UK Mystery Literary Agents

Crime fiction, thriller, mystery, book club fiction

Adult commercial fiction paired with punchy concepts and irresistible voice. Particularly drawn to psychological thrillers where nothing is as it seems, groundbreaking mysteries that blur genres, and literary crime writing that crosses boundaries. Also actively looking for book club novels with exceptional writing that create emotional resonance, as well as imaginative cross-genre works that blend mystery with horror, romance, or other unexpected combinations.

Send your submission to EdSubmissions@theblairpartnership.com. Include your manuscript or sample pages along with a cover letter outlining your concept and voice.

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Hannah Schofield

LBA Books

Open

Fiction and select non-fictionWants: Commercial and book-club fiction; selective romance; thrillers/mystery; different-feeling historical fiction; selective YA; selective non-fiction (popular history/untaught areas; cultural deep-dives; narrative nf). not children's; not sci-fi; not grisly horror.

Commercial and book-club fiction, selective romance, thrillers/mystery, different-feeling historical fiction, selective YA, selective non-fiction (popular history/untaught areas, cultural deep-dives, narrative non-fiction). Not children's, not sci-fi, not grisly horror

Submit via the online form on Hannah Schofield's agent page at https://lbabooks.com or agents or hannah-schofield

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Camilla Shestopal

Shesto Literary

Open

Crime fiction, thriller, mystery, psychological thriller, supernatural suspense, ghost stories, romantic suspense, historical fiction, women's fiction, middle grade, ya, horror, non-fiction, self-help, narrative non-fiction, memoir

Crime fiction encompassing thriller, mystery, and psychological thriller; supernatural suspense; ghost stories; romantic suspense; historical fiction; women's fiction; children's fiction at middle grade and YA level; horror; and non-fiction including topical, accessible works such as self-help, narrative non-fiction, and memoir. Does not represent science fiction, fantasy, short stories, poetry collections, erotica, or picture books.

Submit by email only. Fiction submissions should include a cover letter in the body of the email, a short bio, a synopsis, and three sample chapters as separate attachments. Non-fiction submissions should include a cover letter in the body of the email, a short bio, a proposal with chapter breakdown, and three sample chapters as separate attachments. Use the submissions page at https://shesto-literary.com or submissions or to send your materials.

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Fiona Lindsay

Limelight Management

Open

General fiction, thrillers, crime, historical fiction, suspense, mystery, women's commercial fiction, non-fiction, arts and crafts, cookery, biography and autobiography, popular science, business, natural history, sport, travel, healthWants: See submissions page; requires synopsis and first 3 chapters.

General fiction including thrillers, crime, historical fiction, suspense, mystery, and women's commercial fiction. On the nonfiction side, illustrated books covering arts and crafts, cookery, biography and autobiography, popular science, business, natural history, sport, travel, and health. Open to submissions from new authors.

Email a brief synopsis and the first three chapters as Word or Open Document attachments to mail@limelightmanagement.com. Include 'Submission' in the subject line and the title of your work in the attachment filename. Also include a note about your professional life and writing ambitions.

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Jamie Maclean

Coombs Moylett Maclean (CMM)

Open

Fiction and non-fictionWants: Sexual politics; relationships; lifestyle how-to; erotica; thrillers; whodunit; historical crime

Sexual politics, relationships, lifestyle how-tos, erotica, thrillers, whodunit, historical crime

Email submissions@cmm.agency with: a one-paragraph author biography, a one-paragraph blurb or hook including genre and intended audience, a short synopsis covering plot, setting, theme and characters, and the first three chapters as an attachment. Manuscript must be double or 1.5 line-spaced, in 12-point font (preferably Times New Roman), with wide margins and full page numbering. Include your name, address, contact number and email on the first page.

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Emma Finn

C&W Agency

Open

Fiction, narrative non-fictionWants: Thrillers/mystery/suspense; knotty relationship/family novels; big-ideas non-fiction; memoir; pop science; food writing. not children/YA.

Thrillers, mystery, suspense, knotty relationship and family novels, big-ideas non-fiction, memoir, pop science, food writing. Not children's or YA.

Email emma.submissions@cwagency.co.uk with the first three chapters (or approximately 50 pages) and a synopsis for fiction, or a 30-page proposal for non-fiction, plus a covering letter. Attach files in .doc or .docx format. Do not submit to more than one agent.

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Gaia Banks

Sheil Land Associates Ltd

Open

Fiction and non-fiction, children'sWants: Projects with wide international appeal; fiction (general/mystery/romance/suspense-thriller/fantasy-sf/own voices/children's) and non-fiction (biography/history/mind-body-spirit/health/lifestyle/science)

Projects with wide international appeal. Fiction: general, mystery, romance, suspense-thriller, fantasy/SF, own voices, children's. Non-fiction: biography, history, mind-body-spirit, health, lifestyle, science

Email - submissions@sheilland.co.uk

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Lisa Moylett

Coombs Moylett Maclean (CMM Literary Agency)

Open

Fiction and non-fictionWants: Commercial women's fiction with strong hook/twisty plots/emotion/drama; eclectic list. agency also considers crime/mystery/suspense/thrillers, horror, historical, commercial and literary; non-fiction incl politics/current affairs, environment, lifestyle, popular science, self-help/how-to, true crime.

