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Crime & Thriller Literary Agents

434+verified agents286open nowLast reviewed19 Oct 2026

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Crime and thriller is one of the steadiest parts of submissions and one of the least forgiving. Domestic noir, police procedural, psychological suspense, spy fiction, cosy crime, and the loud commercial thriller all sit here. Agents read for tension quickly because readers do too. This page shows agents who explicitly represent crime and thriller. The broad search toggle catches more who'd consider it under commercial fiction, mystery, suspense, or upmarket fiction.

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Agents representing crime & thriller

Open agents first
Represents

Commercial fiction, women's fiction, romance, mystery, thriller, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Lauren is particularly interested in adult and Young Adult commercial fiction, especially women's fiction, romance, mysteries, and thrillers, as well as select non-fiction titles.

How to submit

Query via QueryTracker platform at the link provided on her profile page.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Adult fiction, book club fiction, women's fiction, romance, romantic comedy, thriller, suspense, memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, women's issues

Wants: Query letter, bio, comparable books, first twenty pages or proposal

Looking for

Allison Hunter is acquiring literary and commercial adult fiction, especially upmarket book club and women's fiction, romance and rom-coms, thrillers, and domestic suspense. She likes great storytelling, unforgettable characters, female friendship stories, campus novels, love stories, family epics, class and cultural identity, smart beach reads by underrepresented authors, select memoir, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, women's issues, and books speaking to the current cultural climate.

How to submit

Submit through Allison Hunter's official QueryManager form. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager and asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window. Her form asks for author bio, why Trellis, title, word count, genre, query letter, comparable books, and the first 20 pages or full nonfiction proposal.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Fantasy, horror, mystery, thriller, dark academia, gothic horror, supernatural folklore, caribbean folklore, bipoc voices, lgbtq and, history, spirituality

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first ten pages

Looking for

Catherine is mainly focused on middle grade and young adult fantasy, horror, and mystery with lush settings, strong worldbuilding, atmospheric prose, isolated or contained settings, BIPOC characters by BIPOC authors, supernatural folklore, dark academia, feminine rage, witches, banshees, sirens, and gripping mysteries. Her Corvisiero profile also lists adult and YA fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, gothic horror, and nonfiction on Haitian and Louisianan Voodoo.

How to submit

Submit through Catherine Ross's QueryManager route when open. Her current Manuscript Wish List says to send a query letter, one-to-two-page synopsis, and the first ten manuscript pages through her query form, unsolicited email submissions and submissions using AI will not be considered.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Crime, historical fiction, historical romance, women's fiction

Looking for

Crime, historical fiction (especially historical romance), women's fiction

How to submit

Alison is not currently receiving submissions. When open, email the agent directly. Include the manuscript title and genre in the subject line. For fiction, send a covering letter in the body of the email, a brief synopsis, and the first three chapters or first 5,000 words as a Word document.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Thriller, suspense, horror, fantasy, romantasy, magical realism, speculative fiction, romance, mystery, women's fiction, historical fiction, young adult, middle grade, picture books

Wants: Query letter

Looking for

Vicky is interested in adult thriller and suspense with psychological, paranormal, supernatural or gothic elements, horror, dark fantasy, romantasy, magical realism, mystery, women's fiction, historical fiction, young adult horror and fantasy, middle grade, and picture books from author-illustrators.

How to submit

Vicky's CMA profile links to QueryManager but states that she is currently closed to queries. CMA asks writers to query only one CMA agent at a time.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, mystery, thriller, middle grade, young adult, history, biography, current events, long-form journalism, popular science, children's books

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Looking for

Gina represents literary and upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction for adults and children. In fiction she looks for upmarket novels, mysteries and thrillers, middle grade, and young adult. Nonfiction interests include history, biography, current events, long-form journalism, and popular science.

