Harlan Cobenis a fantastic author whose works have been transformed into several amazing adaptations, and if you love him, you should check out these other mystery TV shows available on streaming. Many ofHarlan Coben’s TV showsare streaming hits, includingHarlan Coben’s Shelter,Missing You, andFool Me Once.
Thebest TV shows based on Harlan Coben’s booksare remembered by viewers for their gripping narratives,interesting characters, and overall tense atmospheres. While Coben is clearly a notable figure in this genre, there are other titles that have a similar feel and are just as exciting to watch. From cold-hard dramas to darker comedies, these mystery TV shows should be next on your streaming list.
Broadchurch
Cast
Broadchurch: Set in a small coastal town, Broadchurch follows the intense investigation into the murder of a young boy, as the case draws significant media attention and threatens the fabric of the close-knit community.
Broadchurchis considered murder mystery royalty in the UK.From the picturesque cinematography, gripping tale about the murder of an 11-year-old boy, andthe manyDoctor Whoactors inBroadchurch, this three-season TV show is easy to binge from start to finish. Like many of Coben’s stories,Broadchurchdelves into the lives of a group of residents who live in the titular seaside town, and each season follows a thrilling investigation, which is led by David Tennant’s Alec Hardy and Olivia Colman’s Ellie Miller.
Broadchurch DI Hardy & DS Miller Get Adapted In Appropriately Dour Art 7 Years After Its Finale
The BBC crime series Broadchurch gets reimagined in new art, which shows leads D.I. Hardy and D.S. Miller looking appropriately distraught.
WhileBroadchurchseason 1 focuses on who killed Danny, later installments look at Hardy’s backstory and the fallout of the Latimer boy’s death.Broadchurchmainly centers on Hardy and Miller’s work, but the stories of the town’s other locals are just as enthralling and keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Although the later seasons aren’t considered as strong as the first,Broadchurchis still worth watching from start to finish.
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is a mystery-comedy series following three strangers, portrayed by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who bond over their shared obsession with true crime. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, the trio becomes embroiled in a real murder mystery within their residence.
WithOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 5on the way, now is the perfect time to get into the hit Hulu title.Only Murders in the Buildingfollows Steve Martin’s Charles, Selena Gomez’s Mabel, and Martin Short’s Oliver: three strangers whose shared residence and love for true crime podcasts results in them being thrown into a life of murder investigation and prominence. Plus, throughout the show’s run, there are several huge Hollywood names who make appearances, including the likes of Meryl Streep.
How Only Murders In The Building Season 4 Ending Impacts Meryl Streep’s Season 5 involvement Explained By Showrunner
Showrunner John Hoffman explains what’s next for Meryl Streep’s Loretta in Only Murders in the Building season 5 after an eventful season 4 finale.
WhileOnly Murders in the Buildingleans more into comedy than Coben’s shows, there is still an overall shared atmosphere that Coben fans will appreciate.Many events from the past are at the center ofOnly Murders in the Building,and the twists and turns the characters face are both brilliantly entertaining and endearing all at the same time.
Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies is a television drama from 2017 based on Liane Moriarty’s novel. It features three mothers of first-graders in Monterey, California, whose seemingly idyllic lives begin to deteriorate amid secrets, lies, and a mysterious murder investigation intertwining their personal narratives.
Big Little Liesis a fantasticadaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novelof the same name, and focuses on a group of parents in Monterey, California, and the dark secrets on the surface of their idyllic lives.Big Little Liesfeels similar to a Coben project because, from the get-go, there’s a clear mystery at hand, and the use of a non-linear timeline only makes viewers even more intrigued about not only who the killer is, but also the identity of the victim.
Despite initial plans to be a miniseries, there is a second season that dives into the fallout of the shocking murder, andBig Little Liesseason 3is coming, too.Although there isn’t as much of an overarching investigation in season 2, there are still plenty of events and storylines for audiences to be curious about.Big Little Liestakes a beautifully simple concept and looks at it from a new angle, and it often feels like a Coben adaptation of titles likeDesperate Housewives.
