20 Best Audio Mystery Books (2023 Update)

By kristin hannah.

Just after midnight, the famous orient express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. by morning, the millionaire samuel edward ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer. isolated by the storm, detective hercule poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again.

"[narrator susan] ericksen's quick pacing matches the intensity of the story. whether one is new to the series or a longtime listener, ericksen's presentation will entertain." — audiofile magazine in the new eve dallas police thriller from #1 new york times-bestselling author j. d. robb, what looked like a lover’s quarrel turned fatal has larger—and more terrifying—motives behind it… the scene in the west village studio appears to be classic crime-of-passion: two wineglasses by the bed, music playing, and a young sculptor named ariel byrd with the back of her head bashed in. but when dallas tracks down the wealthy upper east side woman who called 911, the details don’t add up. gwen huffman is wealthy, elegant, comforted by her handsome fiancé as she sheds tears over the trauma of finding the body—but why did it take an hour to report it? and why is she lying about little things? as eve and her team look into gwen, her past, and the people around her, they find that the lies are about more than murder. as with sculpture, they need to chip away at the layers of deception to find the shape within—and soon they’re getting the fbi involved in a case that involves a sinister, fanatical group and a stunning criminal conspiracy. a macmillan audio production from st. martin's press

The fifth book in the magic men series, now you see them is a wild mystery with detective edgar stephens and the magician max mephisto, as they investigate a string of presumed kidnappings in the swinging 1960s. the new decade is going well for edgar stephens and his good friend the magician max mephisto. edgar is happily married, with children, and promoted to superintendent. max has found fame and stardom in america, though is now back in england for a funeral, and a prospective movie job. edgar's new wife, though–former detective emma–is restless and frustrated at home, knowing she was the best detective on the team. but when an investigation into a string of disappearing girls begins, emma sees her chance to get back in the action. she begins her own hunt, determined to prove, once and for all that she's better than the boys. though she's not the only one working toward that goal–there's a new woman on the force, and she's determined to make detective. when two more girls go missing, both with ties to the group, the stakes climb ever higher, and max finds himself drawn into his own search. who will find the girls first? and will they get there in time?

A new mystery is afoot in the third book in the thursday murder club series from record-breaking, bestselling author richard osman. ———- it is an ordinary thursday and things should finally be returning to normal. except trouble is never far away where the thursday murder club is concerned. a decade-old cold case leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers. then, a new foe pays elizabeth a visit. her mission? kill . . . or be killed. as the cold case turns white hot, elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), while joyce, ron and ibrahim chase down clues with help from old friends and new. but can the gang solve the mystery and save elizabeth before the murderer strikes again? ** pre-order your copy now! ** ———- what people are saying about the man who died twice 'a thing of joy . . . richard has a natural sense of humour' kate atkinson 'i absolutely loved it. i loved it' harlan coben 'superbly entertaining' guardian 'it's like reading ice cream… a pure pleasure' linwood barclay 'he's back and he's better than ever!' jeffery deaver what people are saying about the thursday murder club 'a warm, wise and witty warning never to underestimate the elderly' val mcdermid 'so smart and funny. deplorably good' ian rankin 'smart, compassionate, warm, moving and so very funny' marian keyes 'thrilling, moving, laugh-out-loud funny' mark billingham 'pure escapism' guardian 'funny, clever and achingly british' adam kay 'as gripping as it is funny' evening standard

What is the secret of chimneys? a young drifter finds out when a favor for a friend pulls him into the heart of a deadly conspiracy in this captivating classic from agatha christie. – little did anthony cade suspect that an errand for a friend would place him at the center of a deadly conspiracy. drawn into a web of intrigue, he begins to realize that the simple favor has placed him in serious danger. – as events unfold, the combined forces of scotland yard and the french sûreté gradually converge on chimneys, the great country estate that hides an amazing secret. . . . – a practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in queen of mystery agatha christie’s classic detective story, the seven dials mystery. – gerry wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. but when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences. – for jimmy thesiger in particular, the words "seven dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance. . . .

