As 2025 introduces itself to TV fans, it seems that audiences already have a lot of content to search through. From the latest reality TV obsession to the newest thriller, it’s fair to say that there is a lot of competition around. But Harlan Coben’s new Netflix series Missing You had fans sitting on the very edge of their seats.

While the writer has a wide collection of other adaptations on the platform, Missing You takes a very different approach compared to its contemporaries. The series focuses on the protagonist, DI Kat Donovan, but also blesses audiences with a plethora of gripping subplots. So, what’s this new series about, and how does it match up to Coben’s other Netflix hits?

What’s Harlan Coben’s Missing You About?

Missing You introduces us to DI Kat Donovan, a fiery and ambitious professional who deals with a wealth of missing person cases in Manchester. While her present case is underway, she’s encouraged to experiment with a new dating app by her colleague Nia. Although she doesn’t expect much, she happens to stumble across her ex-fiance, Josh, who disappeared with no explanation 11 years ago. To add insult to injury, the man who supposedly killed her father, Clint, is currently dying in prison of terminal cancer. Although her peers encourage her to leave him to pass away in peace, the perpetrator reveals that he didn’t actually kill her father and just took the blame. As expected, Kat enters an obsessive spiral and quickly discovers that everything she knows about her family and friends is a lie.

Written By
Directed By
Produced By

Victoria Asare-Archer
Nimer Rashed & Isher Sahota
Guy Hescott

The great thing about Missing You is Kat Donovan herself. Unlike other protagonists, Donovan has a lot of access and influence, ensuring that the plot can flow smoothly throughout all the twists and turns. She’s also very likable. It’s very easy for audiences to sympathize with her situation because her life is shrouded in mysteries and lies. Overall, Donovan is portrayed as a brave spirit and doesn’t fall into the trap of becoming a victim under these strange new circumstances.

While the main plot is exceptionally complex and thrilling in itself, Missing You also handles a wealth of other themes. Underneath Josh’s random disappearance lies a catfishing subplot, which differs from anything fans would have ever seen before. On the surface, Titus seems like an eccentric dog breeder. However, his money-making scheme actually involves trapping vulnerable yet wealthy individuals and luring them onto his sinister farm. Though it seems like none of these obscure subplots will ever link up, the show does a fantastic job of tying up the loose ends and creating substantial lore in just five episodes.

Who Stars in the Drama?

Like a lot of other Netflix dramas, Missing You is accompanied by an all-star cast. DI Kat Donovan is portrayed by Rosalind Eleazar, who fans will best recognize from Slow Horses and Class of ’09. Josh Buchanan is played by Ashley Waters, best known for his work in Top Boy as well as the early 00s group So Solid Crew. Although the pair are not on-screen together for very long, they both add their own flair to the role. Elezar has performed in multiple prestigious theater productions, so she manages to add a real sense of drama to this bustling mystery. Plus, even though this show is teeming with other great characters, the audience doesn’t become bored with Donovan. Her obsessiveness is quite intoxicating, so fans can’t help but follow the trails alongside her. In addition, Walters oozes his typical sense of charm and really has the audience guessing whether they can trust him or not. Although this actor is commonly associated with gritty gang-related dramas, Missing You proves that he can perform in a plethora of versatile roles without losing his core talent for drama.

Where to Stream Missing You
IMDb Score
RT Score

Netflix
6.3
50%

The series also casts a lot of unsuspecting actors, most of which fans would not pair with this hard-hitting drama. A good example of this is Clint Donovan, played by Lenny Henry. While audiences will usually associate him with his long-standing comedy career, Henry handles this powerful role with exceptional grace and doesn’t use his humor to overshadow the unfolding drama. Lisa Faulkner acts as Dana Fells, a vulnerable middle-aged mother who gets wrapped up in Titus’ devious ventures. Surprisingly, Faulkner works mostly as a TV chef alongside her husband, John Torode, but she offers audiences a sense of grit and passion that she doesn’t usually exude on-screen. The show also recruits GK Barry, a popular social media influencer who recently starred in the survival show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Barry plays Vanessa, a cam girl who is somehow linked to Titus’ wider plans. Matt Willis from Busted also makes a brief cameo, which a lot of boyband fans are sure to appreciate. So, while the TV industry continues to receive criticism that the same actors are being reused over and over again, Missing You flips this idea on its head. While these stars are well known, they aren’t exactly linked to dramatic acting. However, the entire cast gels well together and manages to maintain the high levels of drama.

Fans of Harlan Coben’s other work will be well acquainted with actor Richard Armitage, who plays DCI Ellis Stagger. In Missing You, the actor portrays a no-nonsense leader who is also wrapped up in Donovan’s long list of confusing mysteries. Yet, audiences may be more familiar with his roles in other Coben dramas such as The Stranger, Stay Close, and Fool Me Once. Armitage is a fantastic actor, so it comes as no surprise why he appears in so many of Cohen’s other dramas. Yet, his frequent casting may also link to Cohen’s Polish dramas. Both The Woods and Hold Tight feature Grzegorz Damięcki as Paweł Kopiński, so British fans may be able to find a link between Armitage’s characters in the future.

What’s Next for Harlan Coben?

Harlan Coben is one of the most successful writers in his respective field, and despite publishing 37 novels, the author shows no signs of slowing down. Coben is set to release his latest work in March 2025, which he wrote with prolific actor Reese Witherspoon. Not much is known about the book just yet, but fans can expect a lot more mysteries and secrets to be revealed. He also continues to appear at literary festivals around the US and Europe, sharing his experiences with other avid writers and audiences. Despite all of this success, Coben’s relationship with Netflix is still going strong. In 2018, the author signed a very lucrative deal to produce a number of adaptations across five years. Not only would Coben be able to bring his novels to life on a very successful platform, but he will also act as Executive Producer on all of these adaptations. The platform is still set to release Caught, I Will Find You, and Run Away, giving fans a lot of thrilling content to look forward to.