Cozy Mystery Beta Reading Service

Get Honest, Affordable, and Constructive Feedback for Your Cozy Mystery Book or First Chapter

What Is a Beta Reader?

A beta reader is a person who reads a manuscript and provides feedback to the author (and only the author) before the manuscript is published. Beta readers offer feedback from a reader's perspective. They provide helpful comments and direction, but do not fix or revise your work for you.

What Is a Cozy Mystery Beta Reader?

A cozy mystery beta reader is a beta reader who specializes in reading and critiquing cozy mysteries. A cozy mystery is a traditional mystery with an amateur sleuth, a charming setting, limited forensic descriptions, and little to no violence or profanity.

Why Hire a Professional Cozy Mystery Beta Reader?

A professional cozy mystery beta reader can give you the well-rounded, constructive feedback you need to make your book as good as it can be before it hits the shelves. Someone who specializes in cozy mysteries understands what readers typically expect. They can point out the positive elements in a story and help you identify characters, tropes, and plot points that are out of place or unbelievable. When you know what is and isn't working in your story, you can confidently progress to the next step of your publishing journey.

Why Hire Me?

My name is Anna. I own and operate Cozy Crime Reads. I am a genuine fan of the cozy mystery genre and fall within the typical cozy mystery reader demographic (female, 45+ years old).

I have read hundreds of cozy mystery books and can bring you the reader perspective you need to determine how the average cozy mystery reader will receive your story. My cozy genre knowledge is supported by general storytelling knowledge gained from years of independent study and more formal classes through organizations like Writer's Digest, Sisters in Crime, and Study.com.

In addition to being an avid reader, I am a professional editor and writer. I have worked in a senior editing position in the education field for more than twenty years. My primary responsibility is assessing content and providing feedback on accuracy, clarity, engagement, and stickiness (writing that sticks with you). I understand how to analyze a piece of writing, drill down on what works and what doesn't, and provide clear, helpful feedback that can be turned into actionable steps to improve it.

In the last 20+ years, I have also written books, articles, content guides, user manuals, newsletters, query letters, resumes, and everything in between. I know that writing isn't easy and that showing your work to others can be challenging. I will always treat you and your book with respect.

Above all, I am a professional who cares about the people I work with and their creative endeavors. I am committed to doing a good job on every project I touch.

Cozy Mystery Beta Reading Services and Cost

 Full Manuscript Beta Read

Cost: $.002 per word (example: a beta read for a 50,000-word manuscript would cost $100)

I will beta read your manuscript from beginning to end and provide detailed feedback on the story as a whole. In addition to providing an overall impression, I will:

  • Explain what I liked best about the book.

  • Comment on the tropes, characters, and aspects that stood out to me as I read.

  • Identify which characters interested me most and which (if any) could be fleshed out more.

  • Comment on the cozy elements of the book (hook, tone, setting, etc.).

  • Tell you whether or not I was able to solve the mystery and when I solved it.

  • Identify the clues that helped me solve the mystery and the red herrings that threw me off track.

  • Analyze the pacing and note where the story grabbed me and made me feel excited to read on.

  • Identify points that made me lose interest or feel less excited about what would happen next.

  • Identify anything that seemed confusing from a reader's perspective.

  • Explain whether or not I found the ending satisfying and why/why not.

  • I can also provide feedback on the title, series name, or back matter (such as recipes) if needed.

First Chapter Beta Read

Cost: $25

I will beta read your first chapter (up to 5,000 words) and give you feedback on the beginning of your story. The feedback will include overall impressions and specific comments about the hook, setting, characters, pacing, tone, and world building. I'll also let you know which parts got my attention and stimulated my curiosity so you can determine if you're starting your book in the right place.

How Long Does a Beta Read Take?

Right now, most projects have a turnaround time of two weeks. This gives me time to read the manuscript (more than once if necessary), reflect on it for a while, and type up detailed written feedback. If I think it will take me longer than two weeks, I will let you know before you book the project.

Is Your Manuscript Ready for a Beta Read?

Most people hire beta readers when they have a complete manuscript. However, some people like to get started earlier than that to see if they are on the right track with a first draft or early chapters. In any case, you should proofread your work and correct major spelling and grammar errors before sending the manuscript out to a beta reader. This will help to eliminate distractions and make the reading experience more enjoyable.

Your book must be submitted to me in Microsoft Word, PDF, or EPUB format. PDF and EPUB files can be generated with free tools. I can recommend free tools for this if you need assistance.

How to Get Started

If you are interested in learning more about beta reading services or if you are ready to get started with a beta read, please fill out the form below to tell me a little bit about your book and when you want your project to start.

I will answer your questions or send you information about the next steps. The next steps will include booking a project start date, paying for your booking, and completing a service agreement that details the services being performed, the project cost, and the completion timeline.

All beta reading services must be paid for before I read the book or provide written feedback. When I have a word count for your manuscript, I will send you an invoice via email, which you can pay. Payments are processed by Venmo or by SquareSpace through the Cozy Crime Reads website. Accepted payment methods include:

  • Venmo

  • Visa

  • Mastercard

  • AMEX

  • Discover

  • Apple Pay

  • Afterpay/Clearpay

  • Klarna

  • PayPal

Any content you submit to me will be kept confidential. I will not share your manuscript with anyone or comment on it publicly. You are the only one who will see my feedback. If you want me to review the book after it is published, I can do so, but my review will be for the published version, not the version I read as a beta reader. I do not charge a fee to review published cozy mysteries.