After watching a few other Harlan Coben shows recently ("El Inocente", "Juste un Regard", "The Stranger", etc.), "Disparu à Jamais" seems derivative, from the "disappearance-without-a-trace" theme to telling the story from multiple different perspectives. Yet Coben's formula works again, and the series is gripping and compact (if anything, it could use one more episode). The Nice scenery certainly helps. Highly recommended if you like his brand of twisty crime yarns. If half-points were allowed, I'd rate this a 7.5/10.
77 Reviews
A well-constructed puzzle assembled on scenic European locations
gridoon202420 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Suspense and Harlan Coben.
lornak-1800815 August 2021
I have been reading Harlan Coben's books since he started publishing them. I rated this book on GoodReads at 5 stars. I'll be honest, I didn't recognize the plot at all. At times I was talking to my tv because I was so confused at times. But. That didn't keep me from binge watching the whole series tonight. One episode slid effortlessly right into the next so there was no question I was watching it all in one sitting.
It's a story of two brothers, one good and one bad. It's also the story of the night the main character loses both his ex-girlfriend and his brother. When the main character's now girlfriend goes missing after his father's funeral, he's pulled into the mystery of where she went and has to do more than a few illegal things while on his hunt. The man that employs both main characters is on the hunt with him at times and actually had quite the messed up backstory.
There was a lot going on in this series. Lots of subplots, some of which were not that important. One major free for all fight was really poorly done. So unrealistic. Still it kept me interested from beginning to end and I'm glad I decided to watch. If you like suspense with a bit of romance thrown in, this just might be the series for you to watch next!
It's a story of two brothers, one good and one bad. It's also the story of the night the main character loses both his ex-girlfriend and his brother. When the main character's now girlfriend goes missing after his father's funeral, he's pulled into the mystery of where she went and has to do more than a few illegal things while on his hunt. The man that employs both main characters is on the hunt with him at times and actually had quite the messed up backstory.
There was a lot going on in this series. Lots of subplots, some of which were not that important. One major free for all fight was really poorly done. So unrealistic. Still it kept me interested from beginning to end and I'm glad I decided to watch. If you like suspense with a bit of romance thrown in, this just might be the series for you to watch next!
Good, but could have been better...
cooper_gareth15 August 2021
I enjoyed aspects of this series, but felt there were just too many things going on, too many layers, plots and sub-plots, some relevant and some not. Developing every character in detail, when there are already other important threads to sustain in the story web, can detract from the story, in my opinion. Just too much going on for me to score this higher.
Good mystery thriller
farhanasharmin-1414630 April 2022
I don't know why there are so many bad reviews! The series is a very good crime and mystery thriller. The actors did their part very well. Harlen Kobens The Innocent is my most favourite and now this one is my second favourite! Mystery lovers should give it a try!
Watch in French
jandlwatts15 August 2021
Gone, but good(?)
kosmasp16 August 2021
What does that even mean? Or when does it mean I reckon could also be asked. Now I have not read the books this is based on, so I can't compare or argue with anyone who has. You obviously may have thoughts on a couple of things that this includes or omits, that I can't understand.
Having cleared that up, I enjoyed the show. It may have been a bit too long and have an action set piece at the end that seemed a bit weird (mood wise), but overall the mystery and the "detective" aspect of it worked quite fine to say the least.
I personally liked the actors and did not think they did a weak job. They are more than decent in this - the plot/script at times leaves them quite vulnerable. But you can overcome those moments too. Seen worse and better - if this is up your alley give it a try.
Having cleared that up, I enjoyed the show. It may have been a bit too long and have an action set piece at the end that seemed a bit weird (mood wise), but overall the mystery and the "detective" aspect of it worked quite fine to say the least.
I personally liked the actors and did not think they did a weak job. They are more than decent in this - the plot/script at times leaves them quite vulnerable. But you can overcome those moments too. Seen worse and better - if this is up your alley give it a try.
Typical Harlan Coben ...
imranahmedsg12 November 2021
If you enjoy Coben's style then Gone For Good is for you.
Not his best work but the plot comes with the usual twists and turns. Moreover, the plot sequencing also jumps regularly from present to past and vice versa ... Another Coben hallmark trait. Not the most believable of stories - one can poke many holes in the chain of events - but hey it's entertainment and not a reality show!
Short and somewhat sweet, especially if you've run out of other streaming options.
Not his best work but the plot comes with the usual twists and turns. Moreover, the plot sequencing also jumps regularly from present to past and vice versa ... Another Coben hallmark trait. Not the most believable of stories - one can poke many holes in the chain of events - but hey it's entertainment and not a reality show!
