The New Year on Netflix started with a bang. Fool Me Once dropped on the platform on January 1st, 2024 and has taken Netflix by storm since its release.
Featuring a stellar cast including Michelle Keegan, Richard Armitage, Joanna Lumley, Adeel Akhtar, and Emmett J. Scanlan, the crime thriller spans eight gripping episodes.
Created by Danny Brocklehurst, Fool Me Once has got viewers hooked with its tale of betrayal and murder. Despite receiving some negative reviews, the series has consistently held a spot in the Netflix top ten since its release. Many have wondered if the show’s intense story is based on real events.
The official synopsis for Fool Me Once reads: “A family has been shaken by two murders. Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan) watches security camera footage of her house and sees her murdered husband, Joe (Richard Armitage), back as an intruder. Meanwhile, Abby and Daniel, her niece and nephew, are trying to find the truth about the murder of their mother and seeing possible connections between both cases.”
So, is Fool Me Once based on a true story?
Fool Me Once is not based on a true story. It is actually based on the 2016 novel of the same name by bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Coben’s book follows former special ops pilot Maya Stern, who, upon returning home, uncovers a shocking image on her nanny cam: her two-year-old daughter playing with her husband, Joe, who was apparently brutally murdered two weeks earlier.
The television adaptation, while retaining the essence of Coben’s story, transplants the setting from the US to the UK, with filming taking place in Manchester in 2023. The shift in location adds a distinct flavour to the series while maintaining the core elements of deception, suspense, and the past coming back to haunt its protagonists—a common theme in all Coben stories.
Harlan Coben’s collaboration with Netflix has resulted in various adaptations of his works, solidifying his presence on the streaming platform. Other series like The Stranger, The Woods, The Innocent, Gone For Good, Stay Close, and Hold Tight have all been part of this collaboration.
You can watch Fool Me Once on Netflix now.
