Crime & Thriller Literary Agents

Reading group fiction, crime, thriller, psychological fiction, literary fiction, fantasy, historical fiction

Wants: Adult fiction across genres (reading group to SFF etc); high-concept hooks; page-turning plots; crime/thriller, historical, fantasy, reading group (per agent page).

Reading group fiction, crime and thriller, psychological novels, high-concept hooks, novels that feel ambitious and international, page-turners with a lot of twists and turns

Email submissions@mushens-entertainment.com with a clear subject line (e.g. Fiction Submission: TITLE), the cover letter in the body of the email, a synopsis as an attachment, and a PDF or Word document containing either the first three chapters, the first 10,000 to 15,000 words, or the first 50 pages. Address the email to Juliet. Note: Juliet is currently closed to submissions.

Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, suspense, romance, book club fiction, narrative non-fiction

Sharon's list includes upmarket fiction of all sorts, from smart, complex women's fiction to unexpected suspense fiction and romance to hearty, unforgettable book club fiction. She also occasionally takes on compelling, fierce narrative nonfiction by journalists, experts, or emerging voices with a promising platform.

Submit only through Query Manager. Include query letter in the body with first 25 pages of manuscript for fiction or proposal with sample chapter for nonfiction.

Women's fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, commercial fiction, horror, mystery, historical romance, poetry, picture books

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages, bio, title/genre/word count

She seeks stories that surprise and delight with characters readers can't stop thinking about and sharp writing. She wants high-concept, twisty stories with strong voices in women's fiction, thriller, and speculative fiction. She's particularly interested in timely commercial fiction where the personal intersects with world events, stories about female rage and friendships, complex family dynamics, incisive horror with social commentary, and atmospheric mysteries set in close-knit communities.

Submit through Query Manager with a brief bio including writing credentials, title or genre or word count, query letter, and first ten pages.

Picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, contemporary, fantasy, romance, suspense, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages

She loves both contemporary and fantasy as well as the spooky and unexpected. She loves multi-generational stories, matrilineal magic, and is always happy to see high-concept contemporary romance. She also enjoys darker suspenseful reads and loves atmospheric settings that feel like a character. For picture books, she works on both fiction and nonfiction with interest in environmental and STEM themes, animals, emotional intelligence, and books for youngest readers including vehicle books.

Submit through QueryManager with query letter, author bio, publishing credentials, contact information, and sample pages. For novels: first 10 pages. For picture books text only: full manuscript. Response even if passing.

Children's books, preschool, picture books, novelty, middle grade, young adult, thriller, science fiction, speculative fiction

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages

Jamie looks for an intense emotional experience in all categories. She seeks manuscripts that stay with her, whether the sweet pang of an 'Jamie Weiss Chilton love you' picture book or the shock of recognition of an honest window to the tween or teen psyche. For younger age groups, she looks for the hook that will make a book a must-have parenting or educational resource.

Visit agent's bio page, click on QueryManager link, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with work description, previous publishing credentials, short author bio, contact information, and appropriate sample materials based on format.

Narrative nonfiction, true crime, psychology, pop culture, technology, pop science, parenting, crime fiction, mystery

Victoria is most interested in expert-driven narrative nonfiction in the areas of true crime, psychology, pop culture, technology, and pop science. She is also looking for investigative deep dives, illuminating books about parenting (either prescriptive or narrative), and anything geared toward a millennial audience. While nonfiction makes up the bulk of her list, she is also willing to consider crime fiction or mysteries that involve a murder.

Email your chosen agent using the address indicated on their page, or via QueryManager if listed. Include the title in the subject line. Paste the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email — no attachments. For picture books, include the complete text, for illustrated work, include a link to your portfolio or two to three PDFs or JPEGs. Do not query multiple Bent Agency agents simultaneously.

