Prime Video is no stranger to a good mystery, and its latest release might just be one of its strongest yet. “Lazarus,” the new psychological thriller from bestselling author Harlan Coben, is now streaming, and it’s exactly the kind of binge-worthy series that’ll have you questioning everything by the end of episode one.
Fronted by “Hunger Games” star Sam Claflin, “Lazarus” follows a forensic psychologist as he returns home after his father’s sudden death. But his return soon turns sinister, with eerie visions and long-buried family secrets rising to the surface. Told over six episodes, it’s a sleek, unsettling watch that pairs its slow-burn mystery with stylish direction and excellent performances from Bill Nighy and Alexandra Roach.
While Coben’s name has become synonymous with twist-heavy TV, “Lazarus” marks a notable change for the author as it isn’t based on any of his existing novels. Instead, it’s a completely original story crafted directly for the screen. The result feels like a step up in both scope and confidence. If you’re in the mood for something tense and addictive, this is one Prime Video original you’ll want on your watchlist. Here’s everything you need to know about “Lazarus” and why it’s one of Coben’s best shows yet.
What is ‘Lazarus’ about?
Forensic psychologist Joel Lazarus (Sam Claflin) returns to his childhood home following the apparent suicide of his father, Dr. Jonathan Lazarus (Bill Nighy). While attempting to process his grief, Joel spends time in his father’s office, poring over documents and a mysterious suicide note, only to begin experiencing strange, unexplainable phenomena tied to his father’s past clients.
At the same time, reminders of his sister’s unsolved murder from 25 years earlier resurface, pulling him deeper into personal and professional history he thought he had left behind.
His investigation soon draws him deeply into the social and professional circles his family once moved in, revealing long-buried secrets and an uneasy relationship with his other sister Jenna (Alexandra Roach).
‘Lazarus’ features a compelling but mind-twisting mystery
“Lazarus” is a gripping murder mystery with a surprisingly supernatural streak and honestly, I didn’t expect it to lean quite this ghostly. It’s dark, unpredictable, and always moving, with enough twists and strange turns to keep you guessing about what might happen next. Its strongest moments come when it embraces its eerie, off-kilter side, creating sequences that feel unlike anything else in Coben’s TV universe.
The show opens with a flashback of Joel discovering his twin sister’s body in her room, and the chaos that follows as he rushes to his father’s office covered in blood. It’s a jarring start, but the shaky camera work helps signal that these are memories, not present events, where a much older Joel is now working as a psychologist.
When he gets the call about his father’s apparent suicide, he isn’t sure he believes everything he’s being told. From there, the story evolves into a tense, twisting mystery, with intriguing sequences showing Joel in his almost psychic state, linking a series of murders as he hunts for the truth.
At the center of “Lazarus” is Claflin, and he’s truly magnetic in the role. Joel’s journey is anything but simple: he’s dealing with his father’s suspicious death, the unresolved murder of his sister, strange visions he can’t explain, and the real toll all of it takes on his mind. Claflin navigates all of this with an impressive steadiness.
Even when Joel is fraying at the edges (and shouting a lot, annoyingly), he has a quiet way of showing how determination, grief and confusion collide in a man pushed to his limits.
The series keeps its momentum with a steady stream of twists and revelations, interwoven with Joel’s increasingly uncanny experiences. Pair that with the subtly dreamlike cinematography in its stranger moments, and “Lazarus” carries a distinct, almost otherworldly vibe. Most of the surprises hit their mark, even if some plot points would feel familiar without the supernatural edge. Taken as a whole, though, the show manages to feel surprisingly fresh.
However, due to the limited six-episode format, I sometimes found the later episodes felt a bit crammed, as the show had to link multiple storylines. I even needed to take a break between episodes to digest what had happened and figure out where the story was headed.
Still, looking back at Prime Video’s sprawling slate of shows, the platform has had a handful of hits amid plenty of misses. The service often swings for the fences, but more often than not, potential-packed series end up feeling shortened, with abrupt conclusions that leave viewers hanging.
“Lazarus,” however, is a tightly structured miniseries with a clear beginning, middle, and end. By confining itself to a well-defined story, it avoids the pacing and focus issues that have hindered other series. The writing here is confident, saying everything it needs to in a concise span, while still leaving a lingering sense of intrigue. “Lazarus” ended up being a compelling and fresh addition to the world of Coben adaptations.
Stream "Lazarus" on Prime Video now.
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