Netflix extends deal with crime writer Harlan Coben despite mediocre reviews but boosted by 'sexiest actress' Michelle Keegan

"Stay Close" is a British miniseries and the seventh project under an extensive, multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract between Harlan Coben and Netflix. Initially, the agreement granted Netflix the rights to adapt 14 of the author's best-selling novels. In 2022, this collaboration was extended for another four years and broadened to encompass additional titles.

It's worth mentioning that this agreement benefits filmmakers in several European countries. So far, three British miniseries ("The Stranger", "Stay Close", "The Five"), a Spanish one ("The Innocent"), a French one ("No Second Chance"), and two Polish ones ("The Woods" and "The Big Lie") have been produced from Coben's crime novels.

The extension of the contract with the best-selling author suggests that his novel adaptations are well-received on the platform. However, their quality tends to fall short. Critics agree that, in most cases, the productions are mediocre, being neither riveting nor significantly noteworthy. The latest miniseries, "Stay Close", based on Coben's book, is a case in point.

"The major issue with miniseries based on Coben's novels is their very format—the source material simply does not provide enough content for eight suspense-filled episodes. What Netflix's scriptwriters add is often shallow and painfully derivative," wrote a critic for "Decider".

"However, for 'Stay Close', the outstanding Michelle Keegan provides a saving grace. She distracts from the mundane predictability. She's the most attractive actress I've recently seen in a Netflix original production", the critic noted. A few years ago, Keegan topped the "100 sexiest women in the world" poll conducted by British men's magazine "FHM".

Fortunately, among all Netflix productions based on Harlan Coben's work, the Polish miniseries "The Big Lie" impresses the most. The author himself also recognized the merits of our output.