I'm with you, mostly. It took me an eternity to get through #3 (Grave Peril) because it was entirely predictable. However, people keep assuring me the series gets better, and I can at least see the roots of interesting things in the books. My biggest peeve with Butcher is the constant repetition (yes, I KNOW the colour scheme of the Blue Beetle by now, thanks. Spend those words on plot!) and the stereotype of the down-on-his-luck detective. Seriously. Why aren't there more stories about detectives whose career and financial security DOESN'T hang on getting one more case?

(That, and I think I have the next 3 or 4 books, so I might as well read them *L*)

Sometimes authors need some time to hit their stride. I know I thought Simon R. Green's first Nightside novel was laughably predictable, and I likely wouldn't have read any further if I didn't have any of the other books, but I read #2 and loved it