This installment of the Dresden Files didn't work for me. It sets up an interesting mystery as the protagonist sets out to find out who really killed one of the senior members of the wizards' council, but he never really does much investigating; instead he simply stumbled from one combat encounter to the next, eventually discovering the perpetrator as a side effect of one of these fights. There are some good character moments and I enjoyed the relationships between the supporting characters, but the plot was weak. ( )

Woof. I enjoyed it, but guessed at the real killer midway through... though tbh the REAL mastermind behind the scenes still hasn't been revealed, so I dunno. Good pacing, brought together the wizard and vampire elements, but man, does Harry need a hug after this one. ( )

Just when you think Harry Dresden has faced the biggest, baddest baddie you (or he) could imagine, here comes an even bigger baddie! This time, the supernatural shapeshifter comes after Harry in search of Harry’s White Council nemesis, Morgan, who has shown up on Harry’s doorstep, wounded and running, accused of murder. Of course Harry’s outsized sense of justice kicks in and he agrees to help his enemy, since he knows how it feels to be wrongly accused by his own kind. But, because of his commitment, he must fight—and possibly lose big, to a fearsome, virtually immortal creature. Once again, wizards and vampires engage, in a kind of uneasy alliance, as they search out the true perpetrator, and try to halt a major undermining of both of their societies and governing bodies. The politics and philosophies are getting increasingly complicated here, and the stakes for Harry have risen sharply, as his nearest and dearest are gravely threatened. The danger must eventually accelerate to maximum velocity, and then what? I wonder if this series will keep being engaging if/when all the politics come to a head. Or maybe they never will. I’ll just mention that in the climactic battle sequence, I was reminded of a Greek myth in which a god and a silly opponent get into a metamorphosis contest, which ends when his opponent changes into a fly, and the god swallows her. It didn’t quite end that way here, but that tale was clearly its inspiration, and the Dresden Files are getting seriously mythological. ( )

Right, this is the best Dresden Files book. ( )

461 ( )

Turn Coat is the eleventh full-length installment of the Dresden Files series and like all the others, it keeps the series story arc churning along. In this book, Warden Donald Morgan, Harry’s nemesis of sorts, who’s had it in for Harry since he was caught breaking the laws of magic years ago, shows up on Harry’s doorstep, wounded and on the run from the White Council. Morgan has been charged with a murder he didn’t commit, and with few options left, he reluctantly asks for Harry’s help with clearing his name. Even though there’s no love lost between the two, Harry knows in his heart that Morgan couldn’t possibly have done such a heinous thing, so he agrees to offer his assistance as an investigator. Unfortunately the trail of evidence starts leading to a possible conspiracy between the White Council and the White Court vampires. Add in an evil skinwalker who just won’t quit, a mercenary wizard who knows just enough about spells to conjure up some trouble, and an abundance of friends and foes alike, and you have the makings of a rollicking story full of action, adventure, and just the right dose of magical intervention that was a pleasure to read.

Harry is definitely one of the best male characters of any series that I’ve read and he keeps me coming back for more each time I finish one of his stories. He’s a complex hero, in that he doesn’t always play by the rules, but he tries to stay on the side of good and in the White Council’s graces. When Morgan shows up at his door, he has no real reason to help the guy. After all, Morgan, the council’s executioner, has been jonesing for years to catch Harry in a mistake so that he can take him down. But Harry knows how loyal Morgan has always been to the White Council, which makes him certain that Morgan could never murder a White Council member in cold blood. He’s also a strong fighter for the underdog and when he realizes that, for political reasons, the White Council may let Morgan take the fall no matter what, it makes him want to fight that much harder to clear Morgan’s name. He just simply won’t quit even when the villain sends a powerful, nearly unbeatable skinwalker to take them all out. In fact, he’s prepared to die if necessary for the greater good, because it’s just that important to him. I love Harry for his honorable nature and his desire to help those who, for whatever reason, can’t help themselves. He inspires steadfast loyalty in his friends and a healthy dose of caution and even fear in his foes. Time and time again, he’s proven himself to be a powerful wizard, not quite White Council powerful, but he definitely has plenty of raw talent that promises to grow to the level of a council member given time. I really can’t wait to see what he might do next.

