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Latency

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Up until now, the only monsters the LAPD had ever seen were of the human variety…

When two down-on-their-luck detectives are forced to work together on a series of cold cases, they slowly begin to uncover a common thread that may hold the key to solving some of their town’s grizzliest unsolved murders.

Little do they know that the same key will unlock secrets from a different dimension; one filled with monstrous creatures that should never be disturbed…


PRAISE FOR LATENCY

'...a demonic, growling, gruelling tale that takes you down into the vortex of satanic rituals, beasts and brutes.'
- Simon Marlowe, author of the Mason Made trilogy.

'...an excellent crime novel, it gripped me from start to finish.' - Russell Wate, author of DCI Alexander McFarlane crime series.

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2024

8 people are currently reading
1411 people want to read

About the author

Chris Coppel

14 books53 followers
Chris Coppel was born in California. His family moved to Europe, living in Spain, France, Switzerland and mainly England. He has written numerous screenplays but Far From Burden Dell is his first novel. He taught advanced screenwriting at U.C.L.A.

Chris is also an accomplished drummer and guitarist. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Clare, and their very own scaredy-cat, Samantha.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
Profile Image for Debra .
3,291 reviews36.5k followers
May 26, 2024
A supernatural mystery has two LAPD detectives traveling all over the city of angels looking for answers when members of the Hollywood elite begin dying in horrific ways. This book is in the horror category but is heavy on police procedural while detectives Mason Darby and Teri Grey are investigating a current case in addition to cold cases. What they learn is that not all that glitters is not gold. In a city where throwing the biggest, hottest most impressive party keeps you current and hot, may backfire and some will pay the ultimate price.

Some things that occur in this book can be labeled as horrific, but I don't feel this book was true horror. I enjoyed the investigative work and the banter. Both detectives have something to prove and go about trying to do so.

Although enjoyable, I wanted more scares, more creepiness, more horror, more danger, more tension. What I did enjoy was reading about the parts of L.A. that I know as I lived there for a long time. I also enjoyed the supernatural element to the book.

Others enjoyed this book more than I did so please read their reviews as well.

Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Profile Image for Carl Bluesy.
Author 9 books112 followers
February 6, 2025
This book had a very slow start, but it really picked up.

It took me till the halfway point before I feel really hooked and invested into this story. The story features a lot of good elements of both crime and horror, and gives you a good idea of who the characters are both in and outside of the plot of the story.

I think this was both the best and worst part of the book as it had a lot that it was trying to do in the first have the took a long time for their to be a pay off for.Once thing got moving, it was very enjoyable. The crime and paranormal mix worked very well here.

I still think this book would have been better if more was cut out in the book overall was shorter. But this is still a great read for horror and mystery readers who are willing to push through the slower start.
Profile Image for Bookaholic__Reviews.
1,209 reviews155 followers
October 8, 2024
A supernatural crime thriller? Yes, please. This one started off quite slow, but I'm really happy I stuck it out.

Overall, I was super pleased with this book. I loved the characters ( I honestly would love to see them again in another book!), and I thought the setting was fantastic. The supernatural elements kept me on edge and guessing. The only complaint I have was the pacing. It took a little long for things to start happening in my personal opinion.

I would definitely recommend this for lovers of horror as well as to the readers who enjoy police procedural and crime thrillers. After finishing this, I added a couple more Coppel books to my TBR.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Roz Anne.
343 reviews30 followers
June 28, 2024
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed The Lodge by Chris Coppel, so when I saw the opportunity to join a book tour for his new book Latency, I had to take part!

This book is a mixture of genres it is a police procedural intertwined with horror. I was absolutely here for it. It felt like a fresh idea. I thought the character development and interaction between the two main characters was done really well. The dialogue and banter between them appeared easy and natural. You want to root for them all the way through the book. 

I also liked the story, which involves high-profile people being killed in very mysterious circumstances with no obvious culprit. Some of the murders appear to have been committed by someone with superhuman strength... which nicely leads us down the path of horror. The horror elements were done well and fit the story. I also found the ending satisfying, which is always a sign of a good book!

I think this book would appeal to those who like supernatural elements, police procedural, and murder mysteries.

This book was well written, and I found it engaging. I was invested in the characters and wanted to know who did it! Will definitely continue to read more books by this author.

