Michael C. Hall in despair while holding his phone in Netflix's 'Safe' Image via Netflix Add Collider on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover By Becky Bowden Published Nov 1, 2026, 11:59 PM EST Becky Bowden is a TV Feature writer for Collider who is based in Somerset UK. She lives in a small seaside town and dreams of someday living out the stylish 'coastal grandmother' life of her favorite Nancy Meyers characters. For now, she's very content with writing, making memories with her family, and taking long walks with her Welsh Collie 'Cookie' with whom she is completely obsessed. Sign in to your Collider account Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Listen Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap With over 80 million books in print worldwide, best-selling author Harlan Coben knows what makes the perfect thriller. His first show, Safe , streamed on Netflix in 2018 and was met with rave reviews from audiences and critics. Safe is set in a secure, gated community and follows the journey of widowed surgeon Tom Delaney ( Michael C. Hall ), who is struggling to raise his two daughters following the death of his wife a year ago.
When Tom's eldest daughter Lucy ( Amy James-Kelly ) goes missing, he enlists the help of his new girlfriend, Detective Sergeant Sophie Mason ( Amanda Abbington ), in a frantic search for her whereabouts. Safe proved itself to be a gutsy, thrill-a-minute show from the get-go and remains a true classic. In the first episode alone, viewers are met with an affluent family determined to protect their daughter, a body in a swimming pool, and a father who will do anything to track down his missing child. Chilling plot twists and clever red herrings help make Safe a masterful example of bingeworthy television that will still satisfy the appetite of today's modern audience.
Created by Harlan Coben and penned by BAFTA award-winning British writer Danny Brockelhurst , Safe had solid foundations from its earliest days in development. A key component to the show's success is that it was produced by StudioCanal's British company Red, the same team behind the Russell T. Davies cult classic Queer as Folk and Sally Wainwright's hit show Happy Valley .
The upcoming series stars Michelle Keegan.
This triple threat of industry professionals knows how to bring a story to life, boasting a proven track record of success when developing gripping British television shows. Safe wasn't just thrown together in a bid to offer viewers a quick entertainment fix; it was meticulously crafted and expertly shaped by all involved, and the finished series reflects this. Speaking candidly regarding just how deeply both Harlan Coben and Danny Brockelhurst were involved in bringing the show to life, Red's Nicola Schindler told Variety :
"The two writers were “100%” involved in every aspect of the production, from casting through to production design. “Both Harlan and Danny were sent every audition [tape], approved every head of department, watched the rushes every day, and attended every edit. They were both all over it. They were showrunners,"
Safe also hit the nail firmly on the head when it came to its casting. The first major coup was signing Michael C. Hall ( Dexter , Six Feet Under ) in the role of Tom Delaney. In a far cry from his Dexter days, Hall embarks on the role of a suburban dad turned amateur sleut…