The Devil’s Hour
The Devil’s Hour (2022) follows Lucy as she experiences unsettling visions during the early hours of the morning, leading her to uncover unexpected truths about her life and those around her.
The Devil’s Hourmay use more supernatural elements in its storytelling than most titles like it, but it’s just as eerie and suspenseful as any Coben project.The Devil’s Hourstars Peter Capaldi as Gideon Shepherd, a criminal with strange abilities that allow him to remember the future, and Jessica Raine as Lucy Chambers, a social worker who also has premonitions she struggles to understand or control. Lucy is different to most protagonists, and when she finds herself connected to several murders, she reaches out to Gideon in the hopes of tracking down the serial killer.
As one of the best detective series on Amazon Prime Video,The Devil’s Houris a title that is easy to get invested in.
The Devil’s Houris from the minds of British TV power couple Sue Vertue and Steven Moffat, who are also behindSherlock, so audiences know that they’ll be getting an amazing and in-depth mystery to sink their teeth into. As one ofthe best detective series on Amazon Prime Video,The Devil’s Houris a title that is easy to get invested in, and one that you’ll wish you could re-experience for the first time over and over again.
Wilderness
Wilderness is a drama-thriller television series created for Prime Video, based on the novel by B.E. Jones. The series follows the ultra-successful couple Liv and Will, who seemingly have it all - until Liv discovers Will is having an affair. As Will tries to repair the relationship on a dream road trip, Liv sees an opportunity for revenge.
The British thrillerWildernessfeatures Jenna Coleman as Liv and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (no relation to Harlan, however) as Will, a couple whose crumbling marriage turns disastrous during a road trip across the US.Wilderness’ filming locationstake the pair all over North America, and the beauty of these places only makes the revenge story even more gripping. As the details of Will’s affair come to light, and the subsequent vacation that serves as an apology for his infidelity,Wildernessappears to be a rather straight-forward story.
However, acrossWilderness’ six-episode run, the seemingly ordinary lives of the Taylors’ starts to unravel, and all isn’t quite what it seems. Their dysfunctional marriage and the secrets they keep close are something many would expect to read or see in a Coben project, and whileWildernessis only a limited series, it’s incredible just how popular it is.Wildernessis fast-paced and a show that viewers are drawn into with such ease that it’s astounding how quickly they can finish it before realizing how hooked they are.
The Residence
Based on the novel by Kate Andersen Brower, The Residence is a drama-mystery series created by Paul William Davies. The series follows a detective named Cordelia Cupp, who is brought in to solve a strange murder that occurs during a White House state dinner, causing the staff to begin to question one another as to who could have committed the crime.
The recentShondaland TV showThe Residencefollows Uzo Aduba as police consultant Cordelia Cupp, who is sent to investigate the death of Giancarlo Esposito Chief Usher A.B.Wynter after his body is discovered during a state dinner at the White House.Across the show’s eight-episode run,The Residencetakes viewers on a journey through the many rooms in the White House and looks at the baffling conflicts between the staff, all to try and discover who Wynter’s killer is.
Reviews ofThe Residenceacknowledge that the show’s success relies on humor, but there’s still a big focus on dramatics and mystery, too.
BothThe Residenceand Coben know how to tackle a murder mystery well, and pace the story in such a way that it doesn’t feel like everything is revealed too quickly, but it litters enough details that it keeps audiences’ attention throughout.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Pip Fitz-Amobi, a determined young investigator, is set on uncovering the truth behind schoolgirl Andie Bell’s murder five years prior. Sal Singh, Andie’s boyfriend, confessed before his own death, but Pip doesn’t believe he’s guilty. Teaming up with Sal’s brother Ravi, she dives into a web of secrets to find the real killer.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murderis another British mystery thriller that is gaining more and more popularity internationally, and I’m so glad that many Netflix viewers outside the UK are now able to watch therecent underrated detective TV show.Believing the police aren’t handling their investigation into the killing of a local schoolgirl correctly, Emma Myers’ Pip takes things into her own hands.While a little overused at times, the show’s one step forward, two steps back formula makes sense for such a narrative, and something that is seen in several of Coben’s projects, too.
