Review Submission Guidelines

Mystery Scene receives hundreds of books for review each issue. Please read through the following information to help ensure your title's best chance for review.

What we review
We review mystery, noir, cozy, thriller, suspense, PI, espionage, children's and YA fiction, and mystery reference titles (including biographies and how-to books) in book, audiobook, and graphic novel formats. We also review films and TV shows.

We do not review

  - Fantasy / Science Fiction / Horror
  - Already published books
  - Self-published books
  - E-books

Submitting Materials

Mystery Scene's policy is to only accept titles directly from publishers. Almost every major publisher already submits to Mystery Scene. Authors please check with your publicist—not with us—to make sure your book has been submitted. Small Press books should be submitted directly to Mystery Scene's Small Press columnist. Publicists/ editors may contact Kate Stine for the mailing address.

Please send review galleys of titles at least 3 months prior to the publication date. In instances where no advance copy is available, please send the finished book as soon as possible. Submissions are first assessed by editors and selected titles are sent out to the appropriate reviewers. This process takes some time so the more in advance, the better.

Please include the following information:

  - Publication date
  - ISBN
  - Price
  - Any additional information about the author

Review copies may mailed to:

   Mystery Scene
   331 West 57th Street
   Suite 148
   New York, NY 10019-3101

   Again, Small Presses should contact Kate Stine for submission information.

Editorial Calendar:

- Winter Issue  (publishes mid-February)
- Spring Issue  (mid-April)
- Summer Issue  (mid-June)
- Fall Issue  (mid-September)
- Holiday Issue  (mid-November)