Harlan Coben's Run Away is the New Year's Day Netflix binge that will break your brain — especially the final mind-boggling twist

TechRadar Verdict While it might look evenly split, the narrative niggles in Harlan Coben's Run Away are really just nitpicking. Not only is the eight-episode ride wildly unhinged, but it's unguessable - and that's the biggest prize of all. Elena and Simon discuss strategy.(Image credit: Netflix) Pros + Incredibly enjoyable to watch + Guaranteed that you won't have figured it out by episode 8 + An astonishing final twist + Stalwart British cast is right at home in a crime procedural + More Ruth Jones in serious roles, please + Harlan Coben truly never misses Cons - Suspension of belief required is through the roof - Not everything plot point is explained, which can be frustrating - Some of the names are questionable, but that's Coben's fault - Formulaic, so make your peace with that Why you can trust TechRadar Find out more about how we test. Confirmed: Harlan Coben's Run Away is the most fun you can have on New Year's Day without leaving your sofa. In truth, it wouldn't be a festive veg-out session if a new Harlan Coben mystery wasn't waiting for us, with taking Fool Me Once Netflix by storm in 2024. I'm no psychic, but I predict the same happening with Run Away. Why? We're returning to the tried-and-tested formula of book adaptations after Prime Video 's Harlan Coben's Lazarus in October. That's both a plus and a disadvantage depending on how you look at it, but when it comes to Coben's signature craft, we're in safe hands. Not only that, but this might just be Coben's wildest story yet. Simon (James Nesbitt) is desperately searching for his runaway daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) after she leaves home for her abusive, drug-addicted boyfriend, Aaron (Thomas Flynn). When Aaron turns up dead, Simon is the number one suspect. Going against the police, his family, and his better conscience to find Paige, he discovers far more than he ever bargained for. While that's not ideal news for the Greene family, it's perfect for us. Paige's disappearance is only the tip of an incredibly unhinged iceberg that turns a family tragedy into a web of betrayal, lies, and deceit. I'm not going to give away any spoilers in this review, so you'll have to trust me when I say that there's no way on Earth you'll be able to guess what's to come... and Coben's final twist is the ultimate hand-clapped-over-mouth moment. Harlan Coben's Run Away turns belligerent teen drama into a criminal rollercoaster you can't tear your eyes away from Coben is getting to the stage where his fictional lore rivals that of the MCU or Lord of the Rings , and Run Away is no exception. If you watch all eight episodes in one go, not only will your brain break in half (like mine did), but you might also need a police whiteboard just to keep up with the explosive secret and inscrutable subplots. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and...

Preview: ~500 words