Josie flinches as she takes in the faded blue sports jacket wrapped around the girl they just pulled from the water. josie knew someone who'd once owned that jacket. he had died in her arms five years ago. heavy rain pours on the small town of denton causing the riverbanks to break and the body of a young girl to float quietly to the surface. with no crime scene to examine, the odds are against detective josie quinn and her team. mercifully, the victim's body is perfectly preserved, right down to the baseball patch on the jacket she was wearing. josie can't hide her devastation–her dead ex-husband, ray, owned one just like it. following the trail back to her high school, josie identifies the girl as beverly urban, a troubled student rumored to have been dating ray before she left town for good. it looks like a tragic accident until the autopsy reveals a bullet in her head and the heart-breaking secret she was keeping. josie visits the salon where beverly's mother used to work, believing she was at the heart of a terrible scandal around the time her daughter's life was taken. with the denton wives remaining tight-lipped, josie's only hope is a secret meet-up with a terrified woman willing to talk. but she is murdered moments before giving josie crucial information. it's clear that someone is prepared to keep on killing to stop the truth from getting out. digging deep into memories of her own past with ray is the only advantage josie has on this twisted killer… but at what cost? another jaw-dropping crime thriller from an amazon, usa today and wall street journal bestselling author that will have you absolutely gripped from page one. perfect for fans of angela marsons, robert dugoni and rachel caine. readers adore lisa regan: 'amazing… love this author. love this series. love this book… i was on the edge of my seat.' netgalley reviewer, 5 stars 'you will find yourself addicted as soon as you read the first chapters, and with a lightning-fast pace and an abundance of action and plot twists you will find it very hard to stop reading… a true rollercoaster ride… really packs a punch. if you enjoy intense and fast detective thrillers, you should definitely meet josie quinn!' it's all about books, 5 stars 'five she-knocked-it-out-of-the-ballpark stars!!! another fantastic instalment to the detective josie quinn series… this book had it all – character development, mystery, suspense, drama… i was so enthralled… captivating, thought-provoking and well researched.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'hooked me from the first page… tight, fast-paced, perfectly paced, well-researched, highly explosive, and always leaves you turning "just one more page"… a wild ride… a five-star read from beginning to end!' katie mettner, 5 stars

Meet eve mallow: an american far from home, a professional busybody… and an amateur detective? seasoned obituary writer eve mallow has a new assignment: to tell the life story of famed musician bernard fitzpatrick. a chance to spend a few days in the sweet little village of saxford st peter, walking the country lanes with her beloved dachshund gus and meeting new people sounds like a dream. but it turns out that bernard's life was much less interesting than his death. on the day she arrives, news breaks that the charismatic cellist was the victim of a grisly murder. could this quaint english village be hiding a dark secret? as eve starts to interview bernard's friends and colleagues, she finds that he'd ruffled a few feathers. in fact, from the keepers of the cross keys inn to his own staff at high house, there's barely a person in town who doesn't have some reason to hate him… is one of the friendly villagers a cold-blooded killer? eve hoped saxford st peter would be the perfect escape from her busy city life. but there is darkness even in the most sunlit of settings. and when a second body is found, eve becomes certain that one of the people she's met must be the murderer. she has never done any detective work before… but is there something in her notes that can crack the case? an unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of faith martin, agatha christie and betty rowlands. what readers are saying about mystery on hidden lane: 'i really enjoyed reading this! loved the typical english village location and the very jessica fletcher-type protagonist… i am anxious to read more of this character soon!' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'thoroughly enjoyed it… lovely twists and turns' goodreads reviewer 'i thoroughly enjoyed it… loved the setting… i'm looking forward to reading more… i was reminded of a modern-day miss marple.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'loved it… a very good whodunnit… and she has a long-haired dachshund;)' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'very enjoyable… gripping… leaves you looking forward to the next' netgalley reviewer, 5 stars 'stunning… loved the story and the pacing and just everything about it… a great story that i couldn't put down… i can't wait for the next one.' crossroad reviews 'hits the ground running… i loved it!… and of course gus is an excellent side-kick!… a cracking series opener which i thoroughly enjoyed and which has left me hankering for more' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Author of the books that inspired true blood on hbo aurora teagarden, small town librarian and true crime buff, is looking forward to the monthly meeting of the real murders society, a group of fellow crime enthusiasts who share a unique interest in historical murders. the society meetings are the highlight of roe's social life in sleepy lawrenceville, georgia, and she's ready for a quiet night of discussion, coffee, and cookies. but after she finds the body of a society member in a staged crime scene eerily similar to the one the group was supposed to discuss that very night, roe finds herself at the center of a murderous story of her own. as the killer strikes again, it's obvious that members of the real murders society have become targets of a knowledgeable copycat. with the help of handsome police detective arthur smith and the town's dashing new resident, mystery novelist robin crusoe, it's up to roe to discover if the murderer is one of the group's own and to piece the perplexing puzzle together before another body appears. from #1 new york times bestselling author charlaine harris, this first book in the aurora teagarden mystery series combines the excitement of solving the crime and the charm of southern hospitality. real murders, a bone to pick, three bedrooms, one corpse and the rest of the aurora teagarden mysteries have been adapted into film for hallmark movies & mysteries.

From the #1 new york times bestselling author of ghost story comes “a dark, labyrinthian tale of murder and family relationships” (chicago sun-times), starring an unlikely duo who must confront demons from the past and dark secrets that still haunt the present. tom pasmore, ten years old, survives a near fatal accident. during his long recovery, he becomes obsessed with an unsolved murder and finds he has clues to solving it that he shouldn’t. lamont von heilitz has spent his life solving mysteries, until he wanted to know nothing more of the terror of life and the horror of death. when a new murder disrupts their world of wealth, power, and pleasure, the two must form an unlikely partnership to find the killer.

In a town full of secrets, the truth won't stay buried… when a girl's body is discovered in a park in the sleepy massachusetts town of oakhurst, local detective jo is shocked to the core. because the girl is the second innocent victim to turn up dead in three days. and just like the first, a tarot card has been left by the body. the meaning of the card: betrayal. after uncovering a series of threatening messages targeting the girl, a student at the university, and the first victim, her teacher, jo thinks she's locked the killer in her crosshairs. the primary suspect is a volatile ex-military student with an axe to grind for failing grades, and the frightened town is out for his blood. but the next day, a much-loved member of the community is found dead in her home, a tarot card in her mail. there's no clear motive to link her death to the others, and the message on the card this time is even stranger: domestic bliss. with a fourth body and card appearing the following day, jo knows she's running out of time to crack the code and bring the killer to justice. and the pressure only gets worse with heart-breaking news about jo's father forcing her to choose between helping her family heal or the victims' families get justice. can jo find the twisted murderer sending the town into a panic before another life is lost? or this time, will the dangerous killer find her first? a completely addictive detective thriller that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. read what everyone is saying about m.m. chouinard: "loved it, loved it, loved it!!… if i could give it 6 stars i would! in this current climate of 'twists you will never see coming' – believe me… you will never see this coming!… cannot wait for the next book!… best book i have read for some time." netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "holy freaking hell when is the next book out?! from start to finish this book is just wow!… keeps you on the edge of your seat… full of twists and turns… talk about mind-blowing… want to shout about it from the rooftops… i cannot recommend this book enough." baker's not so secret blog⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "i was just blown away by its climax, wandering around going omg… found it totally gripping… impossible to put down." muse books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "wow, wow, wow… the most exciting new author i have read for a long time… extremely addictive and left me wanting more. this book has everything… and a huge unexpected twist you will not see coming. i can't emphasise enough how much enjoyment i got from reading this… i'll be queuing up for the next… well-deserved 5 stars – wow." goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The dales detective agency's latest assignment appears to be an open-and-shut case. hired by a local solicitor to find a death certificate for a young woman who died over twenty years ago, samson o'brien is about to find out that things in bruncliffe are rarely that straightforward. particularly when the solicitor insists that delilah metcalfe, with her wealth of local knowledge, works alongside samson on this sensitive investigation. delilah is eager to help. at the very least, the case will take her mind off the looming custody battle for her precious dog, tolpuddle, and the threat of the bank foreclosing on her struggling dales dating agency. as samson and delilah begin their inquiries, they soon become embroiled in a mystery that has lain at the heart of the town for decades. but in uncovering the truth have they exposed secrets that some would prefer remained buried? praise for julia chapman 'chapman delivers on every level in this intriguing murder mystery' lancashire evening post 'bags of yorkshire charm and wit' northern echo

In this novel in the new york times bestselling bibliophile mystery series, bookbinder brooklyn wainwright takes a trip to lake tahoe and ends up at a killer party… rare books and antiquities expert brooklyn wainwright is thrilled to be invited to the fiftieth birthday party of her neighbor suzie’s aunt grace. a retired founder of a major video game corporation, grace is a larger-than-life character who’s turned her lake tahoe mansion into a fun house, full of everything from pinball machines and giant props to secret passageways and trap doors. brooklyn is most excited to catalog grace’s extensive collection of rare paperback pulp fiction.part of the fun involves a séance, but after the lights flicker, one guest is dead, poisoned by a cocktail intended for grace. it seems someone is determined to turn grace’s playful palatial estate into a house of horrors. brooklyn suspects the key to the killer’s identity may lie in the roman á clef grace has written about her life. with grace in great peril, “must-read” takes on a whole new meaning, as brooklyn tries to stop a murderer who’s through playing around…

