If you’ve worked through all the heart-in-mouth twists of the Harlan Coben-sphere, and are on the hunt for a new series that’ll leave you gobsmacked, we’re about to answer all your TV prayers. The suspenseful thriller Pieces Of Her is Netflix’s wildly compelling series – and it’s so gripping, you’ll want to binge it all in one night.
Based on the book by Karin Slaughter, the show introduces us to Laura (Toni Collette), who becomes famous overnight – not because of a hidden talent or a reality TV show, but because she masterfully stops a gunman in a restaurant and the footage goes viral. After being thrust into the limelight, she must face her former identity, which she abandoned, and fight to protect her daughter from old enemies… It’s pacy and unpredictable enough to rival Harlan Coben.
Intrigued? With the series available to watch on Netflix, here’s everything you need to know about Pieces Of Her, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Pieces Of Her about?
The eight-part series, which first aired on Netflix in 2022, tells the story of Laura (Toni Collette), who, on the surface, leads a very ordinary life. She’s a beloved mother, a speech therapist and has spent her whole life in the same small coastal town, Belle Isle in Georgia. But, when she stops a gunman while dining in a local restaurant, her brave response goes viral online as she manages to stop a knife strike with her hand. Now she must grapple with the resurfacing of the murky past she’s spent a lifetime trying to conceal.
So, who is Laura? Well, she was born as Jane Queller (Jessica Barden), a teenage piano prodigy and the heir to a controlling and corrupt millionaire. However, her life was turned upside-down when she fell in love with the leader of the Army of the Changing World and budding domestic terrorist, Nick Harp (Joe Dempsie). A murder plot changed the course of Jane’s life – she entered a witness protection programme and became Laura.
She went on to raise her daughter, Andy (Bella Heathcote), who’s now questioning everything she once knew about her mother (who demanded Andy left Belle Isle after the attack in a bid to protect her). Andy starts trying to figure out who her mother actually is, and it’s revealed that Jane escaped her dad by injuring her hand, so he couldn’t control her through her musical gift any more.
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‘Her gift was externalised through the hands,’ Collette told Netflix. ‘And that’s what she ruined, to be able to escape.’ Jane’s hand injury allowed her to leave one life, but Laura’s hand injury in the future is what brought her back to the past – and her abusive ex. ‘So, they just represent so much about her ability to live her own life.’
Who’s in the cast of Pieces Of Her?
The cast of Pieces Of Her includes:
- Toni Collette (Knives Out, The Sixth Sense) as Laura Oliver
- Bella Heathcote (The Family Next Door) as Andy Oliver
- Jessica Barden (Scarborough) as Jane
- Joe Dempsie (Get Millie Black, Deep State) as Nick
- Nicholas Burton (Safe Home) as Andrew Queller
- David Wenham (Fake) as Jasper Queller
Is Pieces Of Her any good?
Yes – it’s a truly riveting ride as we (pardon the pun) piece together who Laura Oliver truly is and how she wound up in witness protection with an entire new identity. The twists and jolty flashbacks are so tense, they feel like they could’ve been taken from the Harlan Coben universe – and Jane’s backstory was fascinating.
Is there a trailer for Pieces Of Her?
Yes – you can watch the full trailer for Pieces Of Her below.
How can I watch Pieces Of Her?
You can watch Pieces Of Her now on Netflix.
What other thrillers can I watch now?
If you’re on the lookout for a gripping crime thriller, we’d recommend Love & Death, which is based on a shocking true crime story. The series introduces us to church-going Texan housewife Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen), who starts a tumultuous affair to try to combat her suburban ennui – only it lands her in handcuffs. You can watch Love & Death now on ITVX. For another eerie thriller with supernatural elements, we’d point you towards Mayday. The drama, starring Lesley Manville, centres on a small town in Sussex that’s rocked when a 14-year-old girl vanishes into the woodland during a May Day parade – and every resident becomes a suspect. You can watch Mayday now on Prime Video.
