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    Proven Guilty
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    Proven Guilty
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    Proven Guilty
    Audiobook16 hours

    Proven Guilty

    Written by Jim Butcher

    Narrated by James Marsters

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The White Council of Wizards has drafted Harry Dresden as a Warden and assigned him to look into rumors of black magic in Chicago. Malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in the Windy City, but it's all in a day's work for a wizard, his faithful dog, and a talking skull named Bob.


    From the Paperback edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateApr 30, 2009
    ISBN9781101052976
    Unavailable
    Proven Guilty
    Author

    Jim Butcher

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher turned to writing as a career because anything else probably would have driven him insane. He lives mostly inside his own head so that he can write down the conversation of his imaginary friends, but his head can generally be found in Independence, Missouri. 

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    Reviews for Proven Guilty

    4.5/5

    2,004 ratings78 reviews

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    • 4/5
      [Cross-posted to Knite Writes]After a bit of hiatus from The Dresden Files, I found this book to be a little bit of a letdown. The plot didn’t seem as well organized to me as the ones from past books, and the stakes, while high, didn’t really surpass those of previous books. Proven Guilty, from my point of view, read more like a lead-in to another stage of the series — which isn’t necessarily bad. I do know what happens in the rest of the series -cough- so I can see how this book might fall into the equation perfectly. It just didn’t quite suit my tastes. Didn’t quite have what I wanted — there wasn’t enough “punch” to the plot.It sets up a lot of important relationships though. And the characters, like usual, were all very well characterized. Their personalities were great, they developed, and I particularly liked the exploration of side characters like Charity Carpenter. Butcher seems to have put a lot of time and effort into making much of his cast well-rounded and complex. Which makes for a very enjoyable story overall. Watching characters and relationships develop is one of my favorite parts of reading.I think what I liked most about Proven Guilty, though, was how much it hinted at. The reason I felt this book was a bit of a lull is because Butcher used it to foreshadow a lot. And I mean a lot. If you pay attention, the sheer number of things you catch that I know (because I cheat) become relevant later in the series is astounding. This was a book full of complex set-ups, the machinery behind major plot twists that occur in the succeeding installments. I thoroughly enjoyed finding them all. A bit of a fun reading challenge.So, I mean, there was nothing especially “bad” about Proven Guilty. There’s plenty of action and snark; it builds on the previous books very well and sets the stage for what comes next. I just felt this one was a bit less polished and cohesive than Butcher’s usual work.
    • 3/5
      Probably my least favorite book of the series. While I do like the back story that was revealed about everyone's favorite sword-swinging handyman Michael, it just wasn't enough. By the time the story was over, it felt like the main threat wasn't really as serious as it seemed.
    • 4/5
      On a re-read, I think I liked this one less than the first go-around. The A plot really didn't do much for me, and some of the action scenes felt like contractual obligations. But the *B* plot is fantastic. I'm glad that Charity is finally treated as a more three-dimensional character here.
    • 4/5
      Some extra squick factor here due to Butcher's penchant for carefully describing each female character's sexual attractiveness and the fact that this book prominently features a teenage female character, but if you can get beyond that, this was one of my favorite plots in the series.
    • 4/5
      Jim Butcher brings another exciting adventure with Harry Dresden in Proven Guilty! You get what you expect, Harry somehow being both stupid and brilliant, and Harry somehow pulling himself out of danger, but not without a scrape or two (or worse). Fast and enjoyable read with fun new characters and a deepening of the greater mystery of the Dresden Files.
    • 4/5
      Harry can never catch a break! He's avoided his good friend Michael because Harry picked up a coin possessed by a fallen angel. But Michael's daughter reaches out for help and Harry gets dragged into an investigation into black magic in his new role as a White Warden. Harry finds some relief from his guilt over the fallen angel issue and finds to his horror that the black magic user he is chasing down is Michael's daughter. In the end Harry gets to "pay it forward" by sticking his neck out for someone like his mentor did for him.
    • 4/5
      I hadn't realized how much I missed Harry Dresden until I started reading this book. As usual, good pace, good start, intriguing story line from page one.One thing I like about Jim Butcher and his writing is the sudden appearance of a twist you couldn't ever consider appearing. Charity has magic? WHOA! yet it fits the storyline better than when others wait to reveal facts about the villain. His reveals usually deal with side characters.He also tends to hint that things are going to go one direction, then pulls a left turn, which makes perfect plot sense, that makes you also go WHOA!Much as I hate to say it, Bob and Lasciel have a point. Harry is never going to get laid. And with his description of Molly... Um, yeah. Charity probably overreacted, but what mother bear is going to stop and listen when she thinks cub is in danger... Sorry. Gotta side with the lascivious skull on this one.There's a great scene where Harry and Murphy cleared some of the tension, only to make more tension. If you've been reading this series through, you'll see how there is a hint at a possible shift, but not just yet. Hilts and Blades, Goddess of the Holy might. The tension could find the bad guy! But I hope the change never comes.The beginning is a slow burn build, but once it's rolling, the snowball gathers a lot of speed and can't be stopped. So much so I couldn't put it down. Loved a lot of things about this book... Just not enough to give it that full final star.
