Harlan Coben’s latest Netflix thriller, Run Away, dropped all eight episodes on January 1, 2026, and immediately hooked viewers with its relentless twists, family secrets, and a finale that delivers one gut-punch after another. Adapted from Coben’s 2019 novel, the series follows Simon Greene (James Nesbitt), a successful financier whose life unravels when his daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) disappears into addiction. What starts as a desperate parental search spirals into a web of murder, a dangerous cult, and revelations that shatter the Greene family forever. If you’ve binged it and are still reeling—or need clarity on the biggest questions—here’s a deep dive into the ending, unpacking who really killed Aaron Corval and the fate of Paige.

The Setup: A Father’s Nightmare Begins

The story kicks off with Simon spotting Paige busking in a gritty park, emaciated and high, alongside her abusive boyfriend Aaron Corval (Thomas Flynn). In a heated confrontation, Simon attacks Aaron to reach his daughter, but the moment is filmed, goes viral, and paints Simon as an aggressive privileged man. Paige flees again, and soon after, Aaron is found murdered in his apartment—stabbed in a brutal, execution-style killing. Simon becomes the prime suspect, especially as detectives Isaac Fagbenle (Alfred Enoch) and Ruby Todd (Amy Gledhill) circle him.

As Simon digs deeper with the help of private investigator Elena Ravenscroft (Ruth Jones), he uncovers a trail of bodies connected to Aaron. Enter Ash (Jon Pointing) and Dee Dee (Maeve Courtier-Lilley), a charismatic yet deadly duo on a killing spree. They target men linked through DNA sites, eliminating threats to a mysterious cult called The Shining Haven (or Shining Truth in some references), led by the enigmatic Casper.

Meanwhile, Simon’s wife Ingrid (Minnie Driver) is shot and falls into a coma during a confrontation at a drug den, leaving Simon to navigate the chaos alone. The series builds layer upon layer: Paige’s addiction stems from a sexual assault at university, Aaron wasn’t just her dealer but a protective (yet toxic) figure, and the cult’s influence runs deeper than anyone imagines.

Who Killed Aaron Corval?

This is the central mystery that drives the entire plot. Early on, suspicion falls heavily on Simon due to the viral video and his motive. Other red herrings include Paige herself (seen leaving Aaron’s apartment bloodied) and even building owner Cornelius (Lucian Msamati), who disposes of evidence. Ash and Dee Dee have Aaron on their hit list as part of Casper’s orders to eliminate his “undivine” sons.

But the truth emerges in the finale: Ingrid killed Aaron. After Paige confided in her mother about the assault, her addiction, and Aaron’s abusive hold (including beating her and forcing drugs on her), Ingrid took drastic action. She secretly arranged for Paige to enter a discreet rehab facility—the same one Ingrid had used years earlier during her own troubled past. To ensure Paige could stay clean without Aaron pulling her back, Ingrid confronted him alone in his apartment and stabbed him to death.

Ingrid’s act was one of maternal protection gone tragically wrong. The police ultimately pin Aaron’s murder (and others) on Ash and Dee Dee, who die in a chaotic shootout—Ash gunned down by Cornelius, Dee Dee thrown from a balcony by a dissenting cult member. This convenient closure lets Ingrid’s crime go undetected.

The Final Shocker: Aaron’s True Identity

Just when you think the revelations are over, the series drops its most devastating twist. Years before marrying Simon, a young Ingrid was deeply involved in The Shining Haven cult. She became pregnant by the leader, Casper (referred to as “the One”). Cult members told her the baby was stillborn, allowing her to escape the group and rebuild her life. In reality, the child survived and was given up for adoption.

That child was Aaron Corval.

Unknowingly, Ingrid murdered her own firstborn son while trying to save her daughter. Paige discovered this connection—possibly through clues or Aaron’s own revelations—and that’s part of why she initially ran away. Aaron and Paige weren’t romantic partners in the traditional sense; he was more of a protective half-brother figure, bonding over shared trauma after Paige’s assault.

Simon pieces this together in the closing moments, confronting Paige with evidence from old photos showing Ingrid pregnant in front of the cult’s symbol. Paige confirms it, but begs Simon never to tell Ingrid. Revealing that she killed her own son would destroy her completely, especially as she recovers from her coma and gunshot wound.

Simon, torn between his hatred of secrets and the need to protect what’s left of his family, agrees. The series ends on this bittersweet, heavy note: the Greenes reunite for a family meal, but Simon and Paige share a silent, knowing glance across the table. The truth stays buried to preserve Ingrid’s fragile peace.

Is Paige Still Alive?

Yes, Paige is alive and, by the end, on the path to recovery. Throughout most of the series, her whereabouts are a mystery—Simon fears the cult has her, or worse. In reality, Paige has been in rehab the entire time, cut off from the outside world and unaware of the shootings, murders, and chaos unfolding around her family.

After the dust settles—Casper arrested, the cult dismantled, Ash and Dee Dee dead—Paige reunites with Simon. She’s sober, reflective, and ready to rebuild. She returns to rehab voluntarily, with Simon’s support, marking a hopeful (if guarded) future. Her survival underscores the show’s themes: addiction’s grip, the lengths parents go to for their children, and the fragile hope of redemption.

The Cult’s Role and Loose Ends

The Shining Haven ties everything together. Casper fathered numerous children but deemed most “undivine,” giving them up for adoption. As his health failed, he feared these sons (connected via DNA tests) would claim his wealth or expose the cult. He hired Ash and Dee Dee to eliminate them—Aaron, Henry Thorpe (Elena’s case), and others among the victims.

Elena gets too close and is killed by Dee Dee. A cult insider pushes Dee Dee to her death, rejecting Casper’s violence. Fagbenle arrests Casper just as he attempts suicide.

Cornelius emerges as an unlikely hero, protecting Simon and disposing of evidence to shield the family.

Why the Ending Hits So Hard

Run Away isn’t just about solving a murder—it’s an emotional rollercoaster exploring family bonds, buried trauma, and moral gray areas. Ingrid’s act blurs the line between protection and tragedy. The final secret forces Simon to choose silence over truth, echoing how families often bury pain to survive.

Coben excels at these layered finales: shocking yet human. The performances elevate it—Nesbitt’s raw desperation as Simon, Driver’s quiet intensity as Ingrid (even comatose for much of it), and de Lange’s haunting vulnerability as Paige.

Flaws exist: some coincidences strain belief (the cult-baby reveal feels peak Coben), and subplots occasionally rush. But the pacing, twists, and emotional core make it addictive comfort-thriller viewing.

In the end, no one truly “runs away” from their past. The Greenes move forward together, scarred but intact, carrying a secret that binds them as much as it haunts them. If you’re a Coben fan, this one’s among his most heartbreaking.