Taylor Swift’s mystery novel idea for Stephen Colbert post-‘Late Show’ is wild

Taylor Swift joined Stephen Colbert on The Late Show on Wednesday, and they not only talked about how to deal with the end of an era, they planned a mystery novel?

After asking the artist to list her five favourite Taylor Swift songs (a tough ask, but “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” is in there), Colbert and Swift then speak about what the host will do after his show ends in May next year, after its controversial cancellation. According to Swift, Colbert will get into podcasting, TikTok, and being an influencer, then make a pivot into a career in literature.

“I feel like you’re gonna write a really amazing mystery thriller, where there’s like, a house and it’s covered in ivy, right?” said Swift, referring to her requirements for a perfect read.

“Maybe off the coast of Maine?” responded Colbert, who begins madly writing down plot details Swift begins to spin.

“There’s a mistress there, but actually, she’s related to them. And so it’s really bad, but it’s an amazing book. But it’s grim right?” says Swift. “And then somebody falls off a cliff. Oh no, it was a ghost! And then it turns out that they don’t actually own the island, right? They don’t actually own it because their father is actually his twin brother, and the father died in a mysterious drowning incident.”

“Done,” says Colbert. “If it sells, I’ll give you half the royalties.”