    • 5/5
      It's been a hot second since I picked up a book in this series and boy was I glad to get back in it! Harry Dresden never catches a break. Tasked with finding out about possible black magic brewing in Chicago, he gets side tracked by a bunch of movie monsters that attack a horror convention. To make matters more complicated, his good friend, Michael's, daughter is somehow involved. What's a poor wizard to do? Narrated brilliantly by James Marsters, this book kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed it immensely. On to book nine in the Dresden Files series!
    • 4/5
      Increasingly complex Dresden Files world. Solid brain-candy.
    • 4/5
      very enjoyable.
    • 2/5
      Well, well, well. My, my, my. This book illustrates perfectly why I'm safe from being a die hard fan of any author. I don't have a shred of loyalty towards my favorite authors, and I wear that attitude like a badge of honor. Most of the Dresden books I've read so far have scored well. Because of that, I believe that Jim Butcher doesn't need to punch above his weight to write a damn good book. He is frighteningly talented. So what happened here? I'm not alone in finding Proven Guilty a mediocre book. The foundation of Jim Butcher's books relies on sentimentality. If the structure of the story is sound and pleasing, the readers ignore the underlying cheesiness of the premise. But if the structure of the story lends itself badly to deconstruction, we are aware of the paucity of logic and intelligence in the writing. The hitherto strength of the series, namely that we are willing to accept that Harry Dresden courts trouble, and gets away with it despite a humongous display of stupidity with gallantry as his cloak, becomes his weakness in this book. Paradoxically, the writer keeps Harry underpowered. Harry escapes from a tight bind in Proven Guilty with resourcefulness, but with no show of power. What messes the balance in the series is that the hero keeps fighting foes who are increasingly dangerous. He should not have survived. Also, when the biggest villain yet is pitted against the hero, the stakes should be high. But curiously, they're not. Also, not to nitpick, but this is the first book where we get to learn nothing new about Dresden. The Dresden Files relies a lot on characterization. We don't ask for it, but us fans have been served with books that ooze chutzpah, sincerity, wholesomeness, and among others,braveness in the face of decay and death. Some of the passages depict human frailty, with us not even at the top of the food chain. The magic of this world is shown to great purpose. In this book, the sincerity sounds faked. The winks and nods have more in common with fan service than with humor. The twists are moribund, and may perhaps be the most embarrassing aspect of book 8. The most pleasing element of Proven Guilty is the exposure of the corrupt intricacy of the White Council - the wizard court. What happens near the end, the case where Harry moonlights as an attorney, feels realistic. Such a tainted organization as the Council would behave the exact way as it has been shown. I hear the next book serially is just as bad as this one, but after that things get better. I'd better get on with it.
    • 4/5
      Better than the last couple I read but will give it a break for a while. I chose to read this series as my husband loved them. I can see some of the reasons. The characters are light and clear cut, the stories are hero tales and if you love superheroes then this would be a totally suitable series. For me there is a lack of development of the characters and relationships currently (the best parallel I can think of is either discworld novels which I enjoy but cannot read too often as its like a sitcom you dip into and know the "style" of).
    • 4/5
      A reread of a typical fast-moving Jim Butcher.
      Harry is called in to investigate the seeming coming-to-life of movie horror creations. In the meantime he is also helping the teenage daughter of his best friend, who is going through more than the typical teenage angst. A hopeless invasion of the land of the Winter Court comes up and Harry must battle through against (as always) impossible odds.
      A set up for future story lines and looming evil.
    • 5/5
      The series keeps getting better and better. This books brings some of the smaller characters to the front, while also expanding on some well knowns. Great book and great narration by James Marsters.
    • 4/5
      Someone once said to me that the Dresden Files get better and better with every book. They were right. Proven Guilty was all about his most emotional memories coming back and history repeating itself - a young wizard, just like he once was, without proper guidance makes all hell break loose and Harry is there for the rescue. I was slightly bored by the monsters in the theater parts - it would have been so much more fun if those horrow movie monsters could only be killed exactly like they did in the movies. But, thank God, those parts resolved themselves pretty quickly, leaving the second half of the book for my sheer enjoyment.
    • 5/5
      I loved it. I wish I hadn't read book 9 first - oops. Because now some things in book 9 make more sense. And I found my self thinking about things I knew from the next book. Oh well.I couldn't help but compare Harry Dresden to Harry Potter. Dresden cares about people - even people who don't like him. In the Dresden files dark magic has real negative consequences. Potter experiences no bad affects from using "unforgivable" dark spells.
    • 4/5
      After a disastrous meeting of the White Council of Wizards, in which a child warlock is executed for crimes against humanity, Harry definitely isn't in the mood for work from the Council. Unfortunately, he's been assigned two jobs, both in secret and both potentially dangerous. First, he must discover why the faerie courts are not responding to attacks from an enemy that also threatens the wizards. Second, he has to find and capture a warlock who is about to start terrorizing Chicago. And if that isn't enough, Molly Carpenter, the teenage daughter of an old but currently estranged friend, calls him up and begs for help, forcing him to investigate foul deeds at a horror convention.
      Apparently, there's just no rest for the wicked.

