Capital Crime 2026 Pitch An Agent
We are thrilled to be partnering with Capital Crime once again this year to take part in a pitching event designed to help aspiring, unpublished writers prepare to take the next step towards securing literary representation.
We are all actively searching for the next standout voice in crime fiction. If you’ve written a gripping thriller, a twist-filled mystery, or a page-turning police procedural, this could be your opportunity to get your work in front of us and receive one-on-one feedback
Festival ticket holders exclusively are invited to send in their work and submissions will open at 9am on Wednesday 1st April, and close midnight on Thursday 30th April. Please see below for submission guidelines and individual agent wish lists.
Successful applicants will be contacted ahead of the festival with a meeting time and place with their agent of choice. Please note all meetings will take place in person at the Capital Crime Writing Festival in London.
Don’t miss your chance to be discovered.
Submission Guidelines
Please send your first 3,000 words plus a one-page synopsis to pitchdhh@dhhliteraryagency.com. In the subject line, please address it as follows:
CAPITAL CRIME PITCH DHH - [AGENT NAME] [TITLE] [AUTHOR]
The documents should be sent as Microsoft Word attachments (not PDFs or in the body of the email).
Submissions will open on Wednesday 1st April at 9am GMT and close at midnight Thursday 30th April GMT. Any submissions received before or after these times will unfortunately not be considered.
The pitching event is offered to Capital Crime Festival ticket holders exclusively.
If you have been selected for a pitching session, you will be contacted no later than Monday 1st June. While we do aim to respond to everyone either way, due to the volume of submissions received, it is not always possible.
Agent Wishlists
Please ensure you have read the below carefully to ensure you are submitting to the agent most suited to your work.
To view the agents’ full profiles, click on their name.
LOOKING FOR:
. High-concept crime and thriller novels with a strong, immediately graspable hook
. Distinctive voices and memorable protagonists, especially series-potential characters
. Taut pacing with clear narrative drive and escalating stakes
. Fresh takes on classic crime forms such as detective, psychological, legal, or suspense thrillers
. Stories that feel internationally publishable with clear market positioning
LOOKING FOR:
. Atmospheric thrillers with strong pitch
. Psychological suspense
. Police procedurals/detective - I especially love unresolved romantic tension
. Cosy (that isn't too cosy)
NOT LOOKING FOR:
. Gore / violence
. Popcorn thrillers
LOOKING FOR:
. Scottish-set thriller
. Twists and turns
. Memorable characters
. “Just one more page” energy
NOT LOOKING FOR:
. Police procedural
. Historical crime
LOOKING FOR:
. Murder mysteries
. High concept crime/thriller / genre-bending
. Upmarket crime
(eg Chris Whitaker / Liz Moore)
. Espionage
NOT LOOKING FOR:
. Police procedurals
. Anything that is too historical
LOOKING FOR:
. Diverse characters
. Complicated / flawed female leads
. Regional (ie outside London) and unusual settings
. Series potential as well as propulsive stand-alones
. Clear, unique hooks
NOT LOOKING FOR:
. Horror crossover
LOOKING FOR:
. Female-centred thrillers
. Domestic thrillers / suspense
. Psychological thriller
. Popcorn thrillers
. Unique settings
. Rich people doing awful things
NOT LOOKING FOR:
. Police procedural / Detective / PI
. Cosy crime
. Espionage
LOOKING FOR:
. Psychological thriller
. Domestic suspense
. Popcorn thrillers
. Serial killer thrillers
. High concept thrillers
NOT LOOKING FOR:
. Police procedural
. Cosy crime