42 true crime nonfiction publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts in September 2025
You’ve written your true crime book and now it’s time to pitch it to a publisher! All of the publishers listed here are currently accepting nonfiction manuscripts without a literary agent.
Don’t forget to check out my developmental editing services or pre-querying package if you want to make sure your book is in top shape before you send it to a publisher for consideration. I offer a variety of services to suit all budgets, from writers looking for the standard developmental editing experience to those seeking high-level feedback with a quick turnaround time.
BenBella Books
BenBella Books is a publishing boutique that publishes around 40 books a year.
Genre: Nonfiction, including smart pop, plant-based living, big media titles and commercial.
Word count: Not stated.Birlinn
Birlinn is an independent publishing house based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They have an imprint of the same name which publishes Scottish and general UK interest books. They accept direct submissions but encourage seeking a literary agent.
Genre: Nonfiction, including biography, history, military, politics and Scottish Gaelic that relates to Scotland and the UK.
Word count: Not stated.Blue River Press
Blue River Press opened their doors in 2004 and has since published over 200 books.
Genre: Fiction (especially mystery), children's books, and nonfiction, including biography, cookbooks, education, health & fitness, history, humor, nature, social sciences, sport, travel and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Bloomsbury Academic
Bloomsbury Academic promotes excellence and originality in scholarship, teaching, learning, and professional practice.
Genre: Nonfiction include history, architecture, art, contemporary issues, religion, business, technology, science, design, education, environment, food, gender, geography, interior design, math, languages, music, philosophy, psychology, sport, health & wellness, parenting, self-help, true crime and young adult.
Word count: Not stated.Headpress Books
Headpress was founded in Manchester, England. They publish a variety of nonfiction books, including cult film, pulp literature, conspiracy theories, occult, true crime and pop culture.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Optimum Publishing
Optimum Publishing opened their doors in 1970.
Genre: Nonfiction, including Canadian affairs, true crime, business and biography.
Word count: Not stated.Sourcebooks
Sourcebooks is the adult nonfiction imprint of their parent company of the same name, Sourcebooks.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Penguin Random House New Zealand
Penguin Random House New Zealand celebrates writers, stories and ideas that entertain and inspire.
Genre: Adult fiction and nonfiction. Children's submissions are closed until 2025.
Word count: Around 80,000 words (guideline).Fayetteville Mafia Press
Fayetteville Mafia Press publishes nonfiction books across pop culture, sports and true crime.
Genre: Nonfiction focusing on pop culture, sports and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Big Sky Publishing
Big Sky Publishing is an independent Australian publisher that loves to bring great Australian stories to readers everywhere.
Genre: Nonfiction including history, military history, and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Bancroft Press
Bancroft Press is a publisher without a niche! They publish titles they're passionate about.
Genre: Literary fiction and genre fiction, including contemporary, financial thriller, historical, Jewish, LGBTQ+, legal thriller, medical, mystery, political, romance, rural, satire, science fiction, suspense and general thriller. For nonfiction, they accept biography, crime, essays, finance, history, humor, investing, memoir, movie reviews, parenting, politics, psychology, religion, self-help, spiritual and sports.
Word count: Not stated.Affirm Press
Affirm Press is an independent Melbourne-based publisher dedicated to publishing Australian stories and ideas. Please note they only accept submissions from Australian authors or authors based in Australia.
Genre: Literary and genre fiction as well as nonfiction that is engaging and entertaining.
Word count: Novel-length work.Black Lyon Publishing
Black Lyon Publishing was founded in 2007 and is an independent publishing house operating in Oregon.
Genre: Political and legal thrillers and nonfiction in the areas of true crime, politics, spirituality and travel.
Word count: 55,000 to 95,000 words.Epicenter Press
Epicenter Press publishes books related to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Genre: Fiction and nonfiction relating to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, including biography, memoir, history, humor, life in the North, Native American culture and true crime.
Word count: 50,000 to 100,000 words.Schaffner Press
Schaffner Press was founded in 2001 and has since published over 50 books.
Genre: Literary fiction, short fiction, historical fiction with socially relevant content and crime fiction. For nonfiction, they accept memoir, biography, autobiography, journalistic expose, true crime, art, culture, pop culture, world history, current events, science, arts, US history, military history and music.
