Frequently Asked Questions

Grison Press is an independent publisher of crime, mystery, suspense, and thriller fiction. Our authors include K. J. Grison, creator of the Brookvale Crime Series, and Josh King Porter, author of the Specimen 23 trilogy. Our stories are built around people, difficult choices, and the consequences that follow.

The Brookvale Crime Series is a collection of interconnected crime and suspense stories by K. J. Grison, set in and around the fictional community of Brookvale, Massachusetts. Different books may follow different protagonists, but characters, investigators, families, and locations can return across the series.

Every crime stands alone. The consequences don't.

No. Brookvale is fictional, although its geography and everyday atmosphere draw on eastern Massachusetts and the Greater Boston region. A fictional community lets the stories share a consistent setting and develop their own history.

No. Each main novel is designed to tell its own central story, so you can begin with the mystery that interests you. Publication-order reading offers extra context for returning characters and the consequences of earlier events. See the Brookvale reading guide for a suggested starting point.

Josh King Porter's Specimen 23 trilogy explores identity, medical science, research ethics, and institutional secrecy. The continuing main story is told across Control, Preserve, and Restore, best read in that order. The free prequel novella Specimen 23: Archive offers another way into the story.

Yes. We offer selected free novellas to introduce readers to our authors, including K. J. Grison's Rerouted and Josh King Porter's Specimen 23: Archive. Visit the free books page for current offers and download information.

ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy. It's a copy of a book offered to selected readers before or around publication. An ARC may differ slightly from the final edition. Our advance ebooks are normally personalized EPUB files for the individual reader.

Authors and editors know a story well by the time it's ready for readers. Advance readers bring a fresh perspective and help a new book reach people who may enjoy it. Some readers also choose to share an honest opinion after publication, helping others decide what to read next. A public review is never a condition of receiving an ARC.

Visit our advance reader signup page, choose the author lists that interest you, and confirm your email address when we contact you. You'll be eligible to hear about relevant opportunities, but joining does not guarantee selection for every title.

No. Reviews are voluntary, and no particular rating or opinion is expected. If you decide to review a complimentary advance copy publicly, be honest and disclose that the publisher supplied it free. We do not reward public reviews.

We begin with readers who have opted in to the relevant advance reader list and confirmed their email addresses. Depending on the book, invitations may go to a limited selection of eligible readers or a broader group. Some limited cohorts may be chosen at random; there is no guarantee of a paid assignment.

When a title offers both options, invited readers can choose between Paid Private Feedback and the Standard ARC before accepting the program terms. We don't choose readers based on whether they've left favorable reviews.

Yes. You can be eligible for different kinds of opportunities, but for a particular title the two programs serve different purposes. If you accept compensated private feedback for that book, we won't solicit a public Amazon review from you for that same title. You may join an ordinary, unpaid ARC for a different book.

Terms vary by assignment and are presented before you accept. A full-book assignment may involve a detailed private questionnaire; a shorter assignment may have different requirements. Any honorarium is for your time and candid private feedback, whether positive, negative, or mixed. It is not payment for a public review.

No. Paid opportunities are limited, and not every release has one. We'll explain the available programs and any deadlines when we invite you, so you can decide whether to participate.

When someone encounters an unfamiliar author, thoughtful reviews can help them decide whether a book matches their interests. Reviews tell potential readers about the story's pacing, characters, and atmosphere. Even a few genuine sentences can be useful. We appreciate honest opinions, not just high ratings.

Of course. Not every story is right for every reader. A thoughtful explanation of what did or didn't work can help others make an informed choice. A genuine opinion is more valuable than praise a reader doesn't mean.

Private feedback is sent directly to Grison Press to help us evaluate clarity, pacing, characters, and other reader experiences. A public review is the reader's own optional opinion shared on a retailer or book community site. We may compensate an agreed private diagnostic assignment, but never pay or give gift cards for public retailer reviews.

We examine feedback for concrete issues, especially when several independent readers notice the same confusing scene, continuity problem, or pacing concern. A single preference doesn't automatically mean a story needs rewriting. The aim is to strengthen the book while respecting the author's intended story.

An EPUB is a standard ebook format that works in many reading apps. You can read our files on an iPhone, iPad, Android device, Kindle (using Send to Kindle), Mac, or Windows computer. Our step-by-step EPUB reading guide explains each option.

Please don't redistribute a personalized ARC or private manuscript. The copy and its download link are intended for the invited reader and may contain unpublished material. Friends who are interested can apply for the ARC Team themselves.

See our book catalog for current editions and retailer links. You can also join an author or publisher mailing list for release announcements and occasional book news. You can update your preferences or unsubscribe at any time.

For reading support, rights and licensing, media, bookstore, or general questions, please use our contact page. If you're having trouble opening a book, tell us what device and app you're using.