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

When you’re querying a suspense 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 suspense romance comp titles to make sure you’re always working with relevant books.

No matter if you’re writing a sweet, slow-burn suspense 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 Dirty BusinessAuthor: TijanYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, mafia, suspense
2. A Murder to RememberAuthor: Brynn KellyYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, cozy mystery, mystery, rom com, suspense, thriller
3. A Serial Killer's Guide to MarriageAuthor: asia MackayYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
4. A Twisted Love StoryAuthor: Samantha DowningYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
5. Abandoned in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, science fiction, suspense, thriller
6. All the Colors of the DarkAuthor: Chris WhitakerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, crime, historical, mystery, suspense, thriller
7. Behind a Closed DoorAuthor: J.D. BarkerYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, crime, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller
8. Beneath the WreckageAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, friends to lovers, small town, suspense, workplace
9. Call Me AnytimeAuthor: Max MonroeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, mystery, rom com, slow burn, suspense
10. Can't Look AwayAuthor: Carola LoveringYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
11. Class ActAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
12. Corpse RoadsAuthor: J. RoseYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, dark, mystery, slow burn, suspense, thriller, why choose
13. CrashAuthor: Kathy LockheartYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, doctors, forced proximity, friends to lovers, second chance, suspense
14. Criminal MischiefAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, adventure, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
15. Crimson RiverAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, mystery, small town, suspense
16. Cross My HeartAuthor: Megan CollinsYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, book club, mystery, suspense, thriller
17. Dear ReaderAuthor: Tate JamesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, mystery, suspense, why choose
18. Delicate EscapeAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, he falls first, small town, suspense
19. Desolation RoadAuthor: Christine FeehanYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, erotica, fantasy, paranormal, suspense
20. Everything We Never SaidAuthor: Sloan HarlowYear published: 2024Genre and themes: contemporary, dark, mystery, suspense, thriller, young adult
21. Forgotten in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, science fiction, suspense, thriller
22. Grace, Under FireAuthor: Julie GarwoodYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
23. GunnerAuthor: Rebecca SharpYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, forced proximity, mystery, small town, suspense
24. HersAuthor: A.K. RoseYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, new adult, smut, suspense, why choose
25. HiddenAuthor: Laura GriffinYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
26. HideawayAuthor: Nora RobertsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
27. Hit ListAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
28. Hold Me Until MorningAuthor: A.L. JacksonYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, he falls first, second chance, small town, suspense
29. Hush-HushAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
30. IdentityAuthor: Nora RobertsYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
31. Last Seen AloneAuthor: Laura GriffinYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
32. MiddletideAuthor: Sarah CrouchYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
33. Mind GamesAuthor: Nora RobertsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, paranormal, suspense, thriller
34. My Summer DarlingsAuthor: May CobbYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, mystery, summer, summer reads, suspense, thriller
35. NeighborsAuthor: Danielle SteelYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, book club, chick lit, contemporary, family, mystery, suspense
36. Next to HeavenAuthor: James FreyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
37. No More YesterdaysAuthor: Catherine BybeeYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, family, forced proximity, mystery, suspense
38. OverkillAuthor: Sandra BrownYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
39. Passions in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, suspense, thriller
40. Payback in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, suspense, thriller
41. Pen PalAuthor: J.T. GeissingerYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, mystery, paranormal, smut, suspense, thriller
42. Reckless RoadAuthor: Christine FeehanYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, erotica, fantasy, paranormal, suspense
43. Riven KnightAuthor: Devney PerryYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, mystery, slow burn, small town, suspense
44. Secret HavenAuthor: Catherine CowlesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, forced proximity, found family, friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, second chance, small town, suspense
45. SecretsAuthor: Fern MichaelsYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
46. Seven Girls GoneAuthor: Allison BrennanYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
47. Shadow FlightAuthor: Christine FeehanYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, suspense, urban fantasy
48. Shadow StormAuthor: Christine FeehanYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, fantasy, paranormal, suspense, urban fantasy
49. Shadows in DeathAuthor: J.D. RobbYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, futuristic, mystery, science fiction, suspense, thriller
50. ShakeupAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
51. SickoAuthor: Amo JonesYear published: 2020Genre and themes: BDSM, abuse, adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, new adult, smut, suspense
52. Sleigh Bells and SnowstormsAuthor: Claire KingsleyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, christmas, contemporary, holiday, small town, suspense
53. So Happy TogetherAuthor: Olivia WorleyYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
54. Start a WarAuthor: Elle ThorpeYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, smut, suspense, why choose
55. State of ShockAuthor: Marie ForceYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, politics, suspense
56. The Bachelorette PartyAuthor: Camilla StenYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller
57. The BayAuthor: L.J. RossYear published: 2023Genre and themes: adult, cozy mystery, crime, mystery, summer, suspense, thriller
58. The BoyfriendAuthor: Freida McFaddenYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, book club, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
59. The ChallengeAuthor: Danielle SteelYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, drama, family, mystery, suspense, thriller
60. The CompanionAuthor: Katie AlenderYear published: 2020Genre and themes: contemporary, gothic, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller, young adult
61. The Danger You KnowAuthor: Lily WhiteYear published: 2020Genre and themes: abuse, adult, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, erotica, suspense
62. The FixAuthor: Mia SheridanYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
63. The Girls in the SnowAuthor: Stacy GreenYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, book club, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
64. The King's RansomAuthor: Janet EvanovichYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, adventure, crime, humor, mystery, suspense, thriller
65. The Lady Has a PastAuthor: Amanda QuickYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, historical, mystery, paranormal, suspense
66. The Last GoodnightAuthor: Kat MartinYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
67. The Love of My LifeAuthor: Rosie WalshYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
68. The MirrorAuthor: Nora RobertsYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, fantasy, ghosts, mystery, paranormal, suspense
69. The Nurse's SecretAuthor: Amanda SkenandoreYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, book club, historical, mystery, suspense, thriller
70. The Summer She Went MissingAuthor: Chelsea IchasoYear published: 2024Genre and themes: mystery, summer, summer reads, suspense, thriller, young adult
71. The UnravelingAuthor: Vi KeelandYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
72. The VanishingAuthor: Jayne Ann KrentzYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, fantasy, mystery, paranormal, suspense, thriller
73. The Water KeeperAuthor: Charles MartinYear published: 2020Genre and themes: Christian, adult, book club, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
74. Till Death Do Us PartAuthor: Laurie Elizabeth FlynnYear published: 2024Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
75. TreasonAuthor: Stuart, WoodsYear published: 2020Genre and themes: adult, crime, detective, mystery, suspense, thriller
76. TriangleAuthor: Danielle SteelYear published: 2024Genre and themes: France, adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense, thriller
77. Watch Your BackAuthor: Tate JamesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, mystery, suspense, why choose
78. White NightsAuthor: Anna ZairesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, dark, mafia, new adult, suspense
79. You Can HideAuthor: Rebecca ZanettiYear published: 2022Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, crime, mystery, suspense, thriller
80. You Love MeAuthor: Caroline KepnesYear published: 2021Genre and themes: adult, contemporary, horror, mystery, suspense, thriller
81. You're NextAuthor: Tate JamesYear published: 2025Genre and themes: adult, college, contemporary, dark, enemies to lovers, smut, suspense, why choose

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 suspense romance comp title that fits my book?

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