User Reviews

The first couple of episodes were really good and interesting. Kept you thinking how the mystery is going to unravel itself. Then, it started losing its way. Filler episodes where it's excessive dialogue only and becomes increasingly boring.

The theme starts changing. From horror, thriller, then onto drama and love story.

Characters also change throughout as well. The geeky kid who is funny and witty becomes a serious person half way through.

As well as the theme and characters changing, the storyline changes also.

The profanity level is quite high, with excessive swearing in all episodes.

If the series kept with the same theme, storyline and characters from the beginning, it would have been a great series. Starting to lose interest in the series half way through.

The series on whole for story telling is average and surprisingly enough for Harlan Coban very predictable.

That said though I think the hype around the writer is why other reviews are negative as people expect brilliance from this type of show.

It's a good show and with obvious flaws, it has two fantastic positives in Adrian Greensmith (Spoon) and Abi Corrigan (Ema). I found the pair of them so interesting, funny and lovable. They carried the show from start to finish by pulling on your every emotion during the journey.

Don't be put off by the negativity but instead go into without expectation and just enjoy the show.

Really enjoying this show. Usually I get lost with Harlen Coben's series but this one I can follow. Maybe because I'm actually watching it and not on my phone. Trust me you DO NOT want to be distracted during this show. Something big happens in every scene, and the series moves very fast. The acting is great, with lots of fun characters. (The nerdy kid with glasses is really funny, and all the main actors are very good.) Can't wait to see what future episodes bring! If you want more, hey, hit pause and Amazon will even sell you the book! I have to write 600 characters so here you go Internet Movie Database.

Interesting plot and characters. I always enjoy the mysteries that have a historical element to them. Cold cases, unsolved disappearances, wrongful convictions. I have to say though - the language in the thing is exaggeratedly foul. Gratuitous use of the f-bomb. Coben didn't write that way. He didn't need to throw in excess bad language in order to make his point or create the mood of the scene. To me - not an informed critic - just an avid reader and viewer - it takes a LOT away from the show. The screenwriters make it sound like they can't write a sentence without using the word f--. Pretty disappointing.

Not sure why people are saying there's so much profanity in this series. It's honestly not that much, the first f word wasn't until 19:50 minutes and the first s word was at 17:23 minutes (not like another review said there was so many within the first 15 mins - no clue what show that reviewer was watching...as reading that review I thought it was going to be very liberal with the profanity), as it honestly wasn't that much profanity, only 9-10 instances in the whole first episode, and they were very spread out within the episode and then had 2-3 within two or three sentences of dialogue. Also they're teenagers - maybe spend some time with them, as they curse a lot when not in the company of adults, so yeah...I found that it was actually pretty realistic. The background music has a bit of profanity, but the character's dialogue isn't bad...at least in the first episode.

Also if you've read the novel, yes some characters have been changed a bit, but Harlan Coben was HEAVILY involved in the production. I've only watched one episode so far but this seems to be ramping up to definitive Coben's twists and turns. Can't wait to see what else is in store.

Really enjoying this so far-it is hard to find shows that I can watch with my teens. I love all the characters, no matter how cliche they may seem on the surface I feel like the actors are all really great at portraying depth-and not everyone is exactly the cliche that they seem now are they? Spoon is my favorite so far...love to cheer on the nerdy underdog. The only reason I didn't give it a higher score is that I feel some of the bad language is unnecessary and would have loved for a writer/editor to have toned that down to make it a little more family friendly. But overall willing to overlook. It's definitely sucked me in and can't wait for more!

Not sure why people aren't liking it. It's hard to please the masses these days. They expect far too much too soon, some need to have a break from watching anything if that's how they treat new shows. However the show started off well, the mystery is intriguing especially with episode 3. Hope the momentum carries on. I don't see the issues with the profanity, it goes back to not being able to please the masses and the whiney cancel culture that has been nurtured in the last 15 years. Peoples just need to enjoy tv for what it is and if they don't like it, don't watch it because there are plenty of people out there who do and will like it.

This series, adapted from the book of the same name, sees teenager Mickey Bolatar moving to New Jersey to live with his aunt after his father is killed in a car crash and his mother is institutionalised due to her drinking. On his first day at his new school be befriends Ashley, a new girl, but shortly afterwards she vanishes, he suspects foul play. Things get stranger when the local 'crazy old woman, known as 'The Bat Lady' addresses him by name and tells him that his father is still alive. With new friends Ema, a goth girl, and the somewhat nerdy Arthur 'Spoon' Spindell he starts trying to find what happened to Ashley. Inevitably several old secrets are exposed as well as dangers being encountered.

I read the book some time in the last year so was interested in seeing how it would transfer to the screen. For the most part it is fairly faithful to the source material. There are some obvious changes. The fact that Mickey now lives with his aunt rather than Uncle Myron this is kind of understandable given that Myron is the protagonist in many of Coben's books so he is unlikely to want him introduced on film/television as a secondary character. The second change is less explicable; Coben's books, even the ones aimed adult readers, don't contain much swearing but the amount in this series is somewhat ridiculous; there would scarcely have been more if Quentin Tarantino had been brought in to work on the script! Mickey is a likeable protagonist although his character seems bland whenever Ema or Spoon are around as these characters are so much more fun. The cast is sold although those playing the high school jocks look too big and too old to still be at school... obviously this is hardly the first show to make such casting decisions. The story provides a decent number of twists and there is a nice sense of danger even if we know certain characters are highly unlikely to be harmed. Overall I enjoyed it but wouldn't recommend it as family viewing due to the excessive swearing.

