Hard Case Crime is a well respected and established niche publisher of hard boiled crime novels. The publisher has been featured in a number of respected publications including Time Magazine and The Stranger.

They re-issue books that were previously published and they also publish new books. They are open to manuscript queries. They focus on publishing paperback novels.

They have published established authors such as Stephen King, Lawrence Block, and Cornell Woolrich. A number of their newer novels have won prestigious awards within the field of mystery novels.

They are distributed by Random House and as such their books are often found in brick and mortar bookstores.

Their books have very distinctive branding, and all of their covers have a cohesive feel to them. They have a vintage style pulp cover, with the publisher’s logo on the top left hand corner.

Because they are so focused on publishing a specific, cohesive genre, it is a good idea to pick up one of their books from your local library or bookstore before querying, especially if you are not already familiar with the books or authors that they have published in the past.

All manuscript queries must be made via email. Keep your query letter short and to the point. They do not request sample chapters or anything else. Their contact information is available here.

To learn more about Hard Case Crime and the books that they publish, please visit their website here.