Best Harlan Coben Netflix Shows

The master of mystery and suspense has had seven Netflix adaptations so far, with more on the way.

Harlan Coben grips his reader/ audience and leaves them wanting more after every episode or page turn.

If you are a fan of a good mystery-thriller genre, whether it is in book form or tv form, you have probably heard of Harlan Coben. The American writer has created over 33 stories and counting.

Since 2016, he has had seven stories turned into Netflix shows and has signed a deal to turn 14 of his books into a series for the streaming site, with the latest, Fool Me Once, making it in the Top 10.

If you like twists, turns, and tormented suburban dads, then this list will definitely have something for you.

The Stranger:

The Stranger is pure, unadulterated Harlan Coben fun. When British dad Adam Price (Richard Armitage) is approached by a baseball-capped woman in her 20s (Hannah-John Kamen), she tells him that his wife may have faked her miscarriages. After he confronts his wife, she goes missing, leaving him more confused and worried.

The show follows Price’s journey for the truth, as he pursues both his wife and the stranger who gave him the cryptic message. Meanwhile, a local schoolboy and classmate of Price’s son is found lying naked in the woods, unconscious, prompting a police investigation that ties the multiple storylines into one. The Stranger is a delight and mystery from start to finish, leaving the reader wanting more.

Stay Close:

Stay Close is a rarity among the TV adaptations of Harlan Coben novels in that it features a female protagonist. We open with a bride-to-be, Megan Pierce, celebrating her bachelorette party with girlfriends. She comes home after a night out to find a note on her doorstep addressed to “Cassie.” Very early on, we learn that Megan has not always been Megan.

The suburban mother of three finds her past self, among other characters from her days as an exotic dancer that comes back to haunt her. As she tries to protect her family and hide her former life in the shadows, mysteries old and new come to light. 

This story gives us a forbidden romance, teen angst, a bundle of unsolved murders, medical and a finale that shows that happy endings are not always perfect.

Fool Me Once:

Be prepared for more than one mind-blowing plot twist as this show leaves you hooked from first play. Netflix’s latest miniseries, inspired by Coben’s best-selling novel, follows a military veteran (Maya played Michelle Keegan) as she mourns the death of her sister and her husband. Maya is shocked by a recent nanny cam video featuring her late husband.

The protagonist goes on a quest for answers and find out if she did really see her husband in video form. From confronting her in-laws, to collaborating with Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce, Maya is eager to take matter into her own hands in order to unveil the truth.

Easily one of the most well-paced and engaging Coben series on Netflix, Fool Me Once is certain to keep you guessing.

Safe:

Probably the best Harlan Coben adapted show you can stream. A British man, Tom Delaney (played by Dexter’s Michael C. Hall), has his world shaken when his teen daughter, Jenny (Amy James-Kelly) goes missing from their gated community. As he comes to terms with the sudden absence of a missing daughter, he is taken back to his dead wike, a budding romance with the lead detective on the case, a long-term best friend, and dangers that appear within the gated community.

There is a typical house party, indeering nightclubs, a suspicious fire, and twist after twist after twist. Although these components aren’t necessarily unique among Coben’s shows, Safe is the one that executes them perfectly.

The big reveal feels truly big, and the emotional connections the story builds between our main characters are extremely clever. And the fact that it’s easy television, fun to watch, and even more fun to discuss after each episode, it is a perfect watch. It’s well-paced thriller and with a stand-out cast and Coben regulars.