Thanks to the author and Black Tide Tours (Hery ROI PR) for sending me a copy of the book to review. This is my honest opinion, which I'm leaving voluntarily.
Profile Image for Charlene (Char)&#x1f341;☕️&#x1f4da;.
523 reviews28 followers
July 6, 2025
This book was really great! There are some key elements I like to mention this book has;
Mystery, Demonic/ Demons and the inner workings of the police department.

This book is about two detectives that are paired up Mason Darby and Teri Grey. Mason is a detective that finds himself in the other side of his brothers and sisters in blue. He decides to come back to the police force but he is not welcomed with open arms. Begins his story of redemption and working within the police force with few allies, one being his partner.

Teri Grey a woman by all accounts an off limits partner. Due to her connection within the police department. She is a woman that is navigating her own life and coming to terms with things in her past. By all accounts I love how her character is displayed in the book she is no nonsense woman and she fights for the people she loves.

Overall this book displays great detective work and I love how the book is set in Los Angeles, CA being a native born and raised it’s always refreshing to read about streets and locations I know. I love the story telling in the book and the chemistry between the characters. I wanted more this is definitely a great read. If you love supernatural, mystery with a hint of demons, and great detective work this is the book for you.

Thank you, Chris for providing me a copy of this book I am truly grateful all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Mike Finn.
1,619 reviews58 followers
Read
June 28, 2024
I was hooked by the premise of this story. I still am. I love the idea of LAPD homicide detectives having to get their heads around the existence of demons. Unfortunately, by the end of the twelth chapter, 22% through the book, I was still at the point where the two newly partnered detectives were scratching their heads and asking, "Do you think there's something odd about a murder where someone gets their head ripped off but has no other injuries?" Well, duh!

So far, apart from an offstage growl in the first, slightly cheesy chapter, there hasn't been a demon in sight.

What there has been is a slow, sometimes painfully slow, set up on the backgrounds of both of the detectives and how they came to work together.

That might have been fine with if there'd been a little more foreshadowing of the woo woo stuff and if the chapters had been better written.

Overall, I thought the story had potential. Some of the banter/verbal aggression between the cops works well. I liked the grim but believable dark humour. The pace felt so slow that if I'd been watching a movie I'd have fast-forwarded to the interesting stuff.

The main reason I'm setting this aside is that the style of writing doesn't work for me. The characters all sound the same when they talk. The prose is utilitarian but not sparse. It gets the job done but it sounds like a student padding a report with bigger words to give it more authority. It made me sigh when it should have made me shiver and it wasn't holding my attention.

If it the story gets made into a movie, I'd watch it. If someone edits it down to a short story, I'd give it a try. I just can't make it through 347 pages of this style of writing.
Profile Image for Dee Hancocks.
673 reviews11 followers
June 12, 2024
Latency is a supernatural crime novel, full of mystery and otherworldly secrets. The focus of the novel is on the police investigation and procedure of this. Two ostracised detectives are assigned to partner up and work on unsolved cold cases. The cases involve hollywoods elite dying in unexplained and brutal ways. There is gore and plenty of detail to the crime scenes, adding that horror element.
I really enjoyed the transportive nature of the book, I could visualise L.A. Another positive of the book is the characterisation, it’s rich in detail and draws you into the lives of the two detectives. You appreciate the banter and root for them.
Despite the supernatural element the story did not veer off and become unbelievable at any point, it was still deeply rooted in reality. I liked the exploration of evil and inner demons alongside some actual supernatural monsters. I would compare the vibes to X-Files and Fringe. Hopefully there will be some more intriguing cases these detectives get to work on. Thank you to NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
Profile Image for Marion Over.
395 reviews10 followers
June 28, 2024
Chris Coppel is a very talented author. To me, a great book needs good Characters, a well developed plot, world building and a good ending. When an author pulls all that off and has a great writing style...what else is there. Except for a great cover?
Chris Coppel does all the above. I love the depth he puts into his characters, they feel like real people and awesome characters are the bread and butter of a story.
This was a fantastic book. A subtly creepy paranormal thriller/horror crime drama.
This author always writes books that make me wish they were becoming movies or tv shows. I miss Millennium and the X-files. Chris Coppel's stories fit right in that category.
This is a story about two police officers, the black sheep in their house but great detectives, nevertheless.
They have been given the worst cold case files possible.
The socialites of Los Angeles have had a few unexplained deaths after their parties. Nothing natural and everything to be feared in these unsolvable cases.
But maybe not for these two detectives that let nothing hold them down. Not personal trouble, vindictive bosses or horrific monsters.
I highly recommend this one and thank Henry Roi PR for the copy, of course all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Milt Theo.
1,865 reviews155 followers
May 23, 2024
Chris Coppel's 'Latency' is high-caliber entertainment, a super cool horror-thriller type of story, brimming with subtle humor, police banter, and deeply unsettling scenes of urban horror. The author portrays the Los Angeles area realistically, mentioning local details in a manner that shows both love and exasperation for the place; he's equally adept in bringing out the best in his characters, even when they don't deserve it - dropping brief episodes of urban daily life, from ultra-rich Beverly Hills to less fortunate neighborhoods. In fact, the inclusion of a couple of plotlines only tangentially related to the main story (the so sad coyote episode, the so satisfyingly resolved bad renter tale), brought so much authenticity to the book, I started wondering if it' s based on a true story police detectives have been telling each other. In any case, Coppel's storytelling flows effortlessly, the characters keep you interested thoughout, and the abundance of tiny details are always enjoyable, never tiresome. I should emphasize that the characters are really, really well drawn, far better than any police procedural I've read that combines detective work with supernatural horror. Wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
Profile Image for Bo.
323 reviews8 followers
February 22, 2025
Darkness festers in the cracks of Los Angeles, slithering through the city's opulence and decay. Latency is a razor-sharp horror-thriller that doesn’t just creep under your skin—it burrows deep. Coppel does a great job combining supernatural terror with police procedural grit, lacing the tension with dark humor and eerie realism.

