When it comes to addictive thrillers, Harlan Coben is somewhat of a genius at producing them. But with so many adaptations of his books now on the small screen, where to start? Fortunately for you, we’ve been busy making our way through all of them - and we’ve picked out 7 we consider perfect, one of which has even been called the best series ever.
From Michelle Keegan's impeccable performance as a nanny who sees her murdered husband on a secret nanny cam (or does she?) in Fool Me Once, to Cush Jumbo's star turn as a middle-class mum with a dark past in Stay Close, these are the series you quite literally won't be able to stop watching. So sit back, relax and enjoy our pick of the very best Harlan Coben thrillers.
Stay Close
Have you ever thought about how well you really know someone? That’s the theme of Stay Close, which revolves around three people who each conceal dark secrets from those closest to them. First up, there’s working mum Megan (Cush Jumbo) who was formerly a stripper, then there’s Ray (Richard Armitage), a once-promising documentary photographer. We’re also introduced to Broome (James Nesbitt), a brooding detective who’s struggling to let go of a missing person’s cold case. As their murky pasts come back to haunt them, the stakes are dangerously high - and let’s just say things don’t exactly end well for everyone. Available to watch on Netflix.
Fool Me Once
If you’re still wondering which thriller has been described as the "best series ever", it’s this one - and honestly? We kind of agree. The plot follows a grief-stricken mother, Maya (Michelle Keegan), who’s coming to terms with the murder of her husband, Joe (Richard Armitage). Her grief turns to confusion, however, when she sees a man resembling her husband enter her house. Meanwhile, Maya's niece and nephew are trying to find the truth about their mother Claire Walker’s murder, examining the possibility that the two cases are connected. It won’t come as a surprise that the series involves a major twist, but the magnitude of this one is quite extraordinary. We’re warning you now, there's no way you'll see it coming. Available to watch on Netflix.
The Stranger
Firstly, the cast of this one, which includes Jennifer Saunders and Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran, makes it an instant standout. But the plot is pretty exceptional, too. Richard Armitage (a Harlan Coben regular) plays Adam Price, a happily married father of two whose life if upended when a stranger tells him a shocking secret about his wife. Siobhan Finneran plays punchy police detective, Johanna Griffin, who finds her pragmatic approach to police work compromised when her investigation into the matter becomes deeply personal. It’s dark, but it’s also entirely believable. Available to watch on Netflix.
Safe
Set in a gated community, Michael C. Hall leads the cast of Safe as surgeon, Tom, who’s grieving the loss of his wife who died from cancer. Struggling to deal with the loss, it puts a strain on his relationship with his two daughters, and one day, the eldest, Lucy (Amy James-Kelly) mysteriously disappears at a house party. He enlists the help of his new girlfriend, Detective Sergeant Sophie Mason (Amanda Abbington), who conveniently lives in the same gated community, to find her - and unearths some rather horrendous truths in the process. It’s a truly twisty watch that looks at how we’ll go as parents to protect our families. Available to watch on Netflix.
Shelter
One that your teenager will likely enjoy as much as you, Shelter follows the story of Mickey Bolitar, a teen dealing with the sudden death of his father. The tragedy leads him to start a new life in Kasselton, New Jersey, but he quickly finds himself tangled in the mysterious disappearance of a new student at his school, Ashley Kent. With the help of his friends, Mickey attempts to untangle a decades-long mystery that may hold the answers to decades of disappearances and deaths - and even Mickey’s own complicated family history. Available to watch on Prime Video.
Just One Look
Based on his 2004 novel, this one might just be Harlan’s most mind-boggling series to date. The plot revolves around Greta (Maria Dębska), a wife and mother whose life unravels when she discovers an old photograph of her husband Jacek (Cezary Lukaszewicz) with a stranger’s face ominously crossed out. Within hours, her husband has disappeared – and as she digs deeper into the mystery, she finds herself caught in a web of secrets that threatens her entire life. Buckle up! Available to watch on Netflix.
Missing You
Admittedly, this one slightly divided viewers, but we’re on team “it's immaculate”. Eleven years ago, Detective Kat Donovan’s (played by Slow Horses’ Rosalind Eleazar) fiancé and love of her life, Josh (Ashley Walters), disappeared. She hasn’t heard from him since – but now, when she's swiping profiles on a dating app, she sees his face, and her world explodes all over again. The discovery forces her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father’s murder and face some long-buried secrets from her past. It’s a binge-watch you won’t regret. Available to watch on Netflix.
