward, and (for readers of Changes) brings the series back to a point where you can see it going forward.

On the whole good to get back to Chicago...

Narrator: Anyone who was to come after Mr. Marsters was going to meet extreme criticism and have an entirely uphill battle. But Mr. Glover does a really poor job. I know that he has his own voice and must use his own talents. But if you are picking up on book 13 of a series read by the same narrator maybe you should take a some time and listen to how it has been done, what voice the characters have been developed to have, or maybe just read some of the other books. This was failure on his part and the part of the producers.

Story: I don't want to give away anything but safe to say the first half of the book is unlike any of the others, which was compounded by the new narrator, and almost lost me. But once you get past that we are given the Dresden that we've come to know and love.

Overall: I've listened to the other books at least 3 times each. I'm a huge fan of the series and will continue to be. But if they bring Mr. Glover back for the next an any other books, I'll be reading not listening to them. Mr. Marsters is Dresden, don't change.