The city itself becomes a living, breathing nightmare, its wealthy enclaves and shadow-drenched streets equally dangerous. Even the smallest details—casual police banter, tragic glimpses of urban life, a coyote’s lonely fate—add an almost voyeuristic authenticity, as if we’re eavesdropping on grim tales whispered in the dead of night.

Coppel wrote his characters to be truly haunting. Coppel doesn’t just craft them; he exhumes them, exposing raw, flawed souls trapped in forces beyond their control. The supernatural bleeds into their reality with a chilling inevitability, and by the time the pieces come together, you’re left questioning if this is truly fiction—or if these horrors have already unfolded in the shadows of our world.

This is not your average detective-meets-horror tale. This is something deeper, more insidious. A book that lingers like a half-remembered nightmare.
Profile Image for Emily | bookswith.emily.
380 reviews21 followers
June 30, 2024
Latency is a gripping supernatural mystery book following a police investigation. Two police detectives are given the task of solving unsolved murders across Hollywood. A-list celebrities were found brutally murdered and in an unexplained way. I loved the horror element to this book and it was detailed.

The main characters in this book were intriguing and I liked how we were able to read about them from a personal side, not just from their career. I also liked how the author made LA come to live through the pages with the incredible descriptions.

I found that the supernatural element didn’t come across as unbelievable as it was written about in such a convincing way. I was hooked from the start and I absolutely loved the unique plot. Never before have a I read a book quite like this and I feel like I say that about all of Chris Coppel’s books.

I highly recommend this book and this author because of the unique plots and gripping storylines.
Profile Image for Balthazarinblue.
953 reviews12 followers
June 3, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up

This was super fun but it is drastically miscategorized as horror. I read this as an ARC from NetGalley, so maybe by the time of publication it will be marketed differently. I hope so because people who enjoy horror are unlikely to get anything from this. And unfortunately, people who love banter-y, low stakes buddy cop books with a touch of supernatural are never going to find it on the horror shelf. Are cosy police procedurals a thing? Because that's what this is. Like the tv show Psych but no ones faking it in LATENCY.

