Books › The good, the bad, and the uncanny

The good, the bad, and the uncanny
275 pages
A gritty, supernatural noir where a cynical detective is thrust into a deadly power vacuum in a shadowy, magical London.
What it feels like
This gritty urban fantasy plunges readers into a shadowy, treacherous version of London where danger lurks around every corner. The narrative moves at a propulsive clip, driven by the classic noir trope of a cynical private investigator whose brief moment of peace is shattered by an unwanted, high-stakes job offer. The atmosphere is thick with tension and ominous dread, perfectly capturing the feeling of navigating a hidden magical underworld filled with shifting loyalties and deadly enemies. The prose is punchy and hardboiled, grounding the fantastical elements in a gritty, street-level reality. It is a perfect read for fans of supernatural noir who delight in reluctant heroes, dark cityscapes, and the chaotic fallout of a massive power vacuum.
- Mood
- shadowy
- tense
- ominous
- urban-gothic
- Tone
- cynical
- wry
- hardboiled
- gritty
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- reluctant leadership · dangerous inheritances · hidden urban worlds · shifting loyalties
- The writing
- Punchy and hardboiled, blending classic detective noir sensibilities with dark, fantastical world-building.
- The arc
- Moves from a brief illusion of stability into a chaotic, high-stakes struggle against overwhelming odds and unwanted responsibilities.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love gritty urban fantasy and supernatural noir featuring cynical investigators navigating treacherous magical underworlds.
Content notes
- death and dying
- violence
- peril
About the book
Things were going so well for P.I. John Taylor, that it was only a matter of time before everything hit the fan. Walker, the powerful, ever-present, neverto-be-trusted agent who runs the Nightside on behalf of The Authorities, is dying. And he wants John to be his successor-a job that comes with more baggage, and more enemies, than anyone can possibly imagine.
Description from Open Library.
Books like The good, the bad, and the uncanny
See why they match
Just another judgement daySimon R. GreenA gritty supernatural noir where a cynical detective races to stop an unstoppable, apocalyptic force from cleansing a shadowy city of sin.
Agents of light and darknessSimon R. GreenA gritty, neon-lit descent into a magical underworld where cynical noir meets apocalyptic urban fantasy.
The devil's detectiveSimon Kurt UnsworthA grim, supernatural noir where a weary investigator must navigate the ultimate corrupt bureaucracy to solve an escalating string of murders.
The Devil You KnowMike CareyA gritty, sarcastic descent into a haunted London where the ghosts are dangerous but the living are worse.
Rivers of LondonBen AaronovitchA wry, rain-slicked collision of bureaucratic police work and ancient, chaotic magic.
Hard magicLarry CorreiaA gritty, high-octane collision of 1930s noir and explosive magical combat.