"detective inspector ruth hunter lives with the pain of her partner’s mysterious and unsolved disappearance. about to hit fifty, the veteran police officer trades in the crime-ridden streets of london for a more peaceful life in rural north wales. but ruth has barely settled into her new position in north wales police, when the body of a brutally murdered woman is discovered…with strange symbols carved into her skin. teaming up with an obstinate deputy, ruth struggles to eliminate anyone from a long line of suspects. when another slain victim is discovered with the same cryptic markings, she’s forced to re-think the investigation. has ruth got what it takes to solve the case before the murderer attacks again?

Her life is shattered when after 21 years of marriage, her husband walks out on her, leaving her for another woman. as sam is trying to pick up the pieces and start over, her family decides now would be the perfect time for her to take a relaxing vacation. before she can change her mind, she and her older sister are booked on a week-long caribbean cruise. just days before the trip, her sister is involved in a horrible accident and is unable to go. persuaded to take this trip alone, sam finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly adventure of a lifetime. will she make it out alive?

New york times bestselling authors and creators of the mega-popular you – tube series game master network matt and rebecca zamolo return with a brand-new adventure about everyone’s favorite mystery-solving team. rebecca zamolo has managed to foil the game master’s plans before, but this time the game master has snake-napped nacho, her good friend miguel’s pet. no way is becca going to let the game master get away with this dastardly plan. but when the clues lead becca and her new friends in the direction of the one house in their entire neighborhood that none of them ever want to go near, they know they have no choice but to screw up their courage and dare to investigate, if they want to rescue nacho. – but the problem is that getting into the superspooky house is way easier than getting out. the game master is up to their old tricks, and becca, matt, kylie, frankie, and miguel are going to have to face their fears and use all their smarts and strengths to solve the puzzles and games and save the day. – mansion mystery is another action-packed adventure from new york times bestselling authors and super-sleuthing team rebecca and matt zamolo, stars of the hugely popular game master network. – read the book and unlock special clues that will open exclusive content online!

"mommy, i'm scared." marlena's precious boy lies with his little arm thrown over her thigh. it's pitch-black, and she can hear seagulls. she realises they must be near water, and a new panic rises in her. at 2 a.m. one icy winter morning, in the smart suburbs of jefferson county, local father ben parker reports his wife marlena and their little boy missing. rushing to the impressive family home, detective megan carpenter finds the halls adorned with pictures of the beautiful, stay-at-home mom and their bright-eyed son. but that's not all she finds… a bottle of prenatal vitamins in the bathroom cabinet reveal that marlena is pregnant. why didn't ben mention this in his panicked call to the police? digging deeper into their seemingly perfect marriage, megan's fear begins to grow. the couple are separated, there's talk of an affair, and the neighbors report loud fights. and then, megan tracks a young woman believed to be ben's secret girlfriend, only to find her lifeless body in a secluded wood. ben's watch lies in the undergrowth, and megan's team think she's cracked the case, but she's sure something's not right. ben's family has wealth including a private island, and connections in high places. is someone trying to block their investigation? as megan starts to wonder if the answer lies on the parkers' closely guarded island, just offshore, a shocking revelation makes her question everything. with a killer on the loose, can megan find the missing pieces to the most complex case of her career and bring marlena and her little boy home alive? or will it be too late to save them? a totally edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller that will have you racing to the end, from a number one, new york times, wall street journal and amazon charts bestselling author. perfect for fans of robert dugoni, michael connelly and james patterson. read what everyone is saying about the megan carpenter series: 'the best one yet. megan is a strong, no nonsense woman… a disturbing story that will make you hold your breath and i kept thinking about it when i wasn't reading it. gregg olsen has excelled himself with this book.' netgalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'this is a series that's getting more and more compulsive with each book… i found it impossible to put down … highly recommended and a five star read i loved every page…' goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'omg!!… i was simply blown away by this… i couldn't look away from my kindle even when i wanted to. the story took me by my throat making me gasp every few chapters… wow!!' shalini's books and reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'holy cr*p what a complete stunner of a read this is. it had everything, sensational, creepy, addictive with a stunningly complex plot from beginning to end and i loved, loved, loved it !!' goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'megan is one ballsy detective… i love this character and this author's storytelling which kept me reading late into the night. this series just keeps getting better andbetter and has definitely left me wanting more. a well deserved five stars and a fantastic addition to a gripping and very addictive series.' goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"the perfect binge listen." — yahoo lifestyle instant #1 new york times bestseller. – this program includes a bonus interview with the author. – the silent patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. alicia berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. a famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of london’s most desirable areas. one evening her husband gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word. – alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts alicia into notoriety. the price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the grove, a secure forensic unit in north london. – theo faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with alicia. his determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him…. more praise for the silent patient: “absolutely brilliant… i read it in a state of intense, breathless excitement.” — stephen fry “smart, sophisticated storytelling freighted with real suspense – a very fine novel by any standard.” — lee child“the silent patient sneaks up on you like a slash of intimidating shadow on a badly lit street. michaelides has crafted a totally original, spellbinding psychological mystery so quirky, so unique that it should have its own genre.” — david baldacci

