Karrin Murphy

Lore & Background

Murphy begins her career as a Chicago Police Department officer in charge of the Special Investigations division, which handles cases with unexplainable or supernatural elements. She works closely with Harry Dresden, who serves as a consultant for SI. Over the course of the series, Murphy experiences significant professional setbacks: she is demoted from lieutenant to sergeant, stripped of her command, and ultimately dismissed from the police force entirely. Despite these challenges, she remains a key ally to Dresden in his supernatural investigations.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammered against the precinct window as Murphy stared at the file on her desk. The bloodstain pattern didn't match any human weapon known to forensics. She rubbed her temples, knowing Harry was already three steps ahead, chasing a trail of magic through the dark alleys she couldn't see. With a deep breath, she reached for her badge and her gun, ready to walk into the unknown once again.

Reader's Guide

Karrin Murphy is a Chicago Police Department officer who leads the Special Investigations (SI) division, a unit tasked with reviewing cases that appear to have a magical element. She works alongside Harry Dresden, who serves as a consultant for SI. Over the course of the series, Murphy faces a series of demotions: she is reduced from lieutenant to sergeant, stripped of her command, and eventually dismissed from the police force entirely. Despite these professional setbacks, she remains a steadfast ally to Dresden, often fighting alongside him against supernatural threats. Her character is defined by her dedication to justice and her willingness to confront the unexplainable, even as her career in law enforcement crumbles.

Did You Know?

• Karrin Murphy leads the Special Investigations division of the Chicago Police Department, which handles cases involving unexplainable or supernatural elements.
• Over the course of the series, Murphy is demoted from lieutenant to sergeant and stripped of her command.
• Murphy is later dismissed from the Chicago Police Force altogether.
• She serves as a consultant for Harry Dresden, who is the only advertising wizard in the United States.
• Murphy's character appears in the first novel of the series, Storm Front, published in 2000.