Last night I finished Jim Butcher’s 2009 novel Turn Coat, the 11th book in “The Dresden Files” series.

You’d think that in eleven books, Butcher would turn in a turkey now and then, but he is the gift that keeps on giving. That said, there’s always the danger things will start to get repetitive, especially as the reader becomes more familiar with the Dresden universe.

There is some of that, at least a little. After all (spoiler alert), the climax of this novel occurs on the same piece of magical real estate as the last one.

But there are surprises throughout.

Remember, I said spoiler alert.

Dresden’s nemesis on the White Council, Warden Morgan, the man who was always just one step away from killing Dresden for various crimes against magic, comes to Harry, severely wounded and asking for his help.

Not surprisingly, Harry helps him (Harry’s always helping the underdog).

Then he encounters an all-but-immortal Native American entity called a naagloshiii who, when Harry views him with “the sight,” nearly drives our wizard insane.

As always, Harry makes mistakes early on, costing the life of one close friend and severely injuring another.

Harry has long suspected the existence of a “Black Council” who had placed a traitor in the White Council’s midst. All things being equal, Harry’s got about thirty-six hours to find that traitor and clear Morgan of the heinous murder of an esteemed Council member, an act Morgan claims he has no memory of, even though he was found standing over the dead man’s body with the murder weapon in his hand.

Dresden enlists some of his usual allies including his young apprentice Molly, his half-brother the White vampire Thomas, Detective Karrin Murphy, the Alphas (werewolves) and Toot-toot and his merry band of little fairies (the supernatural kind).

It didn’t take long once he was introduced for me to figure out the identity of the actual traitor (I won’t tell you how), but Harry takes the long way around.

His romantic relationship with Warden Captain Ana Luccio is becoming strained and he eventually trusts her with the secret that he’s hiding Morgan from the Wardens.

The White Court of Vampires becomes involved because the money trail of Morgan’s supposed bribe leads back to one of the family.

Somehow, each and every one of these people and entities is involved in finding Morgan and it’s up to Harry to beat the odds and solve the mystery while preserving Morgan’s life as well as preventing Molly and himself from being executed for hiding the fugitive.

Of course, Dresden wins but he also loses big time. He loses in the way he lost his love Susan Rodriquez to a vampire curse and we haven’t seen Susan in quite a few books. But he also loses lives and relationships he thought would endure forever.

Some of it I could see coming but others hit like a brick in the face.

Remember Harry’s left hand, burned so badly the doctors told him he should have it amputated? It seems to be getting a lot better. But Harry’s picked up a new set of scars.

Oh, we learn more about specific Council members and their powers and Harry finds out he’s got a lot to learn from them. Maybe it’s not too late for him to go back to school.

Each Dresden novel I finish leaves me wanting the next one, but I try to pace myself.

“Turn Coat” is another winner for Butcher in this series.

One more thing. Just because Harry finds out who the traitor on the Council is doesn’t mean he’s any closer to discovering who or what is behind the Black Council.