If you’re a Harlan Coben fan, you’ve probably already binged the likes of Fool Me Once, The Stranger and Stay Close. But do you remember where it all began? Does the title The Five ring any bells? The hidden gem crime thriller was, in fact, Harlan’s first original TV drama and the unmissable series, which is now available to stream, will seriously mess with your mind.
The story revolves around four childhood friends who, now all adults, are forced to revisit a tragedy from their past. Their former fifth friend, Jesse, went missing 20 decades earlier and now his DNA has been discovered at a murder scene – but how? That’s the mind-bending mystery that will have you on tenterhooks throughout.
With the series now available to watch on Sky, here’s everything you need to know about The Five, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Five about?
Written by Danny Brocklehurst, the 10-part series follows a group of four childhood friends who, in true Harlan Coben style, have a mystery to solve: the disappearance of their fifth member, who went missing 20 years ago. After a tragic incident that saw Jesse run away in the woods by his brother and three friends, he was presumed dead. But two decades later, it seems the devastating tragedy is far from over.
Why? Because Jesse’s DNA is discovered at the scene of a murder. The discovery brings the group back together, as they believe - rightly or wrongly - that Jesse might still be alive. Danny is now a detective and, naturally, gets involved in the investigation, while Jesse’s older brother, Mark, offers his legal advice. The question is, can they get to the truth – and what other dark secrets will they dig up in the process?
The series, which first aired in 2016, marked Harlan Coben's first original TV drama. He explained to YM Liverpool how the story unfolds. “It’s about hope, redemption, and family with really cool twists and turns,” he shared. “In the very opening scene, we see these five kids playing in the woods, and the older brother is saying to his younger brother ‘just go home, you know the way. Get out of here, you’ll be fine.’
“You see the brother walk away, never to be seen again, and boom! We skip ahead 20 years and these four other children have all grown up. One’s become a doctor, one’s become a lawyer helping the poor, one’s become a cop, and one is a social worker running a shelter for runaway youths.
“Their lives are scarred by that disappearance 20 years ago and right before the first commercial break we find out that DNA has been discovered that shows the missing kid they thought was dead all these years is still alive. Wow, right? That’s how it all starts, before the four friends reunite to try and find out the truth.”
Who’s in the cast of The Five?
The main cast of The Five includes:
- O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Danny Kenwood
- Tom Cullen (Trespasses)as Mark Wells
- Lee Ingleby (The A Word) as Slade
- Sarah Solemani (Chivalry) as Pru Carew
- Geraldine James (Beast) as Julie Wells
- Michael Maloney (Hamlet) as Alan Wells
- Alfie and Harry Bloor as Jesse Wells
- Hannah Arterton (Safe) as DC Ally Caine
- Rade Serbedzija (Rise of the Raven)as Jakob Marosi
- Naomi Ackie (Shelter) as Gemma Morgan
Is there a trailer for The Five?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Five below:
Is The Five any good?
Yes – it might be Harlan Coben’s first original TV drama, but it’s also one of his best. The story of Jesse sucks you in immediately and the series has all the twists in place to keep you hooked (the 10 episodes will go by in a flash). Viewers have called it “impeccably acted”, “superbly interesting” and “thoughtful”, which sums it up quite nicely.
How can I watch The Five?
The Five is available to watch now on Sky and NOW.
What other Harlan Coben thrillers can I watch now?
For an equally mind-bending series, we’d recommend Lazarus. The series follows Laz (played by Sam Claflin) who returns to his family home after his father's death and begins to have disturbing experiences that he - nor anyone else - can explain. You can watch Lazarus on Prime Video. Alternatively, try Just One Look. The plot revolves around Greta (Maria Dębska), a wife and mother whose life rapidly unravels when she discovers an old photograph of her husband with a stranger’s face ominously crossed out. Just One Look is available to watch now on Netflix. For more great Harlan Coben thrillers you can watch now, check out our pick of the best here.
