As “Harlan Coben’s Shelter,” which was released this past August on Amazon Prime Video, wraps up its first season run, the prolific author andNew Jersey Hall of Famer talked to the Tribune about the series, which was partially filmed in Livingston. Coben had been unable to promote the show as it was airing due to the Writers Guild of America strike, which occurred during the length of the season. The season one finale came out in late September and all eight episodes of the series are now available to stream.Based on Coben’s 2011 young adult novel of the same name, “Shelter” is set in the fictional town of Kasselton, New Jersey. Livingston High School is Coben’s alma mater, and the author has set many of his books in Livingston. Filming took place, in part, right here in town, where LHS substituted for Kasselton High School. The pilot was shot in 2021, with filming for the rest of the series taking place in 2022.The series also shot elsewhere in New Jersey, including Paterson’s Great Falls, the Sterling Hill Mine in Ogdensburg, the Jersey Shore, and more. Filming took place in nearly two dozen locations throughout the state.The series centers on a boy who arrives in a new town to live with his aunt following his father’s sudden death. After a student at his high school disappears, he and his new friends set out to find out what happened. Coben, who has had several of his books adapted for television and film, developed the show himself, alongside his daughter Charlotte Coben.The show debuted to positive reviews in August, and the season ended on a cliffhanger. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the announcement of a second season.The Tribune’s interview with Coben, discussing the show and its deep ties to Livingston, may be seen below.This interview has been edited for length and clarity. It contains light spoilers for the first season of “Shelter.”• • •Thanks for taking the time to speak today.Sure, the West Essex Tribune was the first paper I was ever in.Surely, you’re aware that people in town take a big interest whenever there’s a Harlan Coben book or TV show. Especially when one films in Livingston, people in town are obviously very excited about it. Was it your choice to shoot this one in Livingston?I said [to the producers] when we first met that I would love for it to be ...
