The Best Harlan Coben Thrillers To Binge Watch After Run Away
Short, swift shows that pack all the punch
If you just finished Run Away and are craving more suspense, there’s never been a better time to dive into Harlan Coben’s world, both on screen and in print. Coben is a ridiculously prolific writer; he’s written around 35–36 thriller novels (standalones and series) published since the early 1990s. Over the years, he began producing his own adaptations, but even before that, movies based on his novels made a huge impact. Take Tell No One, for instance, a gripping thriller that won multiple César Awards (that the French equivalent of the Oscars).
Coben’s thrillers are built on secrets, lies, and shocking twists, whether hidden in suburban homes, small towns, or the darkest corners of a character’s past. Fathers chasing vanished children, spouses hiding dangerous truths, or friends confronting long-buried guilt, these are stories that deliver on the thrill without being so complex that you are left scratching your head in the end
If that sounds right up your alley, these shows are a perfect start for you. Check them out below.
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Safe
Harlan Coben’s first Netflix adaptation wastes no time pulling you in. Released to rave reviews from critics and audiences, Safe unfolds inside a seemingly idyllic gated community where appearances mask dangerous secrets. Michael C. Hall stars as widowed surgeon Tom Delaney, still reeling from his wife’s death a year ago while raising two teenage daughters. When his eldest daughter vanishes after a party and her boyfriend is found dead (sounds familiar?), Tom’s desperate search exposes hidden affairs, long-buried secrets, and violent truths lurking behind polished façades.
Where to stream: Netflix
The Stranger
Harlan Coben’s The Stranger follows Adam Price, whose comfortable suburban life implodes after a mysterious woman reveals his wife Corinne faked a pregnancy. When Corinne subsequently vanishes, Adam is dragged into a sprawling web of blackmail, lies, missing persons, and murder, all linked by the stranger’s interventions. The series thrives on escalating paranoia and intersecting storylines, with Coben himself making a brief uncredited cameo as a police computer analyst.
Where to stream: Netflix
Caught
Harlan Coben’s Caught follows journalist Ema Garay (Paula Beer), who exposes online predators but finds herself drawn into a dangerous investigation when a child predator using an online game leads her to respected social worker Leo Mercer (James Nesbitt). When a teenage girl connected to the case disappears, Ema uncovers a tangled web of secrets among old friends and her own past, revealing that the initial predator may have been framed by a vengeful former classmate seeking revenge for a long-buried betrayal.
Where to stream: Netflix
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Stay Close
If you were awestruck by Stephen Graham's performance as the dad in Adolescence, watch Stay Close ASAP. This eight-episode miniseries weaves a tense, twist-filled thriller around Megan Pierce (Jo Joyner), a seemingly perfect suburban mom with a hidden past as an exotic dancer, Ray Levine (Richard Armitage), a once-promising photojournalist now scraping by as a fake paparazzo, and Detective Michael Broome (Stephen Graham), obsessed with an old cold case surrounding them. Seventeen years ago, Stewart Green, who abused Megan, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. When another man vanishes on the same date, Broome’s investigation reignites, forcing Megan and Ray to confront buried their trauma.
Where to stream: Netflix
Fool Me Once
Fool Me Once follows Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan), a former special ops pilot grieving her husband Joe’s murder, only to be stunned when he appears on her nanny cam weeks later. Her investigation pulls her into a deadly web involving Joe’s powerful and corrupt Burkett family, the mysterious death of her sister Claire, and a whistleblowing scandal exposing the family’s pharmaceutical empire. As secrets, betrayals, and shocking truths surface, Maya uncovers that her husband was a killer, ultimately uncovering a deadly cover-up and her own tragic role.
Where to stream: Netflix
The Innocent
The Innocent follows Matt Hunter (Billy Howle), whose life was forever changed after accidentally killing a man while breaking up a fight and serving prison time. He is now trying to start fresh with his pregnant wife, Olivia (Miranda Richardson). However, a mysterious video from Olivia’s phone shatters their seemingly perfect life, triggering threats, suspicious deaths, and a dangerous unraveling of secrets. As past and present collide, Matt and Olivia must navigate a web of crime and deception to survive.
Where to stream: Netflix
Shelter
Shelter, based on the first book of the Mickey Bolitar series, follows Mickey (Gabriel Bateman), who moves in with his aunt in Kasselton, New Jersey, after his father’s death and mother’s rehab. When a new classmate, Ashley, mysteriously disappears, Mickey teams up with quirky friends Spoon (Aidan Gallagher) and Ema (Constance Wu) to investigate. Their search uncovers a reclusive “Bat Lady,” a hidden underground world, family secrets, and a chilling child trafficking operation, forcing Mickey to confront the dark history of his town while racing to save Ashley.
Where to stream: Prime Video