Is Harlan Coben's 'Final Twist' based on a true story? Inside the author's first true-crime series
If there's one thing that author Harlan Coben does best, it is devising a gripping tale steeped in mystery and intrigue. The best-selling author of mystery and thriller novels has been associated with several TV adaptations of his works as an executive producer. With titles such as 'Fool Me Once' and 'Shelter', Coben has come to establish himself as a skilled wordsmith with a penchant for revealing the emotional undercurrents that dominate a violent crime or an enduring mystery. With years of significant experience in fiction under his belt, Coben is now all set to venture into the true-crime genre with his show, 'Final Twist' on CBS.
The true-crime series, according to TV Insider, is based on real-life incidents. Each of the 42-minute-long episodes will present a real-life tragedy involving real people. Coben will serve as the primary presenter, in addition to unravelling the psychological and emotional subtext of the crime. Speaking with the afore-mentioned news outlet in this regard, Coben explained, "They say truth is stranger than fiction, and I learned that the hard way. Frequently. There are so many times people will say to me, This can never really happen. But when you watch the stories we’re going to be telling on Final Twist, if I had written them in a novel, you would take the novel and throw it out the window and send me a nasty email saying, 'This can't possibly have happened.'"
Decider reports that while 'Final Twist' might be akin to other established true crime shows having the same format, viz. 'Dateline' on NBC, the CBS show seeks to distinguish itself by Coben's meticulous examination of the psychological precepts that enable ordinary people to commit extraordinary crimes. This is facilitated on the show by detailed interviews with investigating officers and legal professionals.
All of this is geared towards establishing the real-world impact of the crimes, as Coben mentioned, "These are really stories told about people and the tragedies they have gone through. I hope we are respectfully telling their stories. Most of the time, these families actually want their stories told; they want their loved ones remembered. So, that's really important to me. It's one thing to stir the pulse, and another thing to stir the mind, but Final Twist is also stirring your heart. If you don't care about these people, I don't feel like we've done our jobs, both as people who are trying to entertain you and educate you, but also as human beings."
The first mystery covered on 'Final Twist' involves the tragic 2012 murders of Billie Jean Hayworth and Billy Payne in Tennessee. Investigators and first responders had discovered the couple lying dead in their home. They had been shot in the head, and their throats had been slit. Their infant son was with them at the scene of the crime and had survived. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of one Jamie Curd, a cousin of Payne. 'Final Twist' airs on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on CBS and Paramount+.