Short and somewhat sweet, especially if you've run out of other streaming options.
Watch it in French with English subtitles
xrnfvnpe13 August 2021
Based on a Harlan Coben novel.
deloudelouvain27 September 2023
Disparu À Jamais (or Gone For Good for the English title is a French mini-series (five episodes) based on a novel from Harlan Coben. The last series I watched based on a novel from Harlan Coben was the German series The Woods, another one that was worth watching. Sometimes his stories are a bit far fetched, with all kind of characters that know each other, when the chances that that would happen in real life are pretty slim. So was it also in Disparu À Jamais. Nevertheless the episodes are full of mysteries which keeps you guessing and interested. Decent acting from the entire cast, although some were better than others. It's not always easy to follow so you have to be concentrated. A good mini-series that you can finish in a couple days.
Too much
PapaMarkie16 August 2021
The time jumps drove me crazy. So many, so often. Difficult to keep track of where and when they were.
I also was not a fan of some of the actors. I thought several did a terrible job over-acting.
I like Harlem Coben books and several adaptations. This was not one of them.
I also was not a fan of some of the actors. I thought several did a terrible job over-acting.
I like Harlem Coben books and several adaptations. This was not one of them.
Gone For Good
Tweekums21 August 2021
As this five-part French series, based on a book by Harlan Coben, opens in 2010 in the South of France; there is an attack at a house... a woman, Sonia, ends up dead in the pool and a man, Fred, is shot; his body falls into the Mediterranean and is never seen again. The two are linked by Guillaume Lucchesi; Sonia was his first love and Fred was his brother. Ten years pass and Guillaume thinks he has but the past behind him. Then one day his fiancée suddenly vanishes. As he tries to find out what happens he must also explore what happened in 2010 and the possible link to current events.
As one would expect from a series based on a book by Harlan Coben there are lots of twists and turns and many things we, and characters, believe turn out to be somewhat different in reality. There are plenty of exciting moments as Guillaume and his friend De Costa ask questions of some distinctly shady characters and are followed by an ominous hooded figure. There are plenty of flashbacks to various important things that happened in the past; thankfully these are well signed so the viewer is never in doubt about when and where what they are watching takes place. The cast does a fine job; most notably Finnegan Oldfield, as Guillaume; Guillaume Gouix as De Costa; and Garance Marillier as Sonia's younger Sister Inès. There is much in the way of fine scenery to be enjoyed... as well as some locations tourists would give a wide berth. Overall I found this to be a gripping little series and would certainly recommend it.
These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.
As one would expect from a series based on a book by Harlan Coben there are lots of twists and turns and many things we, and characters, believe turn out to be somewhat different in reality. There are plenty of exciting moments as Guillaume and his friend De Costa ask questions of some distinctly shady characters and are followed by an ominous hooded figure. There are plenty of flashbacks to various important things that happened in the past; thankfully these are well signed so the viewer is never in doubt about when and where what they are watching takes place. The cast does a fine job; most notably Finnegan Oldfield, as Guillaume; Guillaume Gouix as De Costa; and Garance Marillier as Sonia's younger Sister Inès. There is much in the way of fine scenery to be enjoyed... as well as some locations tourists would give a wide berth. Overall I found this to be a gripping little series and would certainly recommend it.
These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.
VERY GOOD THRILLER
sunildaswaney-6364216 August 2021
Worst Harlan Coben Series Adaptation
hadzsocial14 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I've seen the other Harlan Coben series (The Stranger, Safe, The Innocents, The Woods) and this is not comparable. The best thing about it is the setting of coastal towns/cities in Europe (France/Spain/Italy?), which were beautiful.
It was drawn out for too long, the side character stories were unnecessary. Ines and Daco, for example. It's great they have colorful histories but they were not required for the plot to unfold. If Ines and Daco were meant to confuse/mislead us from predicting the plot, it succeeded, but not in a good way.
They could have used an episode for "Judith" instead. I was not invested in the love story between Guillaume and "Judith", and an episode focusing on her and what a wonderful person she is would have made all of Guillaume's trouble to look for her make sense. They were shown together for a very short while before madame disappeared. Flashbacks of these two having a relationship to swoon over would have contributed to the story. They were strangers in my mind throughout the series, and those short flashbacks of Nora doing weird, random things that landed them in a room at the police station (why weren't they in jail?) were unhelpful. Was that supposed to show how clever/lovable she was? Was that the extent of their romance? What a waste of an episode.
