If you’re a fan of intricate, twist-laden thrillers where every character has a secret and no one can be trusted, then Netflix’s “The Stranger” is a British mystery series based on the bestselling novel by Harlan Coben that will keep you guessing until the very end.
What is “The Stranger” about?
The series centers on Adam Price (Richard Armitage), a seemingly ordinary family man living a comfortable life in a perfect suburban neighborhood. His world is turned upside down when a mysterious young woman, known only as “The Stranger” (Hannah John-Kamen), approaches him at his son’s football match. She whispers a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne (Dervla Kirwan), telling him that Corinne faked her last pregnancy and miscarriage.
Adam confronts Corinne, who doesn’t deny the accusation but disappears without explanation, leaving him a cryptic text message. As Adam desperately searches for answers, he discovers that “The Stranger” has been revealing dark secrets about other people in their community, shattering lives and exposing hidden truths. Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Johanna Griffin (Siobhán Finneran) is investigating a bizarre, seemingly unrelated crime involving a decapitated alpaca and a missing teenager. As the multiple storylines unfold, it becomes terrifyingly clear that all these seemingly disparate events are connected, leading Adam and Johanna down a rabbit hole of conspiracy, blackmail, and murder, where trust is a luxury no one can afford.
Why “The Stranger” is a gripping watch:
- Harlan Coben’s Signature Twists: If you’re familiar with Coben’s novels, you know to expect a dizzying array of plot twists and revelations. “The Stranger” delivers on this, with new secrets and shocking turns appearing in every episode.
- Highly Addictive: The series is structured for compulsive viewing, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger that practically forces you to watch the next. It’s the ultimate binge-watch.
- Ensemble of Secrets: Every character seems to be hiding something, creating a pervasive atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion. This keeps the audience engaged as they try to piece together who knows what, and why.
- Strong Cast: Richard Armitage is compelling as the bewildered Adam, and Hannah John-Kamen is effectively enigmatic as the titular Stranger. The cast also features well-known British actors like Siobhán Finneran and Jennifer Saunders in more dramatic roles.
- Exploration of Trust and Identity: The show delves into how well we truly know the people closest to us and how a single piece of information can unravel an entire life built on secrets.
Where to Watch “The Stranger”:
“The Stranger” is a Netflix original series. All eight episodes of this limited series are exclusively available to stream on Netflix.
If you enjoyed “The Stranger,” you might also like:
- Safe (another Netflix series based on a Harlan Coben novel, with similar themes of hidden secrets in a suburban community)
- The Five (another British mystery series by Harlan Coben, featuring a cold case)
- Stay Close (another Netflix Harlan Coben adaptation, exploring long-buried secrets)
- Behind Her Eyes (for a twisty psychological thriller with a dark secret)
- You (for another series that explores secrets and hidden identities, though with a different focus)