Harlan Coben’s brand of mystery and thriller novels has become a major success for the Netflix streaming service, with eight adaptations to the platform to date. Coben signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Netflix in 2018, which went on to see 14 of his novels developed into either films or series, with him as executive producer. The contract has been recently extended for a further four years, with the success of high-rated shows drawing audiences in search of compelling dramas.
One of the most recent adaptations, Fool Me Once, tells the story of a family caught up in a pair of murders, with Michelle Keegan’s character seeing her husband’s murderer back as an intruder. The show’s narrative is complex, with Maya’s nieces and nephews starting to investigate their mother’s murder while drawing connections between the two cases. The show’s current rating is unknown, but it adds to a varied Coben range of mystery dramas.
The highest-rated adaptation to date belongs to Stay Close, which received a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the season stars Cush Jumbo as an exotic dancer turned mum living in Scotland with her fiancé. The series follows her husband’s unsolved case where a detective played by James Nesbitt tackles a new case linked to it. The show features Richard Armitage, Jo Joyner, and Eddie Izzard. Stay Close is available to stream on Netflix now.
Amazon Prime Video also presents its adaptation of Coben’s works in the form of Harlan Coben’s Shelter, premiering in August 2023. Starring Jaden Michael as a young man embroiled in the investigation of a fellow student’s disappearance, the show uncovers the dark underworld of the local community. So far, the show has an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the most respectable Coben adaptations across streaming services.
If you’re looking for a cinematic experience, Coben’s highest-rated adaptation is the 2006 French feature film Tell No One, directed by Guillaume Canet. It features Francois Cluzet as a doctor searching for his wife’s killer while evading the police and corrupt officials. The film won four Cesar Awards in 2007, including Best Director and Best Actor
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