As always, there are plenty of great supporting characters to round out the cast. Morgan is a crusty old coot who’s not easy to like, because of the way he’s had it out for Harry since the beginning, and now Molly as well, believing them to be irredeemable warlocks. However, he proves to have some hidden depths and given that he spends most of the story in a very vulnerable state, I couldn’t help but muster some sympathy for him, especially when he keeps fighting despite his weakened state. I also respected his loyalty to the council and to a certain other warden. Karrin Murphy is perhaps Harry’s closest friend and the one he trusts the most, and I’m still rooting for them to hopefully get together at some point in the future. Molly keeps growing as an apprentice and learning more about her powers, which are pretty impressive in their own right. She, too, proves her loyalty by putting her life on the line for Morgan. Mouse is the smartest, bravest, and best dog a wizard could ever hope to have. Mister and Bob also put in brief appearances. A lot happens for Thomas in this installment, as he finds himself used as leverage against Harry, something that damages his psyche and possibly more. I’m hoping that these changes won’t be permanent, while still trying to be optimistic about a real future for him and Justine, who also appears in this story. Thomas’s sister, Lara, once again shows off her brilliant, but ruthless and deadly power as a frenemy, helping Harry and the council fight a common enemy. The wolf pack puts their lives on the line to lend an assist as well. Anastasia Luccio, captain of the Wardens and Harry’s latest lover, can’t help getting involved for multiple reasons, but we learn something surprising about her along the way. Brave little Toot-toot, my favorite pixie, really gets into the action in this one, showing off his fortitude against a formidable foe. All the White Council members are present, but it’s Ebenezer McCoy and Listens-to-Wind who still seem to be Harry’s most likely allies in the conflicts still to come.

As I mentioned, there’s a lot going on in Turn Coat that makes it not only a great stand-alone story but one that adds intrigue to the overall series arc. I very much enjoyed trying to guess the mystery of who the real killer was. It all suggests that there’s definitely some hinky stuff going on in high places, adding credence to Harry’s theory of a Black Council that’s operating in the shadows in opposition to the White Council. I love Harry’s commitment to figuring it all out and I also love how that even when he’s outnumbered and outgunned, so to speak, he manages to work smarter not harder. There are some humorous moments when Harry leaves home a couple of times, only to come back to a bizarre tableau involving Morgan, Molly, Luccio, and Mouse, in which Mouse appears to be the only one of the bunch with a cool head who’s using his superior doggie brain. In counterpoint, there’s also some grief as we say a sad goodbye to two long-time characters who’ve been a part of the series since the beginning. Everything taken together, Turn Coat was another excellent read in the Dresden Files series that I had a hard time putting down. I very much look forward to seeing what comes next for our intrepid wizard PI. ( )

Turn Coat is the eleventh book in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. In this week's episode... Warden Morgan (yes, that Morgan, the one who has hounded Harry for years) turns up at Harry's door seeking help. Morgan's been accused of murder and needs Chicago's best private detective to help clear his name. Life is full of irony at times.

The banter in these books continues to be one of my favorite things in these books. This quote is one of my favorites:

Thomas stopped his Jag in front of the boarding house where my apartment was and said, "I'll have my cell phone on me. Try to call me before things start exploding."

"Maybe this time it'll be different. Maybe I'll work everything out through reason, diplomacy, dialogue and mutual cooperation."

Thomas eyed me.

I tried to look wounded. "It could happen."

Keep dreaming Harry!

That seems like these events are going to have profound implications for the future of the White Council. The series is taking a darker, more serious turn. I'm glad Butcher keeps the funny banter going to help lighten things up. I feel bad for Harry and how his life is turned more and more on its head with every book. I did enjoy seeing more of the senior wizards - they are impressive when they aren't playing politics. I have no idea if Thomas is going to recover from what happened to him. Toot Toot was pure awesome and deserves extra pizza. Mouse remains the best boy ever and steals every scene he's in. ( )

Another good one.

