Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben Headshot

Writer • Producer

Birth Date: January 4, 1962

Age: 64 years old

Birth Place: Newark, New Jersey

Follow
Get alerts when we
write about them.

Harlan Coben's books tended to center on a misunderstanding or misinterpretation that ended badly for someone. The author, who was born in Newark, New Jersey on Jan. 4, 1962, got the urge to write during his senior year at Amherst College, where he graduated in 1984 with a degree in Political Science. (In the "Small World" department, he was in the same fraternity as fellow mega-bestselling author Dan Brown.) After he graduated, Coben worked in the travel industry for a bit but then began writing thrillers. He had two novels published in short order: Play Dead (1990) and Miracle Cure (1991).

He then began writing his most popular series of books, featuring Myron Bolitar, a sports agent who often found himself trying to solve mysteries. Bolitar was often helped by his extremely rich friend Windsor Lockwood III, who had a vigilante streak that would make Batman jealous. After several Bolitar novels, he continued with a number of several stand-alone thrillers, including Tell No One, which was made into a film of the same name directed by Guillaume Canet and produced by Luc Besson. Coben then began alternating between new entries in the Myron Bolitar series (plus a young adult series starring Bolitar's headstrong nephew Mickey) and stand-alone thrillers, all of which did very well on the best seller lists.

Credits

I Will Find YouStream

Executive Producer
Miniseries
2026
65%

Harlan Coben's Final TwistStream

Executive Producer
Series
2026

Harlan Coben's Final TwistStream

Self
Series
2026

Run AwayStream

Creator
Miniseries
2026
83%

Run AwayStream

Executive Producer
Miniseries
2026
83%

Run AwayStream

Writer
Miniseries
2026
83%

LazarusStream

Executive Producer
Miniseries
2025
44%

LazarusStream

Writer
Miniseries
2025
44%

CaughtStream

Story
Miniseries
2025
43%

Tylko jedno spojrzenie

Executive Producer
Show
2025

Missing YouStream

Executive Producer
Series
2025
50%

Missing YouStream

Writer (Book)
Series
2025
50%

Fool Me OnceStream

Executive Producer
Series
2024
72%

ShelterStream

Executive Producer
Series
2023
88%

ShelterStream

Writer
Series
2023
88%

Hold TightStream

Producer
Series
2022

Stay CloseStream

Creator
Miniseries
2021
92%

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

Gone for GoodStream

Writer
Series
2021

Steph's Packed Lunch

Guest
Show
2020

The StrangerStream

Creator
Series
2020
87%

The StrangerStream

Executive Producer
Series
2020
87%

The StrangerStream

Writer
Series
2020
87%

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Guest
Talk
2019

Strahan & Sara

Guest
Show
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

SafeStream

Creator
Miniseries
2018
71%

SafeStream

Executive Producer
Miniseries
2018
71%

Megyn Kelly Today

Guest
Talk
2017

Just One Look

Creator
Series
2017

Just One Look

Writer
Series
2017

Keeping Canada Safe

Executive Producer
Show
2017

The Five

Producer
Series
2016

No Second ChanceStream

Creator
Miniseries
2015

The Rich Eisen Show

Guest
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

CBS This Morning: Saturday

Guest
Show
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

Guest
Show
2010

Rachael Ray Show

Guest
Talk
2006

The One Show

Guest
Show
2006

Tell No OneStream

Writer (Novel)
Movie
2006
93%

Craig Charles

Guest
Show
2003

Loose Ends

Self
Show
2002

This Morning

Guest
Show
1988

Good Morning AmericaStream

Guest
News
1975

TodayStream

Guest
News
1952

News aboutHarlan Coben

“Betsy Faria” – When church-going mother Betsy Faria is found stabbed to death in her quiet Missouri home, police initially suspect suicide … she’d tried it before. But multiple stab wounds and the surrounding evidence point to her husband. It seems like an open-and-shut case: trial, conviction, done. But then, more dead bodies and strange twists lead back to Betsy’s murder … unraveling a story everyone thought they understood. The second season of HARLAN COBEN’S FINAL TWIST premieres Monday, Oct. 5 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured: Harlan Coben Photo: Credit: CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab available.
Exclusive

