7 Harlan Coben adaptations to watch if you liked Netflix's Missing You, explored

If you’re still caught up in the twists and hidden truths of Netflix’s Missing You, here’s some good news: the world of Harlan Coben’s stories is huge, exciting, and ready for you to explore. Harlan Coben is famous for his plots and twists, and his books have been turned into addictive TV shows in different countries.

From the UK to Poland to Spain, these shows give his stories a cultural touch while keeping the core themes of family, betrayal, and the search for truth. Whether you want a mystery set in a small town or a big international drama, these series will keep you glued.

Below, we’ve picked seven must-watch Harlan Coben adaptations!

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

7 Netflix series that are Harlan Coben adaptations

1. Safe (2018)

In this British show, Michael C. Hall plays Tom Delaney, a dad whose world gets turned upside down when his teenage daughter mysteriously vanishes. As he digs into the lives of the people around him, he uncovers some dark secrets about his neighbors, his pals, and even his wife who's no longer with him.

Safe is like a giant jigsaw puzzle with all these tiny stories that somehow fit together, keeping you guessing all the time. It's got a great cast too, with Amanda Abbington and Amy James-Kelly playing key roles.

The best part of this Harlan Coben adaptation? It shows what a parent will do for their kid, going to the ends of the earth if they have to. It's one of those series that keeps you on the edge of your seat because of all the drama and heartache.

2. The Woods (2020)

The Woods is a show that takes place in Poland and goes back and forth between what happened at a summer camp in 1994 and the present day in 2019. At that camp, two teenagers went missing, and now, all these years later, a body is found that brings it all back up again.

The show looks pretty with great visuals and gives you the creeps just right, like you're right there in the story. It's based on a book by Harlan Coben, so you know it's going to keep you guessing.

There's this guy, Paweł, played by two actors, Hubert Miłkowski when he's young and Grzegorz Damięcki when he's older. Both of them do a fantastic job playing a character who's dealing with his past coming back to haunt him. It's a show about sadness, guilt, and how some secrets never really go away.

3. The Innocent (2021)

Check out this Spanish show with Mario Casas playing Mateo Vidal, a man who's just trying to put his life back together after a terrible accident lands him in the slammer. Things go sideways when he gets caught up in a murder case, which messes up his bond with his wife Olivia, played by Aura Garrido.

The director, Oriol Paulo, is a big deal in the thriller world, so you know this show's got suspense. It's like a movie in series form. The plot is wicked tight and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's like a personal soap opera meets a whodunit mystery, and it's one of the best ones based on Harlan Coben's stories.

4. Gone for Good (2021)

Gone for Good, a show set in the stunning French Riviera tells the story of a man named Guillaume Lucchesi. His life takes a turn when his fiancée, Judith, disappears right after his mom's funeral. It's like a sad treasure hunt, but instead of gold, he's looking for his missing love.

This Harlan Coben adaptation series consists of five episodes full of drama and suspense, with the ocean in the background adding to the mood. It's all about secrets and the messed-up secrets families can hide.

Actor Finnegan Oldfield plays Guillaume so well, you feel for the guy who's torn apart trying to find his girl and deal with all the heaviness of his family's past.

5. Stay Close (2021)

Starring Richard Armitage, Cush Jumbo, and James Nesbitt, Stay Close brings us a story about three people linked to a mysterious disappearance from the past. The show takes place in a cozy little British town, where everyone seems to have secrets they'd rather keep buried.

It's got an eerie vibe that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the plot is like a giant puzzle that keeps throwing curveballs at you.

You'll be guessing until the very end because nobody's really who they seem to be. Harlan Coben is the mastermind behind this drama, and he's good at spinning these intense, heart-racing tales full of twists and turns. So if you're into mysteries that hit you right in the feels, this one's a must-watch.

6. Hold Tight (2022)

This Polish show is a Harlan Coben adaptation that is set in the same place as The Woods, and it's about a mom, played by Magdalena Boczarska, who's desperate to find her missing kid. She's so determined that she's willing to do anything to get to the bottom of things.

The Harlan Coben adaptation brings back familiar faces, like Paweł Kopiński, and adds new twists to the tale. It's good at digging into feelings of losing someone, the strength of a neighborhood, and secrets that have been passed down from one generation to the next.

It'll keep you guessing while you're also feeling all the emotions.

7. The Stranger (2022)

In this Harlan Coben adaptation, The Stranger, Mark is an undercover cop. And he starts getting really close to Henry, a suspect the cops think might've done some pretty bad things, like murder. The idea is to win Henry's trust and maybe get him to spill his guts.

But here's the kicker: it's intense and personal, like a deep friendship. They're both taking a huge risk because if things go south, they could end up in trouble. It's like walking on a tightrope over a pit of alligators while juggling chainsaws.

Harlan Coben's writing is like a hot knife through butter - sharp and to the point, and the acting? It'll have you on the edge of your seat. If you're into psychological thrillers that keep you up at night, you've got to check out The Stranger.