Round and round she goes, blonde pigtails flying, her high-pitched giggle catching on the wind. but as the ride slows to a stop, her seat is suddenly empty. little lucy is gone… when seven-year-old lucy ross is snatched from the carousel in denton city park, detective josie quinn joins the frantic search. she's the one who finds lucy's sparkly butterfly backpack abandoned by the ticket booth, a note with a devastating message stuffed inside: answer your phone, or your sweet little darling will die… the next day, lucy's parents are filled with hope when they pick up a call which they think is from their babysitter – but instead it's a chilling male voice on the line. josie races to the babysitter's small apartment only to find her lifeless body in a tangle of sheets on her bed.josie is faced with the most high-stakes case of her career as each new phone call from someone connected to the family ends with the shocking discovery of another body. this twisted killer wants revenge, and he won't stop until the ross family are in pieces… something is telling josie that lucy's parents aren't giving her the whole truth, but digging deeper into their lives will force her to confront a life-changing secret of her own. does josie have what it takes to crack this case? she has no choice if she's going to bring lucy home alive… an absolutely unputdownable new crime thriller from an amazon, usa today and wall street journal bestselling author. readers who love robert dugoni, angela marsons and rachel caine will be hooked until the final, jaw-dropping page.readers adore lisa regan: 'loved it!!!… i could not put it down… amazing characters… twists and turns in the plot that keeps the reader turning pages to get to the end… don't miss out on this series!' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'i was tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker, so many suspects and tension you could cut with a knife and as for the ending it blew me away!!!!!… another addictive and gripping series that just keeps getting better. i loved it!!!!!' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'a highly entertaining, top-notch and impossible to put down read, couple that with an intelligent, feisty female protagonist and you've got an unmissable five-star page-turner!' reader's retreat, 5 stars'wow this book grabbed me from the very first page… twists and turns that kept me reading page after page. just when i thought i was on the right track, i realize i wasn't.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'i tell myself i am only going to read a few chapters before bed. next thing i know it's 2am and i am only a few pages away from being done!!' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'phenomenal… addictive with an intense and complex… i was certain i had it all figured out on several occasions, but turns out i didn't. it kept me on the edge of my seat until the final twists… it's definitely action-packed… prepare yourselves for another wild ride…' book obsessed introverts, 5 stars'oh my it's a goodie!!… the suspense just keeps mounting ending with a stunning conclusion. a brilliant, compulsive and skilful police procedural.' goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'one heck of an entertaining and intense ride… fast, entertaining, suspenseful and action-packed… you will find yourself flying through and it will be hard to let go before you reach the final page… another scorcher!' it's all about books, 5 stars

An enhanced audiobook, with complete music score and extensive sound effects to add to your listening experience.the bride carried no decaying roses, but her bridal dress was torn and burnt. her bare legs, starved needle points, staggered disjointedly. the veil hung low over her face. i had my pistol, however i could not shoot. if it was a ghost, the bullet would surely pass through. if it was flesh, then i would be shooting dead a woman. her hands, the fingernails long and cracked, lifted up the veil. her face! even in the darkness i could see its ruin. the eyes had been snatched from its sockets, the nose sunken in; all that was left was the mouth. thin, melted lips parted to reveal brown chipped teeth.a roger rittner production. pulp radio — audio dramas. narrated by ian whitcomb, with barbara goodson and j.w. terry. announced by dave mallow.