Thread: A question about genre

I've been querying agents for a while and am beginning to wonder if I am correctly categorizing the genre of my work. Can anyone provide what an agent thinks the genres thriller and mystery are? Obviously, I can look up the dictionary definitions but I'm not sure these are the same as what an agent would use. I've pasted my synopsis below so that (perhaps) people can suggest which genre I should use. Thanks in advance.

THE CARTHAGE CONNECTION SYNOPSIS

After two unsuccessful digs, one in Israel and one in Tunisia, archaeologist ERIN MATHEWS is facing the loss of funding for future digs and the dreadful prospect of going back to teaching. Her current excavation, in the silt-filled seaport of ancient Ephesus, is also turning out to be a bust. The arrival of her boyfriend CRAIG JOHNSON an ex-CIA agent, does little to raise her spirits. But when she learns that a boat she and her team are excavating may contain scrolls rescued from the storied great library at Alexandria, everything changes. Her quest for these historic artifacts becomes the adventure of her life.

Mossad operative REBECCA SCHULER, sanctioned to work in Turkey, is tracking the mysterious Cult of Tanit. This group, that traces its roots to the founding of Carthage, is also after the scrolls. Cult members believe their ancestors rescued invaluable artifacts when the library was burned in 48 BC. The Mossad believes the Cult wants the scrolls to fund terrorist actions in Israel.

A group of renegade Cult members begin a series of attacks to stop Erin. Further complicating her plans, an Egyptian, dispatched by his government’s Department of Antiquities, is sent to claim the treasure for his country. Erin’s colleague is seen making a deal with this man and is murdered by rogue Cult members. The murder prompts Craig to talk Erin into giving up her dig, but she is determined to make the discovery to rescue her failing reputation.

Even with the involvement of the local police, Cult members find ways to thwart Erin’s efforts. They break into a storage shed, where discovered relics are stored and there is a malicious nocturnal disruption of the dig site. As upsetting as these events are they do not prevent Erin from continuing her search. The Cult’s actions escalate to car chases, blackmail, a ransacking of Erin’s hotel room and even armed assaults.

In a frenzied attempt to locate the treasure before anyone is hurt, Erin directs her team to dig in the debris field where artifacts from the boat are soon discovered. Certain she is days away from finding the scrolls, Erin enlists the aid of Craig and Rebecca to help with the excavation. Soon sixteen crates, clearly of Egyptian origin, are uncovered.

With permission from Turkish authorities, Erin begins the delicate task of opening the first treasure chest. The Cult leader, desperate to claim title to the scrolls, appears at the site where he is quickly placed under arrest. While Erin breaks an ancient seal and works through the heavy waterproof lining of the first box, Cult members launch one last vicious attack. The deadly assault is brought to an end by a large team of police, aided by both Craig and Rebecca.

At last, with the representative from Egypt, the handcuffed Cult leader, Turkish authorities and of course Erin’s graduate students all looking on, the contents of the chests are revealed. Erin’s excitement is barely controllable as she removes one ancient scroll after another. Her wildest dreams have been realized – a fantastic history making discovery of lost knowledge from the ancient world.

Okay thriller and mystery are their own genres. Judging by how books are usually separated in bookshops, I mean. Your idea sounds great though.

I think you should take the mystery approach, something akin to DVC where the protagonist is unravelling plot twist after plot twist until the big revelation.

This might work as a thriller, they tend to be a little underwhelming when not handled properly because they usually promise much but deliver little. A good example of this approach is Raymond Khoury's The Last Templar.

It is just my opinion, but that does not sound like a book I would expect to find in the thriller section. Of your options I would definitely choose to go with mystery. You may also want to explore the possibility of action-adventure, which is what first came to mind when I read the synopsis. It does sound very interesting though!

It seems to me like it's a combination of mystery and thriller.