I am reading american gods and i am impressed by the character dialogue and real life gritty feel it has when set in present day.  I haven't finished this book yet but I will because it's a very mature fantasy read and may go some way to convert me to more fantasy books but I will always steer clear of the likes of Harry Potter (it still baffles me why adults read these) 

I want to read books like this without so much of the fantasy/magic side particularly otherworlds and dreamlands etc which I just find too far fetched to be believable unless people can recommend a book to prove otherwise  are there any such books with Gaimans gritty style or similar writers in the modern day sci-fi/thriller/crime genre?

I hope this Post starts some interesting debates

Have you tried Mike Carey's Felix Castor novels? The first one is The Devil You Know.

I'd also recommend Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series, and Simon R Green's Nightside series.

I would suggest

The Iron Council by China Mieville

Walking on Glass by Iain Banks

The Bridge (also Iain Banks)

Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is also great ( dont let the dismal film put you off ! )

jonno77:

I am reading american gods and i am impressed by the character dialogue and real life gritty feel it has when set in present day.  I haven't finished this book yet but I will because it's a very mature fantasy read and may go some way to convert me to more fantasy books but I will always steer clear of the likes of Harry Potter (it still baffles me why adults read these) 

I want to read books like this without so much of the fantasy/magic side particularly otherworlds and dreamlands etc which I just find too far fetched to be believable unless people can recommend a book to prove otherwise  are there any such books with Gaimans gritty style or similar writers in the modern day sci-fi/thriller/crime genre?

I hope this Post starts some interesting debates

I read the Harry Potter books because they are very good to read. They remind me a bit of The Chronicles of Narnia which I've loved since my childhood and will always love.

Have you tried reading a Harry Potter book?

I will read any book that takes my fancy regardless of whether it's written for adults or young adults.

I would echo the earlier recommendation for Alan Moore, although he is mostly in the comic field.  Neil Gaiman is amazing, but I wasn't a huge fan of American Gods.  Stardust, Neverwhere and Coraline are his best.  Gaiman himself would admit to being heavily influenced by Angela Carter (Nights at the Circus, the Magic Toyshop, the Bloody Chamber) and Mary Gentle (Rats and Gargoyles, the Architecture of Desire, Ash). 

I agree with you about the Harry Potter, although I have read them all.  In the end I just wanted to get the darn things finished.  But I wouldn't write off the younger reader novels.  Both Philip Pullman (HIs Dark Materials) and Philip Reeve (Mortal Engines) are excellent.  I would also recommend Lian Hearn (Across the Nightingale Floor).

I'm currently reading Already Dead by Charlie Huston, the first of a series of books, which takes more of a hard-boiled approach to the whole urban fantasy genre and those might fit your bill.

You might also want to check out authors like Jon Courtenay Grimwood or Richard Morgan, whose fantasy stuff can be dark at times.

And in YA territory, there's Jonathan Stroud's trilogy that starts with The Amulet of Samarkand, which is somewhat grittier than Harry Potter.

A.

 Thanks very much for your feedback I am trying to get the watchmen by alan moore on risi and shall now look for an Iain Banks one and a J C Grimwood book.  I'll post back if im successful :D