#hardboiled

It's a case of a criminal organization doing a prison breakout where they try to free someone of value to the organization. (As to who it is another theory).

At heart, it's supposed to be a hardboiled detective story. It's literally in the title, it's not "Dresden Saga", "Dresden Tales" or even "A City of Wizards and Guns", but "Dresden Files." Once you accept that premise, many elements of the story appear clearer.

Why does everybody always suspect Harry is up to no good? Because he is the hardboiled detective protagonist who is psychologically wounded and appears morally or ethically compromised on the outside, but inside has a strict adherence to his moral code.

Why is the White Council so bad at their job? Because they are the cops in the noir fashion who either don't do enough to help the people victimized by crime, or are overly brutal towards them like Morgan and executing teenage practitioners.

OTT descriptions of women in the series? That is a common trope too in noir/hardboiled to the point that I read a cyberpunk noir that described a character's "jiggling boobs" though I would not disagree with the person who says that is a trope that should probably be retired. Femme fatales are also a common feature, beautiful women who weaponize their sexuality. Again, I don't think they're necessary for a detective story.

Why are the supernatural nations so nasty? Because they're the stand-ins for gangs and mobs.

At the Five Families-esque meeting at the end of Battleground, Marcone's presence is meant to drive home the message that these supernatural national leaders are simply mob bosses just as ruthless and opportunistic as Marcone. Harry calls the Winter and Summer Knights "hit men", and the battleground where Summer and Winter fight is essentially a rumble where two gangs pick a designated spot to fight. The White Court is pretty Italian mafia coded, especially with membership being restricted to those of White Court heritage tracing all the way back to the Etruscans or essentially, Italian heritage. The Red Court is more LatAm drug cartel coded.

The practice of exchanging favors while fitting with faerie lore, also fits the practice in the criminal underworld you could have picked up just from watching The Godfather. Not to mention the rule of not involving mortal authorities in supernatural affairs is straight from the unspoken rule of omerta among gangs not to involve the authorities in their conflicts but to resolve them themselves. The war with the Fomor was essentially a gang war especially with the mention of people traveling in groups for safety on the streets. Charity's experience in a cult could just as easily have been her having joined a gang in her youth, up to and including getting regular visits from cops in the form of the White Council to give them warnings. (I know, how many rich, white girls join gangs).

Mab herself is the capo di tutti i capi (boss of all the bosses). The Accords are essentially the Commission, or the governing body of the mafia consisting of the mob bosses to mediate disputes among families and oversee mob activities.

Yes, there is obvious appeal to White Court and the Winter Court. As any Tony Montana fan can tell you, the gangster life has its appeal. Gangsters often wore fancy clothes, jewelry and had wads of cash and an aura of power, fear and respect about them. The heads like Tony Montana and real-life ones like Capone live in gaudy mansions, get around in limos and live lives of extravagance. But their blingy lifestyles are paid for with blood money built on preying on their local communities just as the Winter Court and vampire courts literally prey and feed on the vanilla mortal community.

That's why I don't think Molly's story in the Winter Court will end well. The power of Winter is addictive, and while I do see her as becoming the new Queen of Air and Darkness, she may end up being a trope often found in crime fiction: the rise and fall story. She is on her rise now, but once she hits her peak there is nowhere else to go but down. The ganglord is usually brought down firstly by their personal flaws (don't get high on your own supply) such as her desire for control with the killing blow coming from the cops or a rival gangster. In this case, Cowl and the Black Council initiate their plan.

Substance abuse is also a motif, and it often accompanies magical power. Harry literally calls the Red King a "junkie" and he calls Lara a "Heroin Queen". It doesn't help that Lara does kind of sound like a drug pusher when she makes her offer to Harry:

“Give them what they want. Give them what they need. Give them what no one else can give. If you can do that, they’ll come back to you again and again.” She leaned down close and whispered in my ear, “I know what I can give you, Harry. Shall I tell you?” I swallowed and nodded, not daring to look at her. “Surcease,” she breathed into my ear. “I can make it stop hurting, wizard. I can take away the pains of the body. Of the mind. Of the heart. For a little time, I could give you something no one else can—freedom from your burdens of responsibility and conscience.”

She also talks about how people always willingly come back to the White Court for the Hunger even as it wrecks them in body and mind. Justine is addicted to Thomas's Hunger until she ODs in Blood Rites, and goes into recovery. Thomas's struggle with his Hunger comes off as someone dealing with a serious drug addiction in the sense that dealing with it isn't a straight line but there are moments when he relapses and it keeps getting him fired from his jobs.

It applies to the faerie courts too. The Winter Knight Slate is a heroin addict who we see Jenny Greenteeth shoot up. Harry receiving his Winter Mantle or sex with Mab was basically described as an acid trip. Harry dealing with his Winter Mantle gives off that vibe as he needs to count to ten to counter his Mantle's cravings. Maeve herself refused to undergo Mab's treatment to rid herself of Nemesis, or like drug treatment, it needs to be voluntary.

Harry unwittingly got Molly hooked on it as well.