"Turn Coat" is another heartbreaker for Harry, but I'm not saying why. The skills of his apprentice are growing. I found out this is where the Grey Council forms. He is going to have to let everyone know that Tom is his brother, or he going to burst. ( )

I loved this installment! I think that I enjoyed this one a little more than I did the first time that I read it 9 nine years ago. Although it must have made an impression on me the first time around because I actually remembered parts of the story which I rarely do. I was hooked by this story right away and wanted to spend as much time listening as I could until I reached the conclusion. I found this to be a very entertaining addition to a much-loved series.

This is definitely a series that should be read in order. Warden Morgan and Harry have a long history and it is a less than pleasant one. When an injured Morgan shows up on Harry’s doorstep needing help, Harry doesn’t hesitate. Morgan has been accused of murdering a member of the senior council and it doesn’t look good. Harry does his best to keep Morgan safe and hidden while trying to figure out who is really responsible.

There were some pretty intense scenes in this book and I spent a lot of the book worried about Harry and the other characters. I love how much growth some of the secondary characters have shown throughout the series and a lot of favorites made some kind of appearance in this book. Molly has also grown in her role as Harry’s apprentice and it has been fun to watch her skills develop. The scenes that take place on the island were near perfection that left me glued to my headphones.

James Marsters does a fantastic job with the narration of this book. I feel like the voices that he uses for each of the characters really fits their personality and help to bring the story to life. I love the way he is able to add emotion and excitement to the story. I believe that his narration added to my enjoyment of this book.

I would recommend this series to others. I had a great time with this book and thought that there were some pretty big developments that may have an impact on future installments in the series. I cannot wait to continue with my re-read of this wonderful series. ( )

These books just keep getting deeper and darker and all that much better for it. ( )

Another solid hit from the Dresden Files. This story has Harry trying to exonerate his worst enemy from among the Wardens and facing diwn a skinwalker. All this while teying to suss out the truth behind the Black Council and the traitor on the White Council.

I can’t wait to see what new twists come along in the development of the Molly and the Thomas subplots. Mouse also has competition for “my favorite character” in the form of the pixie Toot-toot and the Za-Lord’s Guard. ( )

Morgan shows up on Dresden's doorstep and asks for his help. Things degrade pretty much exactly as you might expect from there.

We do get a third part in the trifeta of styles from the previous two books: mystery to action to political thriller. There is still plenty of the first two, but now we're dealing primarily with the fallout of a politically motivated murder.

Two things that we learn quite a bit more about in this book are the home of the White Council in (under) Edinburgh and more about that island in the middle of Lake Michigan.

For the former, it's interesting to get a bit more of an insight into just how powerful the senior council can be--while at the same time showing how they're all still human.

In the case of the latter, we get just about as many new questions as we get answers, with a number of characters surprised at just how crazy Dresden is and with hints coming from all over the place about how that island is more interesting/important than we know even now.

We also finally get the start of answers about the Black Council. We're still nowhere near to finding out who is in the core of that particular conspiracy, but it's starting to come to the fore. I do hope that it doesn't take until the planned series finales in a dozen books for more large parts to come out into the open... ( )

Yep, the fluff is getting more layered. I like that in a series. ( )

My husband loves The Dresden Files series. He's read every book and every short story. I'm trying to catch up with him so that we can enjoy the next book together. There is no publication date yet for Peace Talks -- book #16 -- so I have a bit of time to catch up while Jim Butcher finishes writing it. I'm trying to hurry though. My husband has a habit of blurting out major plot points ..... so I'm trying to get through the last book without him accidentally giving me any spoilers.

After enjoying the audio book for book #10 in the series, Small Favor, so much....I went with the audio version on this book, too. James Marsters narrates. He was great as Spike in Buffy.....and he's wonderful as Harry Dresden, too! He reads at a nice even pace and does all the character voices perfectly. Loved it!

