The newest adaptation of Harlan Coben’s work, Fool Me Once, joins the lineup of previous series based on his books. Having watched all of them, it’s fair to say they tend to be entertaining but largely formulaic—fast-paced with unexpected twists but nothing groundbreaking.
They serve the same function as a light, suspenseful novel one might pick up for a quick read on a long flight. Despite my general enjoyment of these adaptations, Fool Me Once stands out as the least engaging of the lot.
When the past refuses to stay buried, danger follows (Photo: Fool Me Once/Quay Street Productions)Michelle Keegan delivers a decent performance, and Adeel Akhtar’s presence is always welcome, but the final twist in this series feels more frustrating than shocking. The way it wraps up undermines much of what came before, leaving several episodes feeling pointless. Let’s break it down.
Breaking Down the Plot
The story revolves around Maya, played by Keegan, whose husband, Joe (Richard Armitage), is shot and killed. Joe appears mostly in flashbacks, and his murder sets off a chain of events that turn Maya’s life upside down.
Not long after his death, she sees what looks like Joe on her nanny cam, raising the terrifying question—could he still be alive? Determined to uncover the truth, Maya begins her investigation, made even more personal by the fact that her sister, Claire (Natalie Anderson), also died under mysterious circumstances just a few months earlier.
On the other side of the story, Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce (Adeel Akhtar) is assigned to investigate Joe’s murder. As he digs deeper, he and Maya discover a shocking link—Joe and Claire, despite being miles apart when they died, were both killed using the same weapon.
This connection suggests a larger conspiracy at play. However, while piecing together the case, Kierce begins experiencing blackouts and hallucinations, which doctors attribute to a neurological issue.
The Mystery Deepens
By this point, the story presents an intriguing puzzle: Claire and Joe, who worked together, were murdered under similar circumstances, and the detective investigating their deaths keeps experiencing unexplained blackouts.
Digging further, it is revealed that both Claire and Joe were employees of the Burkett family’s pharmaceutical company, a business controlled by Joe’s mother, Judith Burkett (Joanna Lumley).
Another key detail from Maya’s past also plays a role—during her time in the military as a helicopter pilot, she accidentally fired a missile on a civilian van, causing multiple deaths. This tragic mistake continues to weigh heavily on her.
Most of this information is established within the first couple of episodes. However, instead of maintaining momentum, the series then spends the next several episodes meandering through dead ends and side plots—including a subplot involving two bikers who witnessed Joe’s murder.
Meanwhile, Kierce’s health issues persist, interfering with his ability to investigate the case effectively.
The Truth Comes to Light
Things finally begin to take shape in the seventh episode of the eight-episode series. If you started the show, lost interest, and just want to know how it wraps up, here it is: The investigation leads Maya to a dark secret from Joe’s past.
Years ago, during a hazing incident, Joe and his friends killed a young boy and then covered it up. Joe’s brother, Andrew, struggled with the guilt and threatened to confess, so Joe pushed him off a yacht, staging it as a suicide.
When a yacht captain discovered the truth and tried to blackmail the Burketts, Joe took him out as well. Meanwhile, Kierce realizes his blackouts are not caused by a neurological disorder. Instead, they are side effects of drugs manufactured by the Burkett family.
This discovery connects directly to Maya’s sister, Claire, who had uncovered the dangers of these drugs and the fraudulent research behind them.
Claire had passed this information to an activist journalist named Corey (Laurie Kynaston) under one condition—that he wouldn’t expose Maya’s past military mistake. However, once Joe found out about Claire’s betrayal, he silenced her permanently.
A Frustrating Revelation
While it is already shocking to learn that Joe was the one who killed Claire, the biggest twist comes when it is revealed that Maya herself is responsible for Joe’s death. Throughout the series, she has been investigating her husband’s murder, only to realize she was the one who pulled the trigger.
A husband’s murder is just the beginning of the mystery (Photo: Fool Me Once/Quay Street Productions)She had discovered Joe’s role in her sister’s death and took justice into her own hands. She was unknowingly trying to solve a case that she had already closed. Kierce eventually pieces the truth together as well. However, rather than turning Maya in, he allows her to confront Joe’s family.
During this confrontation, Maya discovers that Judith Burkett has been manipulating her all along, using deepfake technology to make her believe Joe is still alive. This was a twisted form of psychological revenge—Judith knew that Maya had killed her son and wanted to drive her to the edge of madness.
How It All Ends
The final confrontation takes place when Maya faces Joe’s family, demanding answers. In a shocking moment, Judith and her relatives admit to falsifying drug trials and covering up Joe’s past crimes. However, before Maya can do anything with this information, one of Joe’s brothers shoots her.
But there’s another twist—unbeknownst to the Burketts, a nanny cam was set up in the room, recording the entire exchange. As a result, their confessions, along with Maya’s murder, are broadcast online for the entire world to see.
With the evidence now public, the Burkett family’s crimes are exposed, bringing their empire crashing down. Maya’s daughter is raised by her brother-in-law. Eighteen years later, the story comes full circle when her daughter has a child of her own and chooses to name her Maya, preserving the memory of her mother.
