the rule of law: Police procedurals and reader relationships

Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of the Murder School Podcast. Today, I am talking about email marketing and building a list of dedicated fans, and in the craft segment, I’ll continue my deep dive into crime fiction sub-genres and talk about police procedurals.

So, ss email marketing dead? In a world of algorithmic social media feeds, video marketing and digital connections, you will be forgiven for thinking that email marketing is decidedly ‘old school’. In reality, your email list stands as your most valuable author asset. Let me be blunt: if you're serious about building a sustainable career as a mystery writer, nothing—absolutely nothing—is more important than developing a direct line of communication with your readers.

Why? Because unlike social media platforms where your carefully crafted posts might reach only 2-5% of your followers (thanks to ever-changing algorithms), email boasts open rates averaging 20-30%. That's a massive difference in visibility. When a reader joins your email list, they're explicitly saying, "Yes, I want to hear from you." This permission-based relationship is marketing gold.

Beyond simple reach, email lists provide something social media can't: ownership. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok—these platforms could change their rules tomorrow, disappear entirely, or decide your content doesn't meet their standards. Your carefully cultivated following could vanish overnight. But your email list? That belongs to you. It's platform-independent, algorithm-proof, and entirely under your control.

The numbers don't lie. Studies consistently show that email marketing delivers an ROI of $36 for every $1 spent—outperforming every other marketing channel available to authors. Every mystery writer earning six figures from their fiction, almost without exception, they will credit their email list as their primary business asset.

So let’s address the most often asked questions from new authors about email list and email marketing.

Many authors make the critical mistake of waiting until they have "something to promote" before starting their list. This is backwards thinking. Your email list isn't just a promotional tool—it's a relationship-building tool that should begin long before your book hits shelves.

Start now, even if you're still drafting your first manuscript. The connections you build during your writing journey will become your most passionate early adopters when publication day arrives. They'll have watched your book develop, felt invested in your process, and will be primed to not just purchase but champion your work.

Setting up an email list is technically simple. Services like MailerLite, ConvertKit, and MailChimp offer user-friendly interfaces and free starter plans. The real challenge isn't technical—it's psychological. You must overcome the fear that you have "nothing to say" or that you're "bothering people." Subscribers have explicitly requested to hear from you. Your emails aren't interruptions; they're anticipated communications.

Simply placing a "subscribe to my newsletter" button on your website isn't enough. Modern readers are protective of their inboxes and need compelling reasons to invite you in. This is where your "lead magnet" comes into play—something valuable you offer in exchange for that precious email address.

For mystery writers, effective lead magnets might include:

• A prequel short story featuring your detective

• The first three chapters of your upcoming novel

• A guide to the real locations that inspired your fictional settings

• A "case file" with background information on your main character

• A checklist of "must-read" mystery novels that influenced your work

Whatever you choose, it should align with your brand and offer genuine value. The quality of your lead magnet sets expectations about the quality of your fiction, so make it exceptional.

Beyond the initial offer, clearly communicate what subscribers can expect from your list. Will they receive behind-the-scenes insights? Early access to new releases? Special pricing? Exclusive content? Setting clear expectations not only increases sign-ups but reduces unsubscribes later.

For example, I’ll be offering my newsletter subscribers a free Christmas short story in November, which I’ll feature in my monthly email.

The most common newsletter mistake authors make is inconsistency. They send three emails in a week when launching a book, then disappear for months. This erratic pattern trains readers to either ignore your emails or forget who you are entirely.

Instead, establish a reliable cadence. For most fiction authors, once or twice a month is sufficient—frequent enough to maintain relationships without becoming intrusive. Whatever schedule you choose, maintain it religiously. Consistency builds trust.

Plan your content calendar in advance, ensuring you'll have something meaningful to share even when you're not actively promoting. This prevents the dreaded "I should send a newsletter but have no idea what to say" syndrome that leads to procrastination and inconsistency.

I find that monthly emails are best. I send mine out on the 1^st of the month.

The secret to email list success isn't selling—it's connecting. Your newsletter should be 80% value and relationship-building, 20% promotion. Readers who feel genuinely connected to you as a person will naturally support your work without being constantly asked.

