Mystery markets

Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Leafmines tracks 68 magazines publishing mystery — 49 open to submissions right now. Typical response time is 54 days. Filter by length, pay, and response time →

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UnchartedScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for other work · closes Aug 30 · responds in ~90 days
Uncharted Magazine publishes original and reprint short fiction in science fiction, fantasy, dystopian, thriller, mystery, horror, and young adult genres, with regular year-round submissions and periodic themed contests.
Eleventh Hour LiteraryLiterary · Science Fiction · Fantasy · Horror
Open for fiction · closes Sep 15
Eleventh Hour Literary is a journal seeking previously rejected and revised literary prose, poetry, and hybrid work from writers worldwide.
Best Horror of the YearHorror · Fantasy · Science Fiction · Mystery
Open for fiction, poetry · closes Dec 1 · responds in ~210 days
The Best Horror of the Year is an annual reprint anthology edited by Ellen Datlow, seeking the best horror stories and poetry published in the current calendar year.
Gumshoe ReviewMystery
Open for fiction, nonfiction · responds in ~1 days
Gumshoe Review publishes short mystery fiction and nonfiction essays about the mystery genre, focusing on stories with investigators and crime-solving.
Ominous ThrillHorror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~16 days
Ominous Thrill is a multi-award-winning audio drama anthology podcast featuring character-driven feminist and intersectional horror, thrillers, and suspense stories with female protagonists.
Body ShotsScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction
Body Shots is an annual short-fiction anthology from Subtle Body Press seeking bold, voice-driven short fiction of any genre.
Torch Literary ArtsScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction · responds in ~90 days
Torch Literary Arts publishes original fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and scripts by Black women writers, featuring Friday Features and paying $150 per accepted piece.
Cold Caller MagazineMystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~180 days
Cold Caller Magazine publishes original crime and mystery fiction with a focus on noir and realism, paying $125 per story.
Dirty Magick MagazineFantasy · Horror · Mystery · Humor
Open for fiction · responds in ~77 days
Dirty Magick Magazine publishes original short fiction focused on urban fantasy, sword and sorcery, and supernatural horror, with a strong emphasis on adventure and magical elements.
foofaraw AnthologyScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction · responds in ~60 days
foofaraw Anthology is an annual print and ebook anthology seeking fiction and poetry themed around the concept of 'foofaraw,' with a focus on both speculative and literary genres.
Horrorsmith Monthly NewslettersHorror · Mystery · Romance
Open for fiction · responds in ~63 days
Horrorsmith Publishing is an indie press specializing in horror, thriller, and young adult fiction, accepting both novel-length manuscripts and short stories for their monthly newsletters.
Nat 1 Publishing LLCScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Romance
Open for fiction, poetry · responds in ~270 days
Nat 1 Publishing is a micro-press specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and related genres, publishing both short works for anthologies and full-length books.
Thriller MagazineMystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~35 days
Thriller Magazine publishes suspense-driven short stories in thriller, mystery, crime, suspense, and noir genres, offering detailed editorial feedback and a small payment for accepted work.
House of Long ShadowsHorror · Fantasy · Mystery · Romance
Open for fiction · responds in ~7 days
House of Long Shadows publishes gothic fiction with an emphasis on mood and imagery, accepting original and reprint stories (including translations) between 2,000 and 10,000 words, and pays at least $10 per story.
Not One of UsScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction · responds in ~13 days
Not One of Us is a digest-sized magazine focused on stories and poems about outsiders and the theme of 'otherness,' accepting speculative and mainstream fiction, poetry, and art.
City Owl PressFantasy · Science Fiction · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~84 days
City Owl Press is a publisher seeking adult and new adult novels in romance and speculative fiction genres, with some editors currently open to queries.
Aethon BooksScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~90 days
Aethon Books is a publisher seeking novel-length genre fiction, especially science fiction, fantasy, and thrillers, for publication in English-language territories.
Altered RealityScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~28 days
Altered Reality Magazine publishes short speculative fiction and poetry (up to 3,000 words) with a focus on fantasy, science fiction, horror, and related genres.
BookoutureMystery · Romance · Fantasy
Open for fiction · responds in ~31 days
Bookouture is a digital-first publisher seeking full-length, commercial fiction and some text-led nonfiction, but not children's books, scripts, poetry, or short stories.
Brian's BookcaseLiterary · Mystery · Science Fiction · Fantasy
Open for fiction · responds in ~42 days
Brian's Bookcase is a nonprofit publishing donated fiction of all genres to support mental health awareness, making stories available to monthly donors.
Camcat BooksScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~60 days
CamCat Books is an independent publisher seeking novel-length, unpublished genre fiction for adult and YA audiences via Submittable.
Crooked Lane BooksMystery · Horror · Science Fiction · Fantasy
Open for fiction · responds in ~14 days
Crooked Lane Books is a publisher specializing in crime fiction novels and occasional short story collections, accepting both agented and unagented submissions.
Dragonblade PublishingRomance · Mystery · Fantasy
Open for fiction · responds in ~56 days
Dragonblade Publishing is a publisher specializing exclusively in historical romance novels set before the 20th century, including subgenres like historical mystery and romantasy, but excluding YA, poetry, and speculative genres without a historical romance element.
Emberwick PressYoung Adult · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~99 days
Emberwick Press is a publisher seeking full-length novels and novellas in Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction, as well as Adult Horror and Thriller.
Entangled PublishingRomance · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~191 days