How to submit

Gina Maccoby is currently closed to submissions. When open, email a query with the word QUERY in the subject line to query@maccobylit.com with no attachments. Check the official agency site for reopening.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Middle grade, young adult, adult genre fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thrillers, suspense, horror

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, one paragraph pitch, comparable books, first ten pages, ai disclosure

Looking for

Laurie McLean specializes in middle grade, young adult, and adult genre fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, thrillers, suspense, and horror. Until further notice, she is only looking at queries she requested at conferences or online events, especially all types of middle grade fiction, YA horror, mystery, thrillers, science fiction and fantasy, and adult mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

How to submit

Laurie McLean is requested-only until further notice. Query through her official QueryManager page only if she requested the query at a conference or online event. The form asks for book details, query letter, synopsis, one-paragraph pitch, target audience, comparable books, AI disclosure, and the first 10 pages.

Last checked 18 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Picture books, middle grade, young adult, new adult, adult fiction, illustrators, contemporary fiction, magical realism, fantasy, horror, romance, romantic comedy, romantasy, women's fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, spirituality, self-help, health and fitness, parenting, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships and dating, true crime, bipoc voices, lgbtq and voices

Looking for

Lynnette Novak is an agent at The Seymour Agency. When she reopens, she is especially excited about BIPOC, diverse, and LGBTQ+ projects; illustrators for board books, picture books, illustrated MG, and illustrated covers; fiction and nonfiction picture books; MG contemporary, magical realism, contemporary or grounded fantasy, and horror; YA romcom, romantasy, fantasy, magical realism, and horror; NA contemporary romance, romcom, and romantasy; adult horror, dark romance, contemporary romance, romcom, romantasy, and women's fiction; and adult nonfiction including memoir, narrative, spirituality/New Age, self-help, health/fitness, parenting/family, motivational/inspirational, business, celebrity, lifestyle, pets, psychology, relationships/dating, and true crime by experts with platforms.

How to submit

Lynnette Novak is currently closed to all queries according to the official Seymour Agency about page. The page says to watch her MSWL page for updates when she reopens, but no current open official query route is listed.

Last checked 18 Oct 2026
Represents

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

Looking for

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.

How to submit

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.

Last checked 18 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, romance, retellings, beach reads, family drama, amish romance, clean fiction, historical fiction, psychological suspense, domestic suspense, history, biography, science, sports, memoir

Looking for

Lindsay Guzzardo is founder of Keystone Literary Agency and a literary agent for adult fiction and nonfiction. She is drawn to high-concept, commercial premises with clear, marketable hooks and strong voices. Her fiction tastes include classic retellings, beach reads, family dynamics, mother-daughter and sister relationships, Amish romance and fiction, wholesome clean fiction and romance, cozy small-town romance and fiction, rich historical fiction, fiction featuring historical figures, European-set fiction, dark psychological and domestic suspense, and past/present family dramas. She welcomes nonfiction proposals from journalists and experts in history, biography, science, sports, narrative nonfiction, and memoir with a strong platform.

How to submit

Submit through Lindsay Guzzardo's official QueryManager form during the first week of the month. The linked QueryManager page was checked on 2026-05-25 and says she is not accepting queries at this time because she opens during the first week of the month.

Last checked 16 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Romance, fantasy, horror, lgbtq and, literary fiction, thriller, mystery, new adult, science fiction, young adult

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Looking for

Des is a literary agent at Metamorphosis. The agency submissions page lists romance, fantasy, horror, LGBTQ+, literary, thriller, mystery, New Adult, science fiction, and young adult among Des's categories.

How to submit

Des Salazar's QueryManager route says they are closed at this moment and to consider submitting again when they are accepting more work in January and July.

Last checked 16 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Kidlit, picture books, middle grade, young adult, contemporary romance, mystery, thriller, illustrators, author-illustrators

Looking for

Rosa Frazier is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency. Her official Seymour profile says kidlit is her passion, with emphasis on picture books, middle grade, YA contemporary romance, mystery, and thrillers. She is drawn to underrepresented BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled creatives, and encourages Caribbean and South American stories, folklore, and mythologies with representation of second languages and dialects. Illustrators and author-illustrators are also welcome when she is open to them.

