Tool · Blurb grader
The mystery blurb grader
Generic blurb tools check length and "a hook." Mystery readers scan for more: who's investigating, what the crime is, what it costs if they fail, and a question left open. This grader checks all of it, tuned to your subgenre.
Awaiting the suspect.
Paste a blurb or pick a sample.
What it checks
| Check | Why it matters for mystery |
|---|---|
| Opening hook | On mobile, the first line or two is often all that shows before "Read more." Lead with the crime, not "In a world where…" |
| Sleuth named early | Series readers commit to a detective. Give them a name to follow. |
| Concrete crime | "Dark secrets" sells nothing. "A body in the bakery freezer" sells a cozy. |
| Personal stakes | What does the sleuth lose if they fail: freedom, a sister, the shop? |
| Subgenre signals | Cozy readers look for the village, the café, the cat. Procedural readers look for the squad and the case. |
| Vague phrases & self-praise | "Twists and turns" and "page-turner" are claims. Specifics are evidence. |
| Paragraphs & sentence length | Short paragraphs and short sentences read faster and build tension. |
| Closing question | End on the open case, not a summary or "scroll up and buy." |
| KDP limits | Descriptions top out at 4,000 characters including HTML. URLs, prices and time-limited promo wording don't belong. |
Want the long version? Read How to write a mystery blurb.
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