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Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD: The Thin Blue Ley-Line
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bestselling author Keith R. A. DeCandido comes a paranormal mystery of epic proportions.
When Detective Domenica Kiernan solved the murder of a mayor’s aide—killed by a vampire—she never imagined she’d find herself at the vanguard of the NYPD’s latest special the Supernatural Crimes Unit.
Tasked with closing cases involving magic and monsters, the SCU has dealt with a shape-changing domovoy committing assault in Chelsea, the murder of a kappa on City Island, a thieving Taotie in Chinatown—and their two murder victims whose corpses have been liquefied by a powerful spell.
Kiernan and the rest of the SCU must find the connection between the two victims and figure out who cast the spell that destroyed the corpses. Soon, their investigation leads to a malevolent magic-user who yearns for limitless power, whose plans go far beyond disposing of dead bodies. He’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goals—including kidnapping Bobby, Kiernan’s ten-year-old son.
The SCU has no They must go rogue to find Bobby and stop the wizard before he unleashes hell on Earth!
When Detective Domenica Kiernan solved the murder of a mayor’s aide—killed by a vampire—she never imagined she’d find herself at the vanguard of the NYPD’s latest special the Supernatural Crimes Unit.
Tasked with closing cases involving magic and monsters, the SCU has dealt with a shape-changing domovoy committing assault in Chelsea, the murder of a kappa on City Island, a thieving Taotie in Chinatown—and their two murder victims whose corpses have been liquefied by a powerful spell.
Kiernan and the rest of the SCU must find the connection between the two victims and figure out who cast the spell that destroyed the corpses. Soon, their investigation leads to a malevolent magic-user who yearns for limitless power, whose plans go far beyond disposing of dead bodies. He’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goals—including kidnapping Bobby, Kiernan’s ten-year-old son.
The SCU has no They must go rogue to find Bobby and stop the wizard before he unleashes hell on Earth!
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Published October 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 30, 2025
Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD
by Keith R. A. DeCandido
Fantasy Paranormal
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 28, 2025
Blackstone Publishing
Ages: 14+
After a mayor's aide was killed on camera by a vampire, other supernaturals came forward, and the Supernatural Crimes Unit was created, but most of the other departments believed it was all fake.
But officer by officer, they are finding out that the supernatural really did exist, and the orders the SCU gave them were to be followed or, like with the domovoy, would escape.
When two murdered victims liquefied in the coroner's office, they became the SCU's cases.
The blurb on NG's pages made this book sound as if there was a lot of supernatural/magic going on... Nope, not really. Sure, it was here and there, but not enough to keep me interested. It was just another police crime/'X-Files' influenced story.
Some of the story was original, and there were some funnies, but overall it was disappointing. Besides the lack of magic/supernatural elements, the story was told from multiple characters, including the bad guy; it got confusing and boring at times. Focusing on one, three at the most, would've been easier to follow along and give a deeper dive into each character.
Some of my dislike of this story could have a little to do with the fact that I'm not a big fan of police/crime fiction, but it was the 'promise' of supernatural that got me to request this book. I have read other books focusing on solving supernatural crimes and enjoyed them.
Don't let the cute cover make you think that it is for younger readers, because with the violence and some incidents, this isn't suitable for most readers under fourteen. And don't let the title fool you either, yes, there are supernatural crimes, but it reads more as if the supernatural element was added after the first couple of drafts.
It's not bad, but it didn't satisfy my supernatural expectations, so if this is the start of a series, I won't be reading the next.
2 Stars
by Keith R. A. DeCandido
Fantasy Paranormal
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Oct 28, 2025
Blackstone Publishing
Ages: 14+
After a mayor's aide was killed on camera by a vampire, other supernaturals came forward, and the Supernatural Crimes Unit was created, but most of the other departments believed it was all fake.
But officer by officer, they are finding out that the supernatural really did exist, and the orders the SCU gave them were to be followed or, like with the domovoy, would escape.
