The Mystery Review Crew Book Review Submission Guidelines

The Mystery Review Crew’s (MRC) mission is to support authors and publishers by providing a platform that connects them with an avid community of reader enthusiasts.

The MRC team, comprised of passionate book enthusiasts, avid readers, and skilled reviewers, is committed to providing insightful, unbiased, and engaging reviews of mystery novels.

While the MRC remains devoted to the traditional definition of the mystery genre, the scope of the MRC mission utilizes a broader meaning to include any novel containing an element of mystery. The MRC describes “mystery” as defined by Merriam-Webster: “something not understood or beyond understanding.”

The Mystery Review Crew Book Review Request Policies

Our Core Values:

Core Values:

  1. Integrity: The MRC upholds the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of the MRC activities and interactions with authors, publishers, and readers. The MRC reviews are unbiased, honest, and transparent, reflecting the genuine opinions of the MRC team of reviewers.
  2. Supporting Authors and Publishers: The MRC believes in championing both established and emerging authors and publishers by offering a platform that elevates their work and facilitates meaningful connections with readers.
  3. Engaging Community: The MRC strives to build a vibrant and inclusive community of mystery enthusiasts where readers can connect, discuss, and share their love for mysteries.
  4. Excellence in Reviews: The MRC team is committed to delivering high-quality, well-crafted reviews, providing readers with comprehensive insights into each book’s merits and literary elements.
  5. Professionalism: The MRC conducts itself with professionalism and courtesy, both in the MRC interactions with authors, publishers, and readers and in the delivery of the MRC services.

With these core values and the Mystery Review Crew’s mission, we are dedicated to uplifting book lovers seeking captivating reads and supporting the incredible talent within the writing community.

Editorial Review Policy:

  1. Eligibility: The MRC accepts novels across all genres, including but not limited to traditional mystery, thriller, cozy mystery, detective fiction, suspense, fantasy, Ya, middle grade, etc. If there is an element of mystery, the MRC will consider it. All authors and publishers are welcome to submit their books for review. All content is subject to MRC Approval.
  2. Submission Guidelines: Books may be submitted by using the form below or by emailing [email protected]. Please include the book’s title, author’s name, the manuscript (EPUB or PDF), publication date, and any additional relevant information.
  3. Review Notification: If the MRC has accepted the book for review, the Publisher or Author will be notified via email, and an invoice will be sent through PayPal.
  4. Review Timeline: The MRC strives to complete reviews in a timely manner. However, due to the volume of submissions, the review process may take up to 2 months from the date of acceptance. Once completed, the review will be sent to the author/publisher. The review can be used in promotions, with the Mystery Review Crew credited as the source.
  5. Review Content: Our reviews are professionally written and aim to offer valuable insights to our readers. Each review includes a summary of the plot, characters, and overall impressions. All reviews are unbiased and reflect the honest opinion of the reviewer.
    • We adhere to the Goodreads rating scale: 1 star = “did not like it”, 2 stars = “it was ok”, 3 stars =”liked it”, 4 stars =”really liked it”, and 5 stars = “it was amazing”.
  6. Recommended: The MRC team will provide a recommendation if warranted.
    • An MRC Recommendation is given to top-shelf, well-written books we believe our readers will enthusiastically enjoy.
  7. Promotional Features: For books earning the Mystery Review Crew’s Recommended seal of approval, the MRC offers optional promotional features to boost visibility and reach a broader audience.

MRC FEES:

Standard Editorial Review: $40 – The review or excerpts may be used by the author/publisher with credit to MRC. The full review will be posted to the MRC website, and a review summary will be posted to Goodreads, BookBub, and, if applicable, Barnes and Noble.

Books Receiving a 4 or 5 Star rating will be awarded the Mystery Review Crew’s Seal of Excellence.

With an MRC Recommendation, the following are additional promotion packages:

  1. Website Banner: A month-long custom-designed banner on the home page of the MRC website.
  2. Book Blitz: A one-day blitz with a custom-designed graphic shared across the MRC social media (shared on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin).
  3. Facebook/Instagram AD: Daily ad price TBD 

Contact the MRC if you are interested in additional promotional options.

The MRC’s Current Social Stats For Reference as of 8/2/2024:

Submission of Reviews to Publishers: Upon the author’s request, the MRC can provide the review directly to the publisher or literary agents for promotional purposes.

Important Note: The MRC team prioritizes the quality of MRC reviews and the promotion of exceptional novels. While we endeavor to review all submissions, the MRC may decline books that do not align with our mission statement or contain offensive or inappropriate content.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected].