eee eee eee!

[sholio]

The first chapter of Ghost Story is available on Penguin Books' website!

WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT?

(Obviously spoilers through "Changes" abound. Also, Jim Butcher's website has the schedule for the release of the rest of the chapters leading up to the book coming out in July, although Chapter 2 won't be out until JUNE. *wibbles*)

Comments

[framlingem]

I don't know about your questions, but that was TOTALLY Murphy's dad.

[sholio]

OHHHHH. I think you're right! :D I was trying to figure out if we'd seen him in the series before, but oh, yes, I think you've nailed it.

[framlingem]

Butcher very carefully didn't tell us his surname, and I can't remember if we ever got told Murphy's dad's name, but doesn't "Jack Murphy" sound perfect? *grin* Harry's not the only dead guy with a daughter - that line told me that the guy's daughter would be someone important, and how many of Harry's friends have dead cops for dads, especially ones who would wind up in the Chicago Special Investigations office post mortem? I seem to remember that Murphy essentially took over her dad's job.

Mouse will be able to see Harry, I agree, and Bob _would_ be able to, but for some convenient plot-devicey reason, will not be in a position to do so. Sanya, maybe? Michael? The priest-whose-name-escapes-me (Forthill?)? They'd probably be able to tell he was around in a generic "whoah, something's around" kind of way. Likewise Thomas. Lea?

[sholio]

Yeah, now that you've pointed it out, it fits too perfectly to be anything else - even the mention of the daughter. :D And, yeah, I can't imagine anything more appropriate for Murphy's dad to be doing in the afterlife

[framlingem]

I had a much harder time thinking of characters who definitely wouldn't be able to notice some evidence of his presence - nearly every one of them has some kind of sensitivity, as you said.

Bob's definitely hidden someplace - it's not like he can have been returned to his usual spot in Harry's basement, after all. I can't remember where, though! I'd re-read Changes to check, but I'm knee-deep in Canadian short fiction at the moment (which is very pleasant, but precludes any perusal of previous passions. It also gives one a tendency to alliterate. >.<) If he IS on the Water Beetle, maybe he's been seized by whoever shot Harry? He's been kept pretty secret, but if they searched the boat afterwards, and did a thorough enough job, they'd probably have realised that a skull in a duffel bag probably had some value.

Maybe Thomas in full-on-vampire mode; Butcher always mentioned that the eyes changed, but didn't specify as far as I remember whether the seeing changed along with it. Hm.

[sholio]

Yeah, Harry's so surrounded with people who have various magical abilities and supernatural sensitivity that I'm not sure how he's going to stay secret for long. It's possible that the cat will be let out of the bag very quickly, and the whole book will be more about Harry solving (his) murder with his friends' help than Harry being isolated. Which, well, I certainly wouldn't complain about. :D

[framlingem]

And while I am squeeing, have you read these? http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2106674/LittleChicago

If not, you should. :D

[sholio]

No, I haven't! Thank you for the rec. :D

[gnine]

Dude, I was trying to figure out who's dad he was and I think you totally nailed it!! *bounce* Can't wait to see if you're right! HOMG, want this book like BURNING!

[framlingem]

I hope I'm right, if only because I want to see Harry tell Jack "hey, man, I know your daughter, and she is awesomeness personified", because that would melt my daddy's girl heart like a hot melty thing.

Roll on July! Or June. I can't remember. But I have it pre-ordered!