‘Harlan Coben’s Lazarus’ Is a Gripping Thriller With a Shocking Horror Twist: TV Review

In Prime Video’s latest psychological thriller, “Harlan Coben’s Lazarus,” best-selling author Coben and BAFTA-winner (and frequent collaborator) Danny Brocklehurst explore two of the most unnerving experiences of the human condition: death and grief. The series, with its Biblically inspired title, follows Joel “Laz” Lazarus (an outstanding Sam Claflin), a forensic psychologist, who, following the suicide of his father, Dr. L (Bill Nighy), begins having disturbing and unexplainable experiences. As Laz tries to grapple with Dr. L’s inexplicable death, he also reflects on the unsolved murder of his twin sister Sutton (Eloise Little), 25 years prior. As a result, Laz is led down a winding path of cold cases that threaten to unravel his sanity. Shocking and alluring, the show is a mind-bending mystery that doesn’t reveal its true nature until the very end.

“Lazarus” opens in the psychiatric hospital where Laz works. As he prepares for his patient, Arlo Jones (Jack Deam), a mentally disturbed serial killer, he receives a phone call from his dad. Preoccupied, Laz ignores his phone and proceeds with his work, where a ranting and raving Arlo declares that God is going to punish him. Shortly after the session concludes, Laz’s sister Jenna (Alexandra Roach) calls to tell him that their father has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Racing toward his hometown of Manchester, England, a shell-shocked Laz and Jenna try to piece together their dad’s mindset in the final moments of his life. His suicide note, which includes the words “it’s not over” and a drawing of a three-legged stool, leaves more questions than answers. Things get increasingly confusing for Laz when, while visiting Dr. L’s office, one of his father’s patients, Cassandra (Sianad Gregory), comes in for her session. Frightened and nervous, the woman never realizes Laz isn’t Dr. L. After Cassandra leaves the office abruptly, Laz decides to dig into his dad’s patient files using the resources of his oldest friend, Seth (David Fynn), a police officer, to try to find out additional details about her. Concurrently, the events leading to Sutton’s death keep tugging at the edges of his mind.

The six-episode limited series skillfully blends the past and the present. Unable to reconcile the horrific loss of his father, Laz begins obsessing over what once was, trying to dig through the missing pieces of the day Sutton died. He becomes consumed with trying to solve Sutton’s murder, putting together clues and circumstances that no longer seem to hold any truth. Moreover, encountering Cassandra leads him to consider other mysterious clients of his dad’s. Though the audience is privy to Laz’s motivations, outsiders, including Jenna, Seth, and his ex-wife Bella (Karla Crome), are able to see only a man overcome by grief and loss who is quickly unraveling. The show is a riddle that boasts elements of horror, but it’s also a frank examination of how profound sorrow can reshape the human mind.

Though “Lazarus” is well-acted and mostly well-executed, there is one bizarre plot point that doesn’t quite tie in as eloquently to the rest of the series. Bella’s teenage son, Aidan (Curtis Tennant), has a fixation on Laz. However, it feels extraneous, especially given the numerous intriguing elements and angles already present in the series. This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene. Still, with series on both Netflix and Amazon, it’s clear that Coben is expanding his brand beyond trashy fun and into more eloquently told mysteries.

Overall, “Lazarus” is an enthralling mystery with numerous layers that will keep viewers guessing until the final scene fades to black. The show reminds its audience about the inevitability of death, and how grief has a way of forcing us all to reflect, even when we thought we’d long buried past versions of ourselves.

All six episodes of “Harlan Coben’s Lazarus” premiere Oct. 22 on Prime Video.