Publish with confidenceWriting a crime novel, mystery, thriller or suspense story? I’m Louise Harnby, a specialist fiction editor who helps authors strengthen their manuscripts at sentence level and prepare them for readers.
Work with a genre specialistYou write crime fiction, mysteries, thrillers or suspense. I specialize in line editing those genres. That means your manuscript is in the hands of an editor who understands the genre, its conventions and what keeps readers turning the page.
Strengthen every sentenceI’ll work through your narrative and dialogue, focusing on engagement, flow, clarity and consistency while respecting your voice and style. That way, you can concentrate on what you do best – telling stories.
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Line Editing for Crime, Mystery and Thriller Writers‘Perfect for writers and editors … Incredible! Excellent value and would expect nothing less from Louise Harnby. Depth and quality guaranteed!’ – ★★★★★ Amazon reviewer
This practical handbook is for every writer and professional editor who wants to craft page-turning moments in crime, mystery, suspense and thriller fiction.
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Thank you so much again for such an outstanding job on my manuscript. I truly appreciate it. I'm over the moon.
NIC WINTER, PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER WRITER
NIC WINTER, PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER WRITER
I love the clean impact you've brought to my writing – am very happy! (on Artificial Wisdom, indie version)
THOMAS R WEAVER, THRILLER WRITER
THOMAS R WEAVER, THRILLER WRITER
The voyage through your edits is an intellectual and craft adventure, getting me in touch with a different
and often better way to say things.
DAN FLANIGAN, AUTHOR OF THE PETER O'KEEFE THRILLERS
and often better way to say things.
DAN FLANIGAN, AUTHOR OF THE PETER O'KEEFE THRILLERS
Subgenres I work in
Action thriller ● Cosy crime ● Courtroom drama ● Crime thriller ● Detective fiction ● Espionage ● Hard-boiled crime fiction ● Legal thriller ● Locked-room mystery ● Medical thriller ● Murder mystery ● Mystery thriller ● Near-future crime fiction ● Noir ● Police procedural ● Political thriller ● Psychological thriller ● Science fiction thriller ● Spy fiction ● Techno-thriller
Emotionally intelligent editing
When you work with me, you work with me – not a subcontractor, not an agency, not a generative AI. Just Louise. From the beginning of the project to the very end.
You’ve brought your human emotional intelligence to the writing. I’ll bring mine to the editing.
You’ve brought your human emotional intelligence to the writing. I’ll bring mine to the editing.
Get topic-based solutions to your writing and editing problems
Do you find particular aspects of writing and editing commercial fiction challenging? Take a look at my resource library. It’s packed with useful information that explores, explains and demystifies core elements of sentence-level craft.
All the guidance is topic-based. That way, you can focus more on creative development and less on hunting for answers.
And if you’re running an editing or proofreading business, there's plenty of help for you too – books, courses, articles and webinars to help you succeed as a business owner.
All the guidance is topic-based. That way, you can focus more on creative development and less on hunting for answers.
And if you’re running an editing or proofreading business, there's plenty of help for you too – books, courses, articles and webinars to help you succeed as a business owner.
I'm a better writer because you edited my book …
Cooking for Cannibals is a better book because of your careful, professional edit. And I'm a better writer. I can’t think of a higher compliment. But that’s the truth of it ... I'm a better writer because you edited my book.
RICH LEDER, NOVELIST & SCREENWRITER
Cooking for Cannibals is a better book because of your careful, professional edit. And I'm a better writer. I can’t think of a higher compliment. But that’s the truth of it ... I'm a better writer because you edited my book.
RICH LEDER, NOVELIST & SCREENWRITER
Safe handsI have over 30 years of professional experience, and am a partner member of ALLi.
I'm also an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and am bound by its Professional Practice Code. |
Your counselNervous about working with an editor? Don't be. I'm your counsel, not your judge.
Whether this is your tenth novel or your first, I have one job – to work with you to craft the best book possible. |
My promiseI'll be honest about how I can help. If you want a service that I don't provide, I'll put you in touch with a colleague.
That means if we do work together, we'll both feel we've found a good match. That's the foundation of a great working relationship! |
The impact on the beta reading team has been explosive …
I’ve worked hard on those opening eight chapters. They’ve been adapted in accordance with your suggestions and edits, and the impact on the beta reading team has been explosive. The raw voice of both the narrator and characters was preserved despite such powerful changes.
DANIEL GARRETT, MYSTERY AUTHOR
I’ve worked hard on those opening eight chapters. They’ve been adapted in accordance with your suggestions and edits, and the impact on the beta reading team has been explosive. The raw voice of both the narrator and characters was preserved despite such powerful changes.
DANIEL GARRETT, MYSTERY AUTHOR
Let me do for you what I did for them ...
Here's a small selection of the 700-plus books I've line edited for independent authors and proofread for publishers.
By far the best literary editor I’ve had ...
You are by far the best literary editor I've had. Your interventions are right on target, not to mention that I've learned a lot from your comments. Thank you.
NINA FITZPATRICK, NOVELIST, DRAMATIST & SCREENWRITER
You are by far the best literary editor I've had. Your interventions are right on target, not to mention that I've learned a lot from your comments. Thank you.
NINA FITZPATRICK, NOVELIST, DRAMATIST & SCREENWRITER
Helped me shed so many of my fears ...
Through all of the changes and feedback I was never once anxious. That you made all of the changes needed with generosity and care is incredible. This is what I want to spend my life doing, and you have helped me to shed so many of my fears about doing so. It means everything. Thank you.
REBECCA MILTON, FANTASY AUTHOR
Through all of the changes and feedback I was never once anxious. That you made all of the changes needed with generosity and care is incredible. This is what I want to spend my life doing, and you have helped me to shed so many of my fears about doing so. It means everything. Thank you.
REBECCA MILTON, FANTASY AUTHOR
If you want your writing to be better, get Louise to edit it ...
Louise has the rare ability to refine and polish sentences with a perceptive lightness of touch, revising only where necessary, and somehow, magically, what is left on the page better captures the very essence of exactly what you wanted to say. Add that she is a pleasure to work with and clearly loves what she does, and it really does become impossible to find fault with her service. In short – if you want your writing to be better, then you need to get Louise to edit it. I can't recommend working with her highly enough.
KESS GOLDLAND, THRILLER AUTHOR
Louise has the rare ability to refine and polish sentences with a perceptive lightness of touch, revising only where necessary, and somehow, magically, what is left on the page better captures the very essence of exactly what you wanted to say. Add that she is a pleasure to work with and clearly loves what she does, and it really does become impossible to find fault with her service. In short – if you want your writing to be better, then you need to get Louise to edit it. I can't recommend working with her highly enough.
KESS GOLDLAND, THRILLER AUTHOR
Invaluable feedback ...
Louise gives invaluable feedback on the quality, readability and pacing of manuscripts. I would not hesitate in recommending her to others or using her again myself.
JULIAN DOLLIMORE, CRIME FICTION AUTHOR
Louise gives invaluable feedback on the quality, readability and pacing of manuscripts. I would not hesitate in recommending her to others or using her again myself.
JULIAN DOLLIMORE, CRIME FICTION AUTHOR
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INFO FOR INDIE AUTHORS
● Editorial services ● Fees and availability ● Why choose Louise? ● Testimonials ● Books ● Free resources ● How my editing process works |
INFO FOR EDITORS
● Training courses and books ● Free resources ● Business help ● The Editing Podcast ● The Editing Blog ● Training login |
© 2011– Louise Harnby