Literary mastermind Harlen Coben’s 33 novels have sold an estimated 75 million copies and been translated into 43 languages.
And ever since the US author struck a five-year deal with Netflix in 2018, the TV adaptations of Coben’s novels have been equally well received.
In 2020, we had The Stranger, an adaptation of Coben’s 2015 thriller, which revolves around a husband who discovers from a stranger that his wife faked her pregnancy and miscarriage before she vanished into thin air – and features twists and turns galore.
And we’d only just recovered from Stay Close, a series based on Coben’s 2012 book of the same name starring Deadwater Fell’s Cush Jumbo as well as Richard Armitage (The Stranger), when his latest gripping drama, Hold Tight, landed on the streamer.
Hold Tight follows the family of a young man who goes missing following the death of his friend, leaving everyone in the happy-go-lucky suburb of Warsaw reeling. It soon emerges that there’s so much more to this case than anyone could have predicted.
Safe, the first of Coben’s shows to be adapted for the streaming giant back in 2018, is also currently available to stream on Netflix.
So, if these unpredictable murder mysteries have left you wanting more gripping intrigue, then look no further: here’s your complete guide to Harlan Coben dramas on Netflix…
What are the Harlan Coben dramas on Netflix?
Hold Tight
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Hold Tight is the latest Coben adaptation to land on Netflix, premiering globally on the streamer on Friday 22nd April.
The Polish adaptation stars Magdalena Boczarska, Leszek Lichota, Krzysztof Oleksyn and Agata Łabno.
Based on the book of the same name by Coben, Hold Tight tells the story of a young man’s disappearance in a tight-knit Warsaw suburb – and the huge impact the mystery has on the affluent residents.
Following the death of his best friend, Adam begins to act out of character. But when Anna decides to instal spy software on his phone to work out what he’s up to, she discovers an ever-deepening web of secrets and lies…
Stay Close
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Another recent addition to Netflix’s catalogue was Stay Close, which landed on the streaming service in December 2021.
Deadwater Fell’s Cush Jumbo, Bancroft’s Sarah Parish and Bloodlands’ James Nesbitt also star in the eight-part series, which follows a group of people whose lives are derailed when dark secrets emerge.
Based on the 2012 novel of the same name, Jumbo plays Megan, a working mum of three; Armitage portrays Ray, a failed documentary photographer; and Nesbitt stars as Broome, a detective haunted by a missing person’s cold case.
When Megan’s old friend arrives on the scene and delivers some shocking news, secrets from the trio’s past quickly return to haunt them…
The Stranger
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Another addition to the Netflix catalogue is The Stranger, which was a big hit in the UK when it was released in January 2020.
Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp) plays the eponymous stranger, a mysterious woman who tells a man a powerful secret. His wife goes missing soon after, prompting the police to launch an investigation into who The Stranger really is.
Richard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran, Jennifer Saunders and Kadiff Kirwan co-star in this tense thriller based on Coben’s novel of the same name, which kept fans guessing until the very end…
The Woods
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The Woods is the third Harlan Coben drama to land on Netflix and the second Polish original series to be produced by the streaming service.
Based on the 2007 novel of the same name, The Woods is about a man haunted by his missing sister, who mysteriously vanished under his watch 25 years ago and has never been seen since.
When evidence emerges that suggests she could still be alive, it sets him on a path to get answers that will dig up some secrets long thought to be buried…
The Innocent
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Based on Coben’s novel from 2005, Spanish-language mystery titled The Innocent (El Inocente) landed on Netflix in April 2021.
The eight-part series follows the story of Mateo (played by Mario Casas), who inadvertently becomes a murderer when he sees a fight and decides to step in.
Nine years later, he has served time for homicide and is rebuilding his life with his wife, Olivia (Aura Garrido). However, a shocking an inexplicable call brings Mateo’s world crashing down once again.
Safe
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Safe was the first of Coben’s shows to debut on Netflix, landing on the service back in May 2018. Unlike the others, this series isn’t based on an existing novel but is instead an original creation for television.
Michael C Hall (Dexter) plays a surgeon whose wife has recently died of cancer, a devastating loss which puts a heavy strain on his relationship with his two daughters.
When one of them goes missing, he sets out on a desperate search to find her and uncovers shocking secrets along the way. Amanda Abbington (Sherlock) and Marc Warren (Van Der Valk) also star in this soapy drama, which prioritises entertainment value over gritty realism.
Gone for Good
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Gone for Good is the first French-language Coben adaptation.
Based on his 2002 novel of the same name, the five-part series landed on Netflix in April 2021 and stars Garance Marillier, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Guillaume Gouix, Finnegan Oldfield and Nailia Harzoune.
The plot revolves around Guillaume Lucchesi 10 years after a terrible tragedy saw his first love, Sonia, and his brother, Fred, die. Lucchesi is plunged into a dizzying mystery when his girlfriend vanishes into thin air during his mother’s funeral – and he’s forced to unearth unbearable truths on his quest to find her.
Stay Close is streaming now on Netflix – check out our lists of the best TV shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix or see what else is on with our TV Guide.
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