Mason and Teri are the black sheep of the LAPD. Mason because he killed his previous partner - never mind that the guy was a serial killer and had Mason in his sights as his next victim - and Teri because the Chief of Police used to be her stepmom. They're thrown together, banished to the basement, and stuck with the coldest of cold cases. But things start to heat up when together they discover an angle the previous investigations had failed to explore. Things start to smell sulfurous when they are forced to face the fact the inexplicable crime scenes might have otherworldly causes.
Profile Image for Jerry.
345 reviews35 followers
June 29, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it successfully melded my two favorite genres - “horror” and “police procedural”. What worked for me most was the flow of the writing and the overall vibe. The Los Angeles that I know is accurately captured by the author and the story unfolds in a clear manner that is engaging. The believability balance was achieved, and the two main characters are likable and well developed. To be sure, I perceived an X-files partner vibe. I think the whole demon hunting aspect was great, although I would have depicted more religious themes to counter the demonic, but that’s just my preference. This was a fun book to read, nothing heavy or overly complicated and I am hoping that it will be developed into a series with the same main characters and supporting cast.
Profile Image for Alaska.
66 reviews
July 23, 2024
Fantastic read! Kept me on the edge.
If you’re looking for some suspense mystery with twists to keep you up at night, I highly recommend this book. The author, Chris Coppel, did a great job to make me stay awake so I can finish this as soon as possible because I was intrigued about the murderer. I also love the character development of the characters, they have their own distinct personalities and they match perfectly. Seeing their relationship grow from strangers is something meaningful. I really didn’t expect the ending, I kept guessing and of course I missed the signs because it’s not what I expected it to be. I won’t spoil it anymore so just go and read it.



This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Katherine Tricker.
277 reviews2 followers
April 6, 2025
This was a great fast-paced thriller with fantastic characters. the dialogue was excellently done and gave me many giggles along the way.

I really enjoyed the paranormal side to the cases and hope that the way this was wrapped up means we will be seeing more from Mason and Teri.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Terry and dog.
1,015 reviews34 followers
November 13, 2024
A riveting what done it. Mysterious, and grotesque deaths, well written, likeable main characters and interesting locations suck you in to this enthralling tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this crime story with a supernatural twist, or should I say vortex?
Profile Image for LJ &#x1f5a4;.
32 reviews3 followers
May 19, 2025
A disgraced detective and his new partner are given the cold case of the century as punishment, but the unbelievable truth they uncover will not only get them back in good graces with the department, but will have it at their mercy. This supernatural crime thriller had me hooked. I’m thankful to the author for being kind enough to send me a copy, and will definitely be reading more of his work!
115 reviews1 follower
May 9, 2024
LATENCY by Chris Coppel is a mystery set in the Los Angelos area. Two detectives, one new to the unit and the other branded a cop killer, are assigned the unsolved murder of one of LAs elite, which has been known to end careers. Their boss has given them an office of their own, which, with a little ingenuity, they manage to furnish. The two read up on the case, check out the scene, add a few more cold and new murders, and then they can't believe what they find. Trying to figure out killed them keeps you guessing. I was absorbed into this story from the beginning until the end, which reminded me of a pilot tv show before the credits appeared.
Profile Image for Lisa.
130 reviews9 followers
June 16, 2024
After enjoying The Lodge by Chris Coppel, I was excited to check out Latency. I was not disappointed by this choice. This story centers around two detectives, one trying to restart his career and another trying to make a name for herself. Both are strong characters with diverse backstories. The case surrounds several mysterious deaths in Los Angeles. Is it a serial unaliver, or is it something more sinister?
Latency is a fast paced supernatural police procedural that will hook the reader while keeping them throughly entertained.
Profile Image for Stacy Kraut.
8 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2024
4.5/5 - Rounded up for Goodreads.

Two LAPD detectives are handed a cold case and must scour the city for an elusive killer. The investigation becomes more frantic when similar murders start popping up. They have no idea that the monster they’re chasing is unlike any they’ve hunted before.

I have read several books by Chris Coppel and not one of them has disappointed me. He has become one of my go-to authors when I need a book that is going grab my attention and hold it. He is always going to take the reader on a wild ride with unexpected twists.
I love a good detective mystery and this had the added bonus of supernatural elements. It is extremely well-written and I absolutely love his development of the characters and their backstories. He created two main characters who are, by all accounts, the underdogs. And I found myself rooting for them through the whole book. I loved the supernatural twist and the horror elements in this book!

I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read whatever Chris Coppel writes next!

Thank you to Black Tide Tours/Henry Roi PR and the author for the advanced copy!
Profile Image for Tiffany aka Chai Tea And Books.
1,014 reviews51 followers
June 29, 2024
Okay, I loved this book way more than I thought I would! I was hooked and I didn’t want to put it down. It gives off unintentional X-files vibes and I am here for it. I honestly loved everything about this book, from the plot to the subplots to the main characters. Most of the police force and side characters can go suck a hotdog as far as I’m concerned. But I love a good bit of karma (remember I’m a petty witch) and it showed up. I hope this is the start of a series, because I would be an avid reader of it!

