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

[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.

I definitely think Bob should be able to sense him, which means, like you said, Bob is going to need to be removed in some hand-wavey, plot-device kind of way. (Actually, I can't remember where Bob is right now, anyway. Hidden on the Water Beetle?) I don't think Thomas or Michael would be able to, though - I don't think either of them is that much more sensitive to the supernatural than an ordinary person. Maybe in a vague "something's in the room" kind of way, but I don't know if it would be specific enough to tell it's Harry. Molly or any of the wizards probably could see him with their Sight, but they would have to have some reason to look.

Since nearly every one of Harry's friends has some kind of special sensitivity to the supernatural, it's possible that the book isn't going to make us twist in the wind for very long before dropping that bombshell on the other characters. Even ordinary people can see ghosts under some circumstances.

[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