When two murdered victims liquefied in the coroner's office, they became the SCU's cases.
The blurb on NG's pages made this book sound as if there was a lot of supernatural/magic going on... Nope, not really. Sure, it was here and there, but not enough to keep me interested. It was just another police crime/'X-Files' influenced story.
Some of the story was original, and there were some funnies, but overall it was disappointing. Besides the lack of magic/supernatural elements, the story was told from multiple characters, including the bad guy; it got confusing and boring at times. Focusing on one, three at the most, would've been easier to follow along and give a deeper dive into each character.
Some of my dislike of this story could have a little to do with the fact that I'm not a big fan of police/crime fiction, but it was the 'promise' of supernatural that got me to request this book. I have read other books focusing on solving supernatural crimes and enjoyed them.
Don't let the cute cover make you think that it is for younger readers, because with the violence and some incidents, this isn't suitable for most readers under fourteen. And don't let the title fool you either, yes, there are supernatural crimes, but it reads more as if the supernatural element was added after the first couple of drafts.
It's not bad, but it didn't satisfy my supernatural expectations, so if this is the start of a series, I won't be reading the next.
2 Stars
September 24, 2025
As a longtime fan of Keith R.A. DeCandido’s Star Trek work, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of his latest novel, Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD. And let me say right up front, this book absolutely delivers! It’s got the grit of Law & Order, the spooky intrigue of The X-Files, and the immersive, character-driven world-building that I love about DeCandido’s work. If you’ve ever wanted a police procedural in a supernatural version of New York that doesn’t skimp on either magic or realism, this is your book.
One of the most impressive aspects of the novel is how seamlessly DeCandido blends urban fantasy with a grounded police procedural. The book takes place in a version of NYC where vampires, werewolves, magicians, and fae exist openly, and the SCU, a newly-formed branch of the NYPD, is tasked with handling crimes within that realm. Some authors would dump all the world-building up front in an exposition overload, but not here. DeCandido introduces readers to this alternate New York naturally, weaving in details as needed, which keeps the pace tight and the immersion high.
The strength of this book lies just as much in its characters as its world. The SCU team is diverse, memorable, and very human (even when they’re not, actually, human). Each character is distinct, with their own quirks, flaws, and history. Their interactions feel authentic and earned. You can tell DeCandido put thought into not just who these people are, but how they work together under extreme and unusual pressure.
The team’s camaraderie, their friction, and their banter give the book its emotional heart. It’s not just about catching a suspect, it’s about seeing how these people navigate a world filled with monsters while staying human and true to themselves.
What’s also refreshing is that the stakes feel personal and grounded. Yes, there are magical forces and strange creatures at play, but the book never veers into bombastic spectacle just for the sake of it. The crimes being investigated have weight. The victims matter. The perpetrators aren’t just mustache-twirling evil; they have motivations, often complicated and steeped in the rules of the supernatural world.
And while there’s plenty of action, both magical and otherwise, it’s never over-the-top. Every spell, bite, or magical defense feels logical within this world’s framework.
If I have one complaint, it’s only that I want more! This absolutely feels like the start of a great series. The world is rich, the premise full of potential, and the characters have so much room to grow. I would love to see what other kinds of cases the SCU gets tangled up in, and how their relationships continue to evolve.
As someone who appreciates the way Star Trek examines morality and duty through fantastical lenses, I found Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD to have a similar spirit, just with more werewolves and blood wards. DeCandido continues to prove why he’s one of the best genre writers working today.
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Keith R.A. DeCandido for granting me access to a digital advance copy of this title.
One of the most impressive aspects of the novel is how seamlessly DeCandido blends urban fantasy with a grounded police procedural. The book takes place in a version of NYC where vampires, werewolves, magicians, and fae exist openly, and the SCU, a newly-formed branch of the NYPD, is tasked with handling crimes within that realm. Some authors would dump all the world-building up front in an exposition overload, but not here. DeCandido introduces readers to this alternate New York naturally, weaving in details as needed, which keeps the pace tight and the immersion high.
