Harlan Coben’s gripping tales have captivated audiences worldwide, earning him a reputation as a master of suspense.
With several of his acclaimed novels adapted for the screen, Netflix brings to life the thrilling narratives that have kept readers on the edge of their seats.
From chilling mysteries to gripping thrillers, here are eight Harlan Coben Netflix adaptations that promise to keep viewers hooked from start to finish.
#1: Fool Me Once (2024)
Fool Me Once is a British thriller Netflix series, adapted from the 2016 Harlan Coben novel of the same name.
Based on book:
Fool Me Once, published in 2016
Cast:
- Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern
- Dino Fetscher as DC Marty McGreggor
- Richard Armitage as Joe Burkett
- DΓ€nya Griver as Abby Walker
- Daniel Burt as Daniel Walker
- Natalie Anderson as Claire Walker
- Adelle Leonce as Eva Finn
Plot:
After the tragic death of her husband Joe Burkett, Maya Stern receives a nanny cam as a gift from her close friend, Eva Finn, to monitor her daughter, Lily. However, upon reviewing the footage from the camera, Maya is astonished to witness Joe, whom everyone believed to be deceased, visiting their daughter. Concurrently, Abby and Daniel, Maya’s niece and nephew, embark on a quest to uncover the truth behind their mother, Claire Walker’s, untimely demise, while also delving into potential links between these two perplexing cases.
#2: Stay Close (2021)
Stay Close is a British mystery drama Netflix miniseries, adapted from Harlan Coben’s 2012 novel of the same name.
Based on book:
Stay Close, published in 2012
Cast:
- Cush Jumbo as Megan Pierce / Cassie Morris, a former exotic dancer, now engaged with three children.
- James Nesbitt as DS Michael Broome, a jaded police sergeant.
- Richard Armitage as Ray Levine, a photographer
- Sarah Parish as Lorraine Griggs, the owner of Vipers, a night club.
- Jo Joyner as DC Erin Cartwright, Broome’s police partner and ex-wife.
- Daniel Francis as Dave Shaw, Megan’s fiancΓ©.
Plot:
Megan Pierce, a suburban mother in Livingstone, conceals a murky past. Ray Levine, once a talented photographer, now works as a paparazzo. Detective Michael Broome is haunted by a cold case involving the disappearance of Stewart Green. When another man vanishes on the anniversary of Stewart’s disappearance, Broome dives into the case, uncovering buried truths and risking lives. Amidst the chaos, two psychopaths pursue their own agenda.
#3: The Stranger (2020)
The Stranger is a eight-part British mystery thriller Netflix miniseries, adapted from Harlan Coben’s 2015 novel of the same name.
Based on book:
The Stranger, published in 2015
Cast:
- Richard Armitage as Adam Price, the husband of Corinne Price, and the father to Thomas and Ryan.
- SiobhΓ‘n Finneran as DS Johanna Griffin
- Dervla Kirwan as Corinne Price, wife of Adam Price, mother of Ryan and Thomas Price
- Kadiff Kirwan as DC Wesley Ross
- Jacob Dudman as Thomas Price
- Misha Handley as Ryan Price
Plot:
Adam Price, a devoted family man, is thrown into turmoil when a mysterious woman reveals a shocking secret about his wife. As Adam investigates further, he unravels a complex network of lies, dark secrets, and hidden connections that jeopardize the lives of everyone involved.
#4: The Innocent (2021)
The Innocent (Spanish: el inocente) is a Spanish mystery thriller Netflix miniseries, adapted from Harlan Coben’s 2005 novel of the same name.
Based on book:
The Innocent, published in 2005
Cast:
- Mario Casas as Mateo Vidal
- Alexandra JimΓ©nez as Lorena Ortiz
- Aura Garrido as Olivia Costa
- JosΓ© Coronado as Teo Aguilar
- Martina GusmΓ‘n as Kimmy Dale
- Juana Acosta as Emma
Plot:
After an accidental killing plunges him into a world of intrigue and murder, Mateo strives to rebuild his life alongside his wife Olivia. However, nine years later, a single phone call shatters their newfound happiness, reigniting the nightmare they thought they had left behind.
