A commercial fiction agent at BookEnds with a pronounced appetite for the dark end of the shelf — psychological and domestic suspense, mystery, and romance — alongside historical mystery and atmospheric women's fiction.
In brief
Faust leans dark: psychological suspense, thrillers, mysteries, and romance with shadow in them are the clearest path in.
A clever hook and a deeply damaged protagonist (most often a woman, but a damaged man works too) is the recurring pull across what they want.
Marriage-and-secrets stories are a stated craving — a spouse hiding or uncovering a dark secret — and Faust will take that engine in suspense, romantic suspense, women's fiction, or even YA.
Historical mystery is a reliable yes, with NYC and Regency settings favored but a fresh setting welcomed as a surprise.
Two specific itches: a wilderness-survival story (adult or YA) and the warm, magical-realist register of Sarah Addison Allen.
Lately
Most actively seeking dark material across the board — dark thrillers, suspense, mysteries, YA, and romance.
What Jessica is looking for
The active core of what Faust wants. Psychological suspense built on a strong hook and a badly damaged protagonist — usually a woman, though a damaged man is fair game. Domestic and psychological thrillers, cozy mystery, and series-style suspense all fit. Faust explicitly likes the train-thriller register and tense, procedural-flavored series.
Romance with a dark edge, especially romantic suspense that turns shadowy rather than light. Contemporary romance and historical romance are both on the list. Faust points to the darker, danger-laced end of the romantic-suspense spectrum as the target tone.
A specifically requested setup: a wife who uncovers a dark secret her husband is keeping, or who is fighting to keep her own hidden. Faust is genre-agnostic about it — psychological suspense, romantic suspense, women's fiction, or any category — and would also take the same secret-keeping tension in YA (minus the marriage).
A standing favorite. Faust is especially fond of NYC and Regency-period settings but invites a setting they didn't expect to love. Historical mystery and historical romance both sit comfortably here.
Warm, atmospheric women's fiction in the vein Faust singles out — magical realism and an emotional, slightly enchanted tone. Upmarket women's fiction generally is welcome.
A named craving: a wilderness-survival story, adult or YA. Faust is open to framing it as women's fiction or as suspense rather than as a fixed genre.
YA across Faust's dark, suspenseful sensibility — contemporary YA, the secret-keeping tension above, and survival stories all work for the teen shelf.
Not the right fit
Taste fingerprint
How to query Jessica
Send a one-page query letter pasted directly into the body of the email — no attachments will be opened at this stage.
Query Faust specifically; BookEnds lets you target the individual agent you think best fits your book, so address it to them by name.
Lead with a sharp hook and a genuinely damaged protagonist — that combination is what Faust says wins them over.
If your book has a dark secret at the center of a marriage, say so up front; it's a setup they've directly asked for.
For historical mystery, a vivid setting helps — NYC or Regency is a safe bet, but a surprising locale is welcome too.
Confirm the query window is open on the agency's submissions page before you send.