There are loads oftwists inA Good Girl’s Guide to Murderthat are akin to a Coben story. In fact,A Good Girl’s Guide to Murderis often compared toHarlan Coben’s Shelter, because of the teenage characters who get caught up in a web of lies and secrets that only they can seemingly tackle.AlthoughA Good Girl’s Guide to Murderlacks supernatural qualities, the way the show’s narrative encapsulates audiences so swiftly is definitely somethingHarlan Coben’s Shelterdoes, too.
American Vandal
American Vandal is a satirical true crime series created by Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda. Released in 2017, the show follows aspiring documentarian Peter Maldonado as he investigates a high school prank involving obscene graffiti. The series humorously deconstructs the genre’s conventions while exploring themes of adolescence and social dynamics within a high school setting.
American Vandalmay use a very different format to Coben’s shows, and seems like an odd recommendation, but it’s well worth checking out anyway.American Vandalis technically a mockumentary, and although the crimes that Tyler Alvarez and Griffin Gluck as high schoolers Peter Maldonado and Sam Ecklund investigate are ridiculously comical, the show approaches the topics with great seriousness. Season 1 delves into who is behind a rather costly prank that ruins 27 cars, whereas season 2 investigates a strange figure at a Catholic school in Washington who is defecating in random places.
It’s natural to not want to takeAmerican Vandalseriously, but it’s also hard to deny that the satirical show knows how to write mystery well, too.
I’m still gutted thatNetflix cancelledAmerican Vandalseason 3, especially as each installment is so bingeworthy.It’s natural to not want to takeAmerican Vandalseriously, but it’s also hard to deny that the satirical show knows how to write mystery well, too. Before long, audiences find themselves genuinely intrigued by these investigations, and like a Coben story, they’re quick to slip into the role of detective, get invested in the characters, and to dwell on who the true criminals actually are.
One Of Us Is Lying
Based on the mystery novel by Karen M. McManus, One of Us Is Lying follows a group of high schoolers who are all given detention when suddenly one of them dies due to an allergic reaction. The show unfolds the mystery around the death of this student, who was a major gossip and negatively impacted the lives of the other four, casting suspicion on the lot.
One Of Us Is Lyingby Karen M. McManus is one of my favorite teen murder mystery books of all time, and while the show was sadly cancelled after season 2, the title is still an enjoyable watch.One detention changes the lives of a group of high schoolers forever, with one leaving in a body bag, and the other four becoming the main suspects in their classmate’s death. Simon, Addy, Cooper, Bronwyn, and Nate all fit their respective teenage stereotypes, andOne Of Us Is Lyingis easily compared toThe Breakfast Club, but if someone died during it.
Each of the remaining four students has a reason as to why they would kill renowned gossiper Simon, but none of them are guilty.Like Coben’s projects, audiences find themselves doubting the information they are provided, and it’s easy to doubt the teenagers as the show progresses. Plus, the relationships that form between the group and their individual subplots create even further mystery and intrigue.
No Good Deed
No Good Deed, released in 2020, follows the story of Karen, a widow balancing work and raising her son. After saving a young man named Jeremy during a robbery, she finds her life dramatically affected by his increasingly intense attempts to repay her heroic act.
AlthoughNo Good Deedcontains mysteries and secrets, it’s considered more of a dark comedy.However, there are still connections to Coben’s titles.No Good Deedis agreat TV show to watch afterMissing You, one of Coben’s best Netflix projects. The show focuses on three different families, all of whom are battling to buy a house that they believe will be the solution to their respective problems. Over time, the bleak secrets of Lydia and Paul Morgan’s home start to be revealed.
Between the Morgans’ struggles with their absent daughter, their financial problems, and Paul’s difficulties with his recently incarcerated brother,No Good Deedis full of suspense and anticipation.No Good Deed’s endingoffers an incredible payoff, and for those who loveHarlan Coben, this is a great, lighthearted alternative watch worth sinking your teeth into.
