9 thriller books to help fill the Traitors-shaped hole in your life
Already missing The Traitors? Fear not, we’ve curated a list of novels full of lies, deception and murder to help fill the void…
January is long and bleak, but one thing that has made it more bearable is The Traitors. Season four had a tough act to follow after the success of The Celebrity Traitors last year, and the shock new twist of a secret traitor made us all feel like we were a part of it for a while (and it really is harder to solve the mystery than it looks). And, of course, it’s always a treat for Claudia Winkleman to grace our screens with winter fashion inspiration.
But now it’s… gone. And we’re feeling kind of empty about it.
So, here’s a list of the best thriller books to help you fill what we’re sure is a very big Traitors-shaped hole in your lives. Whether you tuned in for the mystery, the deceit or even the idyllic Scottish setting, we’ve got a book for you.
Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce
We couldn’t do a Traitors-themed round-up without including the 100% faithful Harriet Tyce, whose legal thriller with a shocking twist is out on 26 February.
Eighteen-year-old Christian is found dead in a park, and the police charge her best friends, Eliza and Isobel, with her murder. Social media explodes and whispers hint at something darker: rituals, obsession and a teenage pact gone wrong. Matthew is reluctantly called for jury duty. When the girls reveal a chilling defence no one saw coming, he begins to question everything, even his own judgment.
Shop Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce (Wildfire) at Bookshop.org, £18.99
Society Of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
Ten years after graduating, Maya returns to Princeton for her college reunion and to watch her little sister, Naomi, graduate. The dream weekend becomes Maya’s worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police call it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story. She soon finds out that Naomi had joined the Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus. She also knows that her sister isn’t the first person in the society to turn up dead.
A secret society full of secrets and a murder to solve – truly entertaining.
Shop Society Of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown (Constable) at Bookshop.org, £9.99
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Adam and Amelia are spending a romantic weekend in the Scottish Highlands to celebrate their 10th anniversary. When their trip takes a dark turn, they both start to wonder if they can trust the one they’re with. Every couple tells little white lies. But for Adam and Amelia, the truth is far more dangerous.
Set in the Scottish Highlands with plenty of lies and deceit. This book is Feeney at her best.
Shop Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney (HQ) at Bookshop.org, £9.99
The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
On a private island off the west coast of Scotland, the Agarwals gather for a long-awaited family reunion. Every single one of the family members has a secret they’re keeping: bankruptcy, influencers, splitting assets and many more. But only one of them would go so far as to kill to protect themselves.
This is an unputdownable story on family relationships and how much we keep secret from the ones we love.
Shop The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha (Cornerstone) at Bookshop.org, £8.99
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
In a remote hunting lodge, deep in the Scottish wilderness, old friends gather to celebrate the new year. The beautiful one, the golden couple, the volatile one, the new parents, the quiet one, the city boy, the outsider. One victim. It’s not an accident; it’s a murder among friends.
A twisty murder mystery told through the point of view of five characters. Foley’s a modern-day Agatha Christie.
Shop The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (HarperCollins) at Bookshop.org, £9.99
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke
World-famous author Arthur Fletch is dead. His final novel, the most anticipated book in history, remains unfinished. Six struggling authors are invited to Fletch’s private Scottish island and presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: whoever writes a worthy ending will receive a game-changing book deal and $2 million. They have 72 hours and a typewriter. But getting to the end could be murder.
The gold star of locked-door mystery thrillers – you won’t trust anyone. (out 7 April 2026)
Shop The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (HQ) at Bookshop.org, £16.99
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Sydney is Brooklyn-born and raised, but her beloved neighbourhood keeps changing. For sale signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbours she’s known all her life are disappearing. Sydney, with the help of her friend Theo, realises that their neighbours may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalise the community may be more deadly than advertised.
A page-turning thriller with a story that’s powerful and important.
Shop When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole (William Morrow) at Bookshop.org, £9.99
The Favourite Sister by Jessica Knoll
Brett and Kelly Courtney are the shining jewels in a New York-based reality TV show called Goal Diggers. One of the most popular shows on American television, its fiercely competitive cast of five self-made women is defined by success, beauty and a ruthless drive to reach the top by whatever means necessary. But they’re all harbouring bitter jealousies and dark secrets. The producers would do anything for higher ratings, but they didn’t realise that this season would end in murder.
The Real Housewives meets The Traitors – a scandalous thriller set in the world of reality TV.
Shop The Favourite Sister by Jessica Knoll (Pan Books) at Bookshop.org, £9.99
The Cursed Road by Laura McCluskey
Deep in the Scottish Highlands, the body of a young woman is found on a cursed road. It looks like an accident, but a name scratched on the dead woman’s arm links to an unsolved case from years ago. Glaswegian detectives George and Richie attempt to get to the truth behind the dark rumours – a killer is waiting, determined that some secrets are never uncovered.
A brilliant thriller – you’ll have fun trying to solve the murder before the detectives do. (out 26 February 2026)
Shop The Cursed Road by Laura McCluskey (Hemlock Press) at Bookshop.org, £16.99
Images: courtesy of publishers