I'm enjoying the heck out of Harlan Coben's latest series so far, just as I've loved every book and TV series by Coben, since the beginning. I sure don't understand the low ratings by some folks. As with every Coban story, it grabs you from the start, and doesn't let go. Compelling characters, twisty stories, unexpected turns. Fantastic cast (who are these goofballs saying the acting is bad?). All the young characters are well cast, sympathetic, funny and serious, as each is called for it. And there's no beating Tovah Feldshuh, Constance Zimmer, or Kristoffer Polaha. I'm excited to finish the ride.

As some others have said, there were drastic changes from the book adaption and they weren't good changes! The book doesn't even have an Aunt Shira so that threw me off immediately. Then there's a whole separate storyline of her becoming a lesbian? I guess they felt they needed to diversify the characters, but it felt really unnecessary to me and didn't add anything of value to the story. On a positive note some of the episodes were very suspenseful and there were some good twists. Another thing mentioned by other reviewers was the foul language. The cursing was really excessive which surprises me because it was supposed to be targeting young teens so I thought it would be a bit more family friendly. I have enjoyed the adaptation of other Coben books, but this one was overall a big disappointment. Read or listen to the book instead! Not sure if there's going to be a season two, but if there is, I hope they clean it up! So much potential from the book for the screen adaptation to be good. Such a waste.

Hmmm just started to watch the first 3 episodes so far I like it. It's interesting. I like all the characters. Again mind you. I have never read the novel so I really didn't know what this was about until recently.

I do like the entire cast my favorite would be the most know. Of all actors which is Constance Zimmer even though. Kristoffer Polaha was in the first episode and I really liked him. Anyhow I am looking forward. To seeing more episodes and seeing how this unfolds. I really like it. I would definitely recommend anyone that wants to spend a couple of hours entertained.

Kind of reminded me of the Goonies the way they stick together....

An 8 but I've only watched the 3 or 4 episodes released so far. I turned it off right away then went back because I looked and had nothing and I usually like Harlen Cobens stuff( well except the last 2 series I saw. I loved Goosebumps growing up and this is like it but more for a bit older target . It's funny because when I was about 10 there was this supposed haunted house near me but it was way inside these trees so we would just sit and look through them at it. Lol. Made me wonder if there was a way if I'd go looking thru the windows? Lol. Tho I'd never just in and be all hello, anybody home? Haha like they always do on TV. If there is a house no one answers almost 100% of the time people are all oh let me walk in. I haven't figured out the witch like lady and it seems like they are time travelers or something? Idk. I'll continiue and update if needed.

Very new to me, as I've just watched the first episode. I'm a mystery enthusiast, so this is excellent, having a new show to watch. So far, it's such a treat, I'm really enjoying it, however, the cast is always my problem. The forced diversity, the forced racial tensions.....are just so redundant, repetitive and unnecessary. I've started listening to the audiobook as well.....only to find out there is no aunt in the original story, but an uncle. Why was that altered? There's a certain wholesome warmth I noticed throughout the show, and hope it doesn't get bulldozed by alternative, forced narratives.

Harlan Coben's Shelter is a captivating mystery series that follows Mickey Bolitar, a teenager grappling with the loss of his father and the secrets of his new town.

The series seamlessly blends suspenseful storytelling with relatable character dynamics, keeping viewers engaged from start to finish. Jaden Michael delivers a compelling performance as Mickey, capturing the complexities of a young man navigating grief, friendship, and the thrill of unraveling a hidden truth.

Amidst the mystery surrounding Ashley's disappearance, Mickey and his friends embark on a journey of self-discovery, facing personal challenges that mirror the larger enigma they uncover. The series effectively explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.

Stumbled across this show accidental click , so gladni did So far I think its great ! So far totally invested started to watch now need to finish , definitely got drawn in by everything going on. You have to like these type of mysteries, and if you don't log off and stop with the negativity people! Can't wait to see more on Thursday, the actors are great so far , each episode gets better and better ! Watching this series is making me want to read the book so i can see what happens next . A-lot of twists to the plot of the story, definitely trying to follow to see how all these people tie in together, cant wait to see more ! Hoping for another season!

Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael) is still haunted by his father's death. He's living with his aunt Shira Bolitar (Constance Zimmer) and starting at a new school. He's taken with fellow new student Ashley who joins cheerleading with Rachel Caldwell (Sage Linder). Suddenly, she's gone without a trace. Mickey investigates with his new friends, Arthur "Spoon" Spindell (Adrian Greensmith) and Ema Winslow (Abby Corrigan). There is the mysterious Bat Lady (Tovah Feldshuh) in a spooky house. Shira reconnects with high school mate Hannah (Missi Pyle) who is married to police Chief Taylor (Lee Aaron Rosen). Their star athlete son Troy Taylor (Brian Altemus) is a school bully and Rachel's boyfriend.

I don't know anything about the book. I didn't know where this show is going initially. With all the supernatural shows, the reveal somewhat surprised me. I actually wasn't sure about that for awhile, but the premise does grow on me. As for the three young leads, I like all of them and they are a good underdog group. I even like expanding the group. I like the show. It's canceled after one season. I wouldn't have minded this group tackling another Scooby Doo mystery for another season.

Im convinced whoever wrote this doesn't know a single teenager in real life. The dialogue and characters are comically bad. The plot could be cool if it wasn't littered with Disney villains and goons. Literally the bad guys are a creepy old woman named "Bat Lady", bald man in a suit and sunglasses called "Sunglasses Man", and some Eastern European guy with an octopus tattoo they call "Octoface". Nothing ever makes any sense at all. The main character is in love with a girl he literally has 3 conversations with. It's so cheesy I feel like it'd be better branded as a spoof of a crime mystery drama. Trying to pass this off as serious is laughable.