[QCrit]-ARTFUL DECEIT, Adult, Cozy-Adjacent Mystery, 72,000 words, V1
Hello.
First attempt at a pitch letter draft while I am working on finalizing a title.
I included the name of my non-fiction agent because a fellow writer told me that if I don't explain WHY I am looking for another agent while I already have one, that will look suspicious.
I didn't include the name of my non-fiction book here because that would give away my name and, for now, I want this to be anonymous on Reddit.
Personally, I think the pitch letter is way too long, but I have already cut out a lot from the first one I wrote.
Here goes:
Dear [AGENT]
I am seeking representation for [BOOK TITLE], a 72,000-word commercial cozy-adjacent heist caper set on a European river cruise. Because your agent profile indicates you’re interested in commercial fiction and cozy mysteries, I thought my novel might be a potential fit for the types of manuscripts you are seeking. Although I have a wonderful agent for my non-fiction work [(Agent Name)] she doesn’t represent fiction. So, I’m seeking an agent with whom I can develop a long-term professional relationship for my fiction work.
After accidentally tranquilizing the French Minister of Culture at a gala, INTERPOL art crimes investigator Valerie Lewis gets shipped off on a Danube River cruise to keep her out of trouble and to “decompress.” When a sarcastic tarot reading she makes as a joke ends up predicting the heist of the legendary ceremonial rapier of Maximilian II in their next port, Val becomes the main suspect in the crime.
Without her credentials, she adopts a new cover as the ship’s resident tarot reader to interview suspects--never mind that she doesn't know anything about tarot--which leads to hilarious yet spot-on readings. She enlists three delightfully zany travelers—and the very thief she put behind bars three years ago—to help her track down the real culprit and recover the stolen sword.
But with the thief and his accomplice planting evidence against Val and her best friend leading her down the wrong path, if Val can’t solve the mystery before they dock in Amsterdam, the historical sword will vanish… and so will her career.
If you like witty heroines, high-stakes art heists, history, and a touch of metaphysics rolled into a “found family” of sidekicks, you’ll love [BOOK TITLE]. It blends the unconventional and mischievous dynamics of Richard Osman’s characters in The Thursday Murder Club, the chaotic, banter-heavy dialogue of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, and the character-driven storylines of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, by Catherine Mack. [BOOK TITLE] will also appeal to fans of Only Murders in the Building.
I’m a commercially-published non-fiction author [(Name of Non-Fiction Book], AMACOM/HarperCollins) with additional experience writing branded entertainment novels for corporate marketing initiatives. I’m also a former TV news anchor/reporter, and have won two writing fiction writing contests.
Thank you for your time and for your consideration.