Two detectives are paired together and stuck down in an old interview room because no one else wants to work with them. Mason is back after a year off, and Teri’s ex stepmom is the chief. They get handed a cold case that is a career ender. But between the two of them, they start connecting other unsolved cases to it and the case starts snowballing out of control. The only question is, will they ride it or get sucked under?

Thank you to Henry Roi PR for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for E. Mercy.
20 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2025
At first, I thought this would be too similar to a book I have written (I didn't know this one existed as I was writing mine), and it somewhat was. Even some loose similarities to other projects I want to pursue. Dang it!

Now, as far as this story itself? It is very long and a VERY slow-burn.
It took forever to get to the point. It was overly-detailed (perhaps to fit a publisher's demands)
and the build-up took over half the book! Lots of unnecessary fluff that made me go "oh just move on already!"

The editor should be ashamed.
There were LOTS of typos, errors, misspellings, etc.
One character, I have no idea who they were supposed to be because the name changed THREE DIFFERENT TIMES! It was either, "Simmons", "Simmonds" or "Simpson", depending on the sentence, even if it was in the same paragraph.

Of the main characters, "Teri" was called "Lisa" at one point without an explanation, then was spelled with two R's at another.
Many names were misspelled, as were words themselves.
Incorrect grammar was quite noticeable throughout.

There were issues with the dialogue as it was hard to determine who was talking and when.
Quotations were also needed at the end of a speech, but were left out in favor of the beginning of another one.

Some words were missing letters.

At one point in the story, there was a discovery of a skunk, then later it was a raccoon. No mention of the change of species.

The term "Intention" was replaced with "Intension", which I'm not sure if it was a deliberate play on words, or was actually a convenient mistake.

Overall, I feel that this was just an extremely long metaphor for the whole "Hollyweird" thing.

Some storylines and character arcs seemed to be left open and unfinished.
I was more interested in seeing what happened with certain things than what I was left with.

Without giving anything away, I will say that the ending was of the "understandable, yet unsatisfying." variety.
But I suppose the supernatural element and the way it was described was fairly interesting.

2/5.
My last word on this title: Ease back on all of the boring banter and get to the point.
And please.. get a better editor, dude.
Profile Image for J Kromrie.
2,525 reviews47 followers
June 9, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Latency by Chris Coppel is a riveting blend of police procedural and supernatural thriller that grips the reader from the first page to the last. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, the novel introduces us to two detectives, Mason Darby and Teri Grey, who are as different as they are determined. Tasked with solving a series of cold cases that have left the LAPD baffled, they stumble upon a thread that weaves together the city’s most gruesome unsolved murders.

Coppel masterfully crafts a narrative that is as much about the monsters lurking in the shadows as it is about the demons within. The story delves into the realm of the otherworldly, where creatures from a different dimension threaten the fabric of reality. It’s a tale that explores the latency of evil—how it lies dormant, waiting for the right moment to emerge.

The author’s writing is sharp and evocative, creating a cinematic experience that is both terrifying and enthralling. The dialogue crackles with wit, and the chemistry between Mason and Teri adds a layer of depth to the narrative. Their partnership, fraught with tension and mutual respect, drives the story forward as they navigate a world where the line between the natural and the supernatural blurs.

The book’s pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Coppel’s attention to detail in both the crime scenes and the exploration of the supernatural elements is meticulous, creating a world that is richly imagined and chillingly plausible.

In Latency, Chris Coppel has not only delivered a compelling crime novel but has also woven in a heavy dose of horror that will satisfy fans of both genres. The book is a testament to the author’s ability to blend different elements into a cohesive and engaging story that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

With its well-drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and a plot that is both intelligent and original, Latency is a standout novel that heralds Chris Coppel as a master storyteller for the modern age. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery with a supernatural twist.
Profile Image for pastiesandpages - Gavin.
494 reviews13 followers
June 27, 2024
Thank you very much to @cranthorpemillner for the ARC. Having read two of Chris' previous books I was very excited to get an advance paperback & my excitement was justified as this is my favourite of his books so far.

It clocks in at 435 pages but it's so readable that I finished it in two days!

