Group 401. Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense -- Now Forming > Likes and Comments
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I have finished my reading requirements for group 396. I am going to join with:
Book: The Waylaid Count
Goodreads author link: Jennifer Reinoehl
I've removed myself from the In This World round, due to my existing review conflicts, and this category better fits my book anyway. :)Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Author profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
I've reviewed Jennifer before. Form is filled out. Thanks.
Can I join with Seven Serpents Assembled? I have no conflicts with Jennifer and I have reviewed Gene, but I think he has several books I have not yet read. Thanks!https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H...?
I filled out the form on the website with my email and my books are on KU. Let me know if you need anything else. I do not use AI writing in any of my work.
Gene wrote: "I've removed myself from the In This World round, due to my existing review conflicts, and this category better fits my book anyway. :)Book:Gutbuster"
Since that book was written in 2025, it passed my preliminary check for AI-generated text. Welcome, Gene. I've added you to the list.
Seth wrote: "Can I join with Seven Serpents Assembled? I have no conflicts with Jennifer and I have reviewed Gene, but I think he has several books I have not yet read. Thanks!Seven Serpents Assembled: An Epic Weird Western Grimdark Fantasy Book"
Since your book was written in 2026, it also passed my preliminary check for AI-generated text. Welcome, Seth! I've added you to the list.
Hi Jennifer,I've filled out the form on your website (linked above). I'd love to join with Four Nights in France if it's possible.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Regards,
Luke
Luke wrote: "Hi Jennifer,I've filled out the form on your website (linked above). I'd love to join with Four Nights in France if it's possible.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2......"
Hey, Luke. As soon as that last review comes up on Amazon and Loralee releases you from that group, let me know here, and I will add you if I can, then.
Hi Jennifer, I hope all is well. I would like to join with my newest mystery-horror novella: The Rage of the Skinwalker. It is available in Paperback and on pre-order on Kindle. I would send the PDF or ePub versions to the reviewers. Please see the links below. I have read you, Gene, and Seth before, but not the books you are putting forth in this round. Where is the form to sign up? Can you please send me the link? Please advise and take care.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HF6QT9K6/ref
David wrote: "Hi Jennifer, I hope all is well. I would like to join with my newest mystery-horror novella: The Rage of the Skinwalker. It is available in Paperback and on pre-order on Kindle. I would send the PD..."Sorry, David, I thought I posted this yesterday:
https://writetodreamreality.com/conta...
I use the contact form on my website because it's easier for me. Just enter your name and e-mail and put something about Group 401 in the comments section, please.
Jennifer, I filled out your form, complete with the PDF of my book to check it, as it was published in 2025. I hope I submitted it right. It's a children's story, but it does have a bit of a mystery in it. (If it isn't mystery enough, no worries!) Even if it is, I may not fit with the people signed up so far. I have reviewed you and Seth. Gene, Luke, and David have reviewed me. In any case, would you check it for AI?
Oh, and while I am still moderating Group 399, I have finished all four of my reviews.
Here are my links: Author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Hi Jennifer. I just sent in the form. Please advise and take care.
David wrote: "Hi Jennifer. I just sent in the form. Please advise and take care." Book: Case Files from the Nightfall Detective Agency: Rage of the Skinwalker: A Mystery Horror Fiction NovellaSince your book is being released in 2026, it passed my preliminary check for AI-generated text. Welcome, David! I've added you to the list.
Hi Jennifer,Amazon has finally published my last review, and the GR/AZ review links are up, so hopefully all is good.
That should do my participation in group 399, and I'd love to participate if it's OK.
Kind regards,
Luke
Loralee wrote: "Jennifer, I filled out your form, complete with the PDF of my book to check it, as it was published in 2025. I hope I submitted it right. It's a children's story, but it does have a bit of a myster..."I am unable to fit you in this group, Loralee. As per your request, I reviewed Felicity and the Raccoons for AI-generated work. Since you are specifically asking for this as a moderator, I am including a detailed breakdown of my process and the results I got for each step:
Initial sample read-through results: The text was precise without any AI-vagueness. There was no improper use of antithesis or mismatched metaphors. Although the questions the birds ask the human are answered incoherently by the human (a marker of AI writing), this was explained as being because the human did not understand the birds—since AI believes it has generated coherent answers, it would not have explained the disjunction. There was no fluff that babbles on about nothing. Paragraphs are properly used and do not devolve into single sentences-even toward the end of the book. There was no repetition in the sample I read. Unique to this book: AI would never generate a math story problem like the one created in the first chapter because although it can easily deal with decimals, it tends to prefer whole numbers when creating problems without specific prompting to use decimals. I tested this twice by having Google’s AI generate a similar problem, and even when I specifically gave it a decimal, it struggled to think outside the box. Also, the description of viewing a sign in Jefferson, Maryland at sunset as they drove into town was detailed and read like you had actually seen something similar. Since AI can’t see and struggles to convert images into descriptions and vice versa, I am 100% confident this was human-generated.
