Who is Fool Me Once writer Harlan Coben and how is the Netflix series different to the book?
HARLAN COBEN is a best-selling author who has had many of his novels adapted into Netflix series.
In 2024 the streaming site released the TV version of Coben’s book Fool Me Once, starring Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley, and it became an instant hit.
Who is Fool Me Once writer Harlan Coben?
Harlan Coben is an American author who is best known for his mystery novels.
He was born on January 4, 1962, in Newark, New Jersey.
Coben’s first published book was 1990’s Play Dead, which he followed up with Miracle Cure in 1991.
In 1995 Coben released Deal Breaker, which was the first book in his popular Myron Bolitar series.
Other big titles by the author include The Woods, Stay Close, Six Years, and Missing You.
Eight of Coben’s books have been adapted into Netflix series.
The titles that have been snapped up by the streaming platform are:
- Fool Me Once (2024)
- Hold Tight (2022)
- Stay Close (2021)
- The Innocent (2021)
- Gone for Good (2021)
- The Stranger (2020)
- The Woods (2020)
- Safe (2018)
Coben is heavily involved in the adaptations of his works, and acts as an executive producer on many of the series.
He also created Sky drama The Five, which was released in 2016, and released the adaptation of his young adult series Shelter on Amazon‘s Prime Video in 2023.
Despite his TV success, Coben insists he doesn’t write his books in hopes that they will be made into a show or film.
As he told Ireland’s Breaking News in 2023: “It sounds self-serving, but the biggest mistake a writer can make is to write a book and think, ‘Ooh, this would make a really good series or a really good movie’.
“It’s the kiss of death.”
Coben has won many awards throughout his career, including an Edgar Award, a Shamus Award, and an Anthony Award.
He was the first author to receive all three prestigious prizes.
As of January 2024, Coben lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with his paediatrician wife Anne Armstrong-Coben.
The couple share four children and their daughter, Charlotte, frequently works with her father on his television shows as a writer.
How is the Netflix series different to the book?
Fool Me Once follows Maya Stern, played by former Coronation Street star Keegan, who is left devastated by the murder of her husband Joe.
As she grieves for her late spouse, Maya’s world unravels as she spots a supposedly-dead Joe alive and well on her secret nanny-cam.
Lumley plays Maya’s mother-in-law Judith Burkett while Joe is played by Richard Armtiage.
Adeel Akhtar and Emmett J. Scanlan also star.
While both the book and the series have become hugely popular, there is one key difference between the two.
Fool Me Once the book is set in New York but, like most of the Coben Netflix adaptations, the series is set in the UK.
The story unfolds in the fictional town of Winhurst, in England.
Speaking about the change in location, actress Keegan told RadioTimes.com: “The book’s set in New York so it’s totally different now because they’re in Manchester.
“It sort of grounded it for me.”
Lumley, meanwhile, added: “I think it worked really well.
“It switched over very easily without any sense that you’re losing too much.”
Other than the location, the Fool Me Once Netflix series appears to be very similar to the book.
Following the release of its eight episodes, fans rushed to social media to praise how true of an adaptation the series is.
Several also admitted to being shocked by the many twists and turns the story takes – despite having already read the novel.
“I was still shooketh even though I knew what was gonna happen,” wrote one user on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another posted: “I’ve read the book (ages ago) and still done this,” alongside a GIF of somebody looking extremely shocked.