Crime romance comp titles for your query letter (updated 2026)

When you’re querying a crime romance, choosing the right comp titles can make or break your chances of being published because agents and publishing house editors use comp titles as a quick way to gauge the genre of your book along with its market potential.

I regularly update this list of crime romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.

No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn crime romance or something fast and spicy, you’ll find titles below to help you write a killer query letter!

If you’re looking for something a bit more specific, check out my romance comp database.

1. A Serial Killer's Guide to MarriageAuthor: asia MackayYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
2. Abandoned in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, science fiction, suspense, thriller
3. All the Colors of the DarkAuthor: Chris WhitakerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, crime, historical, mystery, suspense, thriller
4. As Good As DeadAuthor: Holly JacksonYear published: 2021Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, mystery, thriller, young adult
5. Behind a Closed DoorAuthor: J.D. BarkerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, crime, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller
6. Bloodied HandsAuthor: Adelaide ForrestYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mafia, second chance
7. By Frenzy I RuinAuthor: Cora ReillyYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, mafia, new adult, second chance
8. Class ActAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
9. Cold Hearted BastardAuthor: Jenika SnowYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mafia, smut
10. Corpse RoadsAuthor: J. RoseYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mystery, slow burn, suspense, thriller, why choose
11. Corrupt KingdomAuthor: Ava HarrisonYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, mafia
12. Craving DangerAuthor: Michelle HeardYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, mafia, workplace
13. Criminal MischiefAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, adventure, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
14. DetainedAuthor: Luna MasonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, mafia, smut
15. Empire of LustAuthor: J.L. BeckYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mafia, smut
16. For You and Only YouAuthor: Caroline KepnesYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, horror, mystery, thriller
17. Forgotten in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, science fiction, suspense, thriller
18. Good Girl, Bad BloodAuthor: Holly JacksonYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, mystery, thriller, young adult
19. HansAuthor: S.J. TillyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, forced proximity, found family, mafia
20. Hidden TruthsAuthor: Neva AltajYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, forced proximity, mafia
21. HideawayAuthor: Nora RobertsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
22. Hit ListAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
23. Hush-HushAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
24. IdentityAuthor: Nora RobertsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
25. Just a Bit CaptivatedAuthor: Alessandra HazardYear published: 2023Genre and themes: LGBT, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, m m romance
26. Marsh MadnessAuthor: Jana DeleonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, comedy, contemporary, cozy, cozy mystery, crime, humor, mystery
27. MiddletideAuthor: Sarah CrouchYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
28. Murder in Old BombayAuthor: Nev MarchYear published: 2020Genre and themes: India, adult, crime, historical, mystery, thriller
29. My MaddieAuthor: Tillie ColeYear published: 2020Genre and themes: abuse, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, emotional, new adult
30. NeroAuthor: S.J. TillyYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mafia, smut
31. Nine LiarsAuthor: Maureen JohnsonYear published: 2022Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, mystery, thriller, young adult
32. Nothing More to TellAuthor: Karen M. McManusYear published: 2022Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, mystery, thriller, young adult
33. Nothing to See HereAuthor: Susan LewisYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, crime, mystery, thriller
34. Now or NeverAuthor: Janet EvanovichYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, chick lit, contemporary, cozy mystery, crime, humor, mystery, thriller
35. One of Us Is BackAuthor: Karen M. McManusYear published: 2023Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, mystery, thriller, young adult
36. One of Us Is NextAuthor: Karen M. McManusYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, mystery, thriller, young adult
37. OverkillAuthor: Sandra BrownYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
38. Passions in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, suspense, thriller
39. Payback in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, suspense, thriller
40. Rook & RebelAuthor: Kate CrewYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, found family, smut
41. Rook & RebelAuthor: Kate CrewYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, found family, smut
42. Seven Girls GoneAuthor: Allison BrennanYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
43. Shadow StormAuthor: Christine FeehanYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, fantasy, paranormal, suspense, urban fantasy
44. Shadows in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, science fiction, suspense, thriller
45. ShakeupAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
46. Sinful VowAuthor: asia MoniqueYear published: 2022Genre and themes: African American, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mafia, marriage of convenience
47. So Happy TogetherAuthor: Olivia WorleyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
48. State of ShockAuthor: Marie ForceYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, politics, suspense
49. Stolen CrushAuthor: C.M. StunichYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, high school, mystery, new adult, why choose
50. StrandedAuthor: Selena WintersYear published: 2023Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, christmas, crime, dark, erotica, forced proximity, holiday, novella
51. Tease Me OnceAuthor: W. WintersYear published: 2021Genre and themes: BDSM, adult, contemporary, crime, dark, erotica, mafia, smut
52. The BayAuthor: L.J. RossYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, cozy mystery, crime, mystery, summer, suspense, thriller
53. The Box in the WoodsAuthor: Maureen JohnsonYear published: 2021Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, mystery, thriller, young adult
54. The BoyfriendAuthor: Freida McFaddenYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
55. The EmpressAuthor: Michelle HeardYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, mafia, marriage of convenience, second chance
56. The Girls in the SnowAuthor: Stacy GreenYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, book club, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
57. The Hand on the WallAuthor: Maureen JohnsonYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, crime, dark academia, mystery, thriller, young adult
58. The King's RansomAuthor: Janet EvanovichYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, adventure, crime, humor, mystery, suspense, thriller
59. The Mayor of Maxwell StreetAuthor: Avery CunninghamYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, crime, historical, mystery, thriller
60. The Spare ManAuthor: Mary Robinette KowalYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, crime, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, space, thriller
61. The Unknown BelovedAuthor: Amy HarmonYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, crime, historical, mystery, thriller
62. TreasonAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
63. Twisted GameAuthor: Eva AshwoodYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, smut, why choose
64. Untamed VixenAuthor: Luna PierceYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mafia, second chance, smut, why choose
65. Venomous KissAuthor: T.L. SmithYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, forbidden romance, smut
66. Vicious QueenAuthor: Jillian FrostYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, fantasy, m m romance, mafia, smut, why choose
67. When He TakesAuthor: Gabrielle SandsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, crime, dark, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, mafia, marriage of convenience, second chance, slow burn
68. You Can HideAuthor: Rebecca ZanettiYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller

Other resources to assist with your querying journey

Comp titles are only a small piece of the querying puzzle! Here are other resources I offer to help writers achieve their dreams of publishing their novels:

• Developmental editing services
• Pre-querying package
• Publishers accepting manuscript submissions this month
• Romance tropes list
• Random romance trope generator

Frequently asked questions

How recent do comp titles need to be?

Comp titles should be published within the past five to seven years so it is representative of the current market potential of your manuscript.

Can I use bestselling books as a comp title?

Yes, you can! However, the bestselling books aren’t always the most suitable options. While it’s integral that a comp title has sold well, it’s better to choose a comp title that’s sold less well but closer represents the tone and overall vibe of your own book.

How many comp titles should I include in my query letter?

You should aim for two comp titles in your query letter. You can include three, but agents would expect more than one.

Can I use a series as a comp title?

You can, but it’s best to pick a specific book within that series that best represents your manuscript.

What if I can’t find a crime romance comp title that fits my book?

You can broaden your horizons to also include other subgenres of romance!”