The strength of this book lies just as much in its characters as its world. The SCU team is diverse, memorable, and very human (even when they’re not, actually, human). Each character is distinct, with their own quirks, flaws, and history. Their interactions feel authentic and earned. You can tell DeCandido put thought into not just who these people are, but how they work together under extreme and unusual pressure.
The team’s camaraderie, their friction, and their banter give the book its emotional heart. It’s not just about catching a suspect, it’s about seeing how these people navigate a world filled with monsters while staying human and true to themselves.
What’s also refreshing is that the stakes feel personal and grounded. Yes, there are magical forces and strange creatures at play, but the book never veers into bombastic spectacle just for the sake of it. The crimes being investigated have weight. The victims matter. The perpetrators aren’t just mustache-twirling evil; they have motivations, often complicated and steeped in the rules of the supernatural world.
And while there’s plenty of action, both magical and otherwise, it’s never over-the-top. Every spell, bite, or magical defense feels logical within this world’s framework.
If I have one complaint, it’s only that I want more! This absolutely feels like the start of a great series. The world is rich, the premise full of potential, and the characters have so much room to grow. I would love to see what other kinds of cases the SCU gets tangled up in, and how their relationships continue to evolve.
As someone who appreciates the way Star Trek examines morality and duty through fantastical lenses, I found Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD to have a similar spirit, just with more werewolves and blood wards. DeCandido continues to prove why he’s one of the best genre writers working today.
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Keith R.A. DeCandido for granting me access to a digital advance copy of this title.
December 31, 2025
(3.75 Stars)
This book is entertaining. Although it doesn't say it is going to be a series, it is written like it will be. It is actually written like it is for a television series, which given the author's other works wouldn't surprise me.
The characters were good and their growth was organic. The world building was decent, a little bit of a cross between Hollywood monster tropes and the author's own imagination. The narration was very good. I would read another book in this series, or maybe another original work by this author.
This book is entertaining. Although it doesn't say it is going to be a series, it is written like it will be. It is actually written like it is for a television series, which given the author's other works wouldn't surprise me.
The characters were good and their growth was organic. The world building was decent, a little bit of a cross between Hollywood monster tropes and the author's own imagination. The narration was very good. I would read another book in this series, or maybe another original work by this author.
December 20, 2025
I wanted to like this more than I did because the “the thin blue ley line” is hilarious but oh well
August 11, 2025
No idea why but the entire time reading this I pictured Zootopia in my mind. Even though I knew most of these people were human-like.
Right out of the gates this is a very character heavy book, it’s best to go into it writing down the names to keep folks straight.
The plot itself was good once you remember who everyone is but this is also very heavy in dialogue.
Right out of the gates this is a very character heavy book, it’s best to go into it writing down the names to keep folks straight.
The plot itself was good once you remember who everyone is but this is also very heavy in dialogue.
January 29, 2026
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD is an urban fantasy police procedural comedy series starter by Keith R.A. DeCandido. Released 28th Oct 2025 by Blackstone, it's 390 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Tongue in cheek, with sarcasm and snark to spare, the author does a good turn with rapid dialogue, law enforcement banter and camaraderie alongside professional rivalry, and workplace humor (some quite gritty and off-color). The difference is that these cops are chasing vampires, werewolves, slime monsters, and some lesser known elements from folklore.
Although not egregious (especially for the UF/procedural genre), there are some mild content warnings for drug use, body horror, and kidnapping of a minor child. There's also standard language and violence warnings. For fans of Hearne and Butcher, this fits in the same general area, and compares well with them. The author isn't quite as polished, and hasn't met a pun he can bear to edit out (see book's subtitle), but overall it's engaging, quite funny in places, and full of cultural references to food, language, and people from all over NYC. There are gender positive representations included in the book which the author manages not to club readers with.