How to submit

Rosa Frazier is currently closed to queries according to her official Seymour Agency profile and linked QueryManager status. Do not send unsolicited queries while closed.

Last checked 16 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Commercial romantic comedy, speculative fiction, thriller, upmarket fiction, book club fiction

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Looking for

Maria represents a broad range of fiction from commercial rom-coms to radical speculative fiction, subversive thrillers, and upmarket book club fiction. She is drawn to character-driven stories, unusual perspectives, genre-bending work, and pitchable high concepts.

How to submit

Maria Napolitano will reopen to queries in the first half of 2026 according to KT Literary's official agents page.

Last checked 16 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

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

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Looking for

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.

How to submit

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

Last checked 16 Oct 2026Via Form
Represents

Mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, fantasy, western

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Looking for

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.

How to submit

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

Last checked 16 Oct 2026Via Form
Represents

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, young adult, literary fiction, suspense, supernatural horror, speculative romance, romantasy, fantasy, adventure, romance, science fiction, magical fabulism, romantic comedy, speculative thriller

Looking for

Victoria Marini is Agent and Founder at High Line Literary Collective. Her list spans upmarket and commercial adult and young adult work, from literary page-turners to commercial suspense, supernatural horror, whimsical speculative romantasy, big-world fantasy, adventure, romance, edgy science fiction, grounded magical fabulism, rom-coms, and speculative thrillers. She likes unforgettable authentic characters, hooky concepts with strong plotting and an emotional core, unique voices or visions, quirk, mystery, small-town hysteria, atmosphere, secrets, things that go bump in the night, charm, magic, and humor.

How to submit

Victoria Marini is currently closed to queries according to her official High Line profile. Requested Thrillerfest 2025 materials have a specific official QueryTracker link, but general unsolicited queries are closed.

Last checked 15 Oct 2026
Represents

Young adult, adult fiction, mystery, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, romance, fantasy, historical fiction, women's fiction, marginalized voices

Looking for

Lesley Sabga is Media Rights Manager and Agent at The Seymour Agency. She loves intricate and vivid world-building, character-driven plots with commercial pacing, dark and twisty suspense or thrillers featuring strong female protagonists, mysteries with large casts where the pieces slowly fall into place, big sweeping love stories, voice-driven fiction for millennial women, and marginalized authors.

How to submit

Lesley Sabga is not open to general queries at this time. The official Seymour submissions page says she is accepting queries by referral only, and the official linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries.

Last checked 15 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, history, politics, current affairs, business, science

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, bio, sample pages

Looking for

Sandra looks for writers with something significant to say, who know how to say it in a distinctive and compelling way, and whose books help to make this a better world. She champions quality fiction and nonfiction that makes a difference in the world, and which have a lasting impact.

How to submit

Only open to queries which are solicited or come via referral. At this time, she is taking on new clients infrequently. Use QueryMe.Online or DijkstraCapron.

Last checked 14 Oct 2026Via Online Form
Represents

Adult fiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, book club fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, middle grade, young adult, children's fiction, children's nonfiction, business books, diverse voices

Looking for

Lisa Abellera represents adult literary, upmarket/book club, women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, and crossover speculative fiction. In children's fiction she represents all fiction genres in middle grade and YA. She responds to well-crafted prose, strong hooks, high personal stakes, complex and sympathetic characters, tangible sense of place, lush world-building, non-Western cultural aspects, emotionally immersive fiction, and underrepresented voices. In limited nonfiction, she is looking for middle grade prescriptive projects and adult prescriptive business books for women or by women.

How to submit

KC and A links Lisa Abellera's QueryMe or QueryManager form from the official team page. The linked form currently says Lisa Abellera is not accepting unsolicited queries, so there is no open submission route at this time.

