The world of British crime writing was abuzz with a tantalising rumour last year. The producers of the smash-hit BBC reality show The Traitors were reportedly scouting for contestants for their 2026 series, and they specifically wanted a crime novelist to take part. For thriller author Erin Kelly, and many of her peers, the logic was impeccable.
The Perfect Psychological Fit
As Kelly explains, The Traitors is essentially a stylised, modern version of a classic country house whodunnit. Crime writers spend their professional lives dissecting the darker aspects of human behaviour, from betrayal and manipulation to the complex motives behind every action. "Betrayal of trust and manipulation are all in a day’s work," she notes. This unique perspective, which involves writing from the viewpoints of victim, perpetrator, and detective, cultivates a form of empathy that is perfectly suited to the game's psychological warfare.
The speculation ended when it was revealed that Harriet Tyce, a former barrister turned bestselling thriller writer, had been the chosen one for the show's current fourth series. Her performance has been widely praised, particularly her masterful takedown of Traitor Hugo in an early episode. "Her speech was the stuff of the courtroom dramas she writes; eloquent, controlled, incisive," observes Kelly. Tyce presented her suspicions as incontrovertible fact, a skill crime writers use daily to misdirect their readers with panache.
From the Page to the Round Table
Fellow authors agree that the skillset is transferable. Former detective and novelist Clare Mackintosh points out that the cat-and-mouse dynamic in thrillers exists not just between characters but between author and reader. "Whether Traitor or Faithful, a crime writer makes a formidable opponent," she states. Author and superfan Mark Edwards adds that writing crime fiction makes practitioners exceptionally good at games, noting Tyce's immediate identification of Hugo's deceit.
However, Kelly offers a note of self-deprecating caution. While crime writers are adept at crafting twists on the page, the social and improvisational demands of the castle are a different challenge. "We spend most of our time alone, typing and wearing fleeces covered in pet hair," she jokes. Yet, the soft skills gained from literary festivals and public engagements—quickly building rapport with strangers—are a significant asset for a Faithful trying to survive.
The Allure of the Dark Side
But what about the potential for a crime writer to be a Traitor? Here, the professional advantages could be even greater. "To make twists work, we have to be able to create characters who are good at lying and pretending to be good guys," says Edwards. Dramatic irony—where the audience knows something the characters do not—is the crime writer's stock-in-trade, and it is also the essence of being a successful Traitor. The chance to become the puppet master, to orchestrate mischief and control the narrative, would be a powerful temptation for any author used to plotting fictional deceptions.
Harriet Tyce's journey on the show continues to captivate audiences. Whether she remains a Faithful or is ultimately recruited to the dark side, her background has undoubtedly provided her with a unique toolkit for navigating the paranoia and persuasion of Ardross Castle. As the series unfolds, viewers are witnessing a compelling case study in how the analytical mind of a crime writer performs under the intense pressure of reality television's most deceptive game.