Four stars. Enjoyable, funny, moderately diverting, and readable. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition. First book in a series, though no current publishing info for book 2 is easily obtainable; it would make a fine buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD is an urban fantasy police procedural comedy series starter by Keith R.A. DeCandido. Released 28th Oct 2025 by Blackstone, it's 390 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Tongue in cheek, with sarcasm and snark to spare, the author does a good turn with rapid dialogue, law enforcement banter and camaraderie alongside professional rivalry, and workplace humor (some quite gritty and off-color). The difference is that these cops are chasing vampires, werewolves, slime monsters, and some lesser known elements from folklore.
Although not egregious (especially for the UF/procedural genre), there are some mild content warnings for drug use, body horror, and kidnapping of a minor child. There's also standard language and violence warnings. For fans of Hearne and Butcher, this fits in the same general area, and compares well with them. The author isn't quite as polished, and hasn't met a pun he can bear to edit out (see book's subtitle), but overall it's engaging, quite funny in places, and full of cultural references to food, language, and people from all over NYC. There are gender positive representations included in the book which the author manages not to club readers with.
Four stars. Enjoyable, funny, moderately diverting, and readable. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition. First book in a series, though no current publishing info for book 2 is easily obtainable; it would make a fine buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 5, 2025
Everything about this was of interest to me. I think the problem I had with it was the quality of the manuscript I read. It was pre-edited, and the formatting was absent, i.e. no paragraph separation and no clear chapters. I’ve read lots of books of that nature, but the problem with this one was the mass array of characters, POVs and minimal world-building.
The majority of the book also spent more time going through the motions of the investigation. I’d compare it to a TV police procedural. Maybe a bit like Law & Order as a direct comparison with a bit more of the personal side for Kiernan, but the rest was just bits and pieces here and there. It really just centred more on what happened at the precinct.
Now, I did like the premise of “paranormal,” and I also liked the investigation they were following, but it almost played a secondary role. Maybe a bit more “high stakes.” I didn’t even feel that the situation with Bobby seemed dire. It just felt more like “this is what is happening, so what will our SCU do?” It was touch detached, I guess is what I’m trying to say.
I think I’d like to read a finished copy of the book, though. The version I had gave me a good example of it. I’d just like to see it shine. And can I just say that NY was the perfect setting for this because it’s not hard to believe that there are a bunch of paranormals running around that city LOL. Okay, just joking … maybe!
The majority of the book also spent more time going through the motions of the investigation. I’d compare it to a TV police procedural. Maybe a bit like Law & Order as a direct comparison with a bit more of the personal side for Kiernan, but the rest was just bits and pieces here and there. It really just centred more on what happened at the precinct.
Now, I did like the premise of “paranormal,” and I also liked the investigation they were following, but it almost played a secondary role. Maybe a bit more “high stakes.” I didn’t even feel that the situation with Bobby seemed dire. It just felt more like “this is what is happening, so what will our SCU do?” It was touch detached, I guess is what I’m trying to say.
I think I’d like to read a finished copy of the book, though. The version I had gave me a good example of it. I’d just like to see it shine. And can I just say that NY was the perfect setting for this because it’s not hard to believe that there are a bunch of paranormals running around that city LOL. Okay, just joking … maybe!
August 8, 2025
I enjoyed the setting—it's like CSI meets urban fantasy. Vampires, werewolves, and magic users (Gandalf) all living and working in New York City? That concept is just plain fun. A vampire running a nightclub and a Gandalf becomes a villain? I was immediately hooked by that world. And the urban fantasy part of this book is indeed very engaging.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the premise for me.
First, there are just too many characters introduced at once, and it’s easy to lose track. I had to make a list of the main members of the Supernatural Crimes Unit just to keep up. That helped, but it shouldn’t be necessary to enjoy the story.
