US Crime & thriller Literary Agents

Adult nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, architecture, history, politics, natural history, true crime, science, environment, women's issues, parenting, cooking, psychology, health, wellness, diet, business, spirituality, picture books, lifestyle, sustainability, reference, sports, travel, gardening

Regina Ryan Books is a Manhattan-based boutique literary agency primarily representing adult nonfiction. Its areas of interest include well-written narrative nonfiction, architecture, history, politics, natural history especially birds, true crime, science especially the brain, the environment, women's issues, parenting, cooking, psychology, health, wellness, diet, business, non-religious contemporary spirituality, children's picture books, lifestyle, sustainability, popular reference, sports, narrative travel, and gardening.

Regina Ryan Books is currently closed to submissions according to the official submissions page.

Commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime fiction, mystery, suspense, book club fiction, upmarket fiction, literary fiction

Rebecca Scherer is an agent at Jane Rotrosen Agency. She represents commercial fiction across genres, with particular interest in women's fiction, crime and mystery, suspense, book club fiction, and upmarket or literary-leaning fiction.

Rebecca Scherer is presently closed to queries except by referral according to her official JRA contact page.

Commercial fiction, select nonfiction, book club fiction, historical fiction, women's fiction, older young adult, fantasy, contemporary fiction, crime fiction, thrillers, suspense, mystery, romance, psychological horror, magical realism

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, requested materials

Marlene Stringer represents commercial fiction and select nonfiction. Her official wishlist includes book club fiction that straddles the commercial/literary line, historical fiction, contemporary and historical women's fiction, older YA in fantasy and contemporary, crime fiction, all types of thrillers, suspense, all types of mysteries, romance except erotic romance, psychological horror, and magical realism.

StringerLit uses QueryManager and accepts queries only through the linked form, but Marlene Stringer's official linked QueryManager page currently says she is closed to catch up on requested manuscripts. When open, use the official QueryManager link only, queries sent otherwise are deleted unread. Submit to only one StringerLit agent at a time and only one manuscript at a time.

Literary fiction, upmarket commercial fiction, ya, middle grade, crime fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction

Literary and upmarket commercial fiction (including select young adult and middle grade), crime fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction

Currently closed for unsolicited submissions

Book club fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, thriller, memoir, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction, mystery, romance

Erin Niumata represents book club fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, thrillers, memoir, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, prescriptive nonfiction, mystery, and romance.

Erin Niumata's official profile links to QueryManager, but her official linked QueryManager page currently says she is not accepting queries and will open again before the end of the year.

Literary fiction, literary suspense, thriller, book club fiction, speculative fiction, experimental fiction, true crime, upmarket fiction, crime fiction, literary horror

Danya Kukafka is interested in literary fiction with propulsive storylines, literary suspense, sophisticated thrillers, book club fiction, speculative fiction, experimental fiction, true crime attuned to cultural conversations, upmarket fiction, crime fiction with a literary bent, literary horror that plays with form and structure, lightly speculative fiction, expansive literary fiction, dark coming-of-age, and fun sophisticated upmarket fiction.

Danya Kukafka is currently closed to queries. Her official Trellis profile links to QueryManager, and the linked QueryManager page states that she is not accepting queries at this time and will be closed through the summer.

Fantasy, thriller, romance, commercial fiction

Christina Hogrebe represents authors at every stage in their careers and is drawn to fun, escapist stories that also spark lively debate, especially fantasy, thriller, and romance. Her official profile says she would love to champion an author underrepresented in those categories.

Christina Hogrebe is not currently accepting unsolicited queries. Jane Rotrosen Agency has general submission guidance for open agents, but Christina's official profile controls her current closed status.

General fiction, women's fiction, suspense, commercial fiction

Andrea Cirillo has a strong affinity for female voices and primarily represents writers of general fiction, women's fiction, and suspense, many from debut novels.

Andrea Cirillo is no longer accepting unsolicited queries. Jane Rotrosen Agency asks writers to submit to only one JRA agent, but Andrea's official profile states she is not accepting unsolicited queries.

Literary fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, romantasy, literary suspense, thrillers, contemporary fiction, short stories, narrative nonfiction

Elizabeth Pratt looks for fiction from diverse perspectives and emerging voices that turns the familiar on its head, recounts history from a different point of view, sheds light on something previously unnoticed, or makes readers think differently. Her wishlist includes character-driven literary fiction, family sagas, place-driven fiction, grief-centered fiction, historical fiction, genre-bending fiction, fantasy and romantasy that breaks common tropes, mythology or folklore retellings, formal experiments, literary suspense, contemporary fiction with young female characters, story collections, and select narrative nonfiction about theater, documenting history, people behind power, and the natural world.

Elizabeth Pratt is currently closed to queries according to her official linked QueryManager page. Trellis accepts unsolicited submissions only through QueryManager and asks writers not to submit to multiple Trellis agents during the 8-12 week review window.

