Run Away is the latest Harlan Coben mystery thriller adaptation on Netflix, an eight-episode limited series that premiered globally on January 1, 2026. Continuing Netflix's tradition of launching a new Coben project on New Year's Day (following hits like Fool Me Once in 2024 and Missing You in 2025), this British-set drama is based on Coben's 2019 novel of the same name. It has quickly become a binge-watching favorite, praised for its emotional depth, relentless twists, and exploration of family secrets, trauma, addiction, and redemption.
Plot Summary
Simon Greene (James Nesbitt) appears to have the perfect life—a successful career, loving wife Ingrid (Minnie Driver), and three children—until his eldest daughter, Paige (Ellie de Lange), runs away from university, spiraling into drug addiction under the influence of her abusive boyfriend, Aaron Corval (Thomas Flynn). When Simon finally tracks her down busking in a park, a violent confrontation with Aaron is caught on video, goes viral, and turns Simon into a public pariah. Shortly after, Aaron is murdered, making Simon the prime suspect.
Desperate to clear his name and find Paige again, Simon teams up with quirky private investigator Elena Ravenscroft (Ruth Jones), who is simultaneously hired by a wealthy client to locate his missing adoptive son. As their investigations intersect, they uncover a dangerous underworld involving cults, hitmen (including the chaotic duo Ash and Dee Dee, played by Jon Pointing and Maeve Courtier-Lilley), and buried family traumas that threaten to destroy everything.The series delves into themes of parental desperation, hidden pasts, and how far one will go to protect loved ones, with Coben's signature red herrings, coincidences, and shocking revelations keeping viewers guessing until the final minutes.Read more:sunderland vs man city .. Exciting Competition for Top PositionsCast Highlights
- James Nesbitt as Simon Greene: A distraught father driven to extremes (Nesbitt's third Coben role after Missing You and others).
- Minnie Driver as Ingrid Greene: Simon's wife, harboring her own secrets.
- Ruth Jones as Elena Ravenscroft: The sharp-witted PI who forms an unlikely partnership with Simon.
- Alfred Enoch as Detective Isaac Fagbenle: The investigating officer with his own complexities.
- Supporting roles include Lucian Msamati, Ellie de Lange as Paige, and others adding layers to the ensemble.
Reception and Reviews
(As of January 2, 2026)
Early critical response has been largely positive, with Run Away debuting at an impressive 83% on Rotten Tomatoes (based on initial reviews), placing it among the stronger Coben adaptations on Netflix.
- Critics call it a "return to form" (The Guardian), praising the emotional rollercoaster and strong performances, especially from Nesbitt and Jones.
- Variety highlights its thrilling riddles and exploration of buried traumas.
- TechRadar describes it as "the most unhinged and mind-boggling thriller of 2026," ideal for New Year's Day bingeing.
- Some note typical Coben tropes like ludicrous coincidences and melodrama (Roger Ebert, Collider), but agree the fast pace and cliffhangers make it addictive "comfort TV" or "effective hokum."