I was also quite disappointed that "Nora's" backstory was only told by very minor side characters and not actually shown. I think that would have made me empathize more/sympathize with Nora. Guillaume himself was not a very lovable character. He doesn't have a spectacular background and just plays cat and mouse, then ends up killing a brother who is mean and killed a highschool ex-girlfriend, yes, but he stood by him when he was a child.
This is minor but Alice, Guillaume's niece who looked like she might have been 7 in 2017, didn't grow up between 2017 and 2021. She still looked 7 or 8 by the movie's end. Casting could have been better.
I love Harlan Coben Netflix originals but was so disappointed with this one. Not much suspense, dragging, weird side stories.
It was drawn out for too long, the side character stories were unnecessary. Ines and Daco, for example. It's great they have colorful histories but they were not required for the plot to unfold. If Ines and Daco were meant to confuse/mislead us from predicting the plot, it succeeded, but not in a good way.
They could have used an episode for "Judith" instead. I was not invested in the love story between Guillaume and "Judith", and an episode focusing on her and what a wonderful person she is would have made all of Guillaume's trouble to look for her make sense. They were shown together for a very short while before madame disappeared. Flashbacks of these two having a relationship to swoon over would have contributed to the story. They were strangers in my mind throughout the series, and those short flashbacks of Nora doing weird, random things that landed them in a room at the police station (why weren't they in jail?) were unhelpful. Was that supposed to show how clever/lovable she was? Was that the extent of their romance? What a waste of an episode.
I was also quite disappointed that "Nora's" backstory was only told by very minor side characters and not actually shown. I think that would have made me empathize more/sympathize with Nora. Guillaume himself was not a very lovable character. He doesn't have a spectacular background and just plays cat and mouse, then ends up killing a brother who is mean and killed a highschool ex-girlfriend, yes, but he stood by him when he was a child.
This is minor but Alice, Guillaume's niece who looked like she might have been 7 in 2017, didn't grow up between 2017 and 2021. She still looked 7 or 8 by the movie's end. Casting could have been better.
I love Harlan Coben Netflix originals but was so disappointed with this one. Not much suspense, dragging, weird side stories.
... too-sooo much-work
bjarias17 July 2022
... lots of jumping around time-frames... not only multiple-time-periods, but as well different characters.. adding this to having to read rapidly-changing-subtitles, and it readily becomes exhausting... after awhile keeping track of the storyline gets muddled-confused... you find yourself asking is all this really worth it.
Bad casting - Finnegan as a Nice Frenchman?
gsantonas23 August 2021
This was an ok series but the main character was so obviously not French that it drove me crazy. The other super annoying thing is they never close any door behind them! Even in the brother's "secret palace" he leaves the front door wide open.
I loved it
shevchenkoanutka31 August 2021
It started slow but if you get past first episode you will love it. The character are so cute really good and deep. You believe everything happening in the show. I loved chemistry between main character. And the main is the intrigue is really amazing.
Recommended to watch in french with subs.
Recommended to watch in french with subs.
Read the book! STEER CLEAR OF THE ABYSMAL ACTING AND SCRIPT
tamara-abikhalil14 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Leave it to this series to turn a masterpiece book into an abysmal script. From all the well rounded words of the 400+ pages novel, they manage to take shrugs, french curse words, and tongue clicks to make out the words coming out of actors who appear to either be forced to act, or bored out of their minds, or just expressionless.
The fight scenes can't be more fake, the main actor is a disaster. He looks like a goldfish devoid of any expression or emotion throughout the series. The guy sees his supposedly dead brother after 10 years and is one sentence away from asking him about the weather.
Honestly what a waste of potential with such a great thriller.
Miscast, misscripted, misfilmed.
The fight scenes can't be more fake, the main actor is a disaster. He looks like a goldfish devoid of any expression or emotion throughout the series. The guy sees his supposedly dead brother after 10 years and is one sentence away from asking him about the weather.
Honestly what a waste of potential with such a great thriller.
Miscast, misscripted, misfilmed.
Good french mystery thriller..!
kamalbeeee21 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
After sudden missing of his girl friend then he starts to investigate about her past and finding whereabouts...
Meanwhile the protogonist's brother also alive who is suspected as dead longback..
All mysteries are slowly revealed episode by episode..
I'm kicking myself
laduqesa11 October 2021
Why didn't I give up after episode two? Instead, I carried on till the end of episode four and gave up. I don't give a toss. I don't care how it pans out.