Set in LA it's a police procedural but with a supernatural/paranormal horror element to some of the crimes.
Monsters are real in every sense, from the depraved & horrific acts of people to the powerful monsters & satanic devils.
It's a combination that could be a disaster but Chris wisely keeps the paranormal in the background for much of the book concentrating on the detectives & their work on some intriguing cold cases. I suppose as a starting point you could compare it to X-Files.

Mason Darby has been off the force for a year after, falsely accused & ostracized by his colleagues. When his name is cleared they're reluctant to have him back but he's one of the best detectives there is so he's teamed up with new detective Teri Grey (against her wishes) and assigned to look into some unsolved murders, partly to keep him out of the way but also with the hope that he's got the ability to do something about them.

The back stories for Mason & Teri are believable with enough detail for us to quickly get to know the characters, there's a good supporting cast & plenty of banter adding a much needed lightness to compensate for the murders being investigated.

LA is completely brought to life. It feels like you're driving the streets with them taking in everything from the restaurants, the swanky Hollywood homes, down to the hordes of homeless on the streets.

Discovering a common thread between unsolved murders then being called into help with a new killing the detectives are soon in the middle of the most dangerous & bizarre case of their careers.

I also liked the way the characters are fleshed out naturally with the use of sub plots rather than any information dumps & the sub plots featuring a coyote and an illegal renter have satisfying conclusions as does the whole book.
Profile Image for A5hley Clarke.
64 reviews14 followers
February 5, 2025
A paranormal police investigation novel has never been something that I thought I needed but my god this was definitely a great starting point think CSI meets Stranger Things

We follow two detectives who for their unfortunate circumstances find themselves unwanted in their unit and get forced together and have to work the unsolvable open cases that hover around the LA police department.
Now I’m being honest this isn’t a book I would typically read crime isn’t really my area of interest but adding in a paranormal element had me intrigued and the fact the author was willing to give me a copy to review I was more than happy to give it a try.

I enjoyed the backstory to each character and they each had a secondary story away from the main case which I really enjoyed now this is a spoiler free review so I won’t detail them here but I was happy that everything was tied up leaving no unanswered loose ends apart from one romantic scene which was left as a question mark which could’ve easily been avoided. The main story was gripping and gave great procedural detail as well as using known places that a lot of readers could easily map out the area of LA the cases were in, the story was an easy read the pacing was again quite medium paced enough was going on that I didn’t feel it was too slow the use of secondary stories helped this I would say the whole conclusion and build up comes ahead really in the last 100 pages but with hopes of seeing these characters again in future stories I think for any fans of crime the build up is part of the story it’s not always just action from beginning to end. Overall I gave this book 4 stars purely because I can’t say it’s the best crime novel I’ve read because I’ve got no comparison so withholding a star purely on that basis however if there is a sequel that’s better then that 5th star could easily be obtained by this author
Profile Image for Vickiec192.
261 reviews19 followers
July 9, 2024
I have read a couple of Chris Coppel's books and loved them. This is by far my favourite!

I absolutely love crime fiction and paranormal and this combines the two absolutely perfectly.

For very different reasons, Mason and Teri are social pariahs in the LAPD, so of course it stands to reason that, not only are they partnered up, but they are assigned to an unsolved double murder from several years ago. This took place at a very prestigious party of a very well known socialite and had been a very high publicity case, one which had brought down a lot of pressure on the department. Not so bad, you may think, but there is a very unique reason this case has remained unsolved. One victim's head had been angled at 180 degrees and the second victim's head was pulled right off of his body. As if that weren't bad enough, not a single piece of evidence had ever been found.

Just in case that still wasn't enough, this was not the only unsolved, alarmingly bizarre killing and it seems they may be starting again. The suspect list is long, the evidence is non existent and Teri and Mason are stonewalled in every aspect of their investigation with a string of NDAs.

This as a crime fiction novel would have been great in itself, however, having the paranormal aspect woven seamlessly into the plot added an entirely new level. It is fast paced, gripping from start to finish and is packed with great characters. They may be at very different stages of their careers but Teri and Mason are so driven, ruthless and the partnership works so well. I could not put this down.

Crime fiction lovers, this is for you. Horror/paranormal lovers, this is one for you too.
Profile Image for Eliise.
236 reviews5 followers
July 7, 2025
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy of this book!
I really wanted to love this one. The premise sounded right up my alley as a supernatural and crime show fan. A cold case detectives stumbling into something ancient, strange, and way beyond human understanding. That mix of crime and cosmic horror? Yes please. But the reality… i was bored out of my mind.

