As Harlan Coben’s latest Netflix thriller hits screens, fans will be surprised to learn that his ‘best friend from college’ is an even more famous writer.
The 62-year-old American mystery novelist, whose book has been adapted into the gripping series Missing You, is a former fraternity brother of The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown.
Before their names became synonymous with best-selling crime fiction, the two attended Amherst College in Massachusetts together in the 1980s.
The talented duo quickly became close while in the Psi Upsilon fraternity: Coben graduated in 1984 and Brown just two years later, in 1986.
Since then, Coben has become a household name thanks to his addictive Netflix adaptations, such as The Stranger (2020), Stay Close (2022), Fool Me Once (2023) and now Missing You, out today.
Meanwhile, Brown has earned the title of one of the most famous writers in the world thanks to his thrillers such as Angels and Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013) and Origin (2017).
His novels have sold more than 200 million copies and have been translated into 57 languages, while three of his books have been adapted into films, starring Tom Hanks.
talking to Sunday weather Culture Coben magazine revealed that he was one of the first to read The Da Vinci Code and even wrote a blurb for the cover.
American mystery writer Harlan Coben, 62, whose novel has been adapted into the gripping series Missing You, is a former fraternity brother of The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown.
He said: ‘I was one of the first people to read it. It was a cultural touchstone, like no novel in our life.
He recalled walking into Barnes & Noble and finding Brown’s book in first place, while his own was in second place.
‘A year later I released a new book. Dan’s was still number one and mine was number two.
However, despite not being the best-selling author of his fraternity, Coben still finds himself at the top of the literary food chain, dominating Netflix with his adaptations.
On the heels of the breakout success of Michelle Keegan’s Fool Me Once, the crime author signed a five-year deal to bring more of his novels to the streaming service.
Fool Me Once focused on Judith’s (Dame Joanna Lumley) opulent home, which also appeared as Tommy Shelby’s abode in Peaky Blinders.
Dan Brown has earned the title of one of the most famous writers in the world thanks to his thrillers such as Angels and Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013) and Inception ( 2017)
Jessica Plummer as Stacey, Rosalind Elezar as Kat Donovan in Netflix Missing You, out today
The streaming giant revealed that Missing You will premiere today on New Year’s Day.
The official synopsis reads: “Eleven years ago, Detective Kat Donovan’s fiancé, Josh, the love of her life, disappeared and has never been heard from since.
“Now, swiping through profiles on a dating app, you suddenly see his face and your world explodes again.
“Josh’s reappearance will force her to once again immerse herself in the mystery surrounding her father’s murder and uncover long-buried secrets from her past.”
Nimer Rashed, the director of Fool Me Once, has returned once again to direct episodes alongside Isher Sahota, of Ridley and Grace fame.
Victoria Asare-Archer, who co-wrote Coben’s 2021 thriller Stay Close, was responsible for writing the script.
The series will consist of five-hour long episodes and will be a great success for Netflix.
The full trailer shows Rosalind Eleazar’s character Kat with her fiancé Josh, played by Ashley Walters, before she disappeared.
Director Ron Howard, actor Tom Hanks and author Dan Brown at the world premiere of the film Angels & Demons in Rome in 2009.
Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks photographed together in The Da Vinci Code, published in 2006.
She then flashes forward 11 years to show it to her friend, played by Jessica Plummer, suggesting she look up Josh on a dating app.
The choppy clips show the Missing Persons detective asking for information about a missing man named Rishi Magari and asking for help finding a man’s mother.
The editing of the trailer seems to suggest that the man her missing mother was last seen with was Kat’s missing fiancé Josh, as we see her find his profile on the dating app.
The rest of the video shows Kat struggling with clues from the investigation and confronting the idea that Josh might not be the person she thought he was.
Teasing what viewers can expect from Missing You during a recent interview with Digital Spy, Coben said: “I think it may be the most gripping, and the ending will not only surprise you.”
‘In fact, (when) I watched it again recently, the ending completely fooled me and I wrote it down.
“But I think you will be really moved,” he added. ‘Tell me if you shed a tear on the last episode of Missing You.’
Missing You follows the success of Fool Me Once, which was released on the streaming platform last New Year’s Day and put Michelle Keegan back in the spotlight.
Fool Me Once became the most watched series during the first half of the year, accumulating an impressive 108 million views.
Michelle, who plays lead character Maya Burkett, was left completely starstruck after the series hit number one worldwide.
She thanked incredulous fans for the popularity she has gained with a series of snaps of her on set, with the caption: “Number 1 in the world and in over 60 countries.” I feel like I’m in a dream right now.
‘Thank you to everyone who contacted me or messaged me about Fool Me Once. I promise you that I read them all.
‘I’m glad you enjoyed the show as much as we enjoyed making it. “It has been a very, very special week.”
Fool Me Once was released as a novel in 2016 and follows The Stranger and Stay Close to become the eighth member of Netflix’s Harlan Coben collection.