AI-frequency word use results: (This is an objective test I decided I would do in addition to the other tests to help objectively confirm/ deny without the help of AI. Of the ten words I check that are on a list of words frequently used by AI, if half of them are used more than once every ten pages, I consider it likely it is AI-generated. The same ten words are used on each manuscript I check. This test is based on averages, so I check the entire book.) 0 words out of 10 were frequently used in Felicity and the Raccoons.
Pangram AI-checker results: 100% Human-generated
Copyleaks AI-checker results: 0% AI-generated
And yes, everyone else who has been added to the list as of this post has gone through all the above checks. I take all four parts of the test as a whole, so even if I suspected one of you had AI-generated writing (and I so far have not suspected this for the people on the list as of this post or for Loralee), you would have to fail at least two of the other checks before I would consider greylisting/blacklisting. It’s just much easier and less time-consuming to say you have passed my preliminary AI check than type all this out. 😊
Jennifer, I appreciate you doing that, even though I could not fit. Everyone reading this thread, please note (from Jennifer’s thorough search of my book’s PDF and her detailed explanations) that we mods are and have been as bound by the rules of this group as everyone else.
Jennifer Reinoehl I don't want to participate in this round (and I probably won't do it again in the future), but I'm really curious about this AI thing. Could I send you a novella I wrote for you to analyze? 😂🤣
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for the invite. I'd like to join with my novel Stench: The Axe in The Head Murder. A story of police corruption and murder in eighties London.
Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Author profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
I have no conflicts with anyone else in the group.
Thank you.
Bill wrote: "Jennifer Reinoehl I don't want to participate in this round (and I probably won't do it again in the future), but I'm really curious about this AI thing. Could I send you a novella..."I am not going to make a habit of this because I have my own writing, volunteering, five kids, and a busy life, but I will make one exception for you. Contact me through my website with your e-mail, I will send you mine, and then you can send your novella, and I will do a breakdown for you.
G.M. wrote: "Hi Jennifer, Thanks for the invite. I'd like to join with my novel Stench: The Axe in The Head Murder. A story of police corruption and murder in eighties London.
Book: https://www.goodreads.com..."
Since your book is being released in 2026, it passed my preliminary check for AI-generated text. Welcome, G.M.! I've added you to the list.
Jennifer wrote: "Bill wrote: "Jennifer Reinoehl I don't want to participate in this round (and I probably won't do it again in the future), but I'm really curious about this AI thing. Could I send ..."👍
Luke wrote: "Hi Jennifer,Amazon has finally published my last review, and the GR/AZ review links are up, so hopefully all is good.
Four Nights in France: An Historical Espionage Thriller."
Since your book was written in 2026, it also passed my preliminary check for AI-generated text. Welcome, Luke! I've added you to the list.
Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2......"
The review group is the most successful group for peer reviews on Goodreads. It hosts non-reciprocal reading/review rounds of ten authors with a variety of themes and genres, as well as ‘general’ rounds where any book is permitted, from non-fiction to horror. When a round has ‘now forming’ in the title, there are places available; you can sign up. If it doesn’t, it’s full – look for another round or check back another time.
The Amazon rules state that authors/publishers are not allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on Amazon. To comply with this rule, we don’t insist members review on Amazon, but we do insist that every participant in the round has the capacity to leave a review on their local Amazon store, so we all start with the same options.
The founding principle of the group is honest, non-reciprocal reviews, so please help maintain the integrity of the group by letting me know, as soon as you sign up, if you have been reviewed by or have reviewed another author in the group. Do check back as the group fills to report any clashes that might be missed. Usually, spots in the group are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Communication & Contact Details
As Goodreads has disabled private messaging, participation in this round requires providing a contact email address through my website contact form, mentioning "Review Group 401," and allowing me to review books published after 2023 for AI prior to me adding you to the list: https://writetodreamreality.com/conta.... This email will be used to resolve round-related issues and, only where necessary, may be shared with other participants solely for the purpose of exchanging review copies. Email addresses must not be used for marketing or shared more widely by round participants. The form with all collected email addresses will be deleted once the round has closed. If you are not comfortable with this, please do not sign up for the round.
Any participant who knowingly uses the email addresses for marketing or who is caught selling them will be blacklisted from the group.
If you wish to join but you’re uncomfortable with sharing email addresses, you’re encouraged to establish a new free Gmail or Yahoo account for you to use exclusively for Review Group. Please refer to the links below to do this:
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This is a 'Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense' round
Fiction and non-fiction, “in this world” or “out of this world” books are eligible. Cozy mysteries, true crime, and thrillers set in reality are of course welcome. Additionally, if the story conforms to the conventions of 'Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense', it can fit here. For example, a detective story set in a dystopian future could qualify.
Please note: It is always possible that the books you are assigned may contain material you find upsetting or offensive. If you can't commit to this, please do not sign up.
Now for the boring stuff, but please read it, it saves a lot of time if everyone is on the same wavelength.
Before signing up below with your Goodreads author and Goodreads book link in the thread below, please ensure that:
1. You have enough time to read and review 4 books within the 12 weeks allowed.
2. Your book is currently available for sale on Amazon (not pre-order), and it complies with the individual round theme, if there is one.
