Review: Brief Cases

Brief Cases by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Brief Cases”

By Jim Butcher

Narrated by: James Marsters, Jim Butcher, Cassandra Campbell, Julia Whelan, Oliver Wyman

Series: The Dresden Files, Book 15.5

Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins

Published June 5th 2018 by Penguin Random House Audio

Once you get started into the world of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, you just can't stop. Luckily there's plenty of material to chose from, with 17 books on the series. The fun thing is that Butcher has compiled his short stories into 3 extra books; “Side Jobs,” “Working for Bigfoot,” and this one. This book has the stories from “Working for Bigfoot,” so you could bypass that one, but being a huge fan I have to at least own all the books.

To summarize, at least up until the stories in this book, in the Dresden Files, I will be brief and let you read the books on your own if you feel so inclined.

So briefly, Harry Dresden is a wizard. His domain is Chicago, and he protects the city from all forms of supernatural entities with his magic and his life (that is not just talk, he actually spent some time dead to keep Chicago and his friends and family safe.) Harry used to be a consultant with the police and worked closely with Karen Murphy, a detective. He and Karen are now a couple. (spoiler)

Harry has fought and killed Red Court Vampires, well actually he killed all the Red Court Vampires, Harry has also fought many other supernatural beings, including other courts of vampires, werewolves, ghouls, ghosts, all sorts of fairy and fae, even a god and goddess or two. Oh and let's not forget Chicago Gangster, Gentleman Johnny Marcone.

The best part of Harry Dresden's life is the list of who he has partnered with, which includes but is not limited to: Bigfoot, the fairy queen of winter and summer (with with the queen of winter being his fairy godmother), the white council of wizards, teenage werewolves, Valkyries and many more.

The tough thing about Harry's life is that he can never seem to catch a break but he does seem to always find a way out of problems.

At this point in his timeline Harry's daughter is the focus of his attention, as is his White Court Vampire/Half Brother, Thomas. Harry's family has grown to not only include these two but also Karen Murphy, his grandfather, Ebenezer, River Shoulders (a sasquatch), Molly the former warlock daughter of Michael, a Knight of the Cross, now turned to the winter lady. Read the books, you'll love them.

So let's talk about this book in the series it was released between the 2015 released book, “Skin Game” and the newly released (2020), “Peace Talks.” The stories all take place at different times during the Dresden timeline, but each story is important as somewhat of a footnote to lead you to further understand the characters and incidents leading up to “Peace Talks.” Here are the stories in Brief Cases:

“Curses” — from the 2011 publication, “The Naked City,” edited by Ellen Datlow. Republished in 2014 publication, “Magic City: Recent Spells,” edited by Paula Guran. Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat. Harry is hired to look into the Curse of the Billy Goat, which has plagued the Chicago Cubs in the postseason for decades, and try to lift it if possible. I'm thinking this is one of the world's most famous curses, and sure Harry has to do it without anyone knowing that's what he's trying to do. The funny thing about this is that this story was written about 5 years before the Cubs won the World Series again. That leads to the question, did he or didn't he?

“AAAA Wizardry” — from the 2010Dresden Files RPG, published by Evil Hat. This story is actually a group of stories within a story. Harry teaches a group of young Wardens his procedure for dealing with supernatural nasties. As Harry teaches the class he has to tell a story for each procedure. Takes place between “Dead Beat”and “Proven Guilty.” Oh and yes there is a Dresden Files RPG.

“Even Hand” — originally from 2010 Dark and Stormy Knights, edited by Pat Elrod. Reprinted in 2014 Beyond the Pale, edited by Henry Herz, and 2017  Urban Enemies, edited by Joseph Nassise.
Gentleman Johnnie Marcone clashes with a rival supernatural power. Told from Marcone’s point of view. Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.

“B is for Bigfoot” — from 2012 Under My Hat: Tales From the Cauldron, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Republished in 2015Working for Bigfoot. This is the point in the Dresden files where we learn that bigfoot is a major player in Harry's world. Takes place between Fool Moon and Grave Peril.

“I Was A Teenage Bigfoot” — from 2012 Blood Lite 3: Aftertaste, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. Republished in Working for Bigfoot. Bigfoot is revisited, this time Harry must save Bigfoot's son from something that seems to be draining his energies. Takes place circa Dead Beat.

“Bigfoot on Campus” — from 2012 Hex Appeal, edited by P.N. Elrod. Republished in Working for Bigfoot. Bigfoot's son is all grown up and in college at Oklahoma University in Norman, OK. (GO SOONERS!!!!) This time his son is the target of a White Court Vampire, sorta. Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.

“Bombshells” — Molly-POV novella from 2013 Dangerous Women, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Duzois. Molly teams up with Justine and Andi to thwart a Fomor plot.
Takes place between Ghost Story and Cold Days.

“Jury Duty” — short story for 2015 Unbound, edited by Shawn Speakman. Harry endures Jury Duty. Well more like discovers a case he can solve by enduring Jury Duty. Set after Skin Game.

“Cold Case” — short story from 2016 Shadowed Souls, edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes.
In Molly’s first job in her new role, she teams up with Ramirez to take on a Lovecraft-esque cult. Once I got started into the story I knew right away Jim Butcher was tackling the writings of Lovecraft, and merging Lovecraft into Dresden files is just plain awesome. The problem Is that Molly has yet to discover her new full powers. Takes place shortly after Cold Days.

“Day One” — short story for2016Unfettered II, edited by Shawn Speakman. Butters’ first mission. Waldo Butters is the Coroner for Cook County and has recently been folded in as a Knight of the Cross. The cool thing is that his sword is pretty much a light saber. Set after Skin Game.

“A Fistful of Warlocks” — short story for 2017 Straight Outta Tombstone, edited by David Boop.
Luccio takes on necromancers in the Wild West. I think this was the most fun story in this book. It had a very, VERY Clint Eastwood vibe. Set long before the events of the series, like maybe a hundred years or so before.

“Zoo Day Exclusive bonus novella for Brief Cases. A Rashomon-style story that chronicles a family trip to the zoo from Harry, Maggie, and Mouse’s points of view. Jim Butcher really stretched his story-telling muscles on this one, and I loved the story from Mouse's point of view. Mouse is Harry's dog....not just any dog, but a Temple Dog.
Set after Skin Game.

In the audiobook when Harry is telling the story, the great James Marsters is narrating, for the other stories the voices are changed to reflecct the point of view and the author’s notes that precede each story are read by the author.

Publisher's Summary

An all-new Dresden Files story headlines this urban fantasy short story collection starring the Windy City's favorite wizard.

The world of Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, is rife with intrigue - and creatures of all supernatural stripes. And you'll make their intimate acquaintance as Harry delves into the dark side of truth, justice, and the American way in this must-have short story collection.

From the Wild West to the bleachers at Wrigley Field, humans, zombies, incubi, and even fey royalty appear, ready to blur the line between friend and foe. In the never-before-published "Zoo Day", Harry treads new ground as a dad, while fan-favorite characters Molly Carpenter, his onetime apprentice, White Council Warden Anastasia Luccio, and even Bigfoot stalk through the pages of more classic tales.

With 12 stories in all, Brief Cases offers both longtime fans and first-time listeners tantalizing glimpses into Harry's funny, gritty, and unforgettable realm, whetting their appetites for more to come from the wizard with a heart of gold.

©2018 Jim Butcher (P)2018 Penguin Audio

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