Grave Peril (potential for spoilers)

This is a thread in order to discuss the book Grave Peril as well as the books that came before since the books aren't open ended and each one builds upon the characters & main plot.

This is one of my favourites. I just love the ghosts rising at the end. And of course it sets up the whole Susan Subplot. She's a bit gwaky in this one.

I like Susan especially when she later becomes super cool (dont want to ruin it for any one who hasn't read further).

I am disappointed Susuan doesn't get more book time. I think she is a good match for Harry.

You know who I wish would get more book time. Bob. Love him. =)

This is as far as I've read in the series so far (well, the novels- I've read some later short stories in anthologies). Do you think it would be a reasonable introduction to the series? Obviously there are some references to events in the first two books, but my instinct is that somebody could pick this up and not feel lost for not having read the others.

I have a professor who isn't much into fantasy, but she does like vampires, and she really likes detective stories and stories set in cities with which she is very familiar, including Chicago. Because the vampires get so much more time in Grave Peril than the first two books, I'm inclined to suggest that she check this one out first. Thoughts?

Each book is pretty much a self contained story....with a continuing backstory to weave the various books in the series. While I typically would recommend for people to read a series sequentially I don't think that your professor would be too lost if she started with this book. Then moved on to other books from there.

A totally different series but similar situation - I jumped into the Stephanie Plum books at book 6 not realizing right away that it was a series and I wasn't hurt or overly spoiled from it when I went back to read the first 5 books.

I think with Dresden after about book 5 you should read in order. I read White Knight ahead of Dead Beat and Proven Guilty thinking it would be fine and while on one hand it was on the other there were a few character that had me thinking "who are they? what are they doing here? am still reading the same series?" which did spoil it a tiny bit when I went back to read the other books. Also they talked about past events and injuries that meant nothing till I went back and read the other books. I still loved the book but I do wish now I read it in order.

However I think the first 3 books I didnt read in order.

I'm pretty much a stickler fro reading a series in order. I find them to be fairly light quick reads - hence it's probably worth investing the few days extra reading time it will take to start with Storm Front.

I agree with you Caspette...after a certain point they really should be rad in order. I was thinking about that after I posted. Was going to edit it but then decided to leave it since the question was about a specific book.

Like reading_fox though when I know that a book is part of a series my preference is to read it in order. =)

Me too usually. With White Knight I didn't realise I did not have the next book in the series. Not sure why must of been having a every moment that is every associated with bumbness at once.I also remembered I did read everything else in order as a hazy memory arose after posting of having this conversation with mum over which book to start with.

So I guess EstelleChauvelin the consensus is to start with Storm Front.