Forget 'Reacher,' Harlan Coben's Newest Netflix Thriller Series Is Your New Obsession

When it comes to indulgent mysteries on streaming, there is no better option than a Harlan Coben adaptation. The acclaimed crime writer began a multi-year collaboration with Netflix in 2018, and he has gone from strength to strength ever since. Earlier this year, Coben's latest adaptation, starring Avatar's Sam Worthington and Severance's Britt Lower, proved so popular that it ended its 90-day chart window as the fifth most popular English-language show of all time on Netflix.

But besides the history-making I Will Find You and his now traditional New Year's Day thriller Run Away, Coben has also ventured into new territory in 2026 with the release of a five-episode true-crime series titled Harlan Coben's Final Twist. After a successful first season, the series was renewed for a second season, which is set to premiere on October 5 on CBS. But before you settle in for more of Coben on camera, we spoke with Coben about all things Final Twist,the success of I Will Find You, and what is coming next in his endless stream of shows.

Harlan Coben Teases a Stranger-Than-Fiction Second Season of 'Final Twist'

"If I put that in a book or that was on one of the Netflix series, you’d go, 'C’mon. That couldn’t happen.'"

Image via CBS

COLLIDER: I was lucky enough to watch the first episode. The case of Betsy Faria has so many twists. It’s incredible.

HARLAN COBEN: When I saw the surprise twist, I went, “What!?” and I’ve seen everything. If I put that in a book or that was on one of the Netflix series, you’d go, “C’mon. That couldn’t happen,” and you would send me a nasty email or whatever.

Is that why you chose this case for the opening episode?

COBEN: I found that really gripping. Though, as time went on, we weren’t sure what we could get done. Part of it is logistics. Line up the interviews and get things done; it’s not just how I want it done. But that one in particular, the twist is what really struck me as being something interesting to do. The whole case is bizarre and fascinating. There’s a couple of things about that case that I find really fascinating. But one of the things also is, and I mentioned it in the commentary, even I’m learning! The part about the 911 tape, I had no idea. So I said, “Let's point that out to people,” because I, and I know a fair amount about that stuff; I’ve seen every kind of twist and turn. I’m a little jealous I never took that twist for fiction. But that’s the thing that will really interest people and make Final Twist stand out this season.

Does making a series like this impact how you write fiction?

COBEN: I think interestingly enough the answer is probably no. Because fiction has to follow rules and reality doesn’t. As I said, if I did some of the twists that happen in this case — the mistakes that the criminal made — I think you would throw the book at my head or turn off the show, and say, “The cops wouldn’t do that” or “the criminal wouldn’t be dumb enough to do that.” So that’s one of the things that fascinates me about that is that reality doesn’t have to follow rules; fiction does. So I have to be more realistic in my fiction, despite everybody looking for plot holes. I have to be more realistic than Final Twist. Final Twist, in a sense, allows me to be more realistic.

This show wants to discover what makes a killer cross the line. After two seasons, are you starting to notice any patterns in answer to that thesis?

COBEN: The answer seems to be that there’s almost too wide a swath. Every case and every episode, every time we try to find a theme, reality blows it apart. It’s either the second case or the third case [in Season 2] involving two men in Miami disappearing is completely different than the Betsy Faria case. We’re looking for stories that will twist and turn, have surprises. I like to find those moments like the 911 tape, where it’s like, “Whoa. I didn’t know they could actually do that,” or, “That surprises even me.”

There’s one case we just did involving a murder in Portland where my commentary was, “Are you kidding me!?” I couldn’t believe that would actually have occurred in reality. So, I don’t think so. We’re looking for twists and turns and stories that genuinely move you. We try to keep an eye that these are real people. These aren’t like the people I’ve made up in my head. These families have suffered. Also, one of the things we’re highlighting this season is the bravery of some of the families. There are two cases here, two of the twelve, where it definitely wouldn’t have been solved had the family not tremendously advocated and not let their loved ones go. Those stories of bravery and resilience also resonate with me.

Harlan Coben Teases 'Myron Bolitar' and Whether 'I Will Find You' Will Get More Episodes

"I’d rather do that than try to shoehorn in a Season 2 that doesn’t really make sense."

Image via CBS

Last time, I spoke to you about what it was like to be in front of the camera. Did you feel more comfortable in Season 2?

COBEN: I felt much more comfortable this season, and I was able to get to the stories earlier this year. [In Season 1] I came in a little later on some of them, and when I was reading the lines, I didn’t know what the stories were. We’re now cutting the episodes a little earlier so I’m able to see and understand what the cases are about. I’m able to write and work on monologues and discussions that I think will be more relevant this season and will relate more to the story.

