‘Muswell Crime always delivers a killer read.’
Venetia Vyvyan, Barnes Bookshop
‘An indie publisher that already has an intriguing crime list—keep an eye on Muswell Press, the future looks bright.’
Paul Burke, Crime Time
We place our authors at the heart of what we do. We nurture talent and creativity and we are committed to editorial excellence, high-quality design, and marketing our books with vigour and flair.
Muswell Press is a small prize-winning independent publisher owned and run by sisters Kate and Sarah Beal. Focussing on crime, contemporary fiction, and memoir, the company’s LGBTQ list is acclaimed for the bi-annual Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.
Muswell Press has been Shortlisted IPG Best Newcomer 2019 & 2020 and Regional Finalist British Book Awards 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Whale Tattoo by Jon Ransom won the 2023 Polari First Book Prize, and The Gallopers by Ransom won the Polari Book Prize 2024. Titles have been shortlisted for awards including the CWA Newcomer, Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Award 2018 & 2022 .
Sarah and Kate Beal acquired Muswell Press in 2017 and published their first list in 2018. With over 50 years’ experience between, at board level, in some of the UK’s largest publishing companies, including Bloomsbury, Faber, Harpercollins and Oneworld, they combine big company perspective, ambition and knowledge with small company versatility and focus.
‘I count myself as unbelievably lucky to have my debut published by Muswell Press. Unswerving determination to deliver the best promotion and maximise sales whilst cherishing my work and me at the same time.’
Vikki Heywood, author of Miss Veal and Miss Ham
Advisory Board
Will Atkinson – MD and Publisher, Atlantic Books
Liz Calder – Editorial Director of Full Circle Editions and co-founder of Bloomsbury Publishing
Oliver Gadsby – President IPG, ex-CEO, Rowman and Littlefield International
Rosamund de la Hey – MD of The Mainstreet Trading Company
Helen Kogan – Managing Director, Kogan Page
Bridget Latimer-Jones – Publishing Operations Consultant
Helen Lewis – Consultant and ex Creative Director, Pavilion Books
Jenny Parrott – Editorial Consultant, and Publishing Director of Point Blank, the literary crime imprint of Oneworld
David Reynolds – Writer, teacher and co-founder, Bloomsbury Publishing
Kathy Rooney – Consultant, business and start-up mentor, Non-Executive Director and formerly Managing Director of Bloomsbury Information
Registered office: 8 Blackstock Mews, Finsbury Park, London N4 2BTCompany No: 06626047