Crime writers say their skills make them natural contestants on The Traitors

This time last year a rumour ran through the British crime‑writing community that producers of The Traitors were recruiting contestants for 2026, and many writers believe their skills make them well suited to the show after attending the Traitors Live Experience in Covent Garden. The author of the piece says, "I didn’t get the call." The writers describe The Traitors as a controlled, lower‑stakes, stylised version of the golden‑age country house whodunnit and say examining betrayal, manipulation and the dark side of human behaviour is part of their day job.

They add that writing from multiple perspectives—identifying with victim, perpetrator and detective—gives them a particular kind of empathy and strong pattern‑finding and observational skills. Former detective and novelist Clare Mackintosh said Harriet Tyce, the barrister turned thriller writer, is perfect for the show: "The cat‑and‑mouse game in crime and thriller novels isn’t only between detective and villain, it’s between author and reader - who will reach the truth first?

Whether Traitor or Faithful, a crime writer makes a formidable opponent." Mark Edwards, a Traitors superfan and author, said a slip of calling players "characters" showed he watches the show the same way he reads crime fiction.

Key Topics

Culture, Crime Writers, The Traitors, Harriet Tyce, Clare Mackintosh, Mark Edwards