Harlan Coben: From Best-Selling Crime Novelist to Netflix Phenomenon – Thanks to Richard Armitage | Entertainment & Arts News

“If someone claims they don’t care about how their show or book is received, they’re simply not being truthful.”

Harlan Coben, a prolific crime novelist, asserts: “Every writer you’ve spoken to desires two things: improved reviews and a wider readership.”

Now 62 years old, the American author boasts a repertoire of 37 books, having sold over 80 million copies in 46 languages since his debut nearly 35 years ago. He readily acknowledges that he revels in his accomplishments.

Coben shares with Sky News: “It’s exhilarating to realize that so many individuals are engaging with your shows or books; to deny this is nonsensical.”

His captivating narratives about everyday individuals caught in remarkable circumstances have found a home on Netflix, where they are elegantly organized under the Harlan Coben Collection.

With nine shows and still growing, last year’s standout series Fool Me Once became Netflix’s most-viewed series of 2024. His forthcoming adaptation, I Will Find You, received the green light earlier this year.

This year’s release, Missing You, debuting on New Year’s Day, is expected to generate similar excitement.

Unsurprisingly, the launch of each new series results in Coben’s books climbing the bestseller lists.

At the year’s start, he held both the number one and number two positions on the UK paperback bestseller list, with Fool Me Once only behind his latest title, I Will Find You.

Having collaborated with various streaming platforms such as Amazon, Apple, and MGM International, and produced his first film in France with Canal+, Coben aims for a global audience.

With Netflix having over 280 million subscribers in more than 290 countries, it was the fitting choice.

The Netflix ‘misconception’

Coben’s agreement with the streaming service (initially signed in 2018 for five years and extended for another four years in 2022) seems to be a clear path towards that “wider audience” he seeks.

Often reported as a 14-series contract, Coben clarifies that notion, stating: “Netflix and I simply agreed to create numerous shows together.”

He explains that the “misconception” stems from the number of novels available when the deal was signed, emphasizing that no specific figure was set.

He estimates there will be 12 shows released or announced by the end of 2025, hoping the final tally will exceed “14”.

Safe (2018) marked the start of Coben’s productions, followed by The Stranger (2020), Stay Close (2022), Fool Me Once (2023), and currently Missing You.

Additionally, Polish series The Woods and Hold Tight debuted on Netflix in 2020 and 2022 respectively, while Spanish production The Innocent and French series Gone For Good premiered in 2021.

A flat adjacent to Yoko Ono

Among the few American authors with greater overseas sales than in their homeland, Coben mentions that a potential US production is also under consideration.

This exposure is beneficial for an author whose works grace countless shelves.

Though rumored to be a multi-million-pound agreement, Coben refrains from discussing finances but maintains that his deal with Netflix hasn’t dramatically altered his career.

He remarked: “My actual life is – I hesitate to use the term dull – but it’s rather typical. I have four children who are now adults. I see myself primarily as a father.”

“I still reside in the same area, so my daily routine hasn’t shifted significantly.”

Screenwriter Victoria Asare-Archer, who led writing on Missing You, experienced Coben’s daily life firsthand when she visited him at his Manhattan residence – the Dakota building, renowned as the former home of Beatle John Lennon.

Coben also owns a family home in New Jersey, but as Asare-Archer notes: “Not many individuals have a working flat next to Yoko Ono.“

The screenwriter expressed enjoyment in briefly experiencing Coben’s “very interesting, glamorous life.”

Further glamour is on the horizon, as Coben collaborates on a novel with Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon, which is set for release next autumn.

‘An overlooked tiny detail’

Rosalind Eleazar, the lead actress in his latest project, describes Coben as “an extraordinary writer” and “a wonderful human being”.

Portraying DI Kat Donovan in Missing You, she states: “I could reach out to him at any moment if I had questions concerning Kat’s storyline.”

Eleazar expresses to Sky News: “He’s incredibly skilled at crafting suspenseful dramas. He leads you down the wrong path with numerous twists and turns, while simultaneously ensuring his characters resonate with the audience.”

A star of Apple TV+’s hit Slow Horses by crime author Mick Herron, Eleazar feels fortunate to have collaborated with two remarkable authors who excel in the same genre but represent opposite ends of the spectrum.

For esteemed writers to trust their work to a television team is certainly significant.

Coben acknowledges: “I retain a considerable degree of control and power. However, accustomed to being the novelist with all the authority and influence, it doesn’t seem as substantial.”

Labeling Coben as “an invaluable asset,” Asare-Archer elaborates: “He has spent seven months scrutinizing every detail regarding how to identify that one fingerprint or minuscule detail… [He would say things like] ‘If you adjust this, page 69 becomes more challenging to accomplish,’ because of that minuscule, minuscule aspect that you might not have considered.”

‘If it weren’t for him, I might not be a writer’

Commenting on his talent as a writer, she states: “Harlan excels at guiding you to the brink of a roller coaster, making you feel secure. Then he sends you off on this wild ride.”

A lifelong admirer of his work, she grew up perusing Coben’s novels: “I was a library kid; I spent every moment in the library… One could argue that if it weren’t for him, I might not be a writer.”

Set in a fictional locale in northern England and filmed in Manchester, it was Asare-Archer’s responsibility to shift the narrative from New York City to the UK.

Eleazar states that while the series felt like a “Manchester endeavor,” the universal themes suggested it could be set anywhere.

‘Our lucky charm’

With the television adaptations, there’s also the Richard Armitage aspect to consider.

The Leicester-born actor has participated in four of Coben’s projects, leading to a friendship that includes spending Thanksgiving together at the author’s apartment.

Eleazar refers to Armitage as “the veteran,” while Asare-Archer humorously states: “I’m not sure you can have a set without him being involved. I think he’s become a necessity.”

Coben reveals that Armitage’s recurring roles “began as a sort of challenge” after his first appearance in The Stranger, where he portrayed a family man making a shocking revelation about his wife.

Encouraged by the positive reception, Netflix recommended Armitage return for Stay Close, albeit in a vastly different role as a solitary character with a mysterious background.

Eager to “attempt something entirely distinct,” Coben describes Armitage as “our lucky charm,” adding, “I wouldn’t go that far, but I often wonder, ‘Can we find a role for Richard where you won’t instantly connect him to his character in The Stranger?'”

‘Always crafting mysteries’

As a writer himself (Armitage has a crime novel published, with a second expected next year), Asare-Archer states that Armitage’s “brilliant storytelling ability” made him an invaluable presence on set.

She recounts a moment when he pointed out a minute forensic detail in a scene he wasn’t even part of, which led to a realization: “Wow, that’s a brilliant observation!”

Back in 2006, Coben made a brief cameo as a bartender in the French adaptation Tell No One. Should we anticipate seeing him in Missing You?

“Yes and no,” he playfully responds.

“Pay attention; you’ll certainly spot me. It’s about how you recognize me that’s intriguing.”

All five episodes of Missing You are currently streaming on Netflix. Harlan Coben’s upcoming book, Nobody’s Fool, will be released in March.