"Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face."

I had heard of but not thought about looking at these books before Michael's recommendation, so there's a big thanks right there. I don't quite know what to make of it, either.

I read the page on [a:Jim Butcher|10746|Jim Butcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1205261964p2/10746.jpg] on Wikipedia for a little background, and I suppose it's a good thing there are more books. There's a lot of room for Dresden's back story, and ample opportunities for future entanglements.

The one thing that perhaps hit a wrong note in this first instalment is the fact that harry Dresden is supposedly the only practicing wizard around, and yet there's no lack of other mystical, magical or otherworldly beings trying to manage their mischief. Still, there's this dreaded White Council that appears to keep an eye on things, and many of the magical folk seem to keep a low profile.

The action was gripping, the story line easily followed and the mixture of potions, incantation and magical sense was neatly rounded. he seems like an all-around nice guy, harry: as he says - When things get strange, when what goes bump in the night flicks on the lights, when no one else can help you, give me a call." The sort of wizard you'd want at your back.