There’s more of me, like it or not. [Laughs] That may turn a lot of people off; I don’t know. But I was looking to find more of those insights. Last season, I might have seen it [and was] too late to comment, “Whoa, we’ve got to comment on that 911 thing because I’ve never seen that before.” So I’m hoping I’ll be more relevant to the episodes this season, and everything gets better with experience. The same as novel writing. My first novel wasn’t as good as my second, which wasn’t as good as my third, so I hope I get better at this.

With Final Twist getting a second season, I wondered which of your other shows you think, if any, has the capacity for another season?

COBEN: Right now we’re filming Myron Bolitar in New York City. That’s the series filming right around the corner from here in New York City. Myron Bolitar is the series character that I’ve written in my books. I wrote 12 Myron Bolitar books, one book about his sidekick Win and three books about his nephew Mickey. So, that one we do plan to be an ongoing series. Much like, say, Reacher or Bosch, I’m hoping that Myron will continue. As far as the ones I’ve had out, it’s hard to say. I Will Find You, as you’ll probably know, has just finished its 90-day run and ends up being the fifth-biggest show of all time, which is mind-blowing. But I won’t do a sequel because how can I top being arrested for the murder of your own kid?

So the deal Netflix has let me do with them is that I’m not going to do a Season 2 unless I think it can be better than Season 1. So instead, I’ll tell a new story, which is what we’ve done. I think there are 13 on Netflix now, and they’re all new stories. So I think I’d rather do that than try to shoehorn in a Season 2 that doesn’t really make sense. The one character I could see bringing back would be The Stranger, because that character escapes, and she can drop bombs on new people, but I’ve not really gone more than that sentence I just gave you, Jake.

There are a lot of people who would want to see The Stranger again. It’s the sort of character you could drop into any story, and it would explode into something new.

COBEN: And Hannah [John-Kamen] was so great. I was so pleased with Hannah’s performance.

Harlan Coben Wants This Academy Award Winner to Join His Next Series

"She’s one of my favorite actresses. I’m a big fan of hers."

Image via CBS

I wanted to congratulate you on the I Will Find You news.

COBEN: Thank you.

Particularly because you have been so busy this year with that series, Final Twist, and so much more. How does it feel to be so busy, so popular, and growing?

COBEN: If I may add one more for the British, Run Away came out this year with Minnie Driver and James Nesbitt, which I think is the fifth-biggest show of the year on Netflix, or so they tell me. I just got all these stats yesterday. I don’t really follow that stuff. Netflix sends me an email every once in a while. Working with James Nesbitt and Minnie Driver and Ruth Jones was just heaven.

It feels great. As long as I can maintain the quality of what I do. I’m actually flying to England tonight. I’m doing something with the Queen’s Reading Room in Chatsworth. And then I’m on set for the TV show The Woods, which I’m filming with my British team, the team that’s done Run Away and Fool Me Once and Missing You and all of those.

I’m also promoting my memoir on writing, Plot Twist. My final event is in London, where I’m being interviewed by Bill Nighy, who was in one of my TV shows called Lazarus on Amazon Prime. Obviously a legend, just the best guy. Everybody wonders, “Is he really as cool as you think?” and I’m like, “Actually, he’s even cooler.” He’s so humble, as well as being so talented and so funny and so cool. He’s the coolest guy in every room. So, yeah, it’s been a busy year. It’s been a ridiculous, tremendous honor. I don’t really know what to comment on it other than that I feel extremely lucky and just going to keep working to try and make each show better than the one before.

As much as I’d love you to keep busy, it also sounds like you could do with a break.

COBEN: You don’t want me to have a break, Jake. [Laughs]

No, of course not. Personally, I’d rather you kept going!

COBEN: Well, thank you. I’m not good idle. My mind doesn’t work idle. I tried doing meditation a few years ago, and they were like, “We’re going to clear your mind.” And I was like, “No, you don’t want to clear my mind.” Nothing stresses me out more than having to clear my mind.

You’re going to lose some great plots if you clear Harlan Coben’s mind! You mentioned working with so many great actors in the past. With this great trophy cabinet of performers you’re now collecting, who would you love to work with in the future?

COBEN: It’s always a tough question because there’s so many talented people. I’ve always wanted to work with Kate Winslet. I think that would be somebody I’d love to have. She’s one of my favorite actresses. I’m a big fan of hers. If I had to pick somebody, I’d pick Kate Winslet. But the Myron Bolitar series has a wealth of people who are new and who people don’t know yet, as well as a wealth of experienced people like Bebe Neuwirth and Griffin Dunne, so it’s been a joy and an honor. We’ve been very lucky.

Harlan Coben's Final Twist Season 2 premieres on October 5, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.