“Impossible to stop watching”: 7 “hidden gem” Harlan Coben thrillers you won’t be able to turn off

No one does a thriller quite like Harlan Coben, so it’s hardly surprising that his TV adaptations continue to dominate our screens. But, given we’re going to have to wait a few months (at least) for his next one (I Will Find You, if you're wondering), we’re here to bring you the hidden gem series that might have passed you by. And when we say they're almost impossible to stop watching, we really mean it.

From a chilling blackmail story to a series that will please the Strangers Things fan in your life, we’ve found 7 impossibly gripping thrillers that come with dark secrets, strange disappearances and twists that will do more than just surprise you. So, get ready for some serious sofa time as these are the hidden gem Harlan Coben thrillers you won’t be able to turn off.

The Five

Harlan’s first original TV drama doesn’t tend to get much attention, but it really proves why he’s the king of plot twists. 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 two decades earlier, and while the group have done their best to move forward thing them, the discovery of his DNA at a murder scene reopens the mystery – and old wounds. So how did it get there? Available to watch now on Sky and NOW.

The Woods

If The Woods sounds familiar, it’s because Netflix only recently announced a Harlan Coben thriller with the same title - based on the same book - which is currently in production. What you might not have noticed is that the 2007 novel has already been adapted into a Polish series once before – and it’s well worth watching. The series picks up in Warsaw 25 years after a brutal crime rocked a summer camp – now, a murder victim is identified, and their death appears to have a strange connection. Available to watch now on Netflix.

Just One Look

One of Harlan’s most mind-boggling series, Just One Look revolves around Greta (Maria Dębska), a seemingly happily married mother whose life unravels when she discovers an old photograph of her husband with a stranger’s face crossed out. Shortly after Greta finds the photo, Jacek (Cezary Lukaszewicz) disappears - but is there a connection? Worth a night (or two) in for. Available to watch now on Netflix

Safe

Is there any better setting for a Harlan Coben thriller than an idyllic, high-security gated community? Tom Delaney (Michael C. Hall) is one of its inhabitants who’s grieving the loss of his wife from cancer and his situation is only about to get worse. The loss puts a strain on his relationship with his two daughters, and when the eldest, Lucy (Amy James-Kelly) mysteriously disappears at a house party, it seems the community they live in might have something to do with it. Available to watch now on Netflix.

Lazarus

While Lazarus was only released last October, it never quite assumed the limelight, which is surprising given the brilliant cast. Sam Claflin is forensic psychologist Laz, who returns to his family home after his father (Bill Nighy)’s death. Struggling to cope with the loss, he begins to have disturbing experiences he can’t explain, leading to his belief that his father was murdered. As compelling as you’d hope. Available to watch now on Prime Video.

The Stranger

Expect another set of standout performances in The Stranger, with Jennifer Saunders and Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran among the cast. Richard Armitage leads as Adam Price, a happily married father of two whose life if upended when a stranger tells him a shocking secret about his wife. When he confronts her about it, she confesses, but before Adam can get a proper explanation, she disappears. Deliciously dark and surprisingly plausible. Available to watch now on Netflix.

Shelter

If you’ve got a Stranger Things fan in your life (or perhaps it’s you), Shelter is one for the watchlist. After the death of his father, teenager Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael) is forced to start a new life in Kasselton, New Jersey. As if dealing with the tragedy wasn’t enough, he quickly finds himself entangled in the mysterious disappearance of a new student at his school – and with the help of his friends, his attempts to uncover it may hold the answers to decades of disappearances and deaths. Available to watch on Channel 5.