The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
(Charlie Madigan, Book 1)
Released: November 2, 2009 | Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
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Atlanta: it’s the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil....
Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She’s recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.’s Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim -- but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?
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Kelly Gay came up with the title The Better Part of Darkness before she even had a story. She originally wanted it for a paranormal romance novel, but saved the title when she realized it had something special. Later, when she created the character of Charlie Madigan and her supernatural world, the title finally fit.
REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆
The better part of urban fantasy. 👹🔥
If you’re a fan of Mercy Thompson or Kate Daniels, you’re going to love this. But in my opinion, Charlie Madigan goes even further with its darker tone, grittier edge, and larger-scale world. It’s tough to find true Urban Fantasy these days, since so much of the genre leans heavily into Paranormal Romance. But this series skips the romance tropes entirely and dives straight into the good stuff.
Right from the start, the concept is absolutely captivating:
Scientists have discovered that what we once called Heaven and Hell are actually alternate dimensions with their own complex societies. Now, creatures from these realms live openly among us with Atlanta being the central hub where all these beings converge. Mystical and otherworldly races walking the streets is totally normal.
The pacing is fast, but never at the expense of depth. Charlie and her partner Hank are both fully realized characters, each with distinct personalities and conflicts.
What really makes the book stand out, though, is the world-building. The weaving of supernatural politics with gritty urban life is extremely well done, and filled with mystery and intrigue. The merging of realms creates an excitingly original backdrop that leans more into science fiction, and almost defies what you would expect from urban fantasy.
After watching Bright on Netflix and seeing the cinematic potential of urban fantasy, my first thought was: studios need to adapt Charlie Madigan.