Consider developing regular segments that readers can anticipate, such as:

• "Murder She Wrote": Insights into your current writing process

• "Detective's Bookshelf": Mystery recommendations from your recent reading

• "Crime Scene Investigation": Research discoveries that informed your work

• "Cold Case Files": Snippets from your works-in-progress or abandoned projects

• "Alibi Check": Updates on your author life beyond writing

For mystery writers specifically, consider how you can extend your fictional world into your newsletters. Could your detective character "write" an occasional column? Might you include "case notes" from investigations that never made it into your books? These creative extensions of your fictional universe deepen reader engagement with your world.

Even the most brilliant newsletter content is worthless if subscribers don't open your email. Your subject line is the crucial gateway, and it deserves careful attention.

Test different approaches to see what resonates with your specific audience. Most email services provide open rate data, allowing you to refine your approach based on reader response.

Avoid clickbait tactics that promise more than your email delivers. While you might gain an open, you'll lose trust—and trust, once broken, is exceedingly difficult to rebuild.

Your email service provides valuable data about subscriber behavior. Pay particular attention to:

• Open rates: Which subject lines and sending times perform best?

• Click rates: Which links and calls-to-action generate the most engagement?

• Unsubscribe patterns: Are certain topics or email types causing readers to leave?

This information isn't just interesting—it's actionable intelligence about what your audience values. Use it to continuously refine your approach.

Finally, remember that your email list isn't about accumulating the largest possible number of subscribers—it's about fostering genuine connections with the right readers. A list of 500 highly engaged fans who open every email and buy every book is infinitely more valuable than 5,000 disinterested subscribers who rarely engage.

Approach your list with generosity and authenticity. Respond personally to replies when possible. Ask questions and genuinely consider the answers. Create opportunities for two-way communication rather than one-way broadcasting.

Over time, these relationships become not just the foundation of your author business but a source of immense creative satisfaction. There's nothing quite like receiving an email from a reader who felt personally touched by your words, who stayed up all night to finish your mystery, or who found comfort in your fictional world during a difficult time.

One resource that I found helpful was “Newsletter Ninja” by Tammie Labrecque, who gives and step by guide to creating an engaging newsletter and building an email list. You can find a link to this book in the show notes on my website.

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The police procedural holds a special place in crime fiction. From the methodical investigations of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct to the psychological depth of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad to the forensic precision of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series, readers are drawn to stories that pull back the curtain on real police work while delivering compelling human drama.

What makes this subgenre uniquely powerful is its grounding in systems and processes that actually exist. Unlike amateur sleuths who stumble upon bodies and solutions with unlikely frequency, police detectives are professionally obligated to solve crimes. This creates an immediate narrative engine—it's literally their job to investigate until they find answers.

But this same quality creates our central challenge as writers: how do we honor the reality of police work—with its paperwork, dead ends, and methodical processes—while crafting a story that keeps readers eagerly turning pages?

Authentic procedurals begin with solid research. There's simply no shortcut here. Readers of this subgenre tend to be knowledgeable about law enforcement—many are current or former police officers themselves—and they'll spot inaccuracies immediately.

Your research options include:

• Ride-alongs with actual officers: Many police departments offer programs where civilians can accompany officers during shifts. This firsthand experience provides invaluable insights into the rhythm and reality of police work.

• Citizen Police Academies: Many jurisdictions offer these multi-week programs giving civilians an overview of department operations, from dispatch to investigations to forensics.

• Interviews with detectives: Developing relationships with current or retired investigators gives you access to the kind of procedural details and war stories that bring authenticity to your work.

• Police memoirs and textbooks: Books written by law enforcement professionals offer structured insights into both procedures and the psychological aspects of the job.

• Court observation: Spending time in courtrooms watching actual criminal proceedings provides crucial understanding of how cases progress through the justice system.

Remember that police procedures vary significantly between jurisdictions and countries. The Metropolitan Police in London operate differently than the NYPD, which differs from rural county sheriff departments. Research the specific environment where your story takes place.

But here's the uncomfortable truth that every police procedural writer must confront: strictly accurate police work often makes for tedious reading. Real investigations involve countless interviews that yield nothing, paperwork that consumes hours, and technological processes that take weeks rather than minutes.

As Joseph Wambaugh, former LAPD detective sergeant and acclaimed novelist, noted: "The best crime novels aren't about how cops work on cases. They're about how cases work on cops." This insight points us toward the solution to our central challenge—using procedure as backdrop for character development rather than as the main attraction.

Consider these strategies for balancing authenticity with engagement:

1. Focus on decision points: Rather than documenting every moment of an investigation, highlight the critical junctures where detectives must make consequential choices. These moments naturally create tension.