Second, the pacing is quite slow. A lot of time is spent on day-to-day minutiae—Umali’s driving, Kiernan’s ordering pickup, casual office chatter. Some moments are charming, but it often feels like filler. I wanted more focus on the detective work, deeper world-building, or how magical beings live in NYC.
Finally, much of the story is told through dialogue—and while that can work well, here it felt a bit flat. The conversational tone didn’t always hold my interest. Personally, that style isn’t my favorite to read.
The idea behind the book is fantastic, and I still love the concept. I just wish the story had been tighter and more focused on what made the world so intriguing in the first place.
Thanks to netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the arc. This review is my honest opinion.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the premise for me.
First, there are just too many characters introduced at once, and it’s easy to lose track. I had to make a list of the main members of the Supernatural Crimes Unit just to keep up. That helped, but it shouldn’t be necessary to enjoy the story.
Second, the pacing is quite slow. A lot of time is spent on day-to-day minutiae—Umali’s driving, Kiernan’s ordering pickup, casual office chatter. Some moments are charming, but it often feels like filler. I wanted more focus on the detective work, deeper world-building, or how magical beings live in NYC.
Finally, much of the story is told through dialogue—and while that can work well, here it felt a bit flat. The conversational tone didn’t always hold my interest. Personally, that style isn’t my favorite to read.
The idea behind the book is fantastic, and I still love the concept. I just wish the story had been tighter and more focused on what made the world so intriguing in the first place.
Thanks to netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the arc. This review is my honest opinion.
October 27, 2025
I got this book based on the title alone. I think I went into it with some vague hopes that it might be like some other supernatural crime books I have read. However, I think the premise is good but the manuscript needs work. Maybe it will improve on publication.
The book opens with a flurry of activity and a whole bunch of character name dropping. I couldn't keep them straight and had to re-read a few times to figure out who was speaking or providing the action (I hate when I have to do that). I also think the author likes to reference a lot of obscure supernatural creatures and then doesn't explain them, so the context for the reader is completely lost. They mention that one of their detectives had to take early pension from being bitten by some kind of weird dog-like creature but WHY?! It is never mentioned. I have been exposed to kappa in other stories and they are nothing like the creatures described in this book.
There are many, many mundane details included in the lives of some of the characters, like when Kiernan is washing dishes and we get almost the play-by-play. You're not going to tell me what exactly a domovoy looks like but I get to learn how to wash dishes?
As I said, I think this book has good bones but it needs a lot more work before it could be great (and I think it could be with better editing).
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
The book opens with a flurry of activity and a whole bunch of character name dropping. I couldn't keep them straight and had to re-read a few times to figure out who was speaking or providing the action (I hate when I have to do that). I also think the author likes to reference a lot of obscure supernatural creatures and then doesn't explain them, so the context for the reader is completely lost. They mention that one of their detectives had to take early pension from being bitten by some kind of weird dog-like creature but WHY?! It is never mentioned. I have been exposed to kappa in other stories and they are nothing like the creatures described in this book.
There are many, many mundane details included in the lives of some of the characters, like when Kiernan is washing dishes and we get almost the play-by-play. You're not going to tell me what exactly a domovoy looks like but I get to learn how to wash dishes?
As I said, I think this book has good bones but it needs a lot more work before it could be great (and I think it could be with better editing).
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
November 20, 2025
Well this was a fun urban fantasy with supernatural creatures and action. I had a great time in this chaotic world where werewolves are getting arrested and other "helped" solve the case. My one critique would be there is a lot going on in this book and we could have focused on a few at a time in order to make the story a bit more clear and easy to follow.
If you enjoy crime procedural shows or books, this one will probably satisfy even with a bit of supernatural going on. The members of the Supernatural Crime Unit (SCU) are quirky and believable as a rag-tag team solving mysterious cases. Though the SCU are not housed with the rest of the NYPD, they have their own precinct and method of solving cases.
