Fans of Harlan Coben’s addictive thrillers have a new mystery to solve this New Year. The upcoming Netflix series Run Away brings a story of family secrets and a dangerous search to the screen. The show features a cast led by James Nesbitt and Ruth Jones, bringing the tense drama of Coben’s novel to life.
Mark your calendars: the eight-episode series is scheduled to start streaming on January 1, 2026. The story follows a father whose life is shattered when his daughter disappears, pulling him into a hidden and threatening world.
The Core Cast and Characters of Run Away
The central mystery of the series is driven by a father’s desperate search for his missing child.
James Nesbitt plays the lead role of Simon Greene. Simon’s life seems perfect until his eldest daughter vanishes. When he finds her in a troubled state, a violent encounter causes him to lose her again, forcing him to confront dangerous secrets to get her back.
Ruth Jones stars as Elena Ravenscroft, a private investigator who is also searching for Simon’s daughter. In the trailer, she tells Simon, “I really need to speak to your daughter,” indicating she may have her own reasons for finding the missing girl. Jones is known for her role in the popular series Gavin & Stacey.
Minnie Driver takes the role of Ingrid Greene, Simon’s wife. As the family crisis unfolds, Ingrid is part of the emotional core trying to hold everything together while facing shocking revelations.
The missing daughter is played by Ellie de Lange. Her character, Paige Greene, is at the center of the mystery. Creator Harlan Coben praised de Lange’s performance, noting she “captured both the strength and the frailty of this character”.
The Investigators and Key Supporting Roles
The search for the truth involves several other key characters, each with their own motives and connections to the case.
Alfred Enoch portrays Detective Isaac Fagbenle, who is investigating the murder of a young man connected to Paige.
Lucian Msamati plays Cornelius Faber, another figure in the unfolding drama. The specific nature of his involvement is part of the show’s mystery.
Jon Pointing is featured as Ash, a character whose loyalties and role in Paige’s disappearance are unclear from the early previews.
The Wider Greene Family and Social Circle
The story explores how a crisis affects an entire family and their community.
Simon and Ingrid have other children. Adrian Greensmith plays their son, Sam Greene, and Ellie Henry plays their daughter, Anya Greene.
Tracy-Ann Oberman plays Jessica Kinberg.
Other notable actors in the series include Annette Badland as Lou, Ingrid Oliver as Yvonne, and Maeve Courtier-Lilley as Dee Dee. Finty Williams and Joe McGann play a couple named Enid and Wiley Corval, while Amy Gledhill plays Ruby Todd.
What to Expect From the Story
The series is based on Harlan Coben’s 2019 novel of the same name. Like many of his other Netflix adaptations, such as Fool Me Once and The Stranger, the setting has been moved from the United States to the United Kingdom. Filming took place in and around Manchester and northwest England.
The plot follows Simon Greene’s search for his runaway daughter, Paige. His initial hope of rescuing her turns into a nightmare when a confrontation leads to violence and she disappears again. Simon’s quest to find her a second time pulls him into a dark underworld, threatening to expose secrets that could destroy his family forever. The story also involves the murder of a young man named Aaron, the last person seen with Paige.
Coben says the series will keep viewers guessing. “You’ll think you have the answer several times — but you don’t,” he said. “Hang on for that last-minute shocker”.
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About the Creative Team Behind the Series
The series is produced by Quay Street Productions, which is part of ITV Studios. Harlan Coben serves as an executive producer through his company, Final Twist Productions.
Danny Brocklehurst is the lead writer and an executive producer. He has worked on other Coben adaptations for Netflix. The series is directed by Nimer Rashed and Isher Sahota.
The show is part of a long line of Coben’s successful projects with Netflix, which includes Missing You, Stay Close, and Safe. More adaptations are already in the works.
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