      One of the aspects that I love about The Dresden Files are the characters and relationships. This one is chock-full of recurring cast, introduces some new characters, and gives others more than just a one-time walk-on role. After her hiatus in Dead Beat, Lt. Karrin Murph is back in full force, ready to alternately bicker with and stand back-to-back with Harry. Harry is still trying to come to grips with his relationship with his half-brother, Thomas. Charity Carpenter, Harry's most feared ally from previous books, is as uncharitable as ever, but in this book, her motives and background are explored a little, making her more than just Michael Carpenter's shrewish and overprotective wife. Harry is also more bemused than ever by Charity's teenage, goth-dressing, horror-watching, argumentative daughter, Molly. Rawlins, the phlegmatic detective from Dead Beat, is on the scene, and it turns out he knows Murph from way back when. (He calls her Karrie. She is not pleased.) As far as I can tell, Rawlins is the only African-American character in the series, and although he is somewhat stereotypical from, say, old cop shows, it is at least encouraging to have a POC with a speaking role. Father Forthill, the only positively drawn example of a priest I think I've ever encountered in fantasy, is still full of patience, tolerance, and wry wit. I've always liked him as a character, but this book upgraded him to one of my favourites.

      Some of Dresden's entertaining antagonists from previous books also make an appearance. Dresden is still trying to deal with the tempting whispers of the shadow of a fallen angel which has taken up residence in his head. He must also continue with his standard political gymnastics with the leaders of the White Council of Wizards, but after being forced into the ranks of wardens, the stakes are even higher. If that wasn't enough, to discover why both the Summer and Winter courts are strangely dormant, Dresden must become even more deeply embroiled in faerie politics. One of the issues I have with this book is the plot; basically, I have no idea what happened or why. hover for spoiler

      Although I'm often tempted to "knock him upside the head," I really think I do like Harry Dresden. I find his quixotic oscillation between furious force of will and well-meaning ineptitude very endearing. I especially appreciate the fact that he struggles with and is haunted by the darker portions of his nature. Evil actions, no matter how necessary, are never without consequences, and this theme is fully explored in Proven Guilty. Unfortunately, Dresden is also a total freaking perve. This, too, is fully explored in Proven Guilty. I'm still looking for the brain bleach.

