DEAD reckoning

SAM CLAFLIN and BILL NIGHY on their mysterious miniseries

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A forensic psychiatrist is haunted by his own harrowing family history in Prime Video's new cold-case chiller Lazarus.

Based on an idea by bestselling American author Harlan Coben, who has penned the six-episode series with acclaimed British screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst (Ten Pound Poms), the story centres around Joel 'Laz' Lazarus (played by The Count of Monte Cristo actor Sam Claflin).

Laz, who works at a psychiatric hospital, remains traumatised by the unsolved murder of his twin sister, Sutton (Eloise Little), over 25 years ago, while they were in their teens. Troubled Laz, along with his surviving sibling, tarot reader Jenna (Nightsleeper's Alexandra Roach) face further turmoil when their psychiatrist father Jonathan Lazarus (Joy's Bill Nighy), known as Dr L, suddenly takes his own life.

As grief-stricken Laz tries to find out why, he stumbles across more unexplained deaths, and also begins to be plagued by unsettling visions from beyond the grave. Are his experiences psychological or paranormal? And could they help him get answers about the deaths of his dad and Sutton?

Here, Sam, 39, and Bill, 75, give us their take...

Why did this thriller appeal?

SAM I had seen a few of Harlan Coben's previous productions and was always a fan of his writing, especially the way he keeps an audience on the edge of their seat. After getting my teeth stuck into the script of Episode 1, I pleaded to have the second! It has deep grit, but there are elements of humour and of horror, as well as the psychological thriller aspect that Harlan is known for.