Paths not taken by Simon R Green

The provided text centers on the protagonist, John Taylor, a private investigator in a supernatural urban setting known as the Nightside. He embarks on a perilous journey through time to uncover truths about his enigmatic mother, Lilith, who created the Nightside. Accompanied by his "daughter" Cathy, a sentient steel sphere that serves as an all-knowing computer, and eventually his friends Suzie and Tommy, Taylor confronts various challenges, including the Wild Hunt led by Herne the Hunter and an encounter with the ancient god Poseidon. The narrative explores themes of destiny, free will, and family, as Taylor grapples with the potential destruction of the Nightside in the future and his complicated relationship with his powerful mother. His quest ultimately leads him to the very creation of the Nightside, revealing the motivations and machinations of Lilith and the supernatural forces at play.