311 agents · 201 currently open to submissions
Crime and thriller fiction in the United States spans everything from cozy mysteries set in small towns to psychological thrillers exploring unreliable narrators, with 100+ agents representing various approaches to the category. Some focus on police procedurals and detective series, while others seek domestic suspense, Nordic noir influences, or literary crime fiction that blends genre elements with character-driven narratives. The category includes agents who represent traditional mystery series reminiscent of Agatha Christie's work alongside those seeking contemporary psychological suspense in the vein of Gillian Flynn or Tana French. Many agents cross over into adjacent areas such as romantic suspense, historical mysteries, or speculative crime fiction. Before submitting, writers should research whether agents prefer standalone novels or series, their tolerance for graphic content, and their interest in specific subgenres like legal thrillers, espionage fiction, or amateur sleuth mysteries. Understanding each agent's recent deals helps determine whether they lean toward commercial page-turners, literary crime fiction, or niche subgenres within the broader category.
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
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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
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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
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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.
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
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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.
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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.
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.
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya
Stephanie Cabot represents a range of fiction and non-fiction at the New York office of Susanna Lea Associates. 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 are always looking for new voices and good stories with strong international potential.
Check agent's submission page
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, women's fiction, crime, thrillers, narrative non-fiction, memoir, current affairs, personal development, humor, ya
Stephen M. Morrison represents a range of fiction and nonfiction at Susanna Lea Associates' New York office. His interests encompass Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Women's Fiction, Crime, Thrillers, Narrative Nonfiction, Memoir, Current Affairs, Personal Development, Humor, and select Young Adult with crossover appeal.
Check agent's submission page
Literary fiction, commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, current affairs, politics, civil rights, memoir, business, history, health and wellness
Fiction and nonfiction across a wide range of genres. Nonfiction interests include current affairs, politics, civil rights, health and wellness, memoir, business, and history; fiction interests include literary and commercial novels, including mysteries and thrillers. Works with established authors, journalists, and public figures whose work demonstrates significant cultural impact or commercial potential.
Other submissions
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.
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.
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.
Narrative nonfiction, military, sports, celebrity memoir, thriller, mystery, historical fiction, young adult, romance, music, style, business, home improvement, cookbooks, self-help, science, theater, fiction, nonfiction
Wants: Query letter
Doug represents a mix of fiction and nonfiction, including narrative nonfiction, military, sports, memoir, thrillers, mysteries, historical fiction, young adult fiction, romance, music, style, business, home improvement, cookbooks, self-help, science, theater, and general fiction/nonfiction.
Query by email. Historical agency guidance lists query@dgliterary.com as the submissions address and asks writers not to send sample material unless requested.
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