Reading order · 18 books · 2000 to 2026 · Set in Chicago
The Dresden Files Books in Order
Harry Dresden is a wizard who works as a private investigator in Chicago and is listed in the phone book under Wizards. He consults for the police on the strange cases, and finds himself in the middle of wars between vampires, the faerie courts and the White Council of wizards. The books grow darker and more epic as they go.
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Series facts
- Books
- 18
- Published
- 2000 to 2026
- First book
- Storm Front
- Latest
- Twelve Months (2026)
- Setting
- Set in Chicago
The reading order
Every The Dresden Files book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
18 books · Set in Chicago
- 1Storm Front2000With Harry DresdenHarry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, is low on money when two cases arrive at once: a woman wants him to find her missing husband, and the police want his help with a double murder done by black magic.Buy on Amazon
- 2Fool Moon2001With Harry DresdenA series of savage killings around Chicago happens on the nights of the full moon, and Harry Dresden finds there is more than one kind of werewolf.Buy on Amazon
- 3Grave Peril2001With Harry DresdenGhosts in Chicago are becoming restless and dangerous, and Harry Dresden and Michael Carpenter, a Knight of the Cross, find someone is stirring them up.Buy on Amazon
- 4Summer Knight2002With Harry DresdenHarry Dresden, out of money and in trouble with the White Council, is hired by Mab, Queen of Winter, to find out who killed the Summer Knight, and war between the faerie courts looms.Buy on Amazon
- 5Death Masks2003With Harry DresdenThe Shroud of Turin is stolen and brought to Chicago, and Harry Dresden is hired to find it, while a duel with a Red Court vampire and the Fallen angels of the Denarians complicate his life.Buy on Amazon
- 6Blood Rites2004With Harry DresdenHarry Dresden takes a job for his ally Thomas, protecting a film producer from a deadly curse, while a nest of Black Court vampires is in his sights.Buy on Amazon
- 7Dead Beat2005With Harry DresdenA vampire blackmails Harry Dresden into finding The Word of Kemmler, a book of necromancy that dangerous men are hunting, and a terrible night of magic is coming to Chicago.Buy on Amazon
- 8Proven Guilty2006With Harry DresdenHarry Dresden investigates monsters from horror films attacking a convention, and Michael Carpenter’s daughter Molly turns out to be at the centre of trouble.Buy on Amazon
- 9White Night2007With Harry DresdenSomeone is killing minor practitioners of magic in Chicago, and the evidence points to Harry Dresden’s half-brother, Thomas.Buy on Amazon
- 10Small Favor2008With Harry DresdenMab calls in a favour, sending Harry Dresden to rescue the crime boss John Marcone from the Denarians.Buy on Amazon
- 11Turn Coat2009With Harry DresdenMorgan, the Warden who has hated Harry Dresden for years, turns up at Harry’s door, accused of murdering a senior member of the White Council and asking for help.Buy on Amazon
- 12Changes2010With Harry DresdenSusan Rodriguez calls with news: Harry Dresden has a daughter, and she has been kidnapped by the Red Court.Buy on Amazon
- 13Ghost Story2011With Harry DresdenHarry Dresden is dead, and must solve his own murder as a ghost in a Chicago that has changed without him.Buy on Amazon
- 14Cold Days2012With Harry DresdenHarry Dresden returns to life as the Winter Knight, Mab’s enforcer, and is given an impossible task.Buy on Amazon
- 15Skin Game2014With Harry DresdenMab sends Harry Dresden to work with his old enemy Nicodemus on a heist to break into the vault of Hades, lord of the Underworld.Buy on Amazon
- 16Peace Talks2020With Harry DresdenThe Supernatural nations meet in Chicago for peace talks, Harry Dresden’s brother Thomas is in trouble, and an ancient enemy is preparing to attack.Buy on Amazon
- 17Battle Ground2020With Harry DresdenA Titan attacks Chicago with her army, and Harry Dresden and his allies fight to save the city.Buy on Amazon
- 18Twelve Months2026With Harry DresdenBuy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read the Dresden Files in order, starting with Storm Front. The first two books are lighter; from Grave Peril onwards the story builds steadily, and the later books depend heavily on the earlier ones.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Harry Dresden | Bob | John Marcone | Karrin Murphy | Thomas Raith | Michael Carpenter | Molly Carpenter | Waldo Butters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Storm Front | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||||
| 2 Fool Moon | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||||
| 3 Grave Peril | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 4 Summer Knight | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 5 Death Masks | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |
| 6 Blood Rites | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 7 Dead Beat | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||
| 8 Proven Guilty | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 9 White Night | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 10 Small Favor | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 11 Turn Coat | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 12 Changes | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 13 Ghost Story | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 14 Cold Days | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 15 Skin Game | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 16 Peace Talks | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 17 Battle Ground | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 18 Twelve Months | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
Characters in the The Dresden Files books
10 characters from Jim Butcher’s chart, with the number of The Dresden Files books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Harry DresdenWizard and private investigator | 18 | Storm Front 2000 |
| BobSpirit of intellect who lives in a skull | 18 | Storm Front 2000 |
| John MarconeChicago crime boss | 18 | Storm Front 2000 |
| Karrin MurphyChicago police lieutenant, Harry's friend | 17 | Storm Front 2000 |
| Thomas RaithWhite Court vampire, Harry's half-brother | 16 | Grave Peril 2001 |
| Michael CarpenterKnight of the Cross | 15 | Grave Peril 2001 |
| Molly CarpenterMichael's daughter, Harry's apprentice | 13 | Summer Knight 2002 |
| Waldo ButtersMedical examiner, later a Knight | 12 | Dead Beat 2005 |
| MabQueen of the Winter Court | 8 | Summer Knight 2002 |
| Susan RodriguezReporter and Harry's love | 6 | Storm Front 2000 |