Harlan Coben says he would ‘love’ to set a mystery series in Ireland

'We should definitely do that, definitely.'

Having made hits like Fool Me Once, Safe and The Stranger on Netflix, the pair have worked together on another new show called Lazarus, which will be released on Prime Video next week.

Based on an original idea by Brocklehurst and Coben, the upcoming project is a change of pace for the pair because, while it is a mystery, it also has a supernatural element.

The six-part series follows Joel Lazarus (Sam Claflin, Peaky Blinders), who returns home after his father, Dr Jonathan Lazarus (Oscar-nominee Bill Nighy, Living), dies unexpectedly.

As Joel starts examining his father's belongings, he begins to have disturbing experiences that can’t be explained and quickly becomes entangled in a series of cold-case killings.

This is as he grapples with the mystery of his father’s death and his sister’s murder 25 years ago.

JOE spoke to Brocklehurst, Coben and their producer on Lazarus, Nicola Shindler, about the show ahead of its release.

During the interview, we asked the trio about the casting of Irish actress Roisin Gallagher (The Dry) in the series.

Appearing in the third episode of Lazarus onward, she plays a woman named Laura with whom Joel forms a strong connection.

Yet, because he is being plagued by bizarre visions that feel real but seem impossible, there is a question mark as to whether Laura truly is what she appears to be.

Speaking about what led the trio to cast Gallagher and what she adds to Lazarus, Shindler said:

"I saw The Dry, which I think she's amazing in. I think she's a really good actor, and she's got the right kind of wry sense of humour for that character that you [Harlan] were writing.

"She was a really important character from the start. She was in Harlan's very first idea that she's someone you kind of want [Joel] to be with, but you don't know, is she real? Is she there? Is she not there? What's her motivation?

"So it had to be someone who can be very present but also contain a mystery, and she did that so well.

"And she comes into it relatively late, so I think, it's a hard job to do, and she does it really strongly."

Given that Coben's novels have been adapted in several different countries, we then asked the author if he'd ever consider making an Ireland-set mystery series.

In response, he told JOE: "Oh, I hope so. I would love that. That would be a lot of fun," with Brocklehurst then adding: "We should definitely do that, definitely."

Roisin Gallagher

Referring to working with Gallagher, as well as James Nesbitt on the upcoming project Run Away, Coben then quipped: "As you know, we've hired a number of your actors over the years.

"We've been dragging them away from you, stealing them, and they should bring us over there. We would love that."

Shindler also remarked that the trio recently saw the West End production of the Irish play The Weir by Conor McPherson.

The acclaimed production, which was recently in the Gaiety in Dublin, features Irish actors Brendan Gleeson, Owen McDonnell, Sean McGinley and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor.

"We actually went to see The Weir last night, so we now know a lot more Irish actors," the producer told JOE.

Lazarus will be released on Prime Video on 22 October.