On behalf of The Traitors: 8 of the best books about betrayal

Just like in The Traitors, the betrayals that hit us the hardest are from those we hold closest to our hearts, the ones we don't see coming . . . Laura is living the golden life until her son Daniel introduces her to Cherry, his new girlfriend. When a tragedy strikes, a devastating decision is made, and a terrible lie is told. This book is a gripping, chilling exploration of how far a person will go when love and ambition clash, and the price paid when an unforgivable betrayal is exposed. Now an Amazon Prime TV series starring Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke and Laurie Davidson.

The ultimate betrayal often happens when a loved one is not who they seem. Set in 1750 London, The Art of a Lie begins when Hannah Cole’s husband dies, leaving her mysteriously attained fortune. Accused of illicit gains, Hannah must become a detective, delving into her late husband’s secret life. She unearths a labyrinth of lies and deceit so complex it would impress any Traitor. This immersive, historical thriller is a battle of wits where every secret uncovered has the potential to lead Hannah a step closer to her own undoing.

This romantic, suspenseful mystery taps into one of the most painful forms of modern betrayal: ghosting. After seven glorious, all-consuming days, Sarah is sure she’s found The One. Then, he vanishes without a trace. Sarah’s friends tell her to move on, but she's convinced the silence hides a darker secret. When she finally discovers the shocking truth, she realises the man she loved was a complete stranger and the reason for his silence is the one vital thing they didn't share: the truth. This book is full of more twists and turns than an episode of The Traitors. Don’t believe us? You’ll have to pick up a copy to find out. 

Some might say Dickens is the master of writing betrayal, and there's more treachery in this novel than in any single series of The Traitors! This classic follows Pip, an orphan given the unexpected chance to become a gentleman of wealth. But as he rises in society, he starts to betray his good-hearted origins and the people who truly care for him, all while under the cold, manipulative influence of Miss Havisham – no stranger to betrayal herself. Pip soon learns that his great expectations were built on a foundation of tainted secrets and greater happiness might be found in the life he left behind.

If you love the paranoia and secret-keeping of The Traitors, you’ll be hooked by the intense web of lies in The Crow Trap, the very first book in Ann Cleeves’s Vera Stanhope series. Three very different women come together at an isolated cottage in the North Pennines, each of them already knows the bitter taste of betrayal. . .  When a suspected suicide quickly turns into a murder investigation, the unconventional D.I. Stanhope must unravel the trio's tangled lives and deep-seated deceptions. It’s a compelling look at what happens when trust is broken and secrets turn deadly.

This stunning Greek retelling is the perfect read for those who root for the Faithful, longing for the downfall of the Traitors. Based on the classic tragedy by Euripides, No Friend to this House is a stunning reimagining of the Medea myth, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes. Medea sacrifices everything for Jason, but when he casts her aside, she becomes the ultimate vengeful Faithful. This is a story of fierce loyalty twisted into devastating revenge, where the price of broken vows is paid in blood.

When Harry revealed his true identity as a Traitor to Molly at the end of series 2, the betrayal felt all the more brutal as the two were such close friends. Is there anything worse than a betrayal of friendship? A Little Life follows four friends – JB, Jude, Malcolm and Willem – as they make a life for themselves in New York. But a key moment in the book occurs when JB publicly mocks Jude, irrevocably altering their friendship. And although JB later apologises for his actions, this one act tears the group apart, showing that some betrayals are impossible to recover from. 

This gripping psychological novel exposes the quiet, insidious betrayals that occur behind closed doors. On the surface, Zoe Stamper is the loving, beloved wife of the sophisticated Dr. Penny Cartwright. But beneath the surface, Zoe is living a lie, a nervous wreck trapped by a secret darkness in her marriage. The tension is nail-biting as Zoe plots her midlife bid for freedom. This novel perfectly captures the suspense of discovering the traitor in your most intimate circle, and the agonizing, furious process of attempting to escape.