Illustration, picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, thriller, romance, science fiction, horror

Chelsea Hensley represents work across ages and genres, including illustration, picture books, middle grade, YA, adult fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, thrillers, romcoms, science fiction, horror, and BIPOC creators. Her official profile highlights lyrical prose, voice, intricate plots, complex emotional arcs, immersive worlds, bold formal or genre-blending work, smart mysteries and thrillers, arresting horror, fresh fantasy and sci-fi, and author-illustrator picture books.

Chelsea Hensley is currently closed to queries. Her official Mad Woman profile links to QueryManager, and the linked form states that she is not accepting queries while focusing on existing clients and clearing her inbox.

Fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, thriller, graphic novels, non-fiction

Wants: Query letter, bio, sample pages

Shannon seeks dark gothic fantasy, horror across all speculative levels, science fantasy that blurs magic and science, mysteries with cinematic feel, and graphic novels with found families or unsettling elements. She values experimental styles, unreliable narrators, excellent prose, strange concepts, botanical uncanniness, and stories incorporating religious elements.

Submit via QueryManager only. Select one agent to submit to initially. Include polished query letter, bio, and appropriate sample pages based on format.

Horror, gothic romance, grounded fantasy, thriller, mysteries, commercial fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, historical fiction, erotic fiction

Wants: Query letter, 10-20 pages, synopsis

She seeks horror across almost all subgenres and age categories, gothic romance, grounded fantasy, thrillers and mysteries with non-cop protagonists, commercial fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, historical fiction featuring BIPOC and queer characters, and adult erotic fiction especially featuring BIPOC and LGBTQIA characters. She particularly welcomes stories by Honduran authors and Latine/x authors from Central America and the Caribbean.

All ALA agents use Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time, but if one agent passes, you can submit to up to three agents at ALA. Submit 10-20 polished pages for novels.

Fantasy, science fiction, horror, contemporary romance, mysteries, thriller

Wants: Query letter, bio, 10-20 pages

She intends to represent marginalized authors and is especially seeking to uplift indigenous voices and voices from the Global South. She's particularly keen on growing her contemporary romance, thriller, and horror lists. She's looking for K-drama-style high-stakes romance, queer rivals-to-lovers sports romance, sapphic romantasy, BIPOC vampire horror with social commentary, and sex-positive, kink-positive contemporary romance.

All ALA agents use Query Manager. Submit to one agent at a time with a polished query letter, bio, and 10-20 polished pages for novels.

Historical fiction, foreign fiction, women's fiction, thriller, mysteries, middle grade fiction, history, business, political thought

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Josh is particularly interested in foreign and historical fiction, women's fiction, thrillers and mysteries, and some middle grade fiction. In nonfiction, he seeks history including micro-histories, business, and political thought.

Send a query letter and the first five pages of your manuscript within the email with no attachments to the appropriate agent. Submit to only one agent at a time.

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, young adult

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

Literary/commercial novels that tackle timely issues and uncomfortable relationship dynamics. High-concept, character-driven novels with one foot in genre. Delightful and emotionally engaging novels that can be read repeatedly. Character-driven thrillers, speculative, science fiction and fantasy that illuminate the world through imagined worlds.

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

Upmarket fiction, historical fiction, supernatural suspense

Bold, emotionally resonant fiction with unforgettable characters, strong stakes, and a sense of urgency. Especially drawn to upmarket, historical, and supernatural suspense, with a soft spot for haunting atmosphere, richly layered relationships, and characters who carry deep emotional wounds

Check agent's submission page

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.

Fiction, nonfiction, women's fiction, romance, thriller, horror, memoir, how-to, advice, relationships, health, wellness, politics, current events, history

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

Latoya has represented fiction and nonfiction, with past interests including high-concept women's fiction, romance, thrillers, horror, memoir, how-to/advice, relationships, health and wellness, politics, current events, and history.

No current unsolicited-query route found on the official LCS site. Treat as closed unless a current official submissions page appears.

Fiction, narrative non-fiction, thriller, horror, science fiction, magical realism

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Carson seeks voice-forward fiction with distinct authorial voices and elevated, stylish writing across genres including thrillers, horror, science fiction, and magical realism, with a preference for novels that are hard to definitively categorize. In non-fiction, she looks for narrative works including previously untold history, intimate memoirs, or portraits of contemporary cultural phenomena.

Submit query letter and 5 sample pages through Query Manager with the word QUERY and project title in subject line. Do not send attachments unless requested.

Fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult, thriller, romance

Lisa is interested in fantasy and science fiction with complex systems, cohesive worldbuilding, moral ambiguity, non-Western settings, marginalized protagonists, and stories driven by character choices. She also wants horror, YA fantasy, YA horror, YA science fiction, YA thriller, and YA romance, and likes non-traditional narrative structures.

Lisa is closed to unsolicited queries. Do not send queries by email.

Upmarket fiction, commercial fiction, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, narrative nonfiction, parenting, relationships

Wants: Query letter, sample chapter

Ellen likes women's upmarket and commercial fiction, smart original thrillers and mysteries, sweeping or revisionist historical fiction, witty YA with big topics, narrative nonfiction, and books on parenting and relationships.