In Turn Coat, White Council Warden Morgan is wanted for murder.....he was found standing over the dead body of another council member, the murder weapon still in his hand. But he shows up on Dresden's doorstep saying that he didn't do it and asking for help. In the past, Morgan has tried to have Harry executed...and they just don't get along. But helping an innocent man is always the right thing....so Harry agrees. And once again he's almost instantly up to his eyeballs in danger. Another great action-packed urban fantasy story! This series never lets me down!

Turn Coat is the 11th book in The Dresden Files. The series currently has 15 books, with the 16th book, Peace Talks, currently in progress. I'm moving on to book #12, Changes!

I definitely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy. For me, the Dresden series is second only to Simon Green's Nightside books. ( )

Not as good as usual. The main problem is tonal. This book is just way too grim and sad then compared to the other ones, and that's just not what I go to Dresden files for. Add to that the near overflowing amount of action scenes after action scenes and you get, in my opinion, the worst in a long while. Still, the arc myth stuff (which is what the book is primarily about) is great, and maturing the series a bit is not a terrible idea. ( )

This is easily the best of the Dresden Files. Well drawn characters, good plot, plenty of humour. ( )

reread- damn these books go by so fast! ( )

Harry must figure out who has been betraying the White Council in order to save his least favorite wizard of the White Council.

First read: June 2014
Second read: July 2016 ( )

Wheeee!!! ( )

Thank god!!
I was somewhat worried by the previous book of the series but "Turn Coat" put my worries to rest.
Thankfully this book lives up to the already high standards of the series and is a real delight to read.
In this book Harry Dresden strives to prove the innocence of his once nemesis Morgan and find the traitor in the white council. Having read 11 books of the series, I must admit that the author still has a way to keep the plot fresh, complicated and intriguing. It's most deffinently one of the best urban fantasy series.
( )

The Dresden File novels by Jim Butcher continue to be one of my favorite series. They’re simply fun to read and his stories are engaging, entertaining and action-packed.

Turn Coat is no exception. Butcher presents his readers with a solid murder-mystery thriller where Dresden has only 48 hours to find the killer of a Senior White Council member before Warden Morgan is falsely accused and killed in retribution. His aiding Morgan endangers himself and his apprentice. Dresden’s vampire brother Thomas gets involved which increases friction with the White Court. Add a Native American boogie man, the Naagloshii which is semi-omnipotent, and you have a story that you simply can’t put down.

This series gets better with each new book. Butcher’s skill as a writer continually improves. This story was rich in detail and the pace was consistent throughout. He’s willing to take some chances in offending fans of the series as he kills off some characters and significantly changes others. His use of language is also becoming more creative with phrases like “night wasn’t falling so much as sharpening its claws.” He also pays homage to [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1190633574p2/123715.jpg] in having Dresden mention that he’s having “a perfect Hercule Poirot moment” as he unveils the killer in front of the entire White Council.

This was another great installment in the Dresden series. It makes me wish they’d bring the TV series back. ( )

Not as good as usual. The main problem is tonal. This book is just way too grim and sad then compared to the other ones, and that's just not what I go to Dresden files for. Add to that the near overflowing amount of action scenes after action scenes and you get, in my opinion, the worst in a long while. Still, the arc myth stuff (which is what the book is primarily about) is great, and maturing the series a bit is not a terrible idea. ( )

Before reading this series I read the Anita Blake series and the difference between the two is so enormous. This series is densely packed with different plots converging. The mystery at the center is always real and the threads are gathered slowly and in great detail and variety and interesting points and the final denouement is never a throw away. I am on book eleven in the series and it is as well written as the first book. The author has not fluffed off from the duty of writing a plotted story, does not waste chapter after chapter on things that could be dealt with in a paragraph, is not riding a hobby horse to death at the expense of the reader. Always introducing something new and interesting...in this book it was Demonreach.

Reread in 2018 - after disliking Morgan for so long and then to pity his end. Loved Mai reaction to Mouse. Molly still not on the black magic wagon. I had plans for this morning and read right through them..totally forgot while I was so caught up in the battle. The writer doesn't leave any of his characters hanging which means the reader is not left at the end saying 'but what about?????- ( )