A Dark Mystery Unfolds When a Man Confronts His Sister’s Murder
2025
Mystery, Thriller
6 episodes
TheNextHint Score
6.7
6.7 / 10
Overview
Harlan Coben's Lazarus weaves together crime investigation, family trauma, psychological suspense, and supernatural mystery in a tale focused on forensic psychiatrist Joel “Laz” Lazarus. Following his father's apparent suicide, Laz goes back to his hometown and begins having visions that make him question everything he thought he knew about his family's past. As he investigates, he gradually links his father's death to the unsolved murder of his sister Sutton and to other cases. Sam Claflin leads the series alongside Bill Nighy and Alexandra Roach, and the narrative shifts between present-day investigation and troubling memories from the past. Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst created the series, which is an original story rather than an adaptation of one of Coben's novels. All six episodes arrived at once on Prime Video.
Quick Verdict
Harlan Coben's Lazarus is for viewers who enjoy murder mysteries that don't remain completely rooted in reality. What sets it apart most is its blend of forensic investigation, family secrets, and supernatural visions. The performances, especially those of Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy, are a key reason for its appeal, even though the increasingly tangled plot may not land as well with every viewer.
Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is a six-part British mystery thriller that blends a cold-case investigation with psychological horror and supernatural touches. The plot centers on Dr. Joel “Laz” Lazarus, a forensic psychiatrist who goes back to his hometown following the apparent suicide of his father, Dr. Jonathan Lazarus. What at first seems like a family tragedy soon grows far more complex as Laz starts having troubling visions of people he knows to be dead. His investigation draws him toward the unsolved murder of his sister Sutton, which took place 25 years ago, as well as other killings that could be linked.
Sam Claflin stars in the series as Laz, while Bill Nighy portrays his father and Alexandra Roach plays Laz’s sister Jenna. The show was developed by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst from an original story, not from a published Coben novel. The episodes were directed by Daniel O’Hara, Nicole Volavka, and Wayne Yip. The series mixes police investigation, family secrets, trauma, unreliable perceptions, and supernatural mystery, which gives it a darker feel than many standard crime thrillers. All six episodes became available at once on Prime Video on October 22, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Harlan Coben's Lazarus about?
Joel Lazarus (Sam Claflin) returns home after his father (Bill Nighy) dies and begins experiencing strange occurrences in the first series written by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst that was not based on a published Harlan Coben novel.
Who created, wrote, or directed Harlan Coben's Lazarus?
Written by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst that was not based on a published Harlan Coben novel
Is Harlan Coben's Lazarus based on a book?
No. Unlike several other Harlan Coben screen adaptations, Lazarus was created from an original story by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst rather than being based on one of Coben's published novels.
How many episodes does Harlan Coben's Lazarus have?
Season 1 has six episodes, and all six were released on October 22, 2025.
Is Harlan Coben's Lazarus a horror series?
It is primarily a mystery thriller, but it includes significant psychological-horror and supernatural elements. Laz experiences disturbing visions involving people who are supposed to be dead.
Who plays Joel Lazarus?
Sam Claflin plays Dr. Joel “Laz” Lazarus, the forensic psychiatrist at the center of the investigation.
Story — Spoiler Free
After his father's apparent suicide, Dr. Joel “Laz” Lazarus comes back to his hometown, only to be faced with odd experiences that make him question what he believes about his family's past. While Laz looks into his father's death, the case starts to intersect with the unsolved murder of his sister Sutton, which happened 25 years ago. Visions of individuals who ought to be dead bring yet another dimension to the investigation, as old relationships and deeply buried secrets begin to come to the surface. Laz has to figure out whether the strange events are tied to the murders, or whether his own perception is starting to become unreliable.
6.7
TheNextHint Score
6.7 / 10
Harlan Coben's Lazarus is for viewers who enjoy murder mysteries that don't remain completely rooted in reality. What sets it apart most is its blend of forensic investigation, family secrets, and supernatural visions. The performances, especially those of Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy, are a key reason for its appeal, even though the increasingly tangled plot may not land as well with every viewer.
Rating breakdown
Story
6.0
Acting
8.0
Direction
6.0
Visuals
7.0
Sound
7.0
Entertainment
6.0
External Ratings
Scores from other sources, shown in their own scale. These are not TheNextHint's rating.
The strong central performances, dark atmosphere, supernatural mystery, and constantly shifting investigation give the series enough tension to appeal to viewers who enjoy complicated crime thrillers.
Cons
The story can become repetitive and overly complicated, with some critics finding the dialogue, pacing, and increasingly elaborate plot less convincing as the mystery develops.
Who Should Watch
Mystery Thriller Fans
Psychological Thriller Fans
Supernatural Thriller Fans
Who Should Skip
Light Drama Viewers
Simple Mystery Fans
Viewers Sensitive to Mature Themes
Release Date
2025-10-22
Runtime
46–54 minutes per episode
Director
Daniel O'Hara, Nicole Volavka, Wayne Yip
Producer
Matt Strevens
Writer
Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst that was not based on a published Harlan Coben novel
Cast
Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Alexandra Roach, Ewan Horrocks, David Fynn, Karla Crome, Kate Ashfield, Lloyd Lai, Roisin Gallagher, Curtis Tennant, Edward Hogg, Lucy Chambers, Leni Zieglmeier, Joseph Mason-Coombs, Charles Mann, Sianad Gregory, Jack Deam, Amanda Root, Laura Mainard
Music
Sarah Warne
Cinematography
Richard Stoddard, Sam Heasman
Studio
Amazon Studios and Amazon MGM Studios
Distributor
Prime Video
Production Company
Amazon MGM Studios, Final Twist Productions, Quay Street Productions
A forensic psychiatrist who becomes determined to uncover the truth behind his father's death and his sister's murder.
Bill Nighy
as
Dr. Jonathan Lazarus
Laz's father, whose death becomes the starting point for the central investigation.
Alexandra Roach
as
Jenna Lazarus
Laz's sister and an important figure in his investigation into the family's past.
Kate Ashfield
as
Detective Alison Brown
The detective involved in the murder investigation.
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
6 episodes October 22, 2025Completed
After his father's apparent suicide, forensic psychiatrist Joel “Laz” Lazarus returns home and becomes entangled in an investigation involving his father's death, his sister's unsolved murder, and a series of disturbing visions.
1Episode 1
48 min October 22, 2025
After his father's apparent suicide, Laz returns to his hometown and begins experiencing unexplained phenomena.
2Episode 2
47 min October 22, 2025
Laz learns his father may have been murdered and makes a shocking discovery connected to a 25-year-old murder scene.
3Episode 3
54 min October 22, 2025
Laz's visions reveal connections between Sutton's murder, his father's death, and other victims, pointing toward a suspect.
4Episode 4
53 min October 22, 2025
A revelation from Jenna sends Laz spiraling, while another vision makes him believe the murderer has struck again.
5Episode 5
Laz and Jenna uncover new information that shifts attention toward another suspect, while someone close to Laz faces danger.
6Episode 6
48 min October 22, 2025
Laz identifies the common link between the murder cases and enters a deadly final pursuit connected to his past.
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