Literary fiction, horror, mysteries, thrillers, suspense, fantasy, romantasy, speculative fiction

James represents high concept literary and genre fiction for adults and young adults, co-repping with his colleague Jenny Bent. Together they are specifically interested in compact horror and mysteries with unique hooks and intricate plotting, atmospheric thrillers and suspense novels with a strong sense of place, and unique fantasy/romantasy. They are particularly interested in authors who have successfully been working in the indie space and are now looking to transition into traditional or hybrid publishing. On his own, James is looking for voice-driven literary fiction (including books with genre elements but literary execution) and grounded speculative fiction with high stakes that touches on contemporary issues. Across all genres, he prizes direct, economical prose, complex characters, building tension, narrative gravity, and a distinct sense of humor.

Email your query to James Mustelier at the address listed on his agent page, or use his QueryManager link if indicated there. Include the title of your project in the subject line. Paste the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email — no attachments. For picture books, include the complete text, for illustrated work, include a link to your website or two to three PDFs or JPEGs. Do not query multiple Bent Agency agents simultaneously, if James passes, you may then query another agent at the agency.

Fiction and narrative non-fiction

Fantasy and romance, Irish fiction, crime/true crime with focus on victim/family impact, issues-led narrative non-fiction with personal story, psychology and therapy; with a particular draw to unique concepts, complex characters, and family dynamics

Jess Molloy is currently closed for submissions.

Middle grade fiction, ya fiction, adult fiction, non-fiction

Atmospheric, emotionally intense, relationship-led fiction, romance/romantasy, select thrillers/crime, historical with strong relationships, big-idea accessible non-fiction at intersection of science/society, not picture books/poetry/original screenplays

Submit via Query Manager through the 'Submit Your Work' link at https://solasliterary.co.uk or submissions. Include a one-sentence elevator pitch capturing the book's central hook, the first five chapters, and a synopsis of 1–2 pages outlining the full plot including the ending.

Mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, fantasy, western

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Gwyn accepts mystery, thriller, suspense, and all heat levels of romance in historical, contemporary, suspense, comedy, fantasy, and western subgenres. She especially likes unique characters, rarely used occupations, historical romance involving commoner characters, mysteries, fast-paced thrillers, large-scale schemes and scams, dark and gritty stories, and courtroom dramas.

The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.

Mystery, psychological thriller, young adult science fiction, mental health, lifestyle

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Kelsey accepts mysteries, psychological thrillers, YA science fiction, and occasional nonfiction in mental health and lifestyle. She likes stories with twists, unique formats or perspectives, inspirational storylines, humor, strong worldbuilding, dystopian YA science fiction, and stories that are mind-blowing or heart-tugging.

The agency is temporarily closed to new queries. When open, submit to only one agent with a query letter, synopsis, and first three chapters.

Young adult, new adult, adult fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, cookbooks, food writing, gardening, health, fitness, pets

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first twenty pages, full proposal

Kimberly seeks YA, New Adult and adult fiction, including mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, romance, romantasy, fantasy and science fiction, plus adult nonfiction in cookbooks, food, gardening, health, fitness, natural healing and pets. She does not represent children's books, erotica, poetry, short stories, screenplays, novellas, literary/upmarket/women's fiction, or memoir.

Kimberly is currently closed to queries except for periodic windows. When open, fiction and nonfiction use separate QueryManager or QueryTracker forms from her submissions page.

Investigative nonfiction, true crime, psychology, health, popular science, economics, business, big-idea nonfiction

Thought leaders and innovators who bring unique and challenging perspectives to the world of books. He is particularly interested in investigative nonfiction, true crime, psychology, health, and popular science, as well as economics, business, and big-idea nonfiction

Check agent's submission page

Women's fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction, contemporary romance, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, memoir, self-help nonfiction

Fresh voices in women's fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction, contemporary romance, historical fiction, mystery and suspense, as well as memoir and selected self-help nonfiction

Check agent's submission page

Cozy fantasy, romance, romcoms, dark romance, sports romance, small town romance, commercial book club fiction, romantasy, thrillers, suspense, magical realism

Cozy fantasy, all things romance (romcoms, dark romance, sports romance, small town romance), commercial book club fiction, romantasy, thrillers and suspense, and magical realism. Particularly drawn to stories with a strong voice and immersive relationships at their core

Check agent's submission page

Fiction and non-fiction

Women's fiction (commercial to literary), book club reads, crime and thrillers, interesting narrative non-fiction

Email submissions@hardmanswainson.com and specify Hannah Ferguson's name in the cover email.

