Yesterday I typed 'The End' on my third book. I know it's not really the end. I have edits and additions plus a pesky sub-plot to tie up. However this is usually the time I like to start drafting my query letter, especially since I need to clear my plate for NaNoWriMo next month. The problem is I can never tell if I've written a thriller or a suspense. I can't figure out the difference between the two.
The basics of my plot are this. MC is a PI who comes to town on a missing persons case. Murders ensue and the PI ends up being the target of a killer who abducts, tortures then kills several other people before getting to her. She teams up with a detective who's son ends up being kidnapped by the killer. There are explosions, lots of action but it is character driven as well. It is written in first person POV with intermittent chapters written in the killers POV.
I went to a writing workshop where a published author who was giving the class said it sounded like it had elements of thriller and suspense so then how do I query this? Do I just say that it is a thriller/suspense and let the agent decide if they end up requesting material it or does that make it look like I don't know what I'm talking about??
The basics of my plot are this. MC is a PI who comes to town on a missing persons case. Murders ensue and the PI ends up being the target of a killer who abducts, tortures then kills several other people before getting to her. She teams up with a detective who's son ends up being kidnapped by the killer. There are explosions, lots of action but it is character driven as well. It is written in first person POV with intermittent chapters written in the killers POV.
I went to a writing workshop where a published author who was giving the class said it sounded like it had elements of thriller and suspense so then how do I query this? Do I just say that it is a thriller/suspense and let the agent decide if they end up requesting material it or does that make it look like I don't know what I'm talking about??
Determination! 
There is a fine line between thriller and suspense these days.
