Entertainment
9 Thrilling Shows To Watch if You Love Harlan Coben’s ‘I Will Find You’
I Will Find You was one of those gems that popped up on your Netflix recommended list, piqued interest given its incredible cast, and exploded from there. The crime drama miniseries is about David (Sam Worthington), a man convicted for the murder of his son. But when his sister-in-law Rachel (Britt Lower) finds evidence that she believes confirms that the boy is still alive and thus proves David’s innocence, the two team up to investigate.
It’s a wild and twisted ride through the eight-episode series that will hit you with moments you won’t see coming and some that leave you scratching your head and rolling your eyes. But the performances are great, bringing yet another Harlan Coben story to life. While his many other shows are obvious next watches, there are other shows in the same vein that you might like, too.
‘The Stranger’ (2020)
Another from Coben, there’s something intriguing about The Stranger, the story of people who are approached by a mysterious young woman wearing a baseball cap (Hannah John-Kamen) who reveals secrets to them that upend their entire worlds. When Adam Price (Richard Armitage) comes face-to-face with her, and his wife Corrine (Dervla Kirwan) goes missing as a result, Adam is desperate to figure out how it all connects, and who this woman is.
The Stranger is one of Coben’s more highly rated shows, bringing to life a story that was addictive on the pages of his book in a way that makes it equally interesting on screen. The story itself is very different from I Will Find You, but it has Coben’s signature style to the narrative that you’ll enjoy.
‘Safe’ (2018)
Another show based on Coben’s book, Safe‘s premise is a lot closer to I Will Find You. Tom (Michael C. Hall) is a pediatric surgeon and widowed father trying to navigate raising two teenage daughters on his own. When one suddenly goes missing, however, Tom must go on the hunt to find her. In the process, he uncovers a web of lies and secrets that shake him to his core.
The same frantic energy you feel in I Will Find You is felt in Safe. Interestingly, while the characters in I Will Find You believe that Matthew (Ashton Cressman) is alive, and they are desperate to find a boy they know is at least safe, Tom is riddled with worry because he doesn’t know if his daughter is okay. Both shows highlight the love a parent has for their child, and the lengths they would go to protect them.
‘His & Hers’ (2026)
As the saying goes, there are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth. His & Hers is as much about misinterpretation and miscommunication between an estranged married couple, fueled by their grief, as it is about the mysterious murder of a young woman in their small town. Both shows follow an investigation and people who are both involved in ways that make you question their innocence.
The show is emotional and enthralling, with just as big an unpredictable twist at the end as the one in I Will Find You. If you loved that element of the Coben show, His & Hers, adapted from the Alice Feeney novel, delivers as well. It has the same soapy feel, yet it’s also dark and twisted. It’s a perfect guilty pleasure watch and with just six episodes, you can binge it in a night or two.
‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)
A murder mystery legal drama, Defending Jacob has a similar theme of a couple and their son dealing with a horrifying situation. In this case, 14-year-old Jacob (Jaeden Martell) is accused of murder, and his father Andy (Chris Evans) and mother Laurie (Michelle Dockery) are gutted at the news and desperate to protect their son. But they also can’t help but wonder if Jacob might actually be guilty given the mounting evidence, despite trying hard to push away any of these dark thoughts.
Defending Jacob is one of those Apple TV shows that flew under the radar, despite the huge cast that also includes Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, and J. K. Simmons. Fans weren’t happy with the way the show ended and its slow pacing through the eight episodes. Nonetheless, you get a similar sense of desperation to prove someone’s innocence.
‘Presumed Innocent’ (2024–Present)
A new adaptation of the Scott Turow novel, as was the 1990 film, Presumed Innocent has the same idea of a man who has mounting evidence against him that seems to prove his guilt for murder. But Rusty (Jake Gyllenhaal) swears he is innocent. Things are complicated, however, because he does admit to having an affair with the victim, Carolyn (Renate Reinsve), who also happens to have been his colleague.
The story extends to Rusty’s family as well, including his wife and two teenage kids. They get caught up in the drama surrounding their dad. Rusty is fighting not only to prove his innocence, but also against a rival prosecutor who appears more interested in convicting Rusty than actually proving he’s guilty. Rusty’s story is similar to David’s in I Will Find You, and the end reveal will have you just as shook.
‘All Her Fault’ (2025)
All Her Fault tugs at your heartstrings and rips your heart out right from the start. The story centers around working mom Marissa (Sarah Snook) who arrives to pick up her son at a playdate only to learn that the mother who she arranged the date with via text doesn’t actually live at that house. Her son isn’t there either. The panic that sets in emanates through the screen and continues on through the entire show.
All Her Fault focuses on fractured family dynamics and the blame game, Marissa at times feels as though she is being painted as a villain just as David was in I Will Find You. The mystery thriller that is perfect from start to finish is darker and more ominous than I Will Find You, and the story takes similarly unpredictable turns. While no one is actually convicted as they search for Milo (Duke McCloud), All Her Fault highlights the concept of guilt and judgment in the court of public opinion, and the one-sided nature of how this often falls on the mother.
‘The Beast in Me’ (2025)
When struggling author Aggie (Claire Danes) meets new neighbor Nile (Matthew Rhys) in The Beast in Me, she recognizes him as the billionaire who was accused of killing his wife years prior. She isn’t sure if he was wrongfully accused or just used his money, power, and influence to get off on the charges. While you may watch I Will Find You and think David can’t possibly be guilty, you’ll likely watch The Beast in Me and think there’s no way Nile is not.
The psychological crime thriller is darker than I Will Find You, a much more refined show if you want something that’s a level up. The acting is superb, and while the story has some weak spots, it ramps up by the final episodes to keep you at the edge of your seat to find out what happened next. The show does have a twist or two of its own, but it relies mainly on the compelling narrative, and you’ll enjoy it as your next watch.
‘The Undoing’ (2020)
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant are brilliant in The Undoing. The story begins with the death of a beautiful young woman, with respected oncologist Jonathan (Grant) eventually accused of her murder. What does he have to do with this woman, Elena (Matilda De Angelis)? This is what Grace (Kidman), a successful psychologist, sets out to determine.
It’s another show about someone outside of law enforcement running their own investigation to either prove someone’s innocence or guilt. A son is at the center of this story, too, as the couple’s teenage boy, Henry (Noah Jupe), is stuck in the middle of this impossible situation. With just six episodes, The Undoing is another step-up show if you want something that hits a bit harder.
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
One of the best crime drama miniseries of late, The Night Of focuses on another wrongfully convicted man who is sent to prison because the situation seems impossible to be explained any other way. When David is the one who finds his son in I Will Find You, his history of night terrors and a bloody bat found buried in the backyard make it seem like there’s no other viable explanation but that he’s guilty. The same happens to Naz (Riz Ahmed) in this series when he wakes up next to the random woman he met the night before, and she has been murdered.
The Night Of shows the descent of a promising young man when society and the justice system turn against him. David seemed to harden from his time in jail, but he didn’t lose himself. Naz, on the other hand, becomes a shell of his former self, and the journey to get there is heart-wrenching. It’s a much more emotional, deeper story if you’re interested in delving outside of soapy territory.
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