I am a big fan of urban fantasy, where the magic doesn't get too overwhelming and throw us into something that feels like a fantasy world. This feels more like a parallel world to ours where the supernatural lives along side the more mundane. The stakes get higher when there's a kidnapping and the victim is closely linked to the SCU.
I had a bit of a sense this could happen in a realm very similar to the Dresden Files, so I was hooked pretty quickly. It is very character heavy and there are a lot of people to remember so I would hope if the book gets a sequel, we can focus on fewer characters to keep the plot strong.
If you enjoy crime procedural shows or books, this one will probably satisfy even with a bit of supernatural going on. The members of the Supernatural Crime Unit (SCU) are quirky and believable as a rag-tag team solving mysterious cases. Though the SCU are not housed with the rest of the NYPD, they have their own precinct and method of solving cases.
I am a big fan of urban fantasy, where the magic doesn't get too overwhelming and throw us into something that feels like a fantasy world. This feels more like a parallel world to ours where the supernatural lives along side the more mundane. The stakes get higher when there's a kidnapping and the victim is closely linked to the SCU.
I had a bit of a sense this could happen in a realm very similar to the Dresden Files, so I was hooked pretty quickly. It is very character heavy and there are a lot of people to remember so I would hope if the book gets a sequel, we can focus on fewer characters to keep the plot strong.
May 26, 2025
The name of this book, I must admit, was the reason I requested it. I love supernatural mysteries/urban fantasy/whatever you want to call it, and this seemed it would be that perfect fit. After reading, I can say that it really is, up to a point. We are introduced to a few police officers who work for the SCU, or as some call it, the Monster Squad. We watch as they solve a couple of crimes, with the main one being a Gandalf, magic user, who wants to bring chaos to the town. While this did have a mystery to it, it’s more about observing, understanding, and learning about the members of this unit and how they operate in that unit. There is a lot of detail about the characters and less about the hunt, which isn’t my favorite aspects, but I did enjoy this book even if it didn’t exactly hit the sweet spot for me. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
November 9, 2025
This book was so genuinely entertaining! The writing reminded me a bit of Harry Turtledove, specifically Twice As Dead. Both have a bit of the Nightside series and a bit of the Dresden Files series in them. And I’m not surprised seeing as how it’s a Weird Tales production. They always put awesome stuff out. I loved all of the characters and the story was entertaining from the get go. This isn’t the type of book that gives some deep message on the state of current affairs, or politics, or some grand lesson to be learned. It’s simply a great time, and man have I needed it lately! I am really hoping this gets turned into a series! So Black Stone and Weird Tales, if you’re reading this, please make this a series, I’m begging you!
Huge thanks to Blackstone Publishing | Weird Tales Presents and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Huge thanks to Blackstone Publishing | Weird Tales Presents and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
November 10, 2025
DNF@ 27%.
The premise was awesome but the execution left a lot to be desired. Despite an exciting opening where members of the SCU take down a shapeshifter, there was a lot of mundane day to day...paperwork. Driving to interview a witness. Picking up takeout. Talking about the fiancée or the ex. I fully expect the guy who won't shut up about his upcoming wedding to die but honestly I can't even remember his name.
My other issue was there were way too many characters to keep track of. It felt like every chapter introduced a new character and I had no feel for the characters I'd already met. Add to that the supernatural crime part is all but non-existent, and I'm bowing out.
Recommended for fans of detailed police procedurals and maybe X-Files.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
The premise was awesome but the execution left a lot to be desired. Despite an exciting opening where members of the SCU take down a shapeshifter, there was a lot of mundane day to day...paperwork. Driving to interview a witness. Picking up takeout. Talking about the fiancée or the ex. I fully expect the guy who won't shut up about his upcoming wedding to die but honestly I can't even remember his name.
