If, like a large portion of the UK, you have been watching The Traitors on the BBC, then you will have heard of Harriet Tyce. Author and secret criminal barrister turned traitor hunter, Harriet wowed viewers with her sharp perception and cunning gameplay. While it may have blown up in her face towards the end, there is no doubt that Harriet has carved a name for herself as a formidable character.
Outside of the Traitors castle, Harriet has written several crime novels which have shot up the bestseller list following her performance on the BBC show. Fans are eager to see whether her powers of deduction translate into brilliant crime stories, which, by the looks of her sales numbers, it seems like they do. In fact, her book sales have increased by 95 per cent since the show aired.
However, there has been some speculation as to whether this increase in book sales was Harriet’s true intention with going on the show. It is important to note that she has a new book coming out in February, conveniently just after the show will have finished. Indeed, we often see contestants appearing on reality shows to promote their own products or brands; it feels like every Love Island contestant nowadays is just there for a big fashion brand deal. But whether this was the case with Harriet on The Traitors is up for discussion. Regardless, her books speak for themselves, and it is not hard to see why being a popular crime writer can make for a formidable faithful. Her ability to weave narratives, find clues, and make deductions seems like the perfect set of skills for hunting traitors. All of this, paired with her eloquence and intelligence as a criminal barrister, made some think she was unbeatable (although this was soon proven to be untrue).
Interestingly, Harriet chose to hide her profession as a barrister, but not as an author. Perhaps we may see authors in future years being more secretive after Harriet has exposed their potential for being impressive traitor hunters. Harriet has written four books, with a fifth due in February. Her debut novel, Blood Orange, is a psychological thriller which first became popular during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Her following novels are of a similar vein and have been equally popular, even before The Traitors aired. While I am not a frequent reader of crime, I have certainly been compelled to pick up a copy of her books, like much of the UK, and I doubt I will be disappointed. Whether it was a brilliant marketing strategy or a convenient result of her performance, there is no doubt that Harriet Tyce’s appearance on The Traitors has impacted her career as an author for the better.
Photo by Ghavam Cheraghali on Unsplash
