If you loved the way Zoo City transformed Johannesburg into a magical, dangerous underworld, you'll be drawn into Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, where London becomes a labyrinth of hidden societies, bizarre dangers, and unexpected magic. Like Zinzi December, Richard Mayhew is an outsider caught in a supernatural city beneath the one he knows, forced to navigate perilous allegiances and strange creatures. The immersive, dark urban setting will feel both familiar and utterly new.

If you were captivated by the morally ambiguous detective plot in Zoo City, you'll appreciate Tyador Borlú's investigation in The City & The City. The protagonist must solve a murder in two cities that physically overlap but are mentally divided, challenging his ethics and perception. The atmosphere is tense and gritty, and both Borlú and Zinzi are forced to make tough choices in worlds that blur the boundaries between right and wrong.

If the inventive and immersive worldbuilding of Zoo City drew you in—the animalled, the mash of cultures and supernatural phenomena—then The Fifth Season will enthrall you with its fractured continent, orogenes who wield earth-shattering power, and a society built on both oppression and survival. Jemisin crafts a setting as textured and alive as Beukes’ Johannesburg, with mysteries and magic woven into every layer.

If you loved the relentless momentum and sharp, sly humor of Zoo City, you'll be right at home with Broken Monsters. Set in Detroit, it follows Detective Gabriella Versado as she hunts a bizarre, supernatural killer. The narrative shifts briskly, blending horror, wit, and razor-sharp social commentary—delivering the same electric pace and twisted delights you enjoyed before.

If you relished how Zoo City kept you guessing with its unpredictable plotting—Zinzi’s shifting alliances, the search for missing persons, and the shocking revelations—then The Shining Girls will hook you. This time-traveling thriller features a ruthless killer and a survivor determined to hunt him down, with mind-bending twists that upend your expectations at every turn.