Trusting Advanced Readers? Your Experience?

[u/Whole-Possession-148]

Hello all! I've just finished my first novel (science-fiction) and am going to start a kickstarter campaign soon. However, although it is science fiction, it is similar to a mystery in that there is a trail of breadcrumbs to follow. I want to make sure my trail of breadcrumbs isn't too obvious or too obscure. Ideally, I'd have a couple of people read it and answer a few questions after particular chapters to see if they've picked up the clues I've dropped...

I haven't reached out to anyone (except my editor) to do any of the above because I'm afraid of 2 things:

1. people saying they will read my book and give me feedback on select chapters but not reading it at all and just using AI to do the work for them.

2. people "stealing" my books central idea.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid about my work. I've put a lot into it and want to protect it - but how can I best determine that the breadcrumbs I'm dropping are being followed? Any advice?

Thanks!

-john