“His most gripping series yet”: The Woods is Harlan Coben’s “personal” new thriller with a “perfect” cast
Just when you think you’ve run out of shows to watch, Harlan Coben gifts us with his most gripping series yet in the form of The Woods. An adaptation of what the author has called “one of my most personal novels”, the series revolves around a top barrister whose past tragedy comes back to haunt him – and the cast, which features the likes of Michelle Keegan and Tom Bateman is nothing short of perfect.
The thriller, which was previously adapted into a Polish series by Netflix in 2020, introduces us to top barrister and single father Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland (Bateman), whose sister disappeated from summer camp 20 years ago. Life has, in many ways, moved on, but when but when the body of a man who supposedly died alongside his sister appears out of nowhere, it seems she might be alive after all.
While we wait for The Woods to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about Harlan Coben’s next thriller, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Woods about?
Netflix
Based on Harlan Coben’s 2007 novel of the same name, The Woods follows Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland (Tom Bateman), a barrister and single dad to 1o-year-old Cami. Twenty years ago, his sister, Camille, vanished from a summer camp in the woods and he’s spent the past two decades trying to move forward and overcome his grief – and guilt. But when the body of a man turns up two decades after he was supposedly murdered alongside Camille, he becomes convinced his sister may have made it out alive.
Determined to uncover the truth, Paul reunites with his first love Lucy Silverfield (Michelle Keegan, pictured above in Fool Me Once), and they begin a search for answers that exposes years of cover-ups and family secrets that threaten to wreck the life Paul’s worked so hard to rebuild.
Netflix
Speaking of his role, Tom Bateman explained: “I play Paul Copeland, a man haunted by the guilt of his sister’s disappearance when they were kids. Despite having lost almost everything, he continues to fight for what’s right as a barrister and be the best father for his daughter, who he raises on his own.”
Michelle Keegan added: “Lucy is a totally different character to Maya [Michelle’s character in Fool Me Once]”. She’s a little damaged and never found true peace. She believed that by moving away and having a successful career, she could escape the past, but somehow it never leaves her.”
Who’s in the cast of The Woods?
Netflix
The cast of The Woods includes:
- Michelle Keegan (Brassic, Fool Me Once) as Lucy Silverfield
- Tom Bateman (Behind Her Eyes) as Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland
- Mandeep Dhillon (MobLand) as Loren Muse
- Pearce Quigley (The Gentlemen) as Ira Silverfield
- Rade Šerbedžija (Downton Abbey, Slow Horse) as Uncle Sosh
- Shannon Watson (The Jetty) as Shannon Johnson
- Amelia Eve (The Haunting of Bly Manor) as Raya Stone
- James Buckley (The Inbetweeners) as Lonnie Berger
- Pamela Nomvete (Nightsleeper) as Mrs. Peters
- Kerry Howard (Him and Her) as Greta
- Tom Allen (Bake Off) as Flynn Hickory
- Charlotte Beaumont (Broadchurch) as DC Daisy Dillon
- Christopher Harper (Coronation Street) as Wayne Steubens
- Roger Barclay (Andor) as EJ Jenrette
- Simon Lowe (Kirkmoore) as Bob Cole
- Dean Fagan (Missed Call) as DS Steve York
- Tracy-Ann Oberman (Run Away) as Jessica Kinberg
Is Harlan Coben’s book, The Woods, any good?
Nick Wall/NETFLIX © 2020
Yes – as we’ve come to expect from Harlan Coben, The Woods is a twisty, compelling read that you won’t want to put down. Fans have called it “a real page turner” with a “thrilling climax” – and we don’t disagree.
How can I watch The Woods?
Netflix hasn’t yet confirmed a release date for The Woods, but we do know that the series is now in production in the UK. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here.
What other thrillers can I watch now?
Netflix
another great Harlan Coben thriller starring Michelle Keegan is Fool Me Once. The series follows grieving mother Maya (Keegan), who’s coming to terms with the murder of her husband, Joe (Richard Armitage). But her grief turns to confusion when she sees a man resembling him enter her house. Fool Me Once is available to watch now on Netflix. Another brilliant thriller is Wilderness, a twisted love story that revolves around Liv (Jenna Coleman) and her husband Will (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) and their “dream” road trip across the US. When Liv learns of her husband’s affair, she wants revenge and she’ll stop at nothing until she gets it. Wilderness is available to watch now on Prime Video.
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