Entangled Publishing is a commercial publisher seeking novel-length manuscripts in romance and related genres.
Flame Tree PublishingScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~60 days
Flame Tree Publishing is an independent publisher specializing in speculative fiction novels and professional, paid short story anthologies, with regular submission windows and a monthly flash fiction call via their newsletter.
Freedom Fiction JournalScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction · responds in ~90 days
Freedom Fiction Journal is an online magazine publishing novella and novel-length genre fiction across a wide range of genres.
Fringe Press (Novels)Science Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction · responds in ~21 days
Fringe Press is a publisher seeking novel submissions that defy easy categorization, focusing on genre-blending works in thriller, upmarket literary, sci-fi, crime/mystery, romance, and YA.
Golden Storyline BooksMystery · Fantasy · Science Fiction · Young Adult
Open for fiction · responds in ~42 days
Golden Storyline Books is an independent traditional publisher accepting fiction and nonfiction book manuscripts and proposals in a variety of genres.
Guilty Crime Story MagazineMystery
Open for flash fiction · responds in ~30 days
Guilty Crime Story Magazine publishes crime fiction focused on criminals' perspectives, with flash fiction currently open and magazine-length fiction closed.
Internet AngelzHorror · Fantasy · Science Fiction · Mystery
Open for fiction, flash fiction · responds in ~90 days
Internet Angelz is an online horror press publishing a wide range of horror and speculative fiction, including micro, flash, and short fiction.
Level Best BooksMystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~180 days
Level Best Books is an independent publisher seeking novel-length mystery and crime fiction submissions, including traditional mysteries, police procedurals, cozies, noir, and related subgenres.
Literally StoriesMystery · Fantasy · Literary · Horror
Open for fiction · responds in ~42 days
Literally Stories is an online magazine publishing short fiction from around the world, accepting a wide range of genres except children's stories, poetry, essays, or travelogues.
Literary GarageHorror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~35 days
Literary Garage is a fee-free online magazine seeking gritty, hard-edged fiction in flash, short, and story formats, but is not currently accepting poetry or nonfiction.
Literary WanderlustRomance · Literary · Fantasy · Science Fiction
Open for fiction · responds in ~34 days
Literary Wanderlust is an independent traditional publisher seeking novel-length manuscripts in various adult and YA genres from U.S.-based authors.
Lyrical PressRomance · Mystery · Fantasy · Horror
Open for fiction · responds in ~90 days
Lyrical Press, an imprint of Kensington Publishing, seeks submissions of novels and novellas in romance (all genres), psychological suspense, thrillers, women's fiction, new adult, and cozy mysteries, but does not accept poetry, children's, middle grade, or young adult work.
Mystery TribuneMystery
Open for fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction · responds in ~730 days
Mystery Tribune is a magazine focused on crime, mystery, noir, and suspense, accepting fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, and art/photography submissions, primarily for online publication.
Razzle Dazzle CafeScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~30 days
Razzle Dazzle Cafe is an audio zine publishing short stories (1,000–1,500 words) in a variety of genres, especially speculative and mystery, as audio on YouTube.
Sea Crow PressLiterary · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~84 days
Sea Crow Press is an independent literary publisher focused on place-based fiction, poetry, and contemplative nonfiction, seeking book-length manuscripts rooted in landscape and the natural world.
Severn HouseMystery · Fantasy · Romance
Open for fiction · responds in ~90 days
Severn House is an imprint of Joffe Books specializing in commercial fiction, especially crime, mystery, thrillers, and related genres, and is currently open to submissions of full-length novels.
Shiraki PressScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~30 days
Shiraki Press is an indie publisher seeking hopepunk-themed genre fiction novellas and short novels for adult readers.
Small World CityScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~222 days
Small World City is a Dhaka-based online literary magazine publishing speculative fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, accepting only Bangladeshi and POC authors.
Storm PublishingMystery · Romance · Science Fiction · Fantasy
Open for fiction · responds in ~14 days
Storm Publishing is a publisher seeking gripping, dramatic novels across a wide range of commercial genres, with a focus on strong characters and distinctive author voices.
StoryBottleScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction, flash fiction · responds in ~227 days
StoryBottle is a magazine seeking literary and speculative fiction, including flash, with an interest in unusual or underrepresented genres.
The Freak!Science Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Mystery
Open for fiction · responds in ~7 days
The Freak! is a magazine publishing strange and genre-bending short fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and more.
The Yard: Crime BlogMystery · Horror · Science Fiction · Fantasy
Open for fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction · responds in ~61 days
The Yard: Crime Blog publishes crime fiction, true crime, horror, and related genres, accepting poetry, flash fiction, fiction, and nonfiction submissions with a focus on crime-related content.
Underside StoriesScience Fiction · Fantasy · Horror · Literary
Open for fiction · responds in ~35 days
Underside Stories is an online magazine seeking fiction and poetry that explore the 'underside' of life, with eclectic genre tastes and a preference for narrative work.
Vulpine PressHorror · Young Adult · Mystery · Literary
Open for other work · responds in ~42 days
Vulpine Press is a book publisher accepting proposals across a wide range of genres for the popular market.
Yellow MamaHorror · Mystery · Literary
Open for fiction · responds in ~11 days
Yellow Mama is an online magazine seeking cutting-edge, hardboiled, horror, noir, psychological/horror, and literary fiction and poetry, but does not pay contributors.

All 49 markets currently open, closing soonest first. Browse 19 closed markets →

Some response-time data on this page, and part of the median above, comes from The Submission Grinder.

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