Dresden Files Reading Order

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files follows Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard and private investigator. Urban fantasy noir with wizards, vampires, faeries, and a LOT of sarcasm. 18 books and counting.

Our Recommendation: Publication Order Start with Storm Front. The early books are more episodic; the overarching plot kicks in around book 3-4. Push through the first two if they feel rough — it gets much better.

All Dresden Files Books in Order

Storm FrontBuy Now Audible2000
Fool MoonBuy Now Audible2001
Grave PerilBuy Now Audible2001
Summer KnightBuy Now Audible2002
Death MasksBuy Now Audible2003
Blood RitesBuy Now Audible2004
Dead BeatBuy Now Audible2005
Proven GuiltyBuy Now Audible2006
White NightBuy Now Audible2007
Small FavorBuy Now Audible2008
Turn CoatBuy Now Audible2009
ChangesBuy Now Audible2010
Ghost StoryBuy Now Audible2011
Cold DaysBuy Now Audible2012
Skin GameBuy Now Audible2014
Peace TalksBuy Now Audible2020
Battle GroundBuy Now Audible2020
Twelve MonthsBuy Now Audible2024

Own the Complete Series Buying the whole series at once is usually cheaper than individual books, and box sets make a great gift. See The Dresden Files box set options on Amazon ›

Alternative Starting Points

If Storm Front feels dated, some fans suggest starting with:

Dead Beat (Book 7) — Fan favorite, high stakes, dinosaur zombie. Works as an entry point.
Summer Knight (Book 4) — Where the overarching plot really begins

That said, starting from book 1 is still recommended for character development.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Dresden Files books are there?

18 novels as of 2024. Jim Butcher has said the series will be around 23-25 books, culminating in a "big apocalyptic trilogy."

Should I read the short stories?

The short story collections (Side Jobs, Brief Cases) are optional but add depth. Some stories fill in gaps between novels. Read them after the corresponding novels or after finishing the main series.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.