Run Away: Harlan Coben’s Netflix Thriller Boasts a Stellar Cast for 2026

2 January 2026 Acting

Netflix Kicks Off 2026 With Another Harlan Coben Adaptation

Netflix opens the year with a new limited series adapted from a novel by Harlan Coben: Run Away, continuing the streaming giant’s tradition of delivering Coben thrillers each January. The eight-part series tells the story of a man named Simon whose daughter Paige runs away from university and when he tries to get her back it sets off a series of disastrous consequences. The show comes as part of an exclusive agreement Coben signed with Netflix in 2018 to adapt 14 of his books, becoming executive producer on all of them.

The Cast: Familiar Faces and Fresh Talent

The series stars Harlan Coben drama regular James Nesbitt as Simon, and he’s joined by a stellar cast including Minnie Driver, Ruth Jones and Alfred Enoch. Simon Greene had the perfect life, but then his oldest daughter, Paige (Ellie de Lange), ran away and everything fell apart. When he finally tracks her down, vulnerable and strung out on drugs in a city park, he jumps at the chance to bring his little girl home.

The supporting cast further strengthens the production. Other cast members of Run Away include Lucian Msamati, Jon Pointing, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Annette Badland, Maeve Courtier-Lilley, Ellie de Lange, Adrian Greensmith, Ellie Henry, Ingrid Oliver, Finty Williams, Joe McGann and Amy Gledhill. In his renewed search to find her, Simon meets Elena Ravenscroft (Ruth Jones), a private investigator who’s also looking for answers in a missing persons case; Cornelius Faber (Lucian Msamati), Paige’s former neighbor turned protector; and Detectives Isaac Fagbenle (Alfred Enoch) and Ruby Todd (Amy Gledhill), who suspect Simon may be responsible for a murder.

Early Reviews and Viewer Reception

Run Away, Harlan Coben’s latest Netflix thriller, boasts a twisty plot and engaging characters but falls short due to melodrama, according to critics. However, audience reception has been overwhelmingly positive. The show has gone down a treat with viewers, who have hailed it as “excellent” and are bingeing multiple episodes in one go in true Harlan Coben style.

The series fits perfectly into the streaming platform’s growing catalogue of mystery thrillers. Coben became an internal seal of approval for the platform: closed stories, controlled costs, high engagement, and an audience that, after watching one, usually moves straight to the next. With all eight episodes now available for streaming, Run Away provides viewers with the perfect binge-worthy start to 2026, combining family drama with dark criminal intrigue.