How Top Amazon Authors Secretly Work Together to Dominate the Bestseller List

"Ever wondered why the same crime authors seem to dominate Amazon's bestseller lists? It's not luck — it's strategy. Here's how top authors work together behind the scenes to lock in their success."

If you are using the same marketing methods as the best-selling self-published crime authors but getting minimal results it can be extremely frustrating - here are some reasons why. Things you may not have considered or suspected were Many brilliant self-published authors suspect these practices are at play.

Research shows that cross-promotion among a tight-knit group of successful authors whose series books have an ABSR (Amazon best seller rank) of below 2000 is a powerful strategy—possibly one of the most effective ways for these authors to maintain their rankings and dominate Amazon's crime charts. Let’s break down how these author cross-promotion strategies work and why it's so difficult for new entrants to break into this group:

1. How top Amazon authors dominate the rankings: The "Cabal" and Its Power

In self-publishing, there is a network of authors who have built strong reputations within their genre. These authors typically have established followings, and the exchange of readers between them (through cross-promotions, email lists, and social media) is mutually beneficial. When you see a group of authors consistently at the top of the charts, it's often because they are interlinked in their marketing. They share each other's books with their fans, offering free promotions, bundles, and joint mailing list swaps.

These promotions can give the impression that these authors are "in a club" or "cabal," which can be a barrier to entry for newcomers who aren’t yet on the radar of these networks. They might simply be more interconnected and influential in promoting each other's books within that ecosystem.

2. The Importance of Amazon's Algorithm

Amazon's algorithm heavily favours top-selling books that are frequently purchased together, and authors in these close-knit circles benefit from this. When readers finish a book from one author in the group, Amazon's "Products related to this item" section often promotes other books from the same author group. This creates a reinforcing loop, where the more cross-promotions a top-selling author engages in, the more their books are featured, making them more visible to new readers. And they are always on page 1 of the carousel on the "Products related to this item" page, see below for an example of this at work. The screenshot was taken in 2025.

 

Below is J M Dalgliesh's reader's newsletter sent almost two years earlier in July 2022. Evidence that he/his publisher is actively cross-promoting Jack Cartwright's books. And they will probably be doing this for each author's new releases.

 

3. Building Credibility and Visibility

While you’re doing everything right with marketing and releasing books regularly, visibility on Amazon is a game of momentum. Established authors already have the trust of their readers. When these authors promote each other, they tap into a loyal, highly responsive audience. Newer authors don’t have that same credibility or brand recognition yet, so they need to work extra hard to gain the attention of readers who are already loyal to the existing top authors in the genre.

New authors don’t always have access to this same network of promotions, which can create a sense of being locked out of the system. It's not just about book quality—it’s also about visibility in an extremely competitive market.

4. The Financial Side of Cross-Promotions

For many of these top authors, the financial investment in marketing is a huge factor. Some of these successful authors invest thousands of pounds in ads, book launches, and influencer marketing to boost visibility, making them more appealing for cross-promotion. The group dynamic helps keep them all visible while boosting each other’s sales. It’s a system that works well for those already at the top, but for outsiders, it can seem like a closed loop that’s difficult to penetrate.

5. Breaking Into "A" Network, not "THE" Network: Self-publishing hacks successful authors use

Breaking into such a network requires strategy, patience, and networking. While it can be tough to get noticed initially, there are still opportunities. But be realistic, it's unlikely that these high book sales authors will let you in, so instead:

• Collaborate with Mid-Tier Authors: look for authors around the same level or slightly higher than you in rank and sales. Collaborating with them can help you build momentum.

• Niche Cross-Promotions: Focus on smaller, more niche groups of authors within your sub-genre. These smaller groups can be less competitive, and you may find more open opportunities for collaboration.

• Building Your Community: Create your network by connecting with authors and readers on social media, newsletters, and forums like Reddit or Facebook. Building genuine relationships with your audience can help you organically grow your visibility.

In short, while the cross-promotion group among top crime authors is certainly a big factor in their success, that network isn't available to 85% of indie authors, purely based on their position in the market.

Best-selling crime authors use various marketing strategies and have the financial clout to outbuy everyone with huge ad spends and participate in multiple cross-promotions to literally thousands of readers.  Some use professional marketing services, who for the right budget, specialise in getting these authors into the best-sellers. One author even bought 5000 copies of his book to get it listed in the Times Best Seller list.

Below I used reputable software to scan for some statistics regarding the estimated daily and monthly book sales of the top crime authors on Amazon. I'm sure you will agree, the numbers are pretty impressive indeed. DY Sales is the daily sales, and MO Sales is for the monthly sales, believe it or not for "just one book!" 

You will need to find alternative ways to carve out your niche and build relationships outside the main influencer circles. Keep pushing—your persistence will eventually start to pay off!