If you’ve tuned into - or rather, binge-watched (we defy you not to) - Netflix’s latest Harlan Coben thriller, Missing You, you might have noticed a few familiar faces from previous adaptations of the author's mystery novels. There’s Marc Warren, who appeared in 2018’s Safe, James Nesbitt, who starred in 2021’s Stay Close and Richard Armitage, who’s appeared in not just one, but three more of Harlan's projects.

Richard, who plays Sergeant Ellis Stagger in Missing You and has previously had roles in Stay Close, 2020’s The Stranger and 2024’s Fool Me Once, has become firm friends with the bestselling crime writer, with Richard revealing to Good Housekeeping that he even spent Thanksgiving at Harlan’s New York flat. "He's a mensch, just a brilliant, good person" he told us.

And, as an author himself whose debut novel, Geneva, was released in September 2024, Richard also named Harlan as the person he turns to for writing advice. You can hardly blame him, given the 62-year-old author has published 37 books and sold more than 80 million copies in 46 languages since his debut almost 35 years ago.

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“He's been a subconscious mentor and an inspiration for me,” Richard shared.

“Whatever his next book is, you might think, “Oh, it's just going to be another Harlan Coban. And it isn't. It's always another brilliant, thrilling story that makes you think, “Where does he get these ideas from and how does he have time to write them all and produce all of these shows?' I'm convinced there's more than one Harlan Coben!”

So what pearls of wisdom has Harlan imparted with The Hobbit and Obsession star?

“His advice was actually ‘Stay in your lane, Armitage’, which I found quite amusing. But he also said, 'The worst kind of writing is no writing at all.' He’s one of those people that’s all about just sitting down and getting something out of your head and onto the page,” explained Richard.

And if you think you’ve seen the last of the pair’s professional bromance, think again.

“I’ve just recorded the audiobook of Missing You for Orion," Richard told us. "So if you thought there were too many Armitage/Coban collaborations, there’s another one coming!”

Missing You is available to watch on Netflix now.