3. Your book is written in English, or you can provide an English translation, and it is fit to be reviewed.
If it is not fit to be reviewed, due to editing or other issues, you risk poor reviews. This is your responsibility, and not that of the reviewers or the moderators. The number one error new authors make is not having their book beta-read and edited by non-family members.
4. You can submit reviews to Goodreads and Amazon.
Amazon allows only those people who have spent $50 in the last year to leave reviews in each of their stores. If you are unsure about your Amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up. If you are unable to post reviews on Amazon, please do not sign up.
5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files.
You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review, but as this will give a ‘Verified Purchase’ review on Amazon, it is welcomed when you choose to do so. Many authors have books available via KU. Other authors might provide Smashwords coupons. Most authors can provide mobi, kpf, and/or epub files directly by email. Please note: International copyright laws apply. You cannot sell or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.
6. You have completed your reading and been released by the moderator if you are currently in another review round in this group. You can be involved in the ‘one for one’ list while you are in a round.
7. You have claimed your Goodreads' author profile before you join.
8. You agree to provide a contact email address.
This is now required in order to participate in a round and replaces the previous requirement for Goodreads private messaging. As stated above, emails you receive for other participants must not be sold or used for marketing purposes.
9. You declare any relationship you have with another member in the round.
Amazon will not allow reviews from the same household for the same book. They also do not allow reviews if you are an editor, relative, or close friend of another member.
10. You agree to finish the books assigned to you before leaving a review, that your reviews will be unbiased and honest, whatever the star rating, and that you will try to avoid ‘spoilers’ (i.e. giving away the finale of a book).
Please note the Review Group will back any reviewer's right to express their opinion about a book, but personal comments about a fellow author in reviews and forum posts are against both Review Group and Goodreads' policy. If you DNF (DO NOT FINISH) an assigned book, you run the risk of not being allowed into review rounds in the future.
11. You will not ask a fellow author to change a review of your book because you don’t agree with it.
Complaining about reviews publicly is unprofessional. If you think you have a legitimate concern that violates our policies, email the moderator of your round, NOT the other author. Personal attacks or pressuring other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.
12. You declare all Goodreads accounts when signing up for rounds, including all pen names and additional user accounts, so that these can be checked by moderators and other group members to ensure that there are no review conflicts.
13. Books that include AI-generated writing are not permitted. Reviews may not be written by AI.
For books first published after 2023, authors may need to provide the moderator with a PDF of their books if they are unavailable through KU. The moderator will contact you by e-mail if this is necessary. Moderators may use AI-detection tools alongside their own assessment when reviewing submissions. If a submission raises concerns, it will be discussed by the moderation team before any action is taken.
Where the moderation team concludes that a book contains AI-generated writing, books may be declined and blacklisted. Repeated submission of books containing AI-generated writing may result in removal from the group.
Please note:
We all want reviews; it’s why we joined the group. It is bad taste to expect other people to review your book and then not to do the same for other people in the group. People who DNF and/or who don’t post reviews will find it difficult to get into a subsequent group.
It is not necessary to leave any kind of disclaimer in your review, but ultimately, it is up to individuals. Reviews that state you received a copy ‘in return’ for a review will probably be removed/not allowed by Amazon.com. ‘I received a free copy through Goodreads’ would be more acceptable if you feel the need to add a disclaimer.
Your Goodreads details and the rounds you participate in may be recorded by the admin mod on a database. We do not retain details of email addresses, etc., so you will need to resubmit your information for every group.
Allocation is entirely random. There will NOT be any rearranging of the listing to accommodate personal preference. The ONLY circumstance in which you may duck out of giving a review is if YOU provide a stand-in reviewer.
The only way this group can function is if we trust each other to behave honourably. And it IS perfectly possible to give a fair-minded review of a text that does not coincide with our normal choice of reading matter. If you need a few hints/tips, please see this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I will do my best to fit everyone into the group, but occasionally, particularly in the case of our more prolific good-standing members, I may have to decline a member request to fit the maximum number of people into this round. I will always endeavour to start another round as soon as possible with that member in mind.
It is permissible to review an author more than once if a different book is available.
If you need anything clarified, please ask in this thread before signing up. You can also contact me via the form on my website, which is linked in this thread.
Your group moderator will be:
Jennifer Reinoehl
Member Links | Book Links
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5. Luke Lawton | Four Nights in France: An Historical Espionage Thriller
6. G.M. Barden | Stench: The Axe in The Head Murder
7. David Alyn Gordon | Case Files from the Nightfall Detective Agency: Rage of the Skinwalker: A Mystery Horror Fiction Novella
8. Seth Hobbs | Seven Serpents Assembled: An Epic Weird Western Grimdark Fantasy Book
9. Gene Kendall | Gutbuster
10. Jennifer Reinoehl | The Waylaid Count
Everyone: When signing up, please remember to list all the people currently on the list above whom you have previously reviewed, as well as all the people on the list who have reviewed you.