Ellen Coughtrey is currently closed to queries. The Gernert Company asks writers to email info@thegernertco.com when querying open agents, indicate which agent they are querying, and include a query letter plus a sample chapter if appropriate.

Upmarket fiction, women's fiction, romance, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, fantasy romance, paranormal romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, psychological thriller, young adult, contemporary ya, ya mystery, ya thriller, ya fantasy

Wants: Query letter, first five pages

Christine is interested in upmarket fiction, women's fiction with crossover or multicultural appeal, romance including contemporary, romantic comedy, mystery/suspense, fantasy/paranormal, mainstream mystery/suspense, psychological thrillers, and emotionally layered contemporary, mystery, thriller, or fantasy young adult.

Book Cents is currently closed to new submissions except by referral. When open, submit e-queries through the site submit button with a query and the first five pages. Book Cents does not send personalized responses unless interested.

General fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, biography, history, african american literature

Wants: Closed to unsolicited queries

The Philip G. Spitzer Literary Agency lists genres and specialties as general fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, biography, history, and African American literature.

The agency is not accepting new clients for representation at this time.

Romance, romantic comedy, women's fiction, thriller, psychological suspense, young adult

Wants: Query letter, synopsis, first three chapters

Tara is seeking completed works with vibrant, fresh voices in romance, especially romantic comedies, women's fiction with fresh hooks, thrillers, psychological suspense, and contemporary young adult.

Tara is closed to submissions until further notice except for personal recommendations and works requested at conferences or events. When open, One Track accepts electronic submissions through QueryManager with a query letter, synopsis, and attachment of the first three chapters.

Romance, women's fiction, southern gothic, alternate history, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, western, middle grade, young adult, nonfiction

Wants: Query letter, first fifteen pages, synopsis, author bio

Nikki is interested in romance, women's fiction, Southern Gothic, alternate histories, grounded science fiction and fantasy, speculative thrillers, fresh westerns, MG and YA with cottage-core or floral magic elements, YA thrillers, and nonfiction on craft, screenwriting, North Carolina history, culinary subjects, hobbies, arts and crafts, and plants or herbs.

Nikki is currently closed. When Holloway is open, email submissions@hollowayliterary.com with the required subject header, query content, word count, genre, pitch, author bio, and first 15 pages pasted in the body.

Literary fiction, women's fiction, mystery, thriller, narrative nonfiction, memoir, graphic memoir, psychology, self-help, popular culture, women's issues, history, biography, lifestyle, careers, health, medicine, parenting, cooking, nutrition, gardening, gift books

Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises is interested in literary fiction, upscale commercial women's fiction, voice-driven mysteries and thrillers, narrative nonfiction especially by journalists, travelogues, memoirs including graphic memoirs, social issues and trends, psychology, self-help, popular culture, women's issues, history and biography, lifestyle, careers, health and medicine, parenting, cooking and nutrition, gardening, and quirky gift books.

Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises is currently closed to submissions so the agency can focus on existing clients.

Picture books, board books, middle grade, christian fiction, memoir, suspense, mystery

Andrea represents children's and adult books. Her listed favorite children's books are picture books, board books, and middle-grade fiction; her favorite adult books are Christian fiction, memoirs, suspense, and mystery.

Inscriptions is currently closed for submissions. The official site says not to email manuscript submissions and to follow the site submission guidelines when open.

Adult fiction, nonfiction, literary fiction, upmarket fiction, thriller, speculative fiction, horror, memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice, cultural criticism, true crime, essay collections

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Meredith represents adult fiction and nonfiction, including transportive fiction, dark or darkly humorous stories, thriller/speculative/horror elements, voice-driven memoir, narrative nonfiction, social justice writing, cultural criticism, true crime, and essays about race, class, and identity.

Submit through UTA Publishing's official query route and select Meredith Miller where available. Do not query multiple UTA literary agents simultaneously.

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.

Science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, thriller, suspense, young adult

Wants: Query letter, sample pages

Katie Shea Boutillier is vice president and rights director at Donald Maass Literary Agency and is listed as an agent in current publishing databases. Specific wishlist details require a deeper official-page pass.

Email Katie Shea Boutillier at ksboutillier@maassagency.com when she is open, following current DMLA submission guidance.

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.

Fantasy, science fiction, horror, women's fiction, romance, mystery or suspense, young adult

Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction

Works with a unique premise and unforgettable characters, underrepresented viewpoints, twisty layered stories, and strong worldbuilding.

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

Young adult fantasy, young adult contemporary, romantasy, adult contemporary, thriller, grounded fantasy, women's fiction

Wants: Query letter, book proposal for nonfiction

Unique hooks, propulsive writing, YA fantasy/contemporary/romantasy/genre-bending, adult contemporary, thriller, grounded fantasy, romantasy, genre-bending, and women's fiction.

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

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

General fiction, nonfiction, commercial fiction, history, thriller, suspense, popular culture, children's books

Wants: Query letter

Andrea Barzvi represents general fiction and nonfiction, including commercial fiction, history, thrillers and suspense, popular culture, and children's books.

Consult Empire Literary's current submission guidance before querying, no direct public query route was confirmed in this pass.

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