Word count: 60,000 to 100,000 words.Wakefield Press
Wakefield Press is a leading independent publishing company based in Adelaide.
Genre: Genre fiction, especially crime, literary fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Pan Macmillan Australia
Pan Macmillan Australia is committed to investing in Australian authors and publishes a variety of bestselling books.
Genre: Middle grade, young adult, commercial and literary fiction. For nonfiction, they're interested in narrative nonfiction, contemporary issues, memoir, history, true crime, lifestyle, health, and mind, body & spirit.
Word count: Not stated.Kensington Publishing Corp.
Kensington Publishing Corp. is an independent publisher based in New York City, releasing over 300 titles per year in a range of popular genres.
Genre: Literary and genre fiction (romance, mystery, suspense, thriller, upmarket, historical, speculative, mystery and romantasy) and nonfiction (biography, memoir, history, true crime, pop culture, film, TV, music, military history, narrative law enforcement and pop science). Each editor has their preferences across various genres of fiction and nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Dundurn Press
Dundurn Press is an independent Canadian-owned publisher of contemporary fiction and nonfiction. They only accept fiction submissions from Canadian authors, but welcome nonfiction submissions from writers worldwide.
Genre: Literary fiction and literary nonfiction. They also accept trade nonfiction in the genres of biography, history (especially Canadian and social history), public policy, politics, business, economics, true crime, self help, wellbeing, supernatural, Canadiana and local interest, travel, sport, music, culture, city building, architecture, social science and popular science.
Word count: Not stated.Anomalist Books
Anomalist books publishes well-researched work on maverick science, unexplained mysteries, unorthodox theories, strange talents, and unexpected discoveries.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.WildBlue Press
Wildblue Press was founded by two college friends who recognized that the publishing world was changing. They strive to create a unique and engaging process for authors.
Genre: Fiction in the genres of fantasy, mystery, romance, science fiction and thriller. For nonfiction, they accept biography, memoir, history and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Flanker Press
Flanker Press publishes general trade books with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content.
Genre: Literary fiction, children's books, middle grade, young adult, upmarket fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction and nonfiction with strong Newfoundland and Labrador content. For nonfiction, they accept biography, autobiography, cooking, crafts & hobbies, gardening, general, history, humour, nature, politics, reference, religion & spirituality, sea stories, thriller, true crime and wartime history.
Word count: Not stated.ECW Press
ECW Press has published close to 1,000 books, including nonfiction, poetry and fiction. Please note that they accept poetry and fiction from Canadians only but accept nonfiction submissions from around the world.
Genre: Fiction, including literary, mystery, crime, science fiction, young adult, middle grade and humour. They also accept poetry and nonfiction, including sports, pop culture, memoir, biography, science, nature, true crime, travel, business, personal finance, poker, literary criticism and reference.
Word count: Not stated.HarperCollins New Zealand
HarperCollins is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world. Their New Zealand company was established in 1888.
Genre: Nonfiction. They are not accepting fiction submissions at this time.
Word count: Not stated.Black Rose Writing
Black Rose Writing is a Texas-based publisher who strongly believes in developing a personal relationship with their authors. Please note that Writer Beware wrote an article about Black Rose Writing. Please do your research before submitting.
Genre: Fiction, including action, fantasy, historical, horror, humor, inspirational, LGBT, literary, mystery, suspense, paranormal, romance, science fiction, thriller, women's fiction. They accept children's books, middle grade and young adult books as well. For nonfiction, they accept biography, memoir, business, history, humor, inspirational, spiritual, military, self-help, sports and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Chicago Review Press
Chicago Review Press opened in 1973 and publishes titles of lasting interest and groundbreaking works that go beyond the trends.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Goose Lane
Goose Lane is based in New Brunswick and provides book lovers with a variety of great reads that inspire and spur conversations. They primarily publish Canadian authors living in Canada but will consider submissions from Canadians living abroad if the book has extraordinary interest to Canadian readers.
Genre: Literary, queer and historical fiction. For nonfiction, they consider biography, memoir, business, politics, social sciences, mind & spirit, nature, philosophy, travel, true crime, Indigenous, military heritage and trail guides.
