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The Bad Place

Dean Koontz

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Similar in characterization

These books are ranked using the characterization labels extracted for The Bad Place.

Characterization labels used: private investigators, husband-wife duo, amnesiac, troubled man, tragic protagonist, psycho killer, terrifying antagonist, terrifying villain, evil family, twisted sisters, psychic characters, mutants, monster, morally gray leads, two-dimensional characters, strong side characters, endearing supporting character, Down syndrome character, disabled character, lovable outsider, brave protagonist, compelling villain

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization embeddings are close.

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Devil in the Details

Chani Lynn Feener · 2024 · The Devil and the Sea

A lonely detective enters an exclusive sex club and a fake murder game that turns into a real killer’s trap.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: detective · inspector · police officer · sex worker · club employee · serial killer · vigilante · morally gray · lonely protagonist · confused protagonist · obsessive lover · possessive lover · enigmatic love interest · psychotic characters · humanoid species · Sampson · twins · brother duo · manipulative characters · introspective character · emotionally guarded · sad protagonist · redeeming arc

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1580

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Overload Flux

Carol Van Natta · 2014 · Central Galactic Concordance

A secretive forensic investigator and a hidden super-soldier guard race to recover a stolen cure and survive a galaxy-wide conspiracy.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: damaged protagonists · haunted characters · brilliant investigator · competent heroine · quiet heroine · socially awkward heroine · lethal heroine · protective partner · emotionally guarded · hidden talent · psychic talent · forensic intuition · augmented human · trained killer · unlikely pair · mature leads · fallible characters

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1703

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The Bleeding Woods

Brittany Amara · 2025

A guilt-ridden young woman’s road trip turns deadly when a haunted forest, hidden powers, and an obsessed stranger collide.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: damaged protagonist · morally gray · estranged sister · obsessive lover · dark love interest · first love · best friend · younger brother · complex villain · unhinged character · emotionally unstable · magnetic protagonist · character-driven horror · flat side characters · secret identity

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1796

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To Hell and Back

Lilith Saintcrow · 2008 · Dante Valentine

A shattered necromancer claws back from Hell to settle a deadly score in a future world of demons, magic, and betrayal.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: damaged heroine · traumatized protagonist · strong female lead · flawed heroine · whiny protagonist · unreliable judgment · volatile protagonist · guarded protagonist · rage-filled · self-involved · neurotic · broken character arc · half-demon · necromancer · demon lover · fallen demon · controlling lover · protective lover · mysterious demon · secondary characters

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1849

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The Death I Gave Him

Em X. Liu · 2023

In a locked-down future lab, a grieving scientist’s son hunts his father’s killer with help from the lab’s AI.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: depressed protagonist · morally gray · obsessive · paranoid · damaged · unhinged · ruthless · ambiguous motives · unlikable characters · messy characters · female agency · AI character · endearing AI · mad scientist · scientist son · security chief · research intern · morally gray woman · complicated protagonist · suicidal ideation

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1911

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The Case of the Damaged Detective

Drew Hayes · 2019 · 5-Minute Sherlock

A damaged genius and a paranoid agent race cross-country while enemies hunt the secret behind his mind.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: damaged genius · manic protagonist · annoying protagonist · competent agent · paranoid agent · disgraced agent · anti-hero · odd couple · super-genius · quirky main character · flawed heroes · redemption arc · superior intellect · bizarre personalities · character growth

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1932

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Constance

Matthew FitzSimmons · 2021 · Constance

A woman wakes as her clone with missing memories and must solve her own murder in a near-future cloning conspiracy.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: traumatized protagonist · feisty heroine · resilient heroine · depressed protagonist · reluctant investigator · sympathetic lead · music background · clone identity · estranged family · wealthy antagonist · shadowy operators · morally ambiguous characters

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1937

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Hyde

Daniel Levine, Robert Louis Stevenson · 2014

A gothic retelling of Jekyll and Hyde from Hyde’s perspective, exposing hidden motives, abuse, and a fractured mind.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: sympathetic antagonist · morally grey · psychologically tortured · repressed self · double life · scientific rationalist · abused child · damaged psyche · manipulative doctor · hidden motives · fragmented identity · unhinged mind · troubled lover · secondary characters underused

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1947

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The Perfect Run III

Maxime J. Durand, Void Herald · 2022 · The Perfect Run

A time-looping superhero races through one final reset to save New Rome, win allies, and reach the perfect ending.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: quippy protagonist · self-destructive protagonist · overpowered protagonist · resilient protagonist · unhinged protagonist · charismatic protagonist · team-building · found family · villains with ideology · morally gray cast · grounded side character · tragic hero · god complex

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1966

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Vengeful

V.E. Schwab, Victoria Schwab · 2018 · Villains

A superpowered rivalry escalates as old enemies and new players collide in a violent struggle for control.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: antiheroes · morally gray · villains · murderers · power-hungry · ruthless · despicable · complex characters · female antagonists · female leads · badass women · tortured characters · unstable protagonist · fanatic · reckless · calculating · ambitious · sympathetic villain · found family

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1988

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ガチアクタ 5 [Gachiakuta 5]

Kei Urana, 裏那圭 · 2023 · ガチアクタ [Gachiakuta]

A revenge-driven cleaner crew uncovers a dangerous new ally, a bizarre power, and a trauma-soaked mystery.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: angry protagonist · reckless hero · complex characters · traumatized girl · disturbed character · villainous woman · mentor figure · antihero traits · emotionally unstable · character growth · parental inheritance · morally gray

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1990

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The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

Kiersten White · 2018

An orphaned girl enters the Frankenstein household and learns survival may depend on controlling the boy she’s meant to serve.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: morally gray protagonist · cunning heroine · manipulative protagonist · resourceful survivor · volatile genius · unrepentant villain · brooding psychopath · complex character arcs · side character focus · female friendships

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1997

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