Fiction and non-fiction, children's

Adult: literary fiction, commercial women's, psychological suspense, gothic thrillers, ghost stories, historical including alternate histories, creeping-horror edge (not high fantasy). Children's: 7+/MG/YA, originality/depth, underrepresented voices welcome

Email submissions@nurnberg.co.uk

Ya fiction, middle grade fiction, cookbooks, food writing, memoir, true crime, narrative nonfiction, pop culture

Cookbooks, food writing and history, young adult and middle grade fiction, memoir, pop culture, true crime, and narrative nonfiction

Submit your query through the contact and submissions form on the Aevitas Creative Management website. Include a cover letter, synopsis, and sample material as appropriate for your project.

Self-help, pop culture, music, memoir, history, science, politics, social justice, narrative food writing, faith, true crime, commercial fiction, psychological thrillers, horror thrillers, children's books, picture books, ya

Rick Richter represents self-help, pop culture and music, memoir, history, science, politics and social justice, narrative food writing, and faith. He is also interested in select true crime, commercial fiction, and psychological/horror thrillers and diverse voices in all categories. He has extensive experience in children's books and represents illustrators and children's authors writing fiction and non-fiction from picture books through YA.

Rick Richter only accepts queries through Query Manager. Please check his Query Manager profile for more information.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya

See source page for more info

Check agent's submission page

Commercial fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, crime or psychological thriller, historical, gothic, magical realism or urban fantasy, selected non-fiction (per wishlist)

Not children's, YA, sci-fi, epic fantasy, or romantasy

Email - eg.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com

Business, health, politics, history, cookbooks, pop culture, jewish interest, lifestyle, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, romance, young adult, middle grade, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter

Irene's interests include business, health, politics and history, cookbooks, pop culture, Jewish interest, Francophilia, lifestyle, upmarket fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romance, historical fiction, middle grade and young adult fiction.

The official site has a contact form and states IGLA represents newcomers, but does not publish explicit current query guidelines.

Horror, fantasy, suspense, thrillers, romantasy, romance

Jenny is currently looking for clients she can co-rep with her colleague James Mustelier. They are seeking all kinds of high concept genre fiction for adults and young adults: horror, fantasy, suspense/thriller, romantasy, and romance. Of particular interest are authors who have successfully been working in the indie space and are now looking to transition into traditional or hybrid publishing, and submissions from BIPOC authors are additionally welcomed. Jenny tends to prefer plot-driven books with strong pacing, novels with an element of magic or fantasy, and stories that are dark and weird in content but traditional in structure and storytelling — she is not the right fit for books with overtly political or extremely complicated plotlines.

Email your chosen agent at the address listed on their individual page, or use their QueryManager link if indicated. Include the title of your project in the subject line. Paste the first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email — no attachments. For picture books, include the complete text, illustrators should also include a link to your website or two to three PDFs or JPEGs of your work. For graphic novels, paste the first ten pages of your script plus the first five pages of your dummy in the body of the email.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya

Jessica Rios is based in the New York office of Susanna Lea Associates, which represents a range of fiction and non-fiction. The agency seeks literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, and select young adult with crossover appeal. They focus on projects with strong potential across all rights including translation, film, television, and audio.

Check agent's submission page

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya

Laura Mamelok represents a range of fiction and non-fiction at Susanna Lea Associates' New York office. Her interests include literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, and select young adult with crossover appeal.

