First look: Harlan Coben’s Shelter

Harlan Coben’s books are perfect for the small screen, thanks to their fast pace, vivid characters and shocking plot twists. Small wonder, then, that Netflix adapted Harlan Coben’s The Stranger in 2020 and Stay Close in 2021 – and that both were hugely popular.

Now, Prime Video has followed suit, with an adaptation of Coben’s Shelter scheduled to hit the streaming service on August 18, 2023. The eight-episode series looks like it will be full of Coben’s characteristic suspense and intrigue, while being suitable for the whole family. Here are all your questions answered with everything we know about the series so far…

What’s the plot of Harlan Coben’s Shelter?

The show follows the story of Mickey Bolitar, a teenager who, following the sudden death of his father, moves to a quiet suburban community in New Jersey. While there, he makes friends and develops feelings for a classmate called Ashley.

But when Ashley goes missing, Mickey takes it on himself to investigate. In doing so, he and his friends discover their town has a dark secret that involves decades of unsolved disappearances and deaths.

How will the Shelter TV show compare to the book?

From the look of the trailer, the show seems to follow the book quite closely. In the YA book Shelter, Mickey Bolitar watches his father die and must move in with his uncle in the aftermath. At his new school, he makes new friends and starts dating Ashley – until, as in the show, she goes missing without a trace.

In both the book and the TV show, Mickey becomes obsessed with Ashley’s disappearance and learns there was more to her than met the eye. He also uncovers a shocking conspiracy in the town that could have ties to his father’s death.

Coben’s book, Shelter, is a young adult novel that is suitable for readers 13+, according to BookTrust. While Prime Video has not yet announced its age rating for the show, it is likely that it was be appropriate for adults and young adults alike.

Where and when can I watch it?

The eight-episode series airs on Prime Video on August 18, 2023, and new episodes will be available every Friday until September 22, 2023.

Viewers will need a Prime Video subscription to watch Harlan Coben’s Shelter. This subscription currently costs £8.99 per month and includes free Prime delivery on all Amazon orders.

Who is playing Mickey Bolitar in the series?

The series stars 19-year-old actor Jaden Michael as Mickey Bolitar. Michael has appeared in several TV shows in his already-impressive career, including the Netflix series Colin in Black and White and The Get Down, and Prime Video’s Wonderstruck (2017).

Other members of the cast include Constance Zimmer (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Entourage); Tovah Feldshuh (The Walking Dead, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) Abby Corrigan (Homeland, Castle Rock), Adrian Greensmith (Metal Lords), and more.

Who’s making the show?

Harlan Coben, author of the book Shelter, is a showrunner/executive producer on the show. He is joined by Allen MacDonald, whose experience in producing the young adult Netflix hit 13 Reasons Why, as well as the crime drama CSI, will no doubt be invaluable in this role.

Other executive producers include Edward Ornelas, director of Locke & Key and Fear the Walking Dead, and Erik Barmack, producer on the Netflix series Dark, 3% and Suburra.

Harlan Coben’s daughter, Charlotte Coben, also serves as a producer on the show. She also worked on the Netflix adaptations of her father’s books Stay Close and The Stranger. She is joined by Patricia Cordoso, the director and executive producer who has previously worked on All Rise and Diary of a Future President.

Will there be other seasons of Shelter?

While only one series of Shelter has been confirmed thus far, the book is the first in a trilogy. So, could this mean there will be more series in the works? Only time will tell…