My other issue was there were way too many characters to keep track of. It felt like every chapter introduced a new character and I had no feel for the characters I'd already met. Add to that the supernatural crime part is all but non-existent, and I'm bowing out.
Recommended for fans of detailed police procedurals and maybe X-Files.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
January 3, 2026
My requirement for fantasy crime is that the fantasy element is fundamental to the crime itself. This just about covers that base. However, the vast majority of this book leans heavily into the police procedural aspect, and in particular in character relationships. At times, the magic feels inconsequential, even if technically my criteria is met.
So, once I'd got used to the idea that this book had limited magic, and I was reading a New York crime procedural first and second, I accepted it for what it was. I suppose it is a credit to the author that he is not repeating the bit of his Precinct stories with their high fantasy. Perhaps my expectations were wrong. I have never been to New York, so the almost all the direct location references went over my head.
The real meat of this book was the banter between the characters.
So, once I'd got used to the idea that this book had limited magic, and I was reading a New York crime procedural first and second, I accepted it for what it was. I suppose it is a credit to the author that he is not repeating the bit of his Precinct stories with their high fantasy. Perhaps my expectations were wrong. I have never been to New York, so the almost all the direct location references went over my head.
The real meat of this book was the banter between the characters.
May 25, 2025
Set in modern day New York, in a world recently aware of the existence of the supernatural, SCU: The Thin Blue Ley-Line perfectly combines the modern world we know with the kind of fantastical creatures and beings we can only imagine. I absolutely loved reading about Detective Domenica Kiernan and the other members of the Supernatural Crimes Unit as they navigated all the complexities, legal and otherwise, of a world still coming to terms with the fact that creatures of myth and legend are all too real. I was very impressed by the diversity of the magical beings included, and the world building was so detailed that it was impossible not to be drawn into the story. I can see myself rereading this book many times as it has instantly become a favorite.
November 30, 2025
This was an overall decently fun read. It was a little confusing at first, with all the different pov’s, but after a while, you do get a hang of the characters. The contestant switching of pov’s DID feel very “cop show” which was also entertaining.
I liked the aspect of the supernatural unit not being taken seriously by the other precincts, until they experienced a supernatural situation. And then it was like their eyes were opened.
I do wish it was a little more closed at the end. It felt a little too open ended for me and I kept wondering how all of the different story lines could finish in the few pages we had left.
There was quite a bit of mundane activities that I did feel could’ve been spent pushing the story more instead.
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!
I liked the aspect of the supernatural unit not being taken seriously by the other precincts, until they experienced a supernatural situation. And then it was like their eyes were opened.
I do wish it was a little more closed at the end. It felt a little too open ended for me and I kept wondering how all of the different story lines could finish in the few pages we had left.
There was quite a bit of mundane activities that I did feel could’ve been spent pushing the story more instead.
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!
October 23, 2025
Received as an arc from Netgalley:
This was an extremely entertaining book that really managed to meld a more realistic perspective of how policing worked with a supernatural overlay. The grounded nature of the characters, made the fantastical elements work.
Whilst my own views on real world policing are not positive, it has always made a compelling narrative framework, and this novel does manage to address many of the structural issues of policing albeit it not indepth.
Compelling characters and rich in detail made this a really worthwhile read. If you're looking for a Law & Order type story with a healthy dash of folklore this was a great time, and is a definite recommend.
This was an extremely entertaining book that really managed to meld a more realistic perspective of how policing worked with a supernatural overlay. The grounded nature of the characters, made the fantastical elements work.
Whilst my own views on real world policing are not positive, it has always made a compelling narrative framework, and this novel does manage to address many of the structural issues of policing albeit it not indepth.
Compelling characters and rich in detail made this a really worthwhile read. If you're looking for a Law & Order type story with a healthy dash of folklore this was a great time, and is a definite recommend.
