Harlan Coben discusses imposter syndrome, suggesting that only bad writers think they’re good and that writers often wrestle with both self-doubt and confidence in how readers respond.

Coben notes his books have been adapted for screen, with Netflix versions of The Stranger, Fool Me Once, and Safe already out or in production, and The Woods set to be Netflix’s next adaptation next year starring Michelle Keegan.

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The full interview with Coben is available on BBC iPlayer after his Desert Island Discs appearance on BBC Radio 4.

Desert Island Discs host Lauren Laverne conducts the interview, with listeners able to access the full broadcast on BBC iPlayer.

The article frames Coben’s comments within his broader status as a prolific and influential crime writer.

The admission reflects a personal, introspective look at his career and creative process.

Several of Coben’s novels have been adapted for TV or film, with Netflix highlighted as a platform for adaptations, though no specific release dates are provided in the excerpt.

During Desert Island Discs, he shares personal music picks and reading/listening choices for a desert island, including Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road, Ain’t Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan, and Teddy Swims’ The Door.

Coben describes his writing as an “immersion novel,” aiming to seduce readers into continuing late into the night and reading for hours.

Coben, now 64, is known for the Myron Bolitar series and other popular works, and has discussed self-doubt as a recurring theme in his career.

In a 2024 interview he noted that many excellent writers doubt their own work, a theme that remains persistent in his career.