#5: Safe (2018)
Safe is a British television drama Netflix series created by crime author Harlan Coben.
Cast:
- Michael C. Hall as Tom Delaney a widower and surgeon
- Amanda Abbington as DS Sophie Mason
- Marc Warren as Pete Mayfield, Tom’s best friend and fellow doctor
- Amy James-Kelly as Jenny Delaney, 16, Tom’s elder daughter
- Freddie Thorp as Chris Chahal, Jenny’s 19-year-old boyfriend
Plot:
The show centers around Tom Delaney, a pediatric surgeon and widowed father of two teenage daughters. Struggling to connect with his daughters following the loss of his wife to cancer a year earlier, Tom’s world is turned upside down when his 16-year-old daughter Jenny disappears. As he searches frantically for her, Tom unravels a web of secrets that threatens to upend his life.
#6: The Woods (2020)
The Woods (Polish: W gΕΔbi lasu) is a Polish mystery thriller Netflix miniseries, adapted from Harlan Coben’s 2007 novel of the same name.
Based on book:
The Woods, published in 2009
Cast:
- Grzegorz DamiΔcki as PaweΕ KopiΕski (2019)
- Agnieszka Grochowska as Laura Goldsztajn (2019)
- Hubert MiΕkowski as PaweΕ KopiΕski (1994)
- Wiktoria Filus as Laura Goldsztajn (1994)
Plot:
The narrative unfolds across two distinct time periods: August 1994 and September 2019. In 2019, Warsaw prosecutor PaweΕ KopiΕski is tasked with identifying the body of a murder victim who was discovered alongside newspaper clippings about him. The murder appears to be connected to a summer camp in August 1994, where PaweΕ served as a chaperone. During that time, two people were murdered, and two others – including his sister Kamila -vanished without a trace.
#7: Gone for Good (2021)
Gone for Good (French: Disparu Γ jamais) is a 2021 French-language Netflix series based on Harlan Coben’s 2002 novel of the same name.
Based on book:
Gone for Good, published in 2002
Cast:
- Finnegan Oldfield as Guillaume Lucchesi
- Nicolas Duvauchelle as Fred Lucchesi
- Garance Marillier as Inès Kasmi / Sonia
- Nailia Harzoune as Judith Conti/Nora
Plot:
Guillaume Lucchesi, in his thirties, believed he had moved on from the tragic loss of his first love, Sonia, and his brother Fred. However, ten years later, Judith, the woman who brought joy back into his life, mysteriously vanishes during his mother’s funeral. To locate her, Guillaume must confront hidden truths from his past, challenging family and friends, as well as his own long-standing denials. As he delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers unsettling revelations that will change everything, for better or for worse.
#8: Hold Tight (2022)
Hold Tight (Polish: Zachowaj spokΓ³j) is a Polish crime drama Netflix miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben.
Based on book:
Hold Tight, published in 2009
Cast:
- Magdalena Boczarska as Anna Barczyk
- Leszek Lichota as MichaΕ Barczyk
- Krzysztof Oleksyn as Adam Barczyk
- Grzegorz DamiΔcki as PaweΕ KopiΕski
- Tomasz Drabek as Janusz Nowak
- Klementyna Karnkowska as JaΕmina Nowak
- Agata Εabno as Kaja KopiΕska
Plot:
In an affluent housing estate in Warsaw, life takes a dark turn when a young man goes missing shortly after his friend’s death, sending the community into a frenzy. The danger escalates quickly, and the worried parents do everything they can to protect their children who, on the verge of adulthood, have decided to take matters into their own hands. As secrets and lies unravel, the tight-knit community is forced to confront its darkest truths.
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