Stack Smart, Sell More: 5 Book Promotion Strategy Tips for Mystery Authors

You wrote the book, revised it 37 times, hired a cover designer, uploaded to Amazon, hit publish… and now the silence is deafening.

Welcome to the part no one tells you about: marketing your book.

Luckily, there’s one core principle that can help mystery, thriller, and crime fiction authors go from invisible to irresistible: a smart, well-timed book promotion strategy.

In this post, we’ll break down what a good promotion strategy looks like—specifically for mystery authors—and how you can use sites like Red Herring Reads for promo stacking, reader magnets, and list-building to give your book the momentum it needs.

First: What Is a Book Promotion Strategy?

A book promotion strategy is your game plan for getting visibility, building buzz, and making sales. It includes:

• When you promote your book (launch, re-launch, evergreen push)

• Where you promote (promo sites, newsletter swaps, ads)

• How you coordinate timing, pricing, and reach

A solid strategy doesn’t just drop one promo and hope for the best. It layers exposure across multiple days, lists, and formats. This creates a ripple effect—one that gets your book moving on the charts and into reader hands.

Step 1: Start with the Right Book

Before you invest in any promos, make sure your book is ready for primetime:

• Professional cover (genre-appropriate, legible as a thumbnail)

• Clean formatting

• Well-edited content

• Strong blurb

• At least 5–10 reviews (advanced readers can help)

Even the best book promotion strategy can’t save a sloppy product. Invest in presentation—it pays off.

Step 2: Choose Your Promo Window

Timing matters. Plan your promo strategy around a 3–7 day push where you’ll use a promo stacking strategy to maximize exposure.

Great times to promote mystery books:

• Start of a new season (fall thrillers, beach reads)

• During crime/mystery awareness months (e.g., National Mystery Series Week)

• In coordination with your newsletter or another launch (reader magnet tie-in)

Step 3: Stack Your Promos

Promo stacking is when you schedule multiple deals, discounts, and newsletter features in a short time frame to boost your book’s visibility.

Example stack for a $0.99 thriller:

Tip: Include CraveBooks in the center of your stack to tap into readers specifically looking for mystery and thriller deals. Bonus: CraveBooks lets you build promo bundles that stack ebook, audiobook, and reader magnet promos at once.

Step 4: Capture Readers with a Magnet

During your promo push, don’t just sell books—build your email list.

Offer a free prequel, exclusive novella, or character bonus chapter in exchange for an email signup. CraveBooks supports reader magnet uploads, helping you grow your list while running promos.

Why this matters:

• Readers from promo sites are often deal-hunters. Convert them to loyal fans via email.

• Your email list gives you launch power for your next book.

• Authors with lists sell more books long-term—period.

Step 5: Track and Adjust

Here’s what you should track after your promo run:

• Total sales/downloads

• Rank jumps (especially on Amazon and Apple)

• Email list growth

• Ad ROI (if applicable)

• Promo site performance

Double down on what works. Drop what didn’t move the needle. And keep promoting—you’re building readership, not just making a sale.

Bonus Strategy: Evergreen Promotion

Think book marketing is only for launches? Think again.

Create an evergreen book promotion strategy that includes:

• A free series starter promoted quarterly

• Scheduled newsletter swaps with genre authors

• A quarterly appearance on CraveBooks (mix deals and magnets)

• Year-round ad campaigns that break even or better

Consistency = visibility. And visibility = sales.

Wrapping Up: The Smart Author’s Advantage

You don’t need a massive budget or marketing degree to succeed as an author. You need a plan. A smart, layered book promotion strategy that aligns your goals with the tools available—and brings your story to readers who can’t wait to devour it.

Want to see what’s working for hundreds of mystery authors right now?

Start your promo strategy at CraveBooks.com

We’ll help you stack smarter—and sell more.