Netflix: 8-episode British crime thriller becomes Harlan Coben’s 2nd biggest hit worldwide

Harlan Coben’s thrillers never cease to unite, and the latest success from across the Channel proves it. On Netflix, a British thriller refocuses on grief, truth and the gray areas of families. And so, without warning, the phenomenon takes off, buoyed by massive word-of-mouth.

A compelling British thriller

Netflix – Tu me manques (Missing You) (Mini-series; 5 episodes; 2025). Planned as an intimate tale of absence and digital trails, the series promises increasing tension. As a result, the announced setting suggests a sensitive, tightly-knit investigation.

Netflix – Juste un regard (Just One Look) (Mini-series; 6 episodes; 2025). The plot hinges on an innocuous photo that turns a family’s life upside down. In this way, the visual device serves a mystery with personal ramifications.

The recent British thriller, adapted from a novel by Harlan Coben, has been hailed for its effective construction. With 8 episodes broadcast in 2024, it has become one of the most followed titles of the moment. According to the platform’s weekly rankings, it quickly made its mark, driven by a heroine plagued by self-doubt. What’s more, the press described it as Harlan Coben’s 2nd biggest worldwide success on the platform.

“A doubtful heroine, a murky affair and cascading revelations: the ideal cocktail for a successful binge.”

Why this worldwide success

Netflix – Faute de preuve (Caught) (Mini-series; 6 episodes; 2025). This story of pretense questions the reliability of testimony and traces. In short, the short format sustains a steady, nervous pace.

The British story is based on a strong narrative hook: a panic-inducing home video. Featuring Michelle Keegan, Richard Armitage, Adeel Akhtar and Joanna Lumley, the story combines intimate drama with methodical investigation. The writing focuses on family secrets, class relations and the pitfalls of memory. As a result, each episode closes with a doubt, nourishing the desire to continue.

• 8 compact episodes for continuous tension.
• Release date: January 1, 2024 (initial broadcast).
• Adaptation of a novel by Harlan Coben.
• Notable cast: Michelle Keegan, Richard Armitage, Adeel Akhtar, Joanna Lumley.
• Positioned as the author’s 2nd worldwide hit on the platform.

Netflix – Run Away (Mini-series; 8 episodes; due out 2026). The pitch follows a father desperate to find his daughter. The story promises moral dilemmas and no-return choices.

Precise benchmarks: casting, format, reception

Netflix – Double Trap (Fool Me Once) (Mini-series; 8 episodes; 2024). A widow thinks she sees her husband on a nanny-cam video. From then on, the truth becomes blurred as the revelations unfold.

The performances by Michelle Keegan and Adeel Akhtar add a rare emotional density. On the other hand, the direction remains clear, even in the tense scenes. What’s more, the Northern England setting anchors the plot in a concrete setting. As a result, the realism lends credibility to the mystery.

Netflix – Without a word (Mini-series; 6 episodes; 2022). Shot in Poland, this adaptation focuses on the secrets of a neighborhood. Social networks become both clues and traps.

Netflix – Stay Close (Mini-series; 8 episodes; 2021). Ancient ghosts resurface in a seemingly tranquil small town. So the series strings together points of view to blur certainties.

What viewers remember

The returns underline the mastery of rhythm and cliffhangers. Yet the heart of the story is still grief, treated without unnecessary pathos. What’s more, the writing is gentle on Adeel Akhtar, a police officer torn between probity and intimate vertigo. As a result, the fiction gains in finesse and humanity.

Netflix – Disparu à jamais (Gone for Good) (French mini-series; 8 episodes; 2021). The story moves the action to France for a strong local anchoring. The disappearance of a companion awakens old dramas.

Netflix – Innocent (Mini-series; 8 episodes; date unspecified). The project, associated with Coben’s work, is fuelling measured expectations. To be on the safe side, schedule information is subject to change.

And the rest of the phenomenon

Netflix – Dans les bois (The Woods) (Mini-series; 6 episodes; 2020). Between past and present, a case resurfaces at the turn of a forest. The editing alternates between anchors and shadows.

Netflix – Intimidation (The Stranger) (Mini-series; 8 episodes; 2020). A stranger reveals a secret and pushes a couple into a corner. From then on, trust wavers and alliances crack.

Netflix – Safe (Original creation, not novel adaptation) (Mini-series; 8 episodes; 2018). Carried by a neighborhood concept under tension, the series lays a clear foundation. Also, the plot interweaves family drama and local investigation.

Prime Video – Lazarus (Mini-series; release date October 22, 2025). This Harlan Coben production promises to be a useful counterpoint to the platform game. The expanded schedule augurs a stimulating rivalry.

• Netflix