Last checked 14 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Mystery, thriller, sf, fantasy, romance, ya, memoir, humor, pop culture, health and wellness, cooking, self-help, pop psych, new age, inspirational, technology, science, writing

Looking for

Mystery/thriller, SF/fantasy, romance, YA, memoir, humor, pop culture, health & wellness, cooking, self-help, pop psych, New Age, inspirational, technology, science, and writing

How to submit

Check agent's submission page

Last checked 14 Oct 2026
Represents

Literary fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, crime fiction, thrillers, cookery, food writing, comedy, travel writing

Looking for

All types of writing, with particular interests in cooking and food journalism, comedy, and travel writing. Also loves literary fiction, contemporary and historical novels, crime fiction, and thrillers. Also works closely with radio and television production companies, and the speakers and presenters side of the agency.

How to submit

Claudia is not currently accepting submissions. When open, submissions go to submissions@greeneheaton.co.uk with the agent's name in the subject line. Include a covering letter in the body of the email. Fiction: attach the first three chapters (or around fifty pages) and a one-to-two page synopsis that reveals the ending, as Word documents. Non-fiction: attach three sample chapters and a chapter summary or synopsis. Postal submissions are not accepted.

Last checked 14 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Commercial fiction, upmarket fiction, dark romance, romantasy, romance, speculative fiction, mystery, thriller, gothic, horror, historical fiction, rom com, magical realism, current events, true crime, science, history, narrative non-fiction, sports, politics, health, nutrition, pop culture, humor, music, memoir

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, author bio, sample pages

Looking for

Jill seeks fiction and non-fiction by unrepresented voices, BIPOC and Latinx writers, disabled persons, and LGBTQ+ people. She wants commercial and upmarket fiction emphasizing dark romance, romantasy, speculative fiction, mysteries, thrillers, Gothic, horror, and historical fiction, plus food-centric novels and psychological suspense in the vein of Freida McFadden. For non-fiction, she seeks authors with big, timely, smart messages and deep dives into subcultures, social commentary, and historical projects.

How to submit

Submit via QueryManager at QueryManager.com or JillMarr. Include query letter, 1-page synopsis, brief bio with publishing history, and first 10-15 pages for fiction. For non-fiction, include query letter and full book proposal.

Last checked 13 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Crime, thrillers, reading group fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction, narrative memoir, nature writing, cookery, voice-led non-fiction

Looking for

Crime and thrillers, reading group fiction, high-concept hooks, upmarket commercial fiction, narrative memoir, nature writing, cookery and other voice-led non-fiction

How to submit

Email a synopsis and either the first three chapters of a novel or a non-fiction proposal to afeiner@unitedagents.co.uk. Let the agent know if another agent has requested your full manuscript or offered representation.

Last checked 13 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, historical fiction, fantasy, crime, adult fiction

Looking for

Alice Speilburg represents commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction for the adult market. She is drawn to culturally relevant nonfiction, especially by journalists, and in fiction has particular interest in immersive historical adventures, myth-based fantasy, and atmospheric crime.

How to submit

Alice Speilburg uses QueryManager. Her official agency profile says she is open to queries on the 10th through 16th of each month, but the linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries at this time and may close when she reaches capacity.

Last checked 13 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Women's fiction, commercial fiction, fantasy, young adult, romance, lgbt, middle grade, memoir, narrative nonfiction, personal finance, business, true crime, sports, popular culture, self-help, religion, health, parenting

Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction

Looking for

High-concept book club fiction, queer fiction, destination novels, emotionally satisfying reads, cozy fantasy, horror with modern commentary, and adult dystopian fiction

How to submit

Use The Knight Agency submissions page and the relevant QueryManager link, do not query multiple TKA agents simultaneously.

