I didn’t go into Shelter knowing much, and that was completely on purpose. I wanted to let the weirdness unfold naturally, and oh boy, does it unfold fast. Within the first episode we’ve got creepy old ladies, missing girls, mysterious basements, and a teen protagonist who really, really needs to take a breath.

Mickey Bolitar (played by Colin in Black & White’s Jaden Michael) is going through it. New school, dead dad, mom in rehab, and now a stranger tells him his dad might not be dead? It’s no wonder the guy’s on edge. That said… he needs to chill. Mickey’s energy can get a little much, like, maybe back off the intensity until we’ve known someone for longer than 24 hours? Especially in the Ashley situation, which felt like the writers were trying too hard to force a romance that wasn’t landing. It’s a weird thing to say considering that the book’s author himself developed the series.

But you know who did land right away for me? Adrian Greensmith as Arthur “Spoon” Spindell. Instantly charming, quirky in a believable way, and easily the heart of the show. He’ll later pop up in 3 Body Problem, but here he’s got real scene-stealing charisma. Same goes for Abby Corrigan as Ema, her deadpan delivery, secret layers, and goth-girl-detective vibe gave the show some of its best moments. The dynamic between the three teens gave big Nancy Drew energy, yes, even when the tone sometimes jumped between spooky mystery and teen melodrama like a skipping record.

The plot? Twisty, messy, sometimes a little disjointed, but I was in. I mean, who doesn’t want to watch teenagers unravel a human trafficking ring with the power of friendship, a hoodie, and questionable Wi-Fi?

There are definitely scenes that feel like they were edited a bit too tightly, like we skipped over a beat here and there. And honestly, some of the subplots (cough Ashley) could’ve used less screen time. But the bigger mystery? That stuff was fun. It kept me pressing “next episode” every time, and that counts for something.

Overall, Harlan Coben’s Shelter is a weird little show that somehow works. It’s part high-stakes mystery, part teen drama, with just enough creepy intrigue to keep you curious. If you’ve liked other Coben adaptations like The Stranger or Stay Close, this one’s definitely worth your time. Just be ready to roll your eyes a little at Mickey… and love Spoon a lot.

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