Why Are Crime Thrillers Dominating in 2026?

Crime thrillers have always held a special place in storytelling, but in 2026, their popularity has reached new heights. Readers are looking for stories that keep them guessing and thinking, and crime thrillers do just that. With the rise of true-crime podcasts and streaming series, the appeal of mystery, suspense and drama has increased significantly.

Audiences are attracted to realistic plots, morally complex characters and surprising endings. Crime thrillers offer readers what other genres don’t always provide.

Crime thrillers are dominating in 2026 because they match with what readers want in a book.

What Are Editors Looking For in a Crime Thriller?

Before submitting a crime thriller, it’s important to understand what editors prioritize in 2026. Having a good story isn’t enough, they also want originality and new content, with themes and stories that haven’t been published before.

With regards to originality, Editors do not want to see repeated plots and themes in manuscripts. Coming up with new and fresh ideas with your book can help your book be published. It can be in the form of introducing morally complex and flawed yet layered characters in your story. Character depth is important in a good story.

Your story should contain strong writing and structure. Your plot should be original and clear but you should also write accurately and not sacrifice realism for originality. Editors should feel confident that the manuscript is well written and doesn’t require much rewriting.

You can show professionalism by sending a well-formatted manuscript, a concise synopsis, and a thoughtful cover letter to the publishing house

When you create a compelling, original, clear and structured story, it puts you ahead of other manuscripts. Once you fulfil what editors expect out of your manuscript, it will only be smooth sailing from here.

Crafting a Killer Manuscript: Tips for Crime Thriller Writers

Here is how you can create a “killer” manuscript!

1. An enthralling protagonist is great for your crime thriller novel. Although not always necessary, a protagonist who is seen as the good guy will resonate with your readers. But don’t be afraid to switch it up!
2. A point of view that you stick to should be applied on all pages, else it would throw off your readers if you do so without reason.
3. You can use red herrings in your book. It refers to a misleading or false clue. It can give the reader the impression that they know what happens next, but the usage of this literary device says otherwise.
4. Plot twists can also be used by writers. Novels should be engaging, and plot twists keep the reader excited.
5. Cliffhangers can be used at the end of each chapter. Some authors use cliffhangers at the end of the story.

Authors need to note that they cannot rely on just these elements and that the story is what’s most important. Overuse of common themes can bore the reader and it might not appeal to publishers unless the content is original and creative. Readers also desire characters that are far from the norm, unreliable narrators, originality and creativity that would make the book a good read.

Balancing Realism and Entertainment in Your Story

Readers desire relatable characters, plotlines and the like. Authors can make engaging books without sacrificing realism or entertainment. It can be framed in such a way that we get a story with realistic and engaging elements. The author needs to connect with their readers. For example, in case of a crime scene, the author can do research on what crime scenes look like, and if possible, interview people who have witnessed a crime scene firsthand. This can make the story seem more realistic even if it is fictional.

How to Submit a Book to a Publishing House

After writing, editing and rewriting your book, you need to publish it. Publishing it can definitely seem nerve wracking but once it goes through, it is a smooth process.

With traditional publishing, you have to connect with an agent for publication. Unless you’re a published author, this process will be very difficult. For it, you need to publish a query letter which speaks about your book and why they should publish it.

With hybrid publishing, most of the publication costs are taken up by the publishing house along with some royalties. You choose to gain more royalties.

Connecting With Your Readers

Having a social media presence is crucial for any author. With social media, you can make a name for yourself. You need to identify your target audience and promote your book on various social media platforms. Tiktok and Instagram are two extremely important social media platforms that help in boosting your book sales.

BookTok is a massive subcommunity on tiktok that focuses on books and literature. Usually, information, reviews and recommendations of books are given on BookTok. You can post updates about your book and promote it on BookTok.

You can also create a newsletter to contact your audience. You can target several book niches that apply to your book to promote your book on various platforms. You can even write reviews of other books, perhaps books that fall under the same or similar subgenres of your book, promote other authors’ books and so on.

Strategies to Make Your Crime Thriller Reach the Right Audience

In order to reach your target audience, you need to follow the following strategies:

• Create your website. It will be easier to gain more information on your book and about you as well. You should style your website in such a way that it is easy to learn more about your book and yourself.
• Start writing a blog. Make sure to give updates on your book, and topics that apply to your book.
• Search Engine Optimization is very crucial and you should use appropriate keywords to let your content be among the top search results.
• Write guest posts for other blogs to promote your book.
• Appear on podcasts with a similar niche to promote your book.
• Partnering with influencers to promote your book can be crucial for you to gain more readers. Be sure to target book influencers that frequently speak about crime thrillers, crime fiction or thrillers.
• A good book blurb can make you reach your target audience. Ensure to make a short but interesting blurb that will convince people to read your book.

Standing Out and Succeeding in the 2026 Crime Thriller Market

It has never been easy to stand out and succeed in the book world, and the crime thriller world is no different. Among a sea of crime thriller books, what separates yours from the rest?

To stand out in the 2026 Crime Thriller Market you’ll need an original story, one that’s creative and entertaining. Refine your work consistently. Other factors include creating content of high quality, effective marketing, SEO optimization, social media, networking, and book signings.

With all these elements, your story can be a unique one among others. Get your work published with Austin Macauley, a hybrid publishing house with locations in the US, UK and UAE today!