Check agent's submission page

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya

See source page for more info

Check agent's submission page

Fiction and non-fiction

Upmarket and accessible literary/commercial 'sweet spot', thrillers/suspense, book club fiction, epic multi-generational family drama, powerful love story with mystery

Online form - https://www.madeleinemilburn.co.uk or submissions/

Fiction and narrative non-fiction

Upmarket and literary fiction in English and Spanish, character-driven, heart-wrenching fiction, modern love stories, genre-bending upmarket crime, narrative non-fiction about women's experiences

QueryManager (via site form) - https://www.aevitascreative.com or contact

Commercial fiction, young adult, mainstream fiction, women's fiction, romance, suspense, thriller

Wants: Query letter

Michelle is actively seeking commercial fiction, young adult, mainstream fiction, women's fiction, romance, suspense, and thrillers. She is drawn to well-written material with strong, interesting characters.

Wolfson Literary accepts only online queries through QueryManager. Follow the agent's QueryManager form, email queries are deleted unread.

Nonfiction, self-development, business, mind body spirit, health, wellness, mystery, thriller, suspense, romance

Wants: Query letter, proposal

Tess is a highly editorial agent who specializes in platform-driven nonfiction proposals across self-development, business, mind/body/spirit, health, wellness, and related nonfiction. She also represents adult mystery, thriller, suspense, and romance authors.

The official Europa Content page lists Tess's direct email as tess@europacontent.com. No detailed public query package requirements were confirmed in this pass.

Mystery, thriller, diversity-focused fiction

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, comps, sample pages

Beth is the owner of Ladderbird Literary Agency and works in agenting while looking for new and exciting ways to bring more diversity into publishing. Earlier agency data associates her with mysteries and thrillers across age categories.

Use Ladderbird's agent-specific QueryManager routes and do not query more than one Ladderbird agent at a time. Beth's current public profile does not show a direct query link.

Fiction, nonfiction, young adult, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, mystery, suspense, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded science fiction, grounded fantasy, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, aapi voices, underrepresented voices, lgbtq and

Wants: Query letter, sample pages, proposal

Amy represents fiction, nonfiction, and YA. She is seeking upmarket and book club fiction, mystery or suspense elements, propulsive plots with beautiful writing, historical fiction, literary horror, grounded SFF by women of color, coming-of-age stories, global retellings, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, pop culture, YA with murder and intrigue, immigrant stories, queer stories, girls working for justice, and light-hearted contemporary YA.

Use the QueryManager route linked from Amy Bishop-Wycisk's Trellis profile and review her current wishlist before querying.

Adult fiction, select children's or ya and non-fiction

Upmarket commercial/book club and accessible literary, female-lens storytelling, historical with hook, romcoms, unusual structures, thrillers/crime with point of difference, select children's/YA crime/thrillers and MG adventure

Email - sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com

Prescriptive nonfiction, self-help, spirituality nonfiction, personal transformation, limited memoir, true crime nonfiction

Tina Wainscott is an agent at The Seymour Agency. Official Seymour guidance lists her interest in prescriptive nonfiction, self-help, and spirituality nonfiction. Her official personal site says she is focused on spiritual, self-help, personal transformation, and limited memoir, with a later contact page noting spiritual/self-help and true-crime nonfiction.

The official Seymour Agency about page says Tina Wainscott is taking submissions via referral. Her official personal site also says she is only taking queries through referrals and does not handle queries through her author-site contact address.

Women's commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime, thriller, upmarket book club fiction, quirky non-fiction, nature writing, history

Women's commercial fiction, literary fiction, crime/thriller, uplifting/book club, quirky non-fiction (nature/crime/history)

Email bd.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com with a cover letter and first 3 chapters (approximately 10,000 words) and a synopsis for fiction, or a cover letter and full proposal (covering overview, themes, story, and sources) for non-fiction.

Literary fiction, crime fiction, non-fiction

A broad range of both fiction and non-fiction, from literary novels to narrative non-fiction exploring contemporary issues, with a particular interest in authors whose work helps interpret and understand our times as well as our future.

Submit through the contact and submissions form on the Aevitas Creative Management website, or contact the agency directly at the New York office.