Word count: Not stated.Hamilcar Publications
Hamilcar Publications is a Boston-based publisher focusing on the area of professional boxing, true crime, hip-hop, jazz and related topics.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of boxing, true crime, hip-hop, jazz and related topics.
Word count: Not stated.Icon Books
Icon Books is an independent publisher specializing in intelligent, quality nonfiction for a general audience.
Genre: Adult nonfiction, including history, biography, memoir, politics, current affairs, business, economics, military history, true crime, popular science, philosophy, psychology, self help, family health, lifestyle, travel, nature, environment, sport, religion and transport.
Word count: Not stated.Down East Trade
Down East Trade publishes regional books local to Maine or books written by Maine authors.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of antiques, art, architecture, biography, body, mind, spirit, business, cooking, craft, hobbies, design, family games, gardening, health, fitness history, nature, humor, photography, pets, reference, sciences, sports, travel, and true crime. They also accept fiction, children's books and middle grade.
Word count: Not stated.Durvile
Durvile is an imprint of Durvile & UpRoute, a small and mighty Canadian indie press.
Genre: Nonfiction, including true cases and Indigenous spirit, and memoirs.
Word count: Not stated.J. Gordon Shillingford
J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing was founded in Winnipeg in 1992 and now publishes 10 titles annually.
Genre: Poetry and nonfiction the areas of politics, religion, true crime and biography.
Word count: Not stated.TCU Press
TCU Press publishes the history, culture and literature of Texas and the American West. They are the university press of Texas Christian University.
Genre: Children's books, genre fiction, literary fiction and nonfiction. They publish a wide variety of genres from history, nature, art, biography, photography, humor, young adult, cooking, religion, science, education, law and more. I suggest you look at their website to see the full list as I can't possibly list them all here!
Word count: Not stated.The Kent State University Press
The Kent State University Press was founded in 1965 and is the publishing arm of Kent State University.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Prometheus Books
Prometheus Books was founded in 1969 and is committed to testing the boundaries of established thought.
Genre: Nonfiction in the areas of popular science, critical thinking, philosophy, history, atheism, humanism, current events, psychology and true crime.
Word count: Not stated.Process Media
Process Media publishes writers of distinction and unique perspectives. They consider themselves a formidable force in independent publishing and document important cultural movements.
Genre: Historical fiction, middle grade stories and nonfiction in the areas of memoir, biography, music, history, self-reliance, realpolitik, true crime, mysticism and occult.
Word count: Not stated.Steerforth Press
Steerforth Press seeks to publish books that are well written and engage the full attention of the reader.
Genre: Narrative nonfiction, such as investigative or literary journalism, true crime and history for a general audience.
Word count: Not stated.The History Press
The History Press is an independent nonfiction publisher based in Gloucestershire in the UK. Their values are quality, honesty, inclusive and socially conscious.
Genre: Historical or general nonfiction, such as memoir, entertainment, travel, true crime and many more.
Word count: Not stated.University of Regina Press
University of Regina Press publishes a variety of scholarly and trade books on a wide range of subjects.
Genre: Scholarly and trade books.
Word count: Not stated.The O'Brien Press
The O'Brien Press is a leading general publisher of adult and children's books in Ireland. They publish a range of books and are always looking to explore new and exciting areas.
Genre: Children's fiction, children's nonfiction and adult nonfiction. They are more likely to publish authors based in Ireland but are open to submissions from authors all around the world.
Word count: Not stated.Formac
Formac publishes a variety of genres, especially nonfiction related to Mi'kma'ki, children's fiction and other nonfiction.
Genre: Children's books, middle grade, young adult and adult nonfiction.
Word count: Not stated.Ulysses Press
Ulysses Press publishes books that seek to move along the cultural cutting edge. They do this by publishing books at the forefront of emerging trends and finding unique angles on established topics unexplored by other publishers.
Genre: Genre fiction and nonfiction that stands out and fills demonstrated niches in the trade book market. For nonfiction they accept humor, true crime, pop culture, cooking, health & fitness, self help, education, DIY, gifts and tarot & magic.
Word count: Not stated.
Word count: 100,000 to 130,000 words.
Best of luck with your manuscript submissions! If you want to ensure your manuscript is in the best position to be accepted, check out my developmental editing services, pre-querying package or my free writing advice.