Are you familiar with Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files? I have read the first 10 books so far and find them fun, thought-provoking, well written, and the best kind of snarky.

The wizard Harry Dresden is a ‘rough-around-the-edges’ Private Investigator and yes, resident wizard, who happens to sometimes help out the Chicago PD. I love the fact that the series is mostly set in Chicago. Midwestern Culture for the win! In the books, he deals with all sorts of magical creatures, magical humans and regular humans, sorting out the good, the bad, the chaotic, and the dependable, plus everyone in between. He is an inclusive guy who will help those truly in need but also gets himself into trouble. Think a magical, one-man version of “The A-Team”.

The emotions are well written, you feel like you are there with Harry. He’s a smart ass and a fan of nerd pop culture. The books can make you think (if you are in the mood to be philosophical) about good and evil, and the nature of villains. Sometimes in the Jessica Rabbit kind of way -“I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way”, sometimes in the style of Voldemort. Every book and every adventure is different.

Right now, I am reading the compilation of short stories now called Side Jobs, Stories from the Dresden Files. On the cover is a quote from Entertainment Weekly ” Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Philip Marlowe.” I think that is a truly apt description.

Given what is going on in the world today, fighting evil in a book is a nice escape while still timely and relevant.