Solve it with me
Give three clues and ask for guesses; reveal nothing — point to the book.
Example hook: “Three clues. Can you name the killer?”
Detective intro
Introduce your sleuth's method in one line.
Example hook: “She solves murders with knitting patterns.”
Setting tour
Show the village, ship or manor as a cast of places.
Example hook: “One island. No ferry until Monday.”
Red herring warning
Tease that one clue is a trap.
Example hook: “One of these clues is a lie.”
Cozy vs dark
Tell readers clearly whether it's cozy or gritty.
Example hook: “Cozy mystery: cats, cake, and only one murder.”
Suspect bingo
Turn suspect traits into a bingo card viewers can screenshot.
Example hook: “Suspect bingo — screenshot this before chapter 1.”
Series order
Explain whether books stand alone.
Example hook: “Can you read book 3 first? Yes — here's why.”
Puzzle of the week
Post a small logic puzzle themed around your book.
Example hook: “A puzzle my detective would solve in 10 seconds.”
Quote card
Your detective's best line over a simple image.
Example hook: “'Everyone lies about breakfast.'”
Behind the clue
Explain how you planted a fair-play clue (no spoilers).
Example hook: “How I hide clues in plain sight.”
Tips that apply to every idea
- Put the hook on screen in the first second — many people watch with the sound off.
- Keep one idea per video; 15–30 seconds is plenty for most of these formats.
- End with one clear action: 'link in bio', 'comment your pick', or 'follow for part 2'.
- Batch-make a week of clips in one sitting, then post on a schedule you can keep.
For a full posting plan, read How to promote your book on BookTok and Reels.
Don't want to film yourself?
xBookvideo turns your manuscript into narrated, illustrated vertical episodes with subtitles — and the Marketing Pack adds 5 hook clips and a 30-day posting calendar. This sample was made from The Great Gatsby.
More for mystery authors
Mystery book trailer guide · How to make a book trailer · Classic books as videos