Harlan Coben is known for gritty, action-packed dramas, with his latest offering I Will Find You landing on Netflix last week.
A host of the author’s biggest shows can be found on the streaming site. But did you know that its cast lists boast an impressive number of soap stars?
We’ve rounded up the most familiar faces from the genre who appear across Coben’s extensive collection, and you can read all the details below.
Michelle Keegan
Powerhouse Michelle played Coronation Street’s Tina McIntyre for six years until the character’s shock murder in 2014.
In Fool Me Once, she stars as young mother Maya, who spots her late husband looking alive and well in some footage and uncovers the dark truth behind his ‘death’.
And in the upcoming Harlan Coben project The Woods, the actress will play Lucy, who teams up with her ex to investigate the disappearance of his sister.
Jessica Plummer
You’ll know Jessica as Chantelle in EastEnders, a role which saw her deliver a deeply moving, harrowing final performance as her alter ego was murdered by abusive husband Gray.
In 2025 thriller Missing You, the actress portrays private investigator Stacey, who is harbouring a big secret amid the resurfacing of best friend Kat’s (Rosalind Eleazar) missing fiancé.
Ellie Henry
Ellie starred as Hollyoaks teen Freya Calder, who endured the murder of mum Lexi and the incarceration of twisted father Carter.
Things are just as turbulent for her Run Away alter ego, clever student Anya, whose sister Paige goes missing.
Amy James-Kelly
Amy played Maddie Heath for two years in Coronation Street, until the character’s untimely death in an explosion.
You can catch her in Safe as Jenny, a girl who goes missing after her boyfriend is murdered at a party.
Don Gilet
Death in Paradise star Don had brief roles in Doctors, Casualty and Holby City, before returning to the latter as series regular Jesse. His most major soap role was EastEnders villain Lucas Johnson, last seen in 2024.
In The Stranger, which sees Richard Armitage’s Adam approached about his wife’s explosive secret, Don stars alongside real-life partner Siobhan Finneran as Phillip, estranged husband of detective Johanna.
Tracy-Ann Oberman
She’s featured in Doctors and Casualty, but Tracy-Ann’s most famous soap persona is Chrissie Watts, the iconic villainess who revisited Walford earlier this year.
The actress recently starred in Run Away as Jessica, a lawyer with a tough case on her hands amid the show’s central murder investigation.
Katy Carmichael
The actress notably played Lucy Richards, wife of bigamist Peter Barlow and mother of Simon in Coronation Street. She’s since had parts in Casualty and Doctors.
In Safe, Katy’s character Rachel reveals a historic secret from her death-bed, sending her daughter Jenny on a quest for the truth.
Ace Bhatti
Ace had roles in Emmerdale, Casualty and Holby City, and played Jayesh Parekh, brother of Sunita in Coronation Street. But he’s best known as EastEnders’ Yusef Khan, who subjected wife Zainab Masood to domestic abuse until he was killed in a fire.
The actor is seen in The Stranger as Parth, a businessman on the wrong side of a property dispute.
Ross Boatman
After episodes in Holby City and Casualty, Ross became a firm fixture in the cast of EastEnders, having played Harvey Monroe since 2021.
His Stay Close alter ego, Del, faces every parent’s worst nightmare when son Carlton goes missing, leading him to take extreme measures.
Brook Debio
The actor has played Hollyoaks teen Ant Hutchinson, son of Tony and the late Diane, since 2025. He also played a young Kit Green during flashback sequences in Coronation Street.
Brook can be seen in Run Away as Robin, a murder victim whose fate proves integral to the wider narrative.
Emmett J Scanlan
As fan-favourite Hollyoaks character Brendan Brady, Emmett earned high praise as the ultimate villain-turned-anti-hero.
In Safe, he portrays Josh, whose troubled behaviour makes him a suspect for murder and abduction.
Later, Emmett is seen as Shane, a friend of Maya’s with police connections in Fool Me Once.
Natalie Anderson
Natalie was an Emmerdale regular as Alicia Metcalfe until 2015. She also featured in Holby City and Casualty, and played Lexi in Hollyoaks. The actress currently stars as Coronation Street murder suspect Danielle Silverton.
Meanwhile, you can catch her in Fool Me Once as Claire, sister of Michelle Keegan’s Maya, whose decision to act as whistleblower sees her pay the ultimate price.
Connor Calland
You might recognise Connor as Jordan, a drug dealer in Hollyoaks who met a fatal end. He’s also appeared in Casualty and Doctors.
Stay Close sees the actor take on a role not too distant from his soap days, playing a young man called Carlton who spikes the drinks of teenage girls, only for his predatory ways to seal his own fate.
Kim Vithana
Kim appeared in Coronation Street in three different guest roles, before returning as Saira Habeeb, mum to the late Rana and Imran, on an intermittent basis until 2022. The actress has also been in EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City.
You’ll spot Kim in The Stranger as Leila, a mother whose obsession with protecting her daughter causes a shattering ripple effect.
Lisa Faulkner
You may have seen Lisa in Casualty, Holby City and Brookside. But her most prominent soap stint was as Fi Browning, the secret daughter of evil James Willmott-Brown in EastEnders.
In Missing You, Lisa plays Dana, a single mother who is held hostage after falling victim to a cat-fishing scheme.
Jo Joyner
EastEnders fans will know Jo as the much-missed Tanya Cross, formerly Branning. Last seen in 2018, we’ve never lost hope that we’ll see Tanya again – especially as the actress recently revealed she’d discussed the possibility.
Jo has been busy away from soap land, and you can watch her as police detective Erin in Stay Close.
Pasha Bocarie
The actor has appeared in single episodes of Casualty and EastEnders, but is best known as solicitor Rakesh Kotecha in Emmerdale.
In the Harlan Coben universe, Pasha plays Dan, another man blackmailed by mysterious titular character The Stranger.
Jenny Platt
Jenny is well-known for playing Coronation Street’s Violet Wilson, mum to Sean Tully’s son Dylan, who last appeared in 2024. She’s also played multiple characters in Doctors and Casualty.
Appearing in Stay Close as a law firm receptionist, the actress shares a brief exchange with Cush Jumbo’s Megan.
Annette Badland
You may have seen the actress in Holby City, Casualty, Coronation Street and even Crossroads, but it was in EastEnders that she truly made her mark on the soap world. Twisted Babe Smith was last seen in 2017, putting a curse on The Queen Victoria pub!
Annette’s Run Away alter ego is a tech expert working closely with private investigator Elena, played by Ruth Jones.
