Dead Beat: The Dresden Files, Book 7

Yeap. This book introduced Butters, a Chicago medical examiner, and a perfect foil to Dresden. Jim Butcher's books are always peppered with humor, but between Butters, the almost full-grown Mouse, and a third plot point (that I will not spoil) this book was one guffaw after another. Past Dresden books have been dark, with Harry just getting pummeled time and time again. Harry picks up some new bruises and sutures in this book too, but the whole tone of the story is lighter.

Avoiding Spoliers: Right towards the end, when Harry finds the perfect weapon against the baddies. I rewound that scene twice before moving on with the rest of the book

A late addition to 'The Dresden Files' Audible lineup, this is one of my favorites of the series. In Dead Bead, Mr. Butcher fills out the character of Waldo Butters, who plays a major role in this story, gives us additional glimpes into Bob's dark history, and reintroduces us to some old friends...and enemies. The story is fast paced and exciting with Mr Marster's doing the usual fantastic job of caturing Dresden's emotional intensity. Dresden's resolution of the current crisis is, in a word, audacious! A credit worthy listen.

When I started the Harry Dresden series, the stories were a bit thin and the production values were pretty poor. James Marsters' (I swear I only recognized him after starting the first book) performance was credible, but plagued with weird mispronunciations. Fast forward to book 7, Dead Beat, and things have improved. Quite a lot.

The writing has gotten sharper, even more organically witty. The plots improve by degree, but there's only so much one can do with this material; Butcher does quite a lot. And Marsters is downright brilliant. Some of my favorite narrators are weak on voice characterization; Marsters is a genius at it. If the occasional spell intonation seems overblown, you just accept it because ever other thing he says is pitch-perfect. This is not an exaggeration; if you think carefully about the text and Marsters' delivery, you'll see that his subtlety is pretty impressive... and effective.

So, to sum it up: the stories, though a bit on the genretastic side, are getting better. The writing is well past good. The narration leaves many perpetual favorites in the dust. I do recommend starting at the beginning, though. If you do, stick with it. I almost didn't, and that would have been a shame.

Absolutely brilliant book, the best in the series so far! Harry Dresdan is funnier than ever and becomes even more of a bad ass. Zombies, necromancers, animated dinosaurs, old and new enemies grace the pages of this book as Harry struggles to keep his friend Karrin Murphy's reputation safe. The book is unpredictable and ties together loose ends from previous books. Harry is learning to adapt to having and living with his brother, Thomas. He is adjusting to life with a crippled hand and is struggling to over come fears he is not even aware that he has. The war is still raging against the red court vampires and a terrible new threat has come to Chicago threatening to kill thousands. Action packed and full of Harry's wonderful friends with the new addition of Butters, the polka loving waif of a coroner that grows a back bone while hanging out with our hero.

I always make a point of listening to the Harry Dresdan books on audio because James Marsters does such a wonderful job with the narration and this book was no exception. Fantastic, I am already tempted to listen to it again.

This is my favorite Dresden Book so far. I was extremely impressed with how James Masters, the reader, has come along. We get to see the start of a darker dresden emerge and the lines between good and evil start to get blurred. Didn't wait for a deal to get the next book after reading this one.

I've read (in print) all of the Dresden File books, and have been buying and listening to them as audiobooks the past few months starting with book 1. This is by far the best Dresden book I've listened to. Not only is it the best story, but James Marsters' performance is outstanding. I highly recommend this audiobook.

I've been listening to the Dresden Files back to back for seven books now and I continue to enjoy Masters' narration and Butcher's writing. If I had any complaint with the first books it'd only be the too far over-the-top Warden Morgan whose disdain for Harry goes beyond common sense and the confusing tension between our protagonist and Karrin Murphy whose attitude toward Harry warrants a punch to the teeth more than a kiss. With Karrin on vacation for this book and Morgan seeming to fall into line during Dead Beat this becomes one of the most enjoyable in the series. Imaginative, humorous, over-the-top with just the right amount of tension, Dead Beat is highly recommended.

Dresden in the earlier books uses simple spells to track individuals and find lost items. Yet in book 7, he fails to consider anyone applying the same trick to him. Rather than using his friends, the Alphas or the Knights, to protect the medical examiner. He keeps him near himself. Why doesn't he use his "Sight" more? Or keep his dog "Mouse" with him to sense traps or ambushes? It's as if he has begun to trust in luck. As a result, he is manipulated throughout.

Throughout the book he is committed to giving the most dangerous magic book collection of all time to one of the worst baddies... Surely Murphy wouldn't approve. Why not consider an alternate solution? Finally, the incapacitation of the wardens so that Dresden must be the one to take on the Necromancer gang is a stretch. Fantasy is great. But it's better when the characters ring true.

Very near the top

Dresden is such a fun character and in this book he becomes even more so.

Bob the skull.

Life is a journey, time is a river and the door is ajar. Best Dresden novel so far.

I heard these stories in bits and pieces on satellitie radio. When I first started listening to them downloaded to my device I can't get enough. James Marsters really makes you feel like you are there and it is real.If you love scifi and magic this series is great. Even if you don't it's funny serius and sometimes sad. Listen I don't think you will be dissapointed.

It was just a fun listen

He made you feel like you were there