Critique Partner Swap – Seeking Mystery, Thriller, and Crime Manuscripts

[Lara]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a critique partner swap! My manuscript is 88k words. It’s already been through a few rounds of edits and reviewed by fantastic beta readers. I’d love to exchange with someone working on a similar length manuscript that’s been edited to a similar extent and falls into the crime/thriller /mystery genre

My book leans towards the darker side of cosy crime, dealing with themes of abuse, betrayal, and secrets. Here’s part of my query letter:

THE SECRETS OF PELROSE GREENE is a mystery in the vein of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club and Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Set in the picturesque Cornish village of Pelrose Greene—where the biggest scandals usually involve feuding neighbours and overgrown hedges—a sudden death shatters the peace, bringing long-buried secrets to light. Secrets that some would kill to keep hidden.

Pamela Fowler has spent years dreaming of life without her abusive husband. But when he turns up dead, her quiet plans unravel. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen—she only wanted her daughter back, but that won’t happen if she ends up in prison.

Detective Thomas Martin has been avoiding Pelrose Greene for years after an incident during his last year of school. But when he’s pulled back into the web of village gossip and judgement, he soon realises that the sleepy village isn’t what it appears—especially when another body turns up. As the case tightens, Thomas is no longer sure who he can trust… not even his own family.

If you’re interested, sget in touch! Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best,
Lara

[Christopher]

Lara;

I'm Chris. I too have a "mystery" that's more noir than cozy, yes there is some sex.

Shattered Family is a 87k Afghan Desert Mystery. In a remote, snow-capped region, the U.S. Military's Coalition Forces seek to establish visibility and control over a crucial mountain pass that runs through the village of Daraz Gerd. However, upon their first attempt to engage with the villagers, they are met with hostility, fueled by the local populace's dissatisfaction with their Mayor. Realizing that traditional approaches to gaining trust are inadequate, the unit requests Lieutenant Samantha Waters, a female linguist, to bridge the cultural divide and foster communication, particularly with the village's women.

Lieutenant Water's begins making connections to women, learning their networks, their power players, and revealing why the Mayor is so hated by his people.

If you're interested in a swap, let's continue this discussion via email, you can email me at mrgreybeard77@gmail.com

Hope to hear back from you!

~Chris

[Jasmine]

Hi Lara,

I came across your post and wanted to check if you’re still looking to trade manuscripts. I’m working on a psychological thriller titled Justification, and I think our books share a lot of similarities that could make us valuable critique partners.

Like your story, Justification explores dark secrets, unresolved disappearances (in a way, with the attacker resurfacing), and morally complex characters. My book follows Averi, a sexual assault survivor seeking justice when the legal system fails her. After encountering one of her attackers in a new town, she’s drawn into a dangerous revenge plot alongside Emily—a sharp, fearless woman with her own demons. But when Emily ends up dead, Averi is left questioning everything—because if she didn’t kill Emily, who did?

Both of our manuscripts delve into crime, hidden truths, and protagonists with personal stakes in their investigations. Your character in THE SECRETS OF PELROSE GREENE, dealing with the dark side of a cosy crime setting and themes of abuse and betrayal, seems to mirror the intense emotional and moral landscape I'm exploring in Justification. I think we could offer each other valuable feedback on building tension, maintaining suspense, and crafting psychologically complex characters with secrets.

If you’re still interested, I’d love to exchange chapters or full manuscripts and share insights. Let me know if you’re open to it!

Looking forward to connecting,
Jasmine

jasmineflowers484@gmail.com

[Tim]

Hi Lara,
Don't know if you're still looking for a critique partner. I'm planning to publish my debut mystery novel this fall. It's set in the Hunt Country of Northern Virginia. The protagonist is a wise-cracking humor columnist who joins with a mysterious British Viscount and a beautiful equestrienne to solve the murder of a young competitive rider.

Let me know if you would like to swap and good luck with your book

Tim Karney
tim@timkarney.com

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