Should I Try It: Fool Me Once

We live in a big era for content. We have networks, streaming services, movies and more. It seems the only thing that hasn’t gotten bigger is our available time for viewing. That can leave you wondering whether a new show or mini-series is worth your time. That’s what this series is here to help you solve! In these pieces I’ll look at a new show, where to find it, what it’s about and some comparable options to help you decide whether to dive in or move on!

Series: Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once

Where to Find It: All eight episodes are streaming on Netflix as of New Year’s Day.

What It’s About: Happy New Year! We begin 2024 with a new series right away on Netflix. This is an eight-episode limited mystery series based on the novel from Harlan Coben. More than a few of his books have been adapted in recent years, including as Netflix series.

This one kicks off with a mysterious incident at a boys’ school in 1996. We don’t see much, just a glimpse to let us know something has happened. Soon, we’re taken to the present to a funeral. Joe (Richard Armitage) has been murdered and is being laid to rest. His wife, Maya (Michelle Keegan) is mourning. It’s been a tough few years. Her sister was murdered. She left the army in disgrace. And now her husband has been murdered.

Soon, we find Maya, mired in grief, watching nanny cam footage. On the footage, she sees Joe playing with her daughter. The thing is, Joe is supposed to be dead. In shock, and desperate for answers, she tries to find out what the nanny knows. That leads to a confrontation as the footage disappears. Soon, she finds out that the bullets that killed her husband came from the same weapon used to killer her sister.

Maya is convinced there is more going on. She begins to investigate the circumstances of the crime to get answers and see how it connects to events from the past.

You Should Try It If: You’re a fan of murder mysteries, Harlan Coben novels, or just new dramas in general.

One Man’s Opinion of Fool Me Once

It’s always nice to begin a new year with a new show. Seeing as most of us are off for New Year’s Day, I decided to dive in and give it a try. I have sampled a few of the series based on Harlan Coben’s books in the past but haven’t always been drawn to the stories enough to finish them. I wasn’t sure what I’d get with this one.

But the episodes each end on a cliffhanger in the early going, which keeps you wanting to hit continue on the series. The episodes are also nicely paced and not overly long. The first is about 55 minutes, but the second was only 45 minutes and the third just around 40 minutes. The story is also engaging.

Armitage is probably the biggest name on the call sheet, so it’s obvious we’re going to be seeing more Joe. Sometimes it’s in flashbacks, but I also assume it will be in other ways as the mystery unfolds. But this comes down to Keegan, who does a nice job in the lead role, keeping the story grounded, and keeping me engaged.