Lazarus Review: Prime Video’s New Gothic Mystery Proves Harlan Coben Is Still Untouchable

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Harlan Coben is a master of suspense, well-known for his intricate plots and unexpected twists. With a large body of work, including many successful adaptations for film and TV, he consistently delivers thrilling stories. His novels often revisit past events, revealing new secrets, frequently involving crime or tragedy. Coben isn’t simply repeating formulas; he expertly builds on his strengths, always finding fresh ways to keep readers guessing. In his latest project, Lazarus, Coben is trying something new: creating a story directly for the screen, rather than starting with a novel.

Harlan Coben teamed up once again with Danny Brocklehurst to create Lazarus, a suspenseful limited series that delivers everything fans love about Coben’s stories. Set in a uniquely atmospheric location in England, the show centers on forensic psychologist Joel “Laz” Lazarus (played brilliantly by Sam Claflin) and his consuming investigation into his father’s unexpected death. As he digs deeper, he begins to suspect a connection to another family tragedy from the past. Lazarus is a chilling and visually dark series with hints of the supernatural, balanced by moments of engaging relationship drama. It’s an easy-to-watch thriller that explores the psychological effects of grief and raises questions about the power dynamics between mental health professionals and their patients.

Lazarus Explores Grief’s Effect on the Human Psyche

The very first scene of Lazarus immediately sets the tone for the entire show. It begins with a rendition of “The Windmills of Your Mind,” a daring move considering how well the song was recently used elsewhere. As the music plays, we see a young Laz in a hazy flashback discovering his twin sister’s body. He frantically runs to tell his father what happened, and the scene then jumps forward to an adult Laz in a mental institution, suggesting the building is unlocking long-forgotten memories. After a session with a disturbing patient who seems to enjoy tormenting him, Laz finds out his father, Dr. L, has taken his own life.

The next five episodes delve into how a death affects those closest to the victim, focusing on the emotional and psychological fallout. Dr. L is survived by his daughter, Jenna (Alexandra Roach), a deeply spiritual woman who embodies the traits of a middle child, despite not being one. As Laz investigates his father’s death, he relies on his lifelong friend Seth (David Fynn), a police officer, as well as his ex-wife Bella (Karla Crome) and her son Aidan (Curtis Tennant). These relationships provide Laz with a much-needed anchor, but, like many doctors, he struggles to address his own needs. He’ll only accept help when it directly advances the investigation, ignoring the clear signs of his deteriorating mental health. This self-awareness, or lack thereof, is a key element of the series, making Laz a compelling and complex character to watch.

After Dr. L dies, Bill Nighy appears as his ghost in ways the show never fully explains. Laz, Dr. L’s son, also starts seeing and talking to the doctor’s former patients in his office. He hopes these encounters will help him understand the deaths of his father and sister, but the real mystery lies in the nature of these ghosts themselves – a fascinating element that, surprisingly, isn’t explored as much as it could be. Are they truly there, or are they a product of Laz’s imagination? Either way, they’re a clever way to develop the story and highlight the show’s darker, more realistic themes.

Lazarus Has the Classic Harlan Coben Twist & Turns, But Slightly More Predictable

The series Lazarus portrays patients and suspects as individuals failed by the mental health system. It avoids the common pitfall of portraying those with mental illness as inherently violent, instead focusing on the shortcomings and deliberate failures of the institutions designed to support them. The series highlights the significant power held by psychiatrists, detectives, and police over vulnerable individuals, and how easily those individuals can be exploited and overlooked if they don’t conform to expectations or follow an easy path to recovery. Ultimately, Lazarus shows how societal prejudice against the mentally ill returns to haunt the very systems meant to help them, manifested through the experiences of its characters.

The show often reflects Laz’s own investigative methods and biases as he repeatedly accuses different people of past crimes. Lazarus frequently presents moments where Laz believes he’s solved the case, only for the audience to remember it’s still early in the series. This pattern repeats several times, eventually leading to a point where everyone is suspected and then cleared. This exhaustive process of elimination ironically makes it easier to predict the real killer, as only a handful of major characters escape Laz’s intense scrutiny. This reliance on eliminating suspects ultimately becomes the show’s biggest weakness.

Even though you can often see where the story is going, Lazarus still manages to deliver emotionally powerful moments. This is largely thanks to the excellent writing, which makes every character feel real and relatable. Laz relies heavily on his relationships throughout the complicated plot, and he turns to his friends for support when things become overwhelming. Jenna, played by Roach, is particularly strong, portraying a character who is both vulnerable and resilient despite carrying a lot of pain. Seth and Bella also help Laz connect with his more lighthearted side and show his humanity. However, the storyline involving Laz, Bella, and Aidan feels underdeveloped and doesn’t quite earn the emotional weight it’s trying to carry for the overall story.

A Spiritual, English Gothic Atmosphere Sets Lazarus’ Mood

The story of Lazarus centers on a son who strives to be a better person than his father – a common struggle for anyone with a difficult relationship with their parent. He attempts to achieve this by following in his father’s footsteps. When he surpasses his father in terms of intelligence and compassion, the audience is naturally drawn to root for him. The story acknowledges a universal truth: everyone, regardless of gender, grapples with the pressure of living in the shadow of their predecessors and meeting the expectations placed upon them. These moments create a sense that, despite the story’s potential for twists and mystery, it will remain grounded and relatable.

The series is made even more impressive by its gothic setting, which feels both classic and enduring. While Lazarus is clearly set in the present day with modern technology, the moment Laz enters his father’s ornate office, it feels like stepping back in time. The nighttime streets of England resemble a revitalized Gotham City, still harboring a dark undercurrent. It’s a world that almost invites the supernatural, as if vampires could easily find a home there.

Prime Video has produced a lot of TV shows, with a few notable successes. While the service often takes risks, many promising shows are cut short, leaving viewers with unfinished stories. Lazarus is different – it was designed as a complete, self-contained miniseries. By keeping the story focused, the writing is strong and overcomes any minor flaws. The show delivers a satisfying conclusion in a short amount of time, and though it ends on a cliffhanger, it doesn’t feel like a desperate plea for another season. Instead, it leaves a lasting impression, proving it’s a miniseries that understands its limits.

Harlan Coben’s Lazarus premieres October 22 on Prime Video.

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2025-10-21 16:08