October 30, 2025
Keith DeCandido imagines a New York City of today but with werewolves, vampires, naiads, and the like who have recently come out of the shadows. So of course, a unit would be created to investigate the crimes caused by such folks. Now add in a high-level human magic user who has decided he needs to be even more recognized than he already is. But his plans have run afoul of the SCU and what he pulls to thwart them just manages to make them focus more intently. So who will win? Well read and find out in this quick reading magic police procedural!
Thanks Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing | Weird Tales Presents for the chance to read this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing | Weird Tales Presents for the chance to read this title!
September 6, 2025
I loved the premise of this book. The idea of supernatural creatures living amongst everyone else in NYC and then following along with the police specialists who deal with their bad behavior. It almost gave Men in Black vibes. The problem I had was the multi POVs and many many characters. I wanted to dive in with one or two people, instead I felt like I needed a character map. That's a personal preference. The story was very procedural and very layered. We'll, written, but challenging to follow.
Thank you Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing for this eARC.
Thank you Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing for this eARC.
October 27, 2025
Have you ever wondered what Law & Order would look like in an Urban Fantasy? Well, wonder no more.
Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD tells the story of the first police unit to investigate crimes featuring monsters and magic.
Told under the pen of DeCandido, this book was enough parts fun and enough parts humor. He’s a deft hand at good dialogue. The banter and camaraderie between the characters felt real.
If there was one downside to this book, it’s the number of characters to keep track of.
I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next book in this series.
Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD tells the story of the first police unit to investigate crimes featuring monsters and magic.
Told under the pen of DeCandido, this book was enough parts fun and enough parts humor. He’s a deft hand at good dialogue. The banter and camaraderie between the characters felt real.
If there was one downside to this book, it’s the number of characters to keep track of.
I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next book in this series.
November 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. Ok, so at first I didn't know where this was going, and I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the story, but the story picked up and things started to get truly interesting and then I couldn't put it down. Overall I liked this book. The world building was good and the characters were interesting and I appreciated the accuracy of the policing. 3.5 stars.
January 1, 2026
The title is cute, but that's the best part of the book. The characters are all clichéd stereotypes, the plot a straightforward police procedural. The supernatural elements are incidental and used mostly as a literary device to make a few dumb jokes, but otherwise adds very little to the story. I guess I was hoping for a NYC-based Dresden Files without all the baggage that series carries, but it's missing the depth.
October 2, 2025
If you took Law & Order and made the SVU into SCU (Supernatural Crimes Unit) you would get an idea of the cast of the monster squad. A good many of the NYPD don’t believe the monsters exist and so are of little to no help. Dealing with the bureaucracy is almost as hard as dealing with the “monsters”. This is a police procedural with monsters and a mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed.
November 19, 2025
I can’t fault the author for the steadier income of tie in novels but they aren’t for me. Every time I read one of his originals I’ve loved them. I’ve got to go back and reread the Dragon Precinct books, happily I own them all. This was a solid urban fantasy though a fairly light adventure. I’d read another!
December 14, 2025
Monsters. Vampires and supernatural creatures meets SVU. This book was a breath of fresh air I enjoyed this the banter, the comradery among the characters. I will be reading the other books by this Author. I recommend this to fans of police investigation stories and if your into the supernatural Thank you to Keith R A DeCandido for this Reader copy for review all opinions are my own.
December 15, 2025
12/15/2025 V good mash-up of genres, tho I hope we find out what happened with the taotie in the next book, assuming there is one! Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
January 6, 2026
Good stuff for anyone who likes cop shows and/or "Stranger Things" type monster fests. The banter is a particular highlight. I do wish there had been a few more monsters (by whatever less pejorative general term)--maybe in future episodes?
Want to read
October 28, 2025[led here by Whatever blog]
November 14, 2025
Very good book
This was a fun read the characters were well written and easy to visualize. Great blend of real police and fantasy. Can't wait for book two.
This was a fun read the characters were well written and easy to visualize. Great blend of real police and fantasy. Can't wait for book two.
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