Harlan Coben’s Run Away, an eight-episode British crime thriller set to premiere on Netflix on January 1, 2026, is already generating buzz as the latest adaptation of the bestselling author’s 2019 novel. While Coben serves as creator and executive producer, not director (with Nimer Rashed and Isher Sahota helming episodes), his signature twist-filled storytelling shines through. Leading the cast is Ruth Jones, beloved for Gavin & Stacey, in a pivotal role that marks her debut in Coben’s universe, alongside James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver, and Alfred Enoch.

Run Away follows Simon Greene (Nesbitt), a father whose seemingly perfect life—loving wife Ingrid (Driver), three kids, great job, beautiful home—unravels when his eldest daughter, Paige (Ellie de Lange), runs away. When Simon finds her six months later, strung out on drugs in a city park, he sees a chance to bring her home. But an argument with her controlling boyfriend, Aaron (Thomas Flynn), escalates into shocking violence, and Paige vanishes again. Simon’s desperate search plunges him into a dangerous underworld, unearthing family secrets that threaten to destroy everything. The series’ tagline, “How far would you go to bring her back?” sets the tone for an emotional rollercoaster.

Ruth Jones plays Elena Ravenscroft, a tenacious private investigator whose own quest intersects with Simon’s. Described by Coben as a “complex, fierce” character, Elena brings grit and heart to the story, with Jones’ performance earning early praise. “I was nervous acting opposite James Nesbitt, but we clicked instantly,” Jones shared at a BFI Southbank Q&A, where the first episode screened on December 1. Nesbitt lauded her, saying, “Ruth’s warmth and intensity make Elena unforgettable.” Their dynamic—two strangers united by a missing person’s case—adds depth to the thriller’s web of distrust.

Coben, speaking to Tudum, called Run Away his most emotionally charged series yet, inspired by finding drug paraphernalia in his daughter Charlotte’s room (she claimed it was a friend’s). “It’s about family—what we do to keep it intact, the secrets we keep,” he said. The story, relocated from the U.S. to the UK (filmed in Manchester, Saddleworth Moor, and Liverpool), blends everyday settings with eccentric charm, a hallmark of Coben’s Netflix adaptations like Fool Me Once and Missing You.

The cast is a powerhouse: Enoch as Isaac Fagbenle, Lucian Msamati as Cornelius Faber, and supporting players like Tracy-Ann Oberman and Annette Badland. Danny Brocklehurst (Brassic), the lead writer, crafts a script that balances suspense with raw family drama, while composers David Buckley and Luke Richards deliver a haunting score. Early reactions from the BFI screening commend the “unnerving” pacing and Nesbitt’s raw portrayal of a father on the edge, though some note the violence feels “cheesy” at times.

Jones, known for comedic roles, steps into a darker space, with Elena’s investigation into Paige’s disappearance revealing her own past traumas. Fans on X are thrilled: “Ruth Jones in a Coben thriller? I’m sold!” wrote one user. The trailer, released December 1, teases a murder mystery tied to Aaron’s death, with police suspecting both Paige and Simon, keeping viewers guessing.

Following Missing You’s 94 million views, Run Away aims to replicate that success. With Coben’s knack for twists and Jones’ compelling performance, it’s poised to be a New Year’s Day must-watch, proving family secrets are the deadliest mystery of all.