7 of the best Harlan Coben TV dramas you need to watch

Harlan Coben is known for writing thrillers that have us suspicious of every character, from the next-door neighbour to the fun-loving parent.

As a result, the 63-year-old has managed to sell over 80 million copies worldwide, and his work has been translated into 46 languages.

With his crime books attracting so many engaged readers, it made complete sense to translate the magic onto the small screen and so over the past decade, he has been creating and executive producing TV adaptations.

Through this, he has found himself even more fans, who are kept on their toes from the opening credits until the very last scene.

Coben is currently signed into a multi-million contract with Netflix to adapt 14 of his books into TV series, so there is always a new treat just around the corner and plenty of back catalogue to get stuck into.

If you’re a long-term fan with gaps in your viewing history, or new to his work and want to know where to begin we’ve got you covered.

The best Harlan Coben TV dramas to stream

Here are the seven most highly rated Coben creations on review site Rotten Tomatoes…

The Innocent

The 2021 Spanish thriller The Innocent follows ex-con Mateo Vidal Rivera (Mario Casas) whose life is led down a dark hole of intrigue and murder after an accidental killing in a nightclub.

Nine years later he has finally found love with his wife Olivia Costa (Aura Garrido) and freedom, but one phone call brings back the nightmare.

The show is the perfect watch for those hoping to delve into the world of non-English language thrillers, especially as it’s scored the elusive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Where to watch: The Innocent is available to stream on Netflix now.

Stay Close

In the eight-parter, Megan Pierce (Cush Jumbo) is blissfully happy with her loving family and gorgeous home. Her whole vibe would be on many people’s ‘dream life’ Pinterest boards. 

However, she’s keeping secrets from a past life, which make their way into her present when a detective begins investigating the mysterious disappearance of local man Stewart Green again.

With an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has been praised by critics as an intense watch, which makes up for its lack of subtlety with impressive thrills.

Where to watch: Stay Close is available to stream on Netflix now.

The Woods

2020 Polish miniseries The Woods follows prosecutor Paweł Kopiński (Grzegorz Damięcki) as he returns to his hometown to investigate the disappearance of his sister 25 years earlier in the local forest.

Taking place in two different timelines – the present-day and 1994 – this complex crime proves a challenge for Paweł who digs way more than he ever expected to.

Boasting an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Woods was praised for its performances and emotional story, although some critics complained it wasn’t particularly innovative.

Where to watch: The Woods is available to stream on Netflix now.

Shelter

Shelter follows Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael), who heads to Kasselton, New Jersey to start afresh.

Things aren’t peaceful for long as he becomes entangled in the mysterious disappearance of Ashley Kent (Samantha Bugliaro), a student at his school. The quiet suburban community’s dark underworld is quickly discovered.

Described as an ‘absorbing and mature mystery’, Shelter (Or Harlan Coben’s Shelter, as it’s known) has an 88% Critics Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Where to watch: Shelter is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video now.

The Stranger

Richard Armitage plays Adam Price, who is told a secret by a, you guessed it – a stranger. Not long after, his wife goes missing and he’s sent on a path to get answers.

It’s addictively tense as lives begin to unravel and unexpected connections appear.

Where to watch: The Stranger is available to stream on Netflix now.

Safe

At the start of Safe, we meet the widowed father of two, Tom (Michael C. Hall).

In the wake of his wife’s death, he is struggling to connect with their teenage daughters. When one of them goes missing, he discovers a lot he didn’t know about while frantically trying to get her home safe.

Where to watch: Safe is available to stream on Netflix now.

Fool Me Once

The addictive thriller begins in the aftermath of the brutal murder of ex-Army Officer Maya’s (Michelle Keegan) husband Joe (Richard).

However, the investigation is thrown off-course when Joe mysteriously appears alive on Maya’s nanny camera, hugging their daughter, which unravels a web of dark secrets.

It was watched by 108 million people globally, making it one of Netflix’s most-watched shows of 2024. 

With a relatively low 72% on Rotten Tomatoes, Fool Me Once isn’t the best reviewed of Harlan’s TV work, but it’s still worth tuning in for Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley’s impressive performances.

Where to watch: Fool Me Once is available to stream on Netflix now.

A previous version of this story was published on March 6.

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