I’m Gary Jukes, a freelance copyeditor and proofreader based in the West Midlands, with extensive experience editing crime and thriller fiction. I’ve worked on everything from cosy mysteries and police procedurals to psychological suspense, espionage and action-packed thrillers.
Whether you’re writing a traditional murder mystery, a fast-paced conspiracy thriller or a psychological drama full of twists and turns, I’ll help make your manuscript the best it can be – without changing what makes it yours.
What I look for when editing crime and thrillers
Crime and thriller novels need to keep readers engaged, whether that’s through carefully placed clues, mounting tension or unexpected revelations. But even a small inconsistency can undermine a mystery or pull readers out of the story.
Here are some of the things I pay particular attention to:
- Timelines, continuity and plot logic
Who was where, and when? Could a character realistically have travelled between two locations in the time available? Did a weapon fire more shots than it logically could? I’ll keep track of names, events, movements and chronology, flagging inconsistencies that could undermine the story. - Clues, revelations and character knowledge
In a mystery, what characters know – and when they learn it – can be crucial. I’ll look out for contradictions, unexplained knowledge, misplaced clues and point-of-view inconsistencies that might accidentally give something away or leave readers confused.
- Tension, flow and readability
Whether it’s a tense confrontation or a quiet moment of suspicion, the writing needs to keep readers engaged. I’ll look for awkward phrasing, unnecessary repetition, confusing sentences and anything else that might interrupt the flow or weaken the impact of a scene. - Procedural and technical accuracy
Crime and thriller fiction can involve police investigations, forensic evidence, weaponry, surveillance and specialist terminology. I’ll check relevant details where appropriate and flag anything that seems inaccurate, inconsistent or in need of further research.
How I can help with your manuscript
Copyediting
Copyediting goes beyond correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation. I’ll work through your manuscript to improve clarity, flow and consistency, checking historical references, continuity and terminology along the way.
Proofreading
If your manuscript has already been edited and is approaching publication, proofreading provides that final quality check. I’ll look for spelling, punctuation, grammar and formatting errors, inconsistencies and anything else that might have slipped through.
For a full breakdown of what’s included, see my copyediting and proofreading services and prices.
Crime and thrillers I’ve worked on
I’ve had the pleasure of working with some excellent crime and thriller authors, including Luke Jennings, Rob Sinclair, Kate Wells, Keri Beevis, Anita Davison, Daniel Sellers, Diane Saxon, Natasha Boydell and Nicole Palermo.
My experience covers everything from cosy crime and detective mysteries to psychological suspense, espionage and international action thrillers, working with both established publishers and independently published authors.
Killing Eve: Blueblood
Luke Jennings
Espionage thriller
Copyediting
The Lazarus Protocol
Rob Sinclair
Action thriller
Copyediting
The Good Twin
Diane Saxon
Psychological thriller
Copyediting
Murder at the Wedding
Anita Davison
Cosy crime
Copyediting
You can find more crime and thrillers on my Books page.
What crime & thriller authors say
Gary provides an exhaustively professional service with a light and friendly touch. I would recommend The Polished Page to any fellow writer.
Luke Jennings, author of the Killing Eve novels
As well as the usual punctuation, spelling and continuity checks, Gary goes above and beyond to research the little details and mop up any errors. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Kate Wells, bestselling author of the Malvern Farm Mysteries
Frequently asked questions
Will you change my writing style or interfere with the suspense?
No. My role is to help you tell your story as effectively as possible while preserving your individual voice. I won’t rewrite your novel in my own style or impose changes simply because I’d have written something differently.
If I feel a passage is unclear, a point-of-view shift is confusing or repetition is weakening the tension, I’ll suggest an alternative or explain my concern. The final decision is always yours.
Can you spot plot holes and continuity problems?
Yes, to an extent. Continuity checking is part of my copyediting service, and I’ll look out for inconsistent timelines, contradictions, changes in character details and moments where someone appears to know something they haven’t yet discovered.
I’ll flag potential plot holes when I come across them, but copyediting isn’t a substitute for a full developmental edit or structural assessment. If your manuscript needs a more fundamental review of its plot, structure or character development, we can discuss that before deciding on the right service.
Do you check factual and technical details?
Yes, where appropriate. I’ll investigate details that seem questionable, particularly where they affect the credibility of a scene.
For example, while editing a crime novel, I noticed a character breaking open a rifle to remove its ammunition. The action sounded more typical of a shotgun, although break-action rifles do exist. After researching the distinction, I explained the issue to the author and suggested changing the firearm to a shotgun. The author agreed.
It’s a relatively minor detail, but these are precisely the sorts of things that can distract readers who are familiar with the subject. My aim is to flag potential inaccuracies and offer practical solutions, while leaving the final decision to the author.
Do you work with independently published crime and thriller authors?
Absolutely. I work with established publishers and bestselling authors, but I’m equally happy working directly with independent writers. Whether you’re preparing your first crime novel for publication or working on the next book in a series, I’d be glad to discuss your project.
Let’s talk about your crime or thriller novel
If you’re looking for a crime or thriller copyeditor or proofreader, I’d love to hear about your book.
I offer a free, no-obligation sample copyedit or proofread of up to 2,000 words, so you can see how I work before deciding whether to go ahead. I’ll also review your sample and provide a fixed quote based on the level of editing required.
Get in touch with a little information about your manuscript, including its word count and your preferred timescale, and we can take it from there.
Image credits: cottonbro studio; Lara Jameson; Vincent Santamaria; David Kouakou; Faisal Rahman (Pexels).
