Maybe Ebenezer McCoy is the person Harry will have to chase.

That's a frightening thought.  If the Blackstaff can break the laws of magic, it's entirely possible that the ban on time travel may be right up there.  If Eb is as irrational as he seems, it's entirely possible.  I think someone had a WAG years ago that Harry would break all of the laws of magic at one point or another. 

Also, is Mirror Mirror definitely the next Dresden book?  If that's the case, is it possible that some of the characters in this book have been replaced by alternate versions? 

One more thing in the "Eb set up Thomas" theory, is that Eb already demonstrated that he could get into the Embassy unannounced.  Would he be petty enough to remove Thomas from Harry in that fashion?  He clearly has an irrational grudge towards the Whampires.  There are just far too many possibilities at this point.  Heck, Goodman Grey could have impersonated Thomas and they could have just left the battered body there in the aftermath.  Who knows. 

Re-reading the opening chapters with Thomas, he really seems pensive, but I can't tell if it's because he's already gotten his "orders" or whether he's just off balance because of the whole Justine thing. 

I also am in the camp that thinks that Thomas isn't really saying Justine, but I have no idea whose name he could be saying. 

My theory:  It definitely *was* Thomas.  Some combination of Mab, Lara, and Marcone are involved.  When Lara and Mab appear in the back of Harry's car, Mab informs Harry that Lara had earned THREE favors.  One of them is already paid.  (Thomas' attack and/or allowing Thomas to be framed for the attack).  That leaves TWO favors for Harry to fulfill.  (Which both Lara and Mab now will result in Thomas being rescued).  I think (as others do) that Marcone *had* to be involved because the transfer to the BFS basement (which happens to be Harry's old lab) is too much of a coincidence.

Ultimately, it may be this whole thing was done for Thomas' own good.  If Butcher's version of the Hounds of Tindalos are also attracted to time travel, that opens up a whole different can of worms as to why they were outside Justine's building. 

At the time of writing, it has now been more than four years since Skin Game was released in 2014. Prior to this, the longest gap between two Dresden novels was only two years between Cold Days and Skin Game. Prior to that, there was a new book every year, from 2000-2012 and there were even two books released in 2001.

What has changed?

Did you read his AMA?  Or listen to any of his recent podcast appearances?  He talks about why he basically hasn't been able to work for three years because of his house problems.

Well, Murphy would make a good Summer Knight, hehe.

Here's my video of the Powells Q&A: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZN5DwGPs2U

He didn't answer as many questions as he did the last time he was here (for Changes).  I don't know if people remember, but he walked out and was standing there and nobody recognized him that year because of the haircut, so I was very amused when he right away mentioned that his hair grew out, hehe.

I think he spoke less so he could sign more.

Here's the video I shot:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOwdg31_bBU

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nxHxfB_ElU

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3C5HIX9b-k

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92MQ2b1yCzQ

Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMhc87l1pEo

Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJarGqXUuN8