If you enjoy reading books by Mike Carey then you might also like the following authors:
Neil Gaiman is a storyteller known for blending the ordinary with the magical. One of his books, “Neverwhere,” takes readers into a hidden world beneath London.
The story follows Richard Mayhew, an ordinary man who helps a mysterious girl named Door and ends up in a strange, dark version of the city. This underworld is full of peculiar characters and danger, where survival depends on wit and courage.
Fans of Mike Carey’s fantastical twists might find Gaiman’s style a perfect match.
Jim Butcher is known for writing urban fantasy with a sharp sense of humor and action-packed plots. His book “Storm Front,” the first in *The Dresden Files* series, introduces Harry Dresden, a wizard who works as a detective in modern-day Chicago.
Harry takes on cases that regular police can’t handle, often involving dark magic or dangerous supernatural creatures. In “Storm Front,” he investigates a series of brutal murders connected to black magic, which pulls him into a deadly game with powerful enemies.
The mix of real-world grit and magical elements makes it feel immediate and engaging, with plenty of twists to keep things moving.
Ben Aaronovitch writes urban fantasy with a mix of magic and the everyday world. His book, “Rivers of London,” introduces Peter Grant, a police officer who unexpectedly becomes a wizard’s apprentice after encountering a ghost while on duty.
The story blends crime investigation with a hidden magical underworld, featuring unique characters like Beverly Brook, the personification of a river. It’s grounded in the streets of London, with nods to its history and culture throughout.
Kat Richardson is an author known for urban fantasy that blends the supernatural with mystery. Her book “Greywalker” introduces Harper Blaine, a private investigator who dies for two minutes and wakes up able to see ghosts and other paranormal entities.
Harper learns about a shadowy world overlapping our own, filled with magic and danger. In her work as a PI, she starts unraveling cases that normal investigators can’t handle, while grappling with her new reality.
The mix of detective work and eerie encounters creates a world that’s both dark and fascinating.
Seanan McGuire writes stories that often blend urban fantasy with dark, emotional themes. In “Rosemary and Rue,” the first book in the October Daye series, you follow October “Toby” Daye, a half-fae private investigator.
After being turned into a fish for fourteen years, she struggles to rebuild her life in a world that moved on without her. The story pulls you into a setting where magic and harsh realities collide, introducing unforgettable characters and a dangerous murder mystery.
Fans of Mike Carey might enjoy McGuire’s ability to craft flawed yet relatable heroes.
China Miéville writes imaginative, genre-bending stories with richly built worlds. One of his standout works, “Perdido Street Station,” takes readers to the city of New Crobuzon, a sprawling, chaotic place blending magic, steampunk technology, and strange creatures.
The story kicks off when a rogue scientist unwittingly unleashes a deadly creature that preys on minds. The city itself feels alive, bursting with political schemes, dangerous mobs, and peculiar beings like the bird-headed Garuda or the artificial constructs called Remades.
It’s a dark, fantastical tale that draws you into its unique setting.
Richard Kadrey writes urban fantasy with a sharp edge, mixing dark humor with rough, fast-paced storytelling. One of his well-known books, “Sandman Slim,” follows James Stark, a man who escapes Hell after years of being held there.
Back in Los Angeles, he’s hunting down the ones responsible for sending him to the underworld. The book is gritty with a lot of action, featuring a world where magic blends into the chaos of modern city life.
If you like stories packed with supernatural elements and strong characters, Kadrey is worth checking out.
Clive Barker is a master of dark fantasy and horror, known for crafting vivid and strange worlds filled with unforgettable characters.
One of his standout books, “Weaveworld,” tells the story of a hidden magical realm woven into a tapestry to protect it from those who would destroy it.
When the fabric is unraveled, a man named Cal and a woman named Suzanna are pulled into a fierce struggle to save this strange and beautiful world. The book is packed with eerie landscapes, unique beings, and a sense of wonder that makes it hard to put down.
Paul Cornell is a British author who crafts stories packed with smart characters and intriguing twists. His book “London Falling” kicks off a series that blends detective work with supernatural elements.
The story follows a group of modern-day police officers who accidentally gain the ability to see London’s hidden magical underworld. It’s unsettling and fascinating as they face dangers like cursed objects and a terrifying ghostly presence.
Fans of Mike Carey’s “Felix Castor” novels might enjoy Cornell’s mix of urban grit and the supernatural.
Michael Marshall Smith is a writer who brings a lot of creativity to his stories. One of his stand-out novels, “Only Forward,” is set in a strange and fascinating world with neighborhoods designed for specific lifestyles.
It follows Stark, a self-assured troubleshooter who is hired to find a missing man named Fell Alkland. The search takes him through bizarre and unpredictable environments, with each area revealing more about the world’s surreal nature and Stark’s own past.
The mix of mystery and unique settings creates an unforgettable story with twists that keep you hooked.
Simon R. Green is a writer known for mixing urban fantasy with dark humor and plenty of action. In his book “Something from the Nightside,” he introduces John Taylor, a private investigator with a knack for finding things.
Taylor works in the Nightside, a shadowy and dangerous part of London where it’s always night and anything is possible. The story starts with a desperate woman hiring him to find her daughter.
Taylor has to navigate a place filled with strange creatures, secret powers, and twisted alleyways that feel alive. It’s fast-paced and full of surprises.
Joe Hill is an author who knows how to weave dark and imaginative tales that stick with you. His book, “NOS4A2,” tells the story of a woman named Vic McQueen, who has a strange ability to find lost things using a mysterious bridge that appears in her mind.
She crosses paths with Charlie Manx, a sinister man who lures children into his eerie otherworld called Christmasland. The clash between Vic and Manx drives the story, packed with eerie settings and high stakes.
Fans of Mike Carey’s layered storytelling and supernatural twists might find Hill’s work equally captivating.
Laurell K. Hamilton is known for blending urban fantasy with mystery and a touch of noir. One of her most popular books, “Guilty Pleasures,” introduces Anita Blake, a necromancer who works as a vampire hunter in a world where supernatural beings live openly.
Anita is hired to investigate vampire murders and faces both dangerous creatures and moral dilemmas. The book mixes action with dark humor, creating a gritty and immersive story.
Fans of Mike Carey’s Felix Castor series may enjoy how Anita navigates her complicated, supernatural world with wit and determination.
Charlaine Harris is a writer known for creating stories with a mix of mystery, danger, and a dash of the supernatural. One of her most popular books, “Dead Until Dark,” introduces Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in Louisiana who can read minds.
Life gets complicated when she meets Bill, a vampire who enters her small town shortly after vampires reveal their existence to the world.
The book weaves together local murder mysteries, Sookie’s struggles with her unusual gift, and a world where humans and vampires live side by side. The small-town atmosphere and colorful characters give the story plenty of charm alongside the darker moments.
It’s a great pick for those who enjoy urban fantasy with a slightly rough edge.
P. Djèlí Clark writes stories that blend history, fantasy, and mystery in a way that feels alive. His book “The Haunting of Tram Car 015” is set in an alternate 1912 Cairo, where magic fuels the city and supernatural creatures live alongside humans.
The story follows two agents investigating a tram car taken over by a menacing spirit. The mix of humor, danger, and vivid world-building makes it hard to put down.
For readers who enjoy Mike Carey’s way of mixing the strange with the everyday, Clark brings something fresh with his richly imagined worlds.