Harlan Coben Reveals the ‘Final Twist’ Premiere Moment That Made Him ‘Well Up’

“Shot in the Dark” Tuesday, Feb. 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) - At dawn, Melissa Oxley wakes up for work and finds herself in a nightmare: her husband, 36-year-old Ben Oxley – a native Hawaiian and accomplished water sports athlete – has been shot in the head while sleeping beside her. Melissa claims she never heard the gunshot. How could she not have heard the murder that happened inches away? Investigators found Melissa’s teenage brother, Craig, and Ben’s six-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, Alyssa, sound asleep. Investigators find a case built on silence, suspicion and a truth still buried. Pictured: Harlan Coben. Photo: CBS ©2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab available.
Preview

Harlan Coben Teases More ‘Final Twist’ Screen Time & Batty New Cases in Season 2

MYRON BOLITAR. (L to R) Colin Woodell, Executive Producer Harlan Coben, KJ Apa, and Diane Guerrero at the first table read for Myron Bolitar. Cr. Michele K. Short/Netflix© 2026

Harlan Coben’s ‘Myron Bolitar’ Series Begins Production

Harlan Coben Shows -- Fool Me Once, I Will Find You, Missing You (1)

What Is the Most-Watched Harlan Coben Hit on Netflix?

Harlan Coben on I Will Find You set
Exclusive

Why Harlan Coben Does So Many U.K.-Set Shows — And Why ‘I Will Find You’ Was Different

Harlan Coben Shows Ranked

16 Harlan Coben Series, Ranked

I Will Find You
Spoiler Alert

‘I Will Find You’ Ending Explained by Harlan Coben, Sam Worthington & More (VIDEO)

I Will Find You. (L to R). Harlan Coben and Robert Hull Cr. Ted Belton/Netflix

‘I Will Find You’: Harlan Coben’s Next Netflix Thriller, Explained

Harlan Coben interview for Harlan Coben's Final Twist.
Exclusive

Harlan Coben Explains How ‘Final Twist’ Turns Real Events Into Compelling & Compassionate TV (VIDEO)

Ellie de Lange in Run Away
Spoiler Alert

Harlan Coben’s ‘Run Away’ Ending, Explained

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Harlan Coben attends Prime Video's "Harlan Coben's Lazarus" special screening at Regal Union Square on October 14, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
Preview

Harlan Coben Explains Why He’s Switching to True Crime for ‘Final Twist’

"Billy & Billie” -- Best-selling author Harlan Coben guides audiences through gripping tales of murder, high-profile crimes and life-altering surprises, each meticulously unraveled to reveal hidden truths, deceptions and lies on Harlan Coben’s Final Twist. Pictured: Harlan Coben. Photo: ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

‘Harlan Coben’s Final Twist’: What to Know About the New CBS Series

Sam Claflin
Spoiler Alert

‘Harlan Coben’s Lazarus’ Stars & Creators Explain That Twist Ending (VIDEO)

Lazarus

Is Harlan Coben’s ‘Lazarus’ Based on a True Story?

Lazarus

Harlan Coben’s ‘Lazarus’ Trailer Reveals a Creepy Cold Case

Harlan Coben and cover art from his books 'Play Dead,' 'Don't Let Go,' and 'Win'

7 Harlan Coben Series That Could Be Headed to Netflix

Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray Opens Up About Marriage Drama & Getting ‘Really Angry’

Rosalind Eleazar and Ashley Walters in 'Missing You'

‘Missing You’: Everything You Need to Know About Harlan Coben’s New Netflix Series

Rosalind Eleazar

Harlan’s Coben’s New Netflix Drama ‘Missing You’ Will Star Rosalind Eleazar From ‘Slow Horses’

Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, and Alexandra Roach

Sam Claflin & Bill Nighy to Star in New Harlan Coben Series for Prime Video

Michelle Keegan in 'Fool Me Once'

‘Fool Me Once’ Author Harlan Coben Agrees Netflix Deal for 2 More Series Adaptations

'The Stranger,' 'Shelter,' and 'Stay Close'

‘Shelter,’ ‘Stay Close’ & More Harlan Coben Novels That Have Been Adapted for TV (VIDEO)

The Innocent Netflix

Master of Suspense: ‘The Innocent’ & More Harlan Coben Series on Netflix