Commercial women's fiction with strong hook/twisty plots/emotion/drama, eclectic list. Agency also considers crime/mystery/suspense/thrillers, horror, historical, commercial and literary, non-fiction including politics/current affairs, environment, lifestyle, popular science, self-help/how-to, true crime

Email submissions@cmm.agency with a one-paragraph author biography, a one-paragraph blurb or hook including genre and audience, a short synopsis covering plot, setting, theme and characters, and the first three chapters as an attachment. Manuscript must be double or 1.5 line-spaced, with wide margins, in a font no smaller than 12-point (preferably Times New Roman), fully page-numbered, with your name, address, contact number and email on the first page.

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Camilla Bolton

Darley Anderson

Open

FictionWants: Mystery; suspense; thrillers; crime; book club fiction; grounded speculative/high-concept (no high fantasy); stories with escapism; strong series characters; ensemble casts; nature-as-character settings

Mystery, suspense, thrillers, crime, book club fiction, grounded speculative/high-concept (no high fantasy), stories with escapism, strong series characters, ensemble casts, nature-as-character settings

Online form - https://darleyanderson.com or submissions/

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Ian Drury

Sheil Land Associates

Open

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, book club fiction, contemporary fiction, commercial women's fiction, crime, mystery, thrillers, fantasy, genre romance, historical fiction, horror, ghost stories, sagas, science fiction, biography, memoir, cookery, gardening, gift books, humour, history, military history, lifestyle, mind-body-spirit, self-improvement, politics, popular science, psychology, travel, children's, yaWants: Sf/fantasy; sweeping historical fiction; character-driven sci-fi; action/adventure; crime. non-fiction: history; biography; music

SF/fantasy, sweeping historical fiction, character-driven sci-fi, action/adventure, crime. Non-fiction: history, biography, music

Email submissions@sheilland.co.uk with a cover letter, a one-page synopsis (fiction) or brief outline (non-fiction), a short CV, and the first three chapters or around fifty pages. Submissions should be 1.5 line spaced with margins and page numbers, and must include a word count. Only one work at a time. No AI-generated content accepted.

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Sophie Gorell Barnes

MBA Literary Agents

Open

Fiction and non-fiction, audio rights, some playwrightsWants: Currently focused on: children's fiction, historical fiction, mystery and supernatural horror; seeking slick and humorous middle grade fiction and stem titles for children (per agent page).

Children's fiction, historical fiction, mystery and supernatural horror; particularly slick and humorous middle grade fiction and STEM titles for children

Email - submissions@mbalit.co.uk (FAO Sophie Gorell Barnes)

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Nina Leon

Pérez Literary & Entertainment

Open

FictionWants: Represents all genres in fiction; especially romance-forward projects. adult/new adult focus: fantasy romance and dark fantasy romance (medium-high spice), portal fantasies, fae/witches, gothic romance, dark fairytale retellings, court intrigue; also romcom and dark/magical academia. YA: first love stories, spooky/macabre (tim burton aesthetic), epic love stories, modern retellings; mystery in unusual setting. MG: darker/whimsical adventures (e.g., coraline vibes) plus humour and quirky characters; seeks LGBTQ and, disabled and minority representation

All genres in fiction, especially romance-forward projects. Adult/New Adult focus: fantasy romance and dark fantasy romance (medium-high spice), portal fantasies, fae/witches, gothic romance, dark fairytale retellings, court intrigue, romcom, and dark/magical academia. YA: first love stories, spooky/macabre (Tim Burton aesthetic), epic love stories, modern retellings, mystery in unusual settings. MG: darker/whimsical adventures (e.g., Coraline vibes), humour and quirky characters. Seeks LGBTQ+, disabled, and minority representation.

QueryManager - https://querymanager.com or query or NinaLeon

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Hannah Todd

Janklow & Nesbit UK

Closed

Commercial fictionWants: Commercial adult fiction; especially romance, SFF, mystery; seeks strong voice/characterisation and plot; especially keen for fantasy; no children's/MG/YA.

Commercial adult fiction, especially romance, SFF, mystery, seeks strong voice/characterisation and plot, especially keen for fantasy, no children's/MG/YA

Email submissions@janklow.co.uk with the subject line 'Submitting to Hannah Todd'

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Victoria Cappello

The Bent Agency

Closed

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.

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Chloe Davis

Darley Anderson Children's Book Agency

Closed

Children's fictionWants: Middle grade with mystery/adventure; heartfelt contemporary MG; ambitious fantasy; young fiction (5-8) with clear hook; YA (incl romantasy/thrillers/romance tropes); underrepresented voices

Middle grade with mystery/adventure, heartfelt contemporary MG, ambitious fantasy, young fiction (5-8) with clear hook, YA (incl romantasy/thrillers/romance tropes), underrepresented voices

Email chloe@darleyanderson.com when open to submissions

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Emily Talbot

United Agents

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Children's authors and illustratorsWants: Picture books; young fiction (5-8, series/character-led); MG (incl mystery/spooky/diary-format/graphic novel); YA (gritty realism; romance with twist; some spec elements); children's non-fiction

Picture books, young fiction (5-8, series/character-led), MG (incl mystery/spooky/diary-format/graphic novel), YA (gritty realism, romance with twist, some spec elements), children's non-fiction

Email (to agent) - https://www.unitedagents.co.uk or etalbotunitedagentscouk

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Madeleine Milburn

Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency

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

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