Fully with you on gory bits, Georgie. As I said, I reckon Polanski’s Macbeth does it wonderfully and it is integral to the story. Just found it a but repetitive in Clockwork City. Moreover, so much of it is hand-to-hand stuff with knives, swords etc., which can be just boring. Other reviews say that Poison City is not the best while praising the Clockwork version. Maybe consider doing the second first?
Have started Dresden Files. Was a bit worried at first by the stock US novel/TV characters (worried, pert doxy in charge; smart-arse doubting Thomas etc.) Main character seems to be developing OK, though so I’ll overlook the cliches. Holds promise.
Would be interested in your opinion of Clockwork if you get round to it. His female characters are certainly not one-dimensional, one is undead/revenant, another is a human-sized centuries-old rat, Mother London is a shape-changer who goes back millennia. They all have plenty to interest the reader. It’s just that, for most of them, you are left guessing what they look like.