      Although I found Terrible Teen Barbie--er, Molly Carpenter--vastly irritating, I did enjoy Harry's portion of their discussions. His irreverence, idealism, and naivete (not to mention his sometimes atrocious attempts at witty repartee) make him seem much younger than his actual age (I think he's a little over 30 in this book.) His immaturity is exacerbated by the fact that given the lifespans of wizards and magical beings, most of the other characters are Harry's age or far older. However, when faced with a recalcitrant, defiant teenager, Harry has to take on the unfamiliar role of adult and supervisor. He's not especially good at it. Hilarity ensues.

      One of my favourite parts of this book (other than a notably comedic scene in which Harry is captured by one of his many foes) is the interaction between Murphy and Harry. There is a wonderfully entertaining, groan-worthy scene in which Harry manages to say absolutely everything wrong it is possible to say to a woman who is asking you about where a relationship is going:
      hover for spoiler
      Which brings us to Harry's brief flash of insight: "Women confuse me."
      Yeah, Harry, you can say that again.

      Overall, even though I find the whiny teenage Molly Carpenter incredibly irritating and the horror film references that pepper the book baffling, Proven Guilty is a very enjoyable read. It is, perhaps, the first introspective book in the series; as the title suggests, the theme is corruption, responsibility, and forgiveness. The relationships and message behind the novel feel very real and heartfelt, and somehow this gives it a little touch of depth that a comedic novel involving (literal) horror movie monsters just shouldn't have.

      And yes, I'm going to say it again: these books are better on audio. I'm pretty positive these get at least one additional star from me just from James Marsters' performance. He has really gotten into the spirit of the thing; his reading is spirited, entertaining, and quintessentially Harry-ish.

      ~4.5
    • 4/5
      Have to rank this as one of my favorite Dresden novels! Kept me glued from the beginning and more involved in all the different storylines that have been working through all the other novels. I'm really eager to get through the next few since the new one is set to come out soon.
    • 5/5
      Another excellent installment of the Dresden files. Are my reviews getting monotonous? I really have enjoyed every one of the books. They never feel like the same story shuffled around. And yet, Butcher finds a way to create new mayhem and near-apocalyptic conditions every time. And if you question that I've rated each with five stars, I'll say that my thinking is to start at five stars and consider what detracts from that. Things like a subplot that doesn't connect well with the main plot would knock down a five-star story to a four-star for me. A character acting out of character would lose a half or possibly a full star. None of those things have happened in any of the Dresden stories. In fact, I had rated the first few stories as four stars, but then realized there were no circumstances detracting from a five-star rating. So I fully enjoyed this story. But, oh, Murphy, Murphy, Murphy. How could you do that to Harry! Come to your senses! Please![SPOILER ALERT!] The battle in the Nevernever was one of the scarier ones they've had to get through yet. It wouldn't have surprised me if they'd lost someone. The fact that they made it all back, well, I'm glad, even if it makes it tests one's suspension of disbelief. It didn't reach my limits of disbelief, though, since Harry had help from the Summer fire. Sure loved when he burned up the last Fetch and then yelled "Who's next?" And all the fetches went running. Awesome. I'm sure he would have looked kind of scary at that moment, but from this distance... cool. [END SPOILER ALERT]I finally figured out how to hide spoilers. Sorry if I've let any slip before this. Eagerly anticipating the next story, I'm a true Harry Dresden fan now!
    • 5/5
      The main character HARRY DRESDEN is funny, smart mouth and at times has more then he can handle. He has great friends who will stand by him no matter what. This book is really great . Kept me on my toes . Thinking ok it will turn out this way but nope , doesnt turn out that way . It is fast read,and enjoyable . I give this book 5/5. Check it out . I can't wait to read the next one!
    • 5/5
      This series continues to get better and better. Harry is discovering that there is more and more out there conspiring against him and the rest of the world for that matter. He now has an apprentice as well (upstart Molly). Can't wait for the next one.
    • 4/5
      Harry's back, newly (and reluctantly) promoted to his role of warden for Chicago. Lots of fun in this one! Set mainly at a horror convention (Splatter Con! haha), we are re-introduced to Molly, Michael Carpenter's all grown up daughter, and she has a big girl crush on Harry. Harry, my favorite white knight in a leather duster, is having none of it. But you know what he wants to have? Murphy, in a big, big way. Yes, my favorite star-crossed lovers may never happen, but at least Harry is taking baby steps in the right direction. Murphy, open your damn eyes, please. Harry is amazing.

      My least favorite character, Charity, plays a big role in this one. I'm not saying I like her, but at long last I understand part of her deep-seeded loathing for Harry. Misplaced, mostly, but understandable. All of my favorites are here: Ebenezer, Mac, Mouse, Thomas, Bob and Michael. Michael, in his typical fashion, is the ultimately the savior. Damn, I love him.

      We get unexpected allies in the Summer Court and Mab and her Winter Court cronies make another appearance. It's all fun, and as usual, Harry can't catch a break without help from the people around him. Possibly my favorite book of the series so far.
    • 4/5
      The storming of Arctis Tor, no apology for Charity's awesomeness. Splatter Con. Black Magic. Madrigal. Thomas saves Harry and Rawlins. Molly and black magic. Making up with Ebenezer. Idea of Black Council put forth.
    • 3/5
      Every one of these Dresden books is the same. They all blur together. I have no way to tell them apart. I've read about 6 of these books, and they really are pretty good. But, they are all in the average category. None of them stand out as really that awesome.

      After reading this particular book, I was like, goddamnit! I thought for sure they were gonna throw Dresden in jail for good this time. But noooooo. Fucking bullshit. Why can't someone kill this guy already? I mean, what's the fucking problem? Just shoot the cocksucker.
    • 4/5
      The storming of Arctis Tor, no apology for Charity's awesomeness. Splatter Con. Black Magic. Madrigal. Thomas saves Harry and Rawlins. Molly and black magic. Making up with Ebenezer. Idea of Black Council put forth.
    • 4/5
      Proven Guilty outdoes all the previous editions of The Dresden Files. With the phobophage/black magic plot that forms the center of the novel, Harry also continues to fight his inner demons- literally- and we gain new insight into the Carpenter family. As if that weren't enough, we also have glimpses of the ongoing stories of Thomas and Murphy, and more questions raised by the end of the book ranging from the fate of the Sword to the question of whether or not there could be one entity manipulating the various supernatural attacks in the series so far.
    • 5/5
      This book is a very good addition to the Dresden series. By the end of the book I felt like I knew some of the minor characters better.One of the twists at the end gave me pause, but I trust Jim Butcher to handle it well.My overwhelming impression at the end of the book was that there are so many exciting places this series could go. I'm anxious to see what Butcher does with it.
    • 4/5
      You always know what to expect from Harry Dresden files series. It's always well done, keeping the same steady level of craftsmanship - although falling short of being great and totally original. Still very entertaining and quick and fun read.
    • 5/5
      Loved it! Dresden is such a damned brave and brilliant wizard, I just don't know how he does it!
    • 2/5
      This one is weaker than the last couple - in a tv series, this is the filler and setup show in the middle of the arc, wrapping up a few loose ends, finding a reason to bring back a few old friends and introduce a few new, and have all the various factions meeting, then setting up some upcoming episodes with either some lampshaded foreshadowing or flat out expository character guessing about what's coming up next.

      The battle is pretty bad-ass though. And so is Charity.

      So on to the next one, which based on previous happenings, and the title of the next, will see something happening with the Winter Court.