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