Netflix’s ‘Behind Her Eyes’ Is the Perfect Follow-Up To Harlan Coben’s ‘Run Away’

If you thought Harlan Coben’s Run Away was a nail-biter, then get ready to have your mind blown by Netflix’s most shocking hidden gem. The streamer has quickly become the go-to hub for edge-of-your-seat thrillers, with fresh adaptations of Coben’s novels now ringing in the New Year on an annual basis. The tradition was sparked by widespread interest in Coben’s miniseries, which regularly top the Netflix charts due to their unreliable characters and endlessly twisty plots. After four days in the #2 spot – the result of Stranger Things’ divisive finale dropping the very same day – Run Away finally jumped to #1 in the United States, cementing Coben’s reign as Netflix’s master of suspense.

Much like Safe, The Stranger, and Stay Close, Coben’s Run Away follows a complex cast of characters who are not all what they appear to be. When Simon Greene (James Nesbitt) discovers that his daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) is missing, his search to find her brings him face-to-face with dangerous assassins, a criminal underworld, and secrets that could threaten to tear his family apart forever. The premise is typical Coben fare, but his real magic trick is his ability to keep viewers guessing until the last episode’s final moments. If you’ve already binged the show (which won’t be renewed for a second season due to it being a miniseries like Coben’s other adaptations), then you already know how startling its ending is. But what if I told you that one of Netflix’s most overlooked thrillers has an even more jaw-dropping finale that you won’t see coming and will never forget?

If You Think ‘Run Away’ Is Twisty, Then You Need To See ‘Behind Her Eyes’

Though it’s more of a psychological thriller than a crime drama, Netflix’s Behind Her Eyes has a fair bit in common with Run Away. Both shows are slow burns that ask how much a person can really know their spouse, and both grow more horrifying the deeper into the story the viewer gets. But where Behind Her Eyes sets itself apart is in its ability to defy genre norms in such an unexpected way that it actually chills the bones. There’s an enormous chance, after watching its jaw-dropping finale, that you won’t be able to stop thinking about it for months afterward, making it even more memorable than some of Coben’s highest-ranked productions. Reader, you’ve been warned.

The thriller follows Louise (Simona Brown), a single mother who works as a secretary for David (Tom Bateman), an unhappy psychiatrist. When the two begin having an affair, they form a complicated love triangle with David’s enigmatic wife, Adele (Eve Hewson), who is drawn to Louise for her own reasons. A complex web of mind games ensues, resulting in dangerous confrontations and a mind-bending twist that will make you question everything you’ve just witnessed.

Revealing more than that will ruin the experience, but suffice it to say that the show explores corners of the thriller genre that even most Coben novels haven’t dared to. Don’t trust the reviews – if you allow yourself to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride, then Behind Her Eyes will be one of your most unforgettable Netflix viewing experiences. Best of all, it’s only six episodes long, and with each coming in at less than an hour, you can (and will want to) binge it in a weekend.

Harlan Coben’s Next Netflix Adaptation Is Already on the Horizon

The cast of Netflix’s ‘Run Away’

Netflix

Hardcore Coben fans who are already hungry for another of the author’s gripping mysteries are in luck. Netflix’s next adaptation will be I Will Find You, starring Sam Worthington, Britt Lower, Erin Richards, and Milo Ventimiglia. Unlike the author’s other adaptations, which have boasted global settings like Spain, Argentina, Poland, France, and the United Kingdom, this eight-episode miniseries will be the first to take place in the United States. The story centers around a wrongly-imprisoned man (Worthington) who learns that the son he’s in jail for allegedly murdering might actually be alive. An official release date has yet to be announced, but I Will Find You is expected to arrive on Netflix sometime in 2026.

In the meantime, viewers would be hard-pressed to find a show more shocking or unforgettable than Behind Her Eyes. It may not be as well-known (or well-received) as some of Netflix’s other guilty pleasures, but therein lies its advantage. It’s a hidden gem that, once uncovered, is something you’ll want to talk about with everyone you know immediately after finishing. And for viewers who argue that Coben’s adaptations are gradually losing their touch, it’s a comfort to know that Netflix still has some tricks up its sleeve.