Harlan Coben’s knack for crafting pulse-pounding mysteries translates brilliantly to the screen in The Stranger (2020), the eight-part Netflix series directed by Daniel O’Hara and Hannah Quinn. Adapted from Coben’s 2015 bestseller, this British thriller centres on secrets that can make or break lives, delivering a relentless web of deception that keeps viewers guessing until the final reveal.

Richard Armitage stars as Adam Price, a successful family man and lawyer whose idyllic life shatters when a mysterious young woman (Hannah John-Kamen) — always in a baseball cap — approaches him at a football match and drops a bombshell secret about his wife Corinne (Dervla Kirwan). Devastated, Adam confronts Corinne, who vanishes that night, leaving only a cryptic text. His desperate search for answers pulls him into a larger conspiracy involving blackmail, hidden pasts, and a stranger targeting multiple victims in his community.

Siobhan Finneran shines as DS Johanna Griffin, the detective investigating related cases, while Jennifer Saunders brings dark humour as Heidi, Corinne’s friend entangled in the chaos. The ensemble — including Kadiff Kirwan, Anthony Head, and Shaun Dooley — adds layers to a town where everyone harbours secrets.

What makes The Stranger addictive is Coben’s signature formula: ordinary people thrust into extraordinary peril by buried truths. As Adam digs deeper, revelations about fake pregnancies, embezzlement, and long-ago crimes surface, linking seemingly unrelated characters. The pacing is masterful — each episode ends on a cliffhanger, blending domestic drama with escalating suspense.

Critics praised its British flavour (relocated from the U.S. novel), with The Guardian calling it “Coben at his most compulsively watchable.” Rotten Tomatoes holds 85%, with viewers hooked on the twists: “I binged it in one night — the secrets just keep coming!”

John-Kamen’s enigmatic Stranger is chillingly effective, her motives unfolding slowly. Armitage carries the emotional weight as a man questioning everything, while Finneran grounds the police procedural.

Five years on, The Stranger remains a standout in Netflix’s Coben adaptations (Safe, The Innocent). It’s a reminder that secrets don’t just destroy — they connect in unexpected ways.

All episodes available on Netflix — perfect for a weekend binge. Secrets can make or break lives… and this thriller will break your sleep schedule.