There’s a lot of build-up in the first half, and by a lot I mean pages and pages of procedural detail and character introspection that, while atmospheric, didn’t always feel necessary. I kept waiting for the tension to snap or for the weirdness to properly kick in but it felt like the story just kept circling the same ideas without much payoff.

There was so much repetition and vagueness and so many chapters where nothing happened.. to be honest the first like 180 pages are like that. There’s definitely a feeling of something lurking in the background while everything is going on but you’re told about it more than shown and yet it never fully lands in a way that felt satisfying or scary to me.

That said, I do think this will work better for readers who enjoy very slow-burn horror, with an emphasis on mood and existential dread over action or clarity. If you’re into stories where the horror is more philosophical and you don’t mind waiting a long time for it then this might be your thing. It just wasn’t mine.
Profile Image for Charlene (pageandplace).
335 reviews20 followers
May 23, 2024
Amongst the glitz and glamour of the A lister mansions, the rich and famous try to one up each other at their dinner parties. NDAs are signed and staff shooed from view.💎

Detectives Darby and Grey are newly assigned partners, neither by choice. They end up working cold cases in the bowels of an interrogation room they convert to a working space.🕵🏻‍♀️🕵️‍♂️

What the detectives uncover is not for the faint of heart! Piecing together cases from the past and connecting them to recent ones… the gruesome deaths appear to be related. LAPD has never seen a monster of this magnitude. 😱

I enjoyed the read and thought the story was interesting. Round it out to a police procedural, paranormal who dun it, and you get to know the characters (in and outside of work) throughout. I have not read anything else by the author and enjoyed how descriptive the book was. Don’t get sucked up into the vortex! 🌀


Thank you to the author, Chris Coppel, NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for the opportunity to read to this book.
The publication date for this book is June 25, 2024.

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Profile Image for Karolyn.
1,335 reviews44 followers
October 1, 2024
Here is my review for Latency by Chris Coppel

Detective Mason Darby and Detective Teri Grey have been put together as a team to work the unsolved murder of Cynthia Harter which has been unsolved since 2007 and various cops have investigated it. Usually to no avail. This time they have linked two other murders to the original case and looked over two of the houses. They have looked at the guest lists and seen that one person was not questioned at all three crime scenes, how did that happen? This is a terrific read and a brilliant story to peruse, I thoroughly recommend it. I loved it. The tension builds up slowly and the cops that investigate it do so brilliantly. The writing is terrific and the plotting is superb. The storyline is tremendous and it’s a fantastic plot in its own right, never read a plot like it. I like how the author has used his imagination in this story.

Blurb :

Up until now, the only monsters the LAPD had ever seen were of the human variety…
When two down-on-their-luck detectives are forced to work together on a series of cold cases, they slowly begin to uncover a common thread that may hold the key to solving some of their town’s grizzliest unsolved murders.

Little do they know that the same key will unlock secrets from a different dimension; one filled with monstrous creatures that should never be disturbed…
Profile Image for SurakaJaneBooks.
95 reviews18 followers
June 27, 2024
🚌 BOOK TOUR REVIEW🚌

(Slightly delayed post as I messed my dates up!) BUT YALL NEED TO ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR)

Latency by @Chris.Coppel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A SUPERNATURAL THRILLER!!!! As in LAPD detectives but with monsters! When I tell you I ATE THIS UP! It gave me everything!

I’m a huge thriller girly! Love them and I love that I still got that kick from this book but horror is something I’m trying to read more of so getting two in one with latency was just what I needed!

Creepy as hell and just a tad gory, this story was immersive! It’s fast paced, vivid and hooking from the start!

I cannot wait to pick up more of Chris’s books!!! Obsessed!! Oh and watch out for a potential giveaway tomorrow 👀

Summary:

Up until now, the only monsters the LAPD had ever seen were of the human variety… When two down-on-their-luck detectives are forced to work together on a series of cold cases, they slowly begin to uncover a common thread that may hold the key to solving some of their town’s grizzliest unsolved murders.
Little do they know that the same key will unlock secrets from a different dimension; one filled with monstrous creatures that should never be disturbed…

Thank you so much to Cranthorpe Miller for a copy in exchange for an honest review

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