Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is a twisty, supernatural crime spectacle that’ll have you hooked

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Harlan Coben is a master of thriller novels, and many of his page-turners have already been successfully adapted into exciting TV series. Shows like Missing You, Fool Me Once, and Stay Close have kept audiences hooked. But his latest project, Lazarus, is something new and different.

Unlike his typical novels, Harlan Coben wrote this thriller directly for television. He previously told Radio Times he envisioned it better as a visual medium, describing it as a “ghost story.” The new series, Lazarus, now streaming on Prime Video, successfully brings that vision to life.

A new six-episode series centers on forensic psychologist Joel Lazarus (Sam Claflin) who comes home after the sudden death of his father, Dr. Jonathan Lazarus (Bill Nighy), a psychiatrist. As Joel tries to understand what happened to his father, he starts experiencing something strange: he can communicate with the ghosts of his father’s murdered patients.

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Okay, so things are getting seriously weird. I’m starting to see how my dad’s death connects to what happened to my twin sister all those years ago – it was 25 years, can you believe it? And honestly, I’m just feeling totally lost and hopeless as I try to figure it all out.

Coben skillfully uses unsettling visuals to put viewers inside Joel’s experience. These scenes create a disorienting and frightening effect, making Joel’s confusion and fear more real and understandable for the audience.

In the film Lazarus, visual cues like these are key to building the story and creating a genuinely spooky mood. For example, the camera quickly moves down the hallway towards Joel’s father’s office, then stops suddenly. A blue filter gives the room an otherworldly look, and the unsettling music adds to the eerie feeling. While these effects are noticeable, they aren’t overdone and ultimately enhance the scene.

While the movie successfully creates a mysterious mood, it doesn’t make up for the fact that the characters feel flat and underdeveloped. They react to what’s happening to them without much inner life, making it hard for the audience to truly care about their journeys.

Honestly, the show tries too hard to give these characters personality, but it feels kinda fake. Like, Joel’s sister, Jenna, they decided she’s super spiritual and into reiki, but it just doesn’t land. It feels tacked on, like they’re trying to make her seem deep, but it doesn’t feel real or like it actually fits her character.

Aidan (Curtis Tennant), a teenager, stands out from the rest. His inquisitive personality and constant questions about his mother’s former husband immediately draw you in. You also find yourself wondering about him because he struggles to connect with both his friends and family.

Tennant is captivating in his role, and Bill Nighy delivers a standout performance as always. Claflin also shines.

It’s really odd watching Claflin play this role – he’s so raw and vulnerable, portraying a man completely falling apart and yet somehow discovering himself through his grief. But honestly, even though I felt a little distant from the character at times, Claflin is absolutely fantastic. He’s the main reason I’d recommend seeing it through to the very end – he carries the whole thing!

Another key to Coben’s success is the compelling mystery at the heart of his shows. He expertly draws you into a complex story, offering more puzzles than solutions and keeping you guessing until the very end.

As a viewer, I’m really getting hooked by all the surprises and how the story keeps unfolding. I’m just hoping it all leads to a satisfying conclusion – that the journey will be worth it in the end!


All episodes of Lazarus are available to stream now on Prime Video.

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2025-10-22 13:49