The best mystery book developmental editing services

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Kathy 5 star rating

San Diego, United States

Freelance copyeditor and proofreader offering 25 years of experience in scientific and educational publishing

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry, Math & Science, Nature, Action & Adventure, Classics, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Education & Reference, Science Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Academic Press (Elsevier Science/Harcourt)
  • Academic Press
  • Brian F. Smith and Associates (Archaeologist)
  • Converse Consultants West
  • Cajon Valley, Mountain Empire, and Palm Middle Schools
  • Self-employed

Parisa 5 star rating

Brooklyn, NY, United States

Former Simon and Schuster editor with 15+ years of experience, specializing in all fiction genres. I’d love to help get your MS in shape!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self Employed
  • Simon & Schuster

Joanna 5 star rating

Oak Park, IL, United States

Seasoned publishing industry professional with agency experience and a keen eye for detail who embraces all aspects of the editorial process

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Thriller & Suspense, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Browne & Miller Literary Associates
  • The Parlor
  • Literary Agency

Angela 5 star rating

Los Angeles, United States

Editor of more than 1,000 books. I specialize in sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, horror, mystery, thriller, YA, and dystopian fiction.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Alyson Books
  • Self-employed
  • New York Book Editors

Fran 5 star rating

New York, United States

Results driven editor, formerWriters House Bridgerton agent, edited major award winners, working from slush pile to success in publishing.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, Historical Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Writers House
  • youbloom music festival

Lindsey 5 star rating

New York, United States

Experienced editor from a Big Five publisher specializing in mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Action & Adventure, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Grand Central Publishing
  • Crooked Lane Books

Beth 5 star rating

Maineville, United States

Seasoned editor and proofreader with more than 20 years of experience in multiple genres. I have worked with several best-selling authors!

Genres: Health & Wellbeing, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, LGBTQ Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Science Fiction, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

  • Self-Employed

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Patrick 5 star rating

New York, NY, United States

Hands-on, thoughtful editor specializing in memoir, self-help, thriller, mystery, suspense, and YA fiction. Formerly of Simon and Schuster.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Entertainment, Sex & Relationships, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, and Mystery & Crime.

Work experience:

  • Self-Employed
  • Simon & Schuster / Simon Pulse
  • Simon & Schuster / Simon Spotlight Entertainment (SSE) and Gallery Books
  • International Creative Management (ICM)
  • Matt DeCoursey Enterprises / Realist Books

Lynn 5 star rating

Seattle, WA, USA

Certified Story Coach/Developmental Editor with 12 years experience, specializing in action/adventure, lit & historical fiction, and memoir.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Nature, Travel, Literary Fiction, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Julie 5 star rating

New York, United States

I'm an editor with nearly two decades of experience in publishing, most recently at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Story, Middle Grade, Children's, Mystery & Crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Developmental, copy editor, and publishing coach, who works with hundreds of motivated authors to produce professional and polished books.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Children's, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Urban Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Laura 5 star rating

Westfield, NJ, USA

Romance and Mystery/Thriller Editor prev. at Penguin Random House (Berkley), Hachette (James Patterson), and Hooked. Let's perfect a story.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Espionage, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Romantic Comedy.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House
  • Hachette, James Patterson's BookShots
  • Hooked
  • Self-employed

Holly 5 star rating

East Rutherford, NJ, USA

NYT-bestselling, award-winning editor with over 17 years of industry experience, specializing in mysteries, thrillers, suspense, WF, romance

Genres: Women's Fiction, Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, and Historical Mysteries.

Work experience:

  • St. Martin's Press
  • Self-employed
  • BookEnds, LLC
  • Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press

Ann Leslie 5 star rating

New York City, NY, United States

Over 25 years' editorial experience at a Big 5 publisher and a literary agency, specializing in commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Romantic Comedy, Psychological Thriller, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Harlequin Books
  • Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Grace 5 star rating

Chicago, IL, USA

Fantasy || Mystery || Dystopian — 10+ years at Big Five and indies with NYT, USA Today, and Sunday Times bestsellers.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, and Paranormal Romance.

Work experience:

  • Piatkus (Little, Brown Book Group)
  • Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen
  • JMH Scouting

Halley 5 star rating

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Experienced editor passionate about collaborating to polish your manuscript—mysteries, thrillers, and select nonfiction—to meet your goals.

Genres: Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Career Guides, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

  • Wiley
  • Self-employed
  • Putnam

Kristen 5 star rating

New York, NY, USA

Former Big 5 editor. Most manuscript are close. I push them to publishable.

Genres: Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Legal Thriller, Thriller & Suspense, Medical Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Women's Fiction, and Horror.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • New American Library, Penguin Random House
  • Mysterious Press, Warner Books

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