This was just a farrago of bad acting, unconvincing characters, ridiculous plotlines and boring plot. The holes in the latter were enormous. One has to suspend normal everyday judgement - could a couple of social workers truly take off for days and leave their clients behind and in distress? Could they truly do better than the cops from Paris and Nice, lol?
The format was one of returning to the past every five minutes to explain something in the present. And it grated. On top of that, it wasn't just one past, it was more than one year.
I'm struggling to explain how awful this was. Please don't bother. If you have something else to watch, do so.
This was just a farrago of bad acting, unconvincing characters, ridiculous plotlines and boring plot. The holes in the latter were enormous. One has to suspend normal everyday judgement - could a couple of social workers truly take off for days and leave their clients behind and in distress? Could they truly do better than the cops from Paris and Nice, lol?
The format was one of returning to the past every five minutes to explain something in the present. And it grated. On top of that, it wasn't just one past, it was more than one year.
I'm struggling to explain how awful this was. Please don't bother. If you have something else to watch, do so.
Enjoyed It Immensely
albertval-6956025 August 2021
It's a gripping tale. The way the show moves back and forth in time to put the enigmatic pieces together is clever. Some might find it tiresome but the viewer doesn't lose his way. There's more excitement to a film that's narrated with timely flashbacks than one that's linear or chronological. This film proves it.
The plot is well-paced, script is tight. The lead characters are well-fleshed out which makes the viewer able to relate with their plight or situation. The lead characters (Guillaume, Judith, Fred and De Costa) are portrayed admirably by the respective actors: Finnegan Oldfield, Nailia Harzoune, Nicolas Duvauchelle and Guillaume Gouix.
Great cinematography; the panoramic shots of Nice, Sardegna and the back country of Catalonia are picturesque and are Instagrammable.
This film is binge-worthy.
The plot is well-paced, script is tight. The lead characters are well-fleshed out which makes the viewer able to relate with their plight or situation. The lead characters (Guillaume, Judith, Fred and De Costa) are portrayed admirably by the respective actors: Finnegan Oldfield, Nailia Harzoune, Nicolas Duvauchelle and Guillaume Gouix.
Great cinematography; the panoramic shots of Nice, Sardegna and the back country of Catalonia are picturesque and are Instagrammable.
This film is binge-worthy.
Waste of time and money
Spinal-Cracker18 August 2021
Obviously, quite some time and money were spent on these series, but what a waste. Acting is ridiculously poor and many scenes give the impression the story is a parody on a thriller, rather than a thriller itself. May these series be gone forever.
Enjoy this series!
heartofgoldie14 August 2021
Huge Letdown
bangel332214 August 2021
The thing with Harlan Coben stories is they always have a lot going on. You've got your main plot and several other subplots going on. This one didn't have as many subplots, as everything going on was all connected. With all of HC's work you get thrown a lot of information in the beginning which can often be confusing, but everything is alway explained at the end. Apart from The Woods, I've thoroughly enjoyed the Netflix adaptations of HC's novels. (Including the SKY production of The Five which he created). However, Gone For Good has not gone down well with me. It actually started out quite similar to The Innocent (which was fantastic), and there were a few surprises here and there and so I thought it was bound to have this shocking, massive twist at the end, however halfway through the show it started to go downhill and by the end the 'reveal' wasn't really a surprise. I've not read the book and so I cannot make comparisons but the show for me was a huge letdown. Unlike the other shows I've seen, this one became a bit predictable. I was disappointed with it, nevertheless I will continue to watch as Netflix continue to produce HC's novels. 5 down, 9 more to go! Looking forward to Stay Close which hopefully premieres on Netflix later this year.
Addictive suspense drama
etslee15 August 2021
Honestly the first episode left me a bit cold, but soon after I got addicted and couldn't stop binging the whole series. I liked how each episode focused on one character and you learned the complexities of their relationships and backgrounds. There is even the hint of Hitchcock focusing on 2 sisters. Harlan Coben and Netflix has not disappointed yet. Please try watching the french version with subtitles.
GONE FOR OK-ISH
MadamWarden18 August 2021
An ok attempt at drama and intrigue but filled with unrelateable, unlikeable characters. The story way too complex and try-hard. Setting is great in Nice.
Far too many contrived relationships and situations. I haven't read the book but I would guess that it is 100x better than this series.
That said, an ok diversion in times of Covid.
Far too many contrived relationships and situations. I haven't read the book but I would guess that it is 100x better than this series.
That said, an ok diversion in times of Covid.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
