If you love Netflix’s Harlan Coben shows, the next show to watch is this new Australian miniseries based on amysterybook by another bestselling author. There are few modern crime writers as prolific as the bestselling author Harlan Coben. Although his books are labeled pulpy and formulaic, that’s part of the appeal. Almost all of them have unsolved mysteries coming up years later, protagonist-driven stories, secrets and betrayals, and many red herrings. None of the books are mind-blowing literary masterpieces, but they offer great qualities that make them entertaining, which is what matters.
Understandably, readers and new viewers alike have devouredNetflix’s 11 Harlan Coben TV shows, and I know so many fans who describe them as their guilty pleasure shows.While a few more are on the way, it will be three months until the next Netflix adaptation. This leaves fans with plenty of time to check out othermystery shows like the Harlan Coben adaptations. The perfect choice is an Australian Netflix miniseries calledThe Survivors.
Fans of Harlan Coben Adaptations Should Watch Netflix’s The Survivors
The Survivors Is Perfect For Harlan Coben Fans
As I watchedThe Survivors, I immediately knew I needed to recommend this show to my friend who loves Harlan Coben shows, and now I’m happy to share it with you. Netflix’s new Australian crime drama,The Survivors, centers on a couple named Kieran Elliott and Mia Chang who return to their hometown of Evelyn Bay – which is haunted by the 15-year-old deaths of Finn Elliott and Toby Gilroy and the disappearance of a teen girl named Gabby Birch. After Kieran and Mia arrive,a young woman named Bronte dies, bringing up questions about the incident 15 years earlier.
The Survivorsincludes all the components of Coben’s books listed in the introduction without feeling formulaic or like a ripoff. Notably, an unsolved mystery is drudged up years later, leading to uncovered secrets, which is characteristic of Coben’s stories. Additionally,The Survivors’ castfeatures a wide range of suspects with strong motives, keeping viewers guessing. At just six episodes, it’s also easy to binge-watch in one sitting. However, the miniseries’ unique traits include an exploration of grief, a slow-burn pace, and an exceptionally well-written script.The Survivorsis also a little more grounded in reality than Coben adaptations.
The Survivors Is Based On The Book By Jane Harper
Jane Harper Has Landed On The New York Times Bestsellers List
Like Netflix’s Harlan Coben shows,The Survivorsis an adaptation of a fantastic mystery book by a best-selling author. British-Australian writer Jane Harper wrote the titular 2021 book on which the Australian miniseries is based. Since her debut book,The Dry, was released in 2016, she has garnered numerous accolades internationally. Her writing has received praise from authors Stephen King and David Baldacci. BothThe SurvivorsandExilesbecameNew York TimesBestsellers immediately after their release.
2016
2017
2018
2021
Exiles
2022
On top of that, two of her five books –The DryandForce of Nature– have been translated into feature films, both of which are pretty good. Sadly, they didn’t have nearly as much reach asThe Survivorsbecause both projects were made in Australia and had limited releases internationally. As such, Netflix’sThe Survivorsmight Harper’s stories up to a wider audience.
Why The Survivors Is Worth Watching On Netflix
The Survivors Is Really Well-Written And Entertaining
The Survivorsis a strong addition to Netflix’s portfolio of mystery shows, and it’s definitely worth watching. Although the first episode was a little too slow for my liking, as soon as the central conflict of the story started, I became hooked. Even though it is a slow burn,The Survivorsdoesn’t drag, offering a consistent pacing.The show provides nonstop twists and turns.Yerin Ha and Charlie Vickers provide top-notch acting, with both of them delivering excellent dramatic performances.
I would describeThe Survivorsas the best parts of a Harlan Coben mystery story with significantly better writing and dialogue.
What’s more, I consider myself pretty adept at predicting the ending of mysteries, but I was only about 15% correct when it came to guessing the major reveals duringThe Survivors’ ending, which was a pleasant surprise. Ultimately, I would describeThe Survivorsas the best parts of a Harlan Coben mystery story with significantly better writing and dialogue. Hopefully, fans of Netflix’s Coben adaptations will give the Australian crime drama a shot because I think the show deserves it.