Last checked 12 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Crime, thriller, horror, romance, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, cookbooks, food writing, lifestyle, wellbeing, investigative journalism, nature writing

Looking for

Hannah represents quality commercial and upmarket fiction and non-fiction. In fiction, she is drawn to crime, thriller and horror novels with a confident voice and fresh approach, love stories ranging from smart romcoms to epic weepy narratives, and general contemporary fiction about complicated people and families—often with a mystery at its heart. She also takes on a small amount of historical fiction set in the 19th and 20th centuries. In non-fiction, she seeks lifestyle and wellbeing titles, narrative non-fiction such as memoir, nature writing and investigative journalism, cookbooks and food writing, and thought-provoking non-fiction across the arts and academia. She is not the right agent for sci-fi, fantasy, action, spy or military thrillers, children's and YA novels, scripts or poetry.

How to submit

Hannah is currently closed to submissions.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, mystery, suspense, memoir, pop culture, science, social commentary

Wants: Query letter, first ten pages

Looking for

She is looking for upmarket fiction, both literary and commercial, with dynamic characters and elevated language, enjoying elements of speculative fiction, magical realism, mystery, and suspense. In nonfiction, she seeks unusual personal narratives, pop culture and science, and social commentary.

How to submit

Email query letters to mail@dclagency.com and paste the first ten pages of your manuscript below your letter. Address your email to the specific agent. Submitting to more than one agent at a time is permitted, but indicate which agents you are querying. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Nonfiction, mystery or suspense or thriller, historical fiction, contemporary or commercial, sapphic romance

Looking for

Stories that reveal the truths of what it means to be a human in our difficult, often oppressive, world. Always looking for writing from historically underrepresented groups, with special place for LGBTQIA+ folks

How to submit

Submit through QueryManager

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, book club fiction, romance, romantasy, fantasy, gothic fiction, horror, historical fiction, crime, thriller, speculative fiction

Wants: Covering letter, one-page outline, first three chapters, first fifty pages

Looking for

Actively seeking wide-ranging fiction: excellent writing, compelling plots, diverse/unexpected voices, engrossing reads, especially literary/commercial crossover, romantasy, psychological thrillers/suspense, family dramas, savvy love stories, ambitious crime/thriller, smart historical/speculative/magical realism. Not looking for children's/YA/MG, short story collections, poetry or drama, no straight sci-fi or high fantasy that is not romantasy

How to submit

Email nelle@rmliterary.co.uk with a one-page outline, the first 3 chapters or 50 pages, and a covering letter.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via Email
Represents

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, horror, science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, historical fiction, picture books, middle grade, young adult, romance, mystery

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages

Looking for

Laura would love to find fantasy, spec fiction, alternate history, and horror with fresh, original, unexpected reimaginings. She seeks retellings that reinvent underlying traditions, gothic suspense or thrillers, romantasy that is more romantic fantasy than fantasy romance, high concept rom-coms, and sexy historical romance. She also wants thrillers and mysteries with dynamic, unexpected characters and rich psychological insights.

How to submit

Click on the QueryManager link in the agent's bio, follow the prompts, and complete all required fields including a short query letter with a description of your work, previous publishing credentials, a short author bio, contact information, and for novels: first 10 pages of text.

Last checked 11 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

Adult fantasy, young adult fantasy, science fiction, horror, speculative fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, mystery, thriller, crime fiction, young adult contemporary

Wants: Query letter, first twenty pages, synopsis, comparable books

Looking for

Ernie Chiara specializes in adult and young adult fantasy, science fiction, and horror, speculative upmarket and literary fiction, BIPOC mystery, thriller, and crime fiction, and young adult contemporary. He wants character-driven stories with layered worldbuilding, original settings, immersive plotting, propulsive pacing, genre blends, distinct voice, and complex characters.

How to submit

Ernie Chiara is currently closed to unsolicited queries and is considering queries by personal referral or event request only. When open, he accepts submissions exclusively through QueryManager, email and social-media queries are deleted unread.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager
Represents

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

Wants: Query letter, author bio, sample pages

Looking for

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.

How to submit

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.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026Via QueryManager

434+ agents we've verified represent crime & thriller specifically. Many others represent broader categories like commercial fiction or genre fiction — try Smart Search to find those too.

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