2. Compress timelines selectively: While you shouldn't have DNA results returning in hours when they actually take weeks, you can compress certain procedural elements if you acknowledge the compression. Perhaps your detective calls in favors to expedite results, creating character moments from procedural necessities.

3. Use viewpoint to manage pacing: Shifting between perspectives allows you to maintain authenticity while controlling pacing. When procedure slows, perhaps we see its impact on a victim's family or the strain it places on your detective's personal life.

4. Make procedure an obstacle: Rather than eliminating realistic bureaucratic hurdles, use them as plot complications. Budget constraints, jurisdictional conflicts, and administrative roadblocks can create drama rather than just slowing your narrative.

5. Reveal procedure through conflict: When detectives disagree about approach, you can naturally expose procedural details through their arguments, making information delivery dynamic rather than expository.

The most successful police procedurals recognize that while accuracy matters, readers ultimately connect with people, not processes. Your procedural framework exists to create a realistic context for exploring human complexity.

Your detective's relationship with the job itself becomes a central character dynamic. How does their work affect their worldview, relationships, and inner life? The best procedural writers use investigative details to illuminate character rather than simply to demonstrate research.

Police work involves specialized terminology, technology, and techniques that most readers won't initially understand. Your challenge is conveying this technical information without resorting to information dumps that stall your narrative.

Consider these approaches:

1. The newcomer character: A rookie officer, transfer from another department, or civilian consultant provides natural opportunities for experienced characters to explain procedures without seeming artificial.

2. Selective detail: You don't need to explain every procedural element in depth. Choose the technical aspects most relevant to your specific story and develop those fully, while touching more lightly on routine elements.

3. Context over terminology: Rather than drowning readers in acronyms and jargon, focus on what procedures mean for the investigation and characters. When technical terms are necessary, reveal their meaning through context rather than explicit definition.

4. Show procedure through failure: When processes break down or are performed incorrectly, you can naturally highlight how they should work through the consequences of these failures.

5. The rule of three: When introducing technical information, limit yourself to three new concepts per chapter to avoid cognitive overload for readers.

While police procedurals require a lot of research and work that will mostly be left of the page, one clear advantage of this sub-genre is that the procedural framework offers specific structural advantages you can leverage:

1. The case structure provides natural narrative bones: The progression of an investigation—from crime scene to interviews to evidence analysis to theory development to resolution—offers an inherent structure that readers intuitively understand.

2. Subplot integration through multiple cases: Many successful procedurals feature detectives balancing multiple investigations simultaneously, allowing for thematic resonance and pacing variation.

3. The ticking clock of evidence degradation: Physical evidence deteriorates, witnesses' memories fade, and suspects flee—these natural investigative pressures create organic urgency without artificial deadlines.

4. The red tape clock: Administrative pressures like resource allocation, media attention, and political concerns can create additional tension that feels authentic rather than contrived.

While research and technical accuracy are essential, the most memorable police procedurals develop a distinctive voice that transcends their factual foundation. Consider what unique perspective you bring to this well-established subgenre:

• Is your strength psychological insight into how cases affect investigators?

• Do you have specialized knowledge of a particular investigative field or regional policing style?

• Are you drawn to exploring systemic issues through the procedural framework?

• Does your background give you insight into particular communities and their relationships with law enforcement?

The sweet spot for compelling police procedurals lies at the intersection of authentic process and your unique authorial perspective. The procedures provide the skeleton, but your particular insights give it flesh and make it move.

Readers come to police procedurals with specific expectations that differ from those of other mystery subgenres. They anticipate:

1. A degree of realism about investigative methods and limitations

2. Exploration of how systems and individuals interact in the pursuit of justice

3. Some insight into the professional and personal challenges unique to law enforcement

4. A resolution that acknowledges both the capabilities and constraints of police work

Honoring this implicit contract doesn't mean sacrificing creativity or adhering to formulaic approaches. Rather, it means understanding the psychological satisfaction readers seek from this particular subgenre and finding fresh ways to deliver that satisfaction.

It might seem as though the best police procedural authors are those who have a background or special insight into law enforcement, but there are many resources for those of us who only know about police work from movies or TV. I’ve included a link to Michael O’Byrne’s The Crime Writer’s Guide to Police Practice and Procedure (for UK based novels) which I am currently using as I plan my first police procedural series.

That’s all for now. Join me next week when I’ll be talking about reader reviews and writing cozt mysteries. And don’t forget to tune in on Wednesday for this week’s Midweek Murder Motivation.

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