The Best Thriller Audiobooks to Get Your Heart Racing

The Best Thriller Audiobooks to Get Your Heart Racing


March 20, 2021
Few stories lend themselves to audio performance better than thrillers. Not only does listening give you time to play detective and try to figure out the mysteries within the characters, but it also adds to the suspense. There’s no way to quickly flip through the tense, nerve-wracking parts—and that’s what makes hearing them so much more exciting. Whether you enjoy classic detective thrillers, or something more sinister and psychological, there are endless thrilling stories to choose from. Here are the 20 best thriller audiobooks to get you started.
Product List
  • Redemption cover art

    • Redemption

    • Amos Decker, Book 5
    • Written by: David Baldacci
    • Narrated by: Kyf Brewer, Orlagh Cassidy
    • Series: Memory Man Series, Book 5
    • Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
    • Release Date: 18-04-19
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 78 ratings
    • In this new installment in the thrilling Memory Man series, Amos Decker and his FBI partner Alex Jamison are met by an unexpected face from the past when visiting Decker’s hometown of Burlington, Ohio. Coming face-to-face with the first person he ever arrested for murder, questions start to arise about whether the man committed these crimes. Digging back into the case, Decker finds an unexpected connection to a new crime that he may have the power to prevent. In this dynamic and hair-raising listen, this audiobook immerses the listeners in the race against time as Decker tries to put all the pieces together.
  • Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection cover art

    • Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection

    • Written by: Stephen Fry - introductions, Arthur Conan Doyle
    • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
    • Series: Sherlock Holmes, Book 1-6
    • Length: 71 hrs and 57 mins
    • Release Date: 27-02-17
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 1,059 ratings
    • In this enthralling listen, the much-loved character of Sherlock Holmes and national treasure Stephen Fry are brought together through Fry’s deeply personal and insightful introductions to each title. Since Holmes' first appearance in A Study in Scarlet, he has kept millions of fans on their toes as they follow the delightful character through his invigorating detective work. Being a huge fan of the Sherlock Holmes series, Fry brings a passionate and insightful narrative to these highly-regarded mystery tales. With his introductions being available exclusively through Audible, the listener is treated to a unique perspective on the entirety of Holmes' gripping adventures.
  • The Girl on the Train cover art

    • The Girl on the Train

    • Written by: Paula Hawkins
    • Narrated by: India Fisher, Louise Brealey, Clare Corbett
    • Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
    • Release Date: 15-01-15
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 591 ratings
    • In The Girl on the Train, Rachel Watson, recently divorced and slowly crumbling under the weight of alcoholism, is forced to relive her pain each time her train passes by her former home—where her ex-husband now resides with the woman he left her for—on her daily commute. To dull the pain, liven up her dreary life, and further self-destruct, Rachel crafts idealistic stories about their neighbours, imagining lives she wishes she could have herself. But when Rachel sees something shocking through the train window, and can’t help but dig into what happened, she sets off a chain of events with shocking consequences.
      Rachel’s perspective isn’t the only one you’ll hear in this twisty listen—two other women complete the story, sharing experiences that will leave listeners sifting through each version for grains of truth. Each of the three narrators crafts bold portraits of each character, making you sympathise with each perspective quickly… and wonder who, exactly, has the most accurate version of reality.
  • The Pillars of the Earth cover art

    • The Pillars of the Earth

    • Kingsbridge, Book 1
    • Written by: Ken Follett
    • Narrated by: John Lee
    • Series: The Kingsbridge Novels, Book 1, Kingsbridge (Publication Order), Book 1
    • Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
    • Release Date: 18-10-10
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 86 ratings
    • The Pillars of the Earth series kicks off in this enthralling audiobook that weaves together history, religion, politics, love and dishonour. Set in 12th century England, Ken Follett tells the story of Philip, a devout and resourceful monk who serves as the prior of Kingsbridge. Philip is compelled to build the greatest Gothic cathedral in the world, with the help of mason and architect Tom and the beautiful yet evasive Lady Aliena. However, a secret shame of Lady Aliena threatens to turn church against state and brother against brother in this thrilling and spellbinding tale. Voted as one of the top 100 of Britain’s Best-Loved Books in the BBC The Big Read, this title will take the listener back to the very core of existence in 12th century England.
  • Beartown cover art

    • Beartown

    • Written by: Fredrik Backman
    • Narrated by: John Sackville
    • Series: Beartown, Book 1
    • Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
    • Release Date: 10-08-17
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 290 ratings
    • Set in the snowy town of Beartown in a Swedish forest, an isolated community is shrinking by the year. As the town starts to slowly revive itself, the future of snow-covered Beartown seems bright. The ice rink is the centre point of the community and with high hopes for winning the national semi-finals, Beartown’s hopes and dreams depend on the hockey team’s performance. Until one day, a brutal event traumatises a young girl and shocks the town. This shocking tale written by New York Times best-selling author Fredrik Backman uncovers secrets and accusations in a small community that has been torn apart.
  • Killing Floor cover art

    • Killing Floor

    • Jack Reacher, Book 1
    • Written by: Lee Child, Philip Pullman - foreword
    • Narrated by: Jeff Harding
    • Series: Jack Reacher, Book 1
    • Length: 16 hrs and 21 mins
    • Release Date: 09-11-17
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 123 ratings
    • Lee Child’s debut novel (and the first story in the hit Jack Reacher series), Killing Floor tells the story of a man passing through the town of Margrave, Georgia...only to be arrested for murder almost immediately. Audie Award-winning narrator Dick Hill’s gravelly voice adds to the grit and grime of the character he portrays as he tries desperately to prove his innocence. His narrative pace lets you listen along and try to solve the mystery with Hill, while still keeping you on the edge of your seat and eager to hear what the next chapter will reveal.
  • Murder on the Orient Express cover art

    • Murder on the Orient Express

    • An Audible Original Drama
    • Written by: Agatha Christie
    • Narrated by: Tom Conti, Jane Asher, Ruta Gedmintas, Paterson Joseph, Rula Lenska, Art Malik, Eddie Marsan, Sophie Okonedo, Walles Hamonde
    • Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
    • Release Date: 01-11-17
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 276 ratings
    • Agatha Christie returns with her much-loved character, detective Hercule Poirot, as he finds himself in the middle of a brutal murder mystery on board the luxurious Orient Express. As the train stops dead in the snow at midnight, the diverse range of passengers soon become suspects in the case. It is the job of Poirot to find the culprit before they strike again. This thrilling and suspenseful listen is narrated by an all-star cast, including Tom Conti, Sophie Okonedo, and Eddie Marsan.
  • The Woman in the Window cover art

    • The Woman in the Window

    • Written by: A. J. Finn
    • Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee
    • Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
    • Release Date: 25-01-18
    • Language: English
    • 4 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
    • For fans of Alfred Hitchcock and Agatha Christie, A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window is sure to satisfy. This listen tells the story of a reclusive woman, Anna, who is convinced she witnessed a crime at a neighbour’s home. A woman who loves to spy on her neighbours while drinking one-too-many glasses of wine, Anna must come to terms with what she saw as dark secrets begin to unfold around her. Actress Ann Marie Lee’s narration gives you insight into Anna’s mind, bringing her character to vivid life as she struggles to determine whether what she saw was a figment of her imagination—or something much worse.
  • The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle cover art

    • The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

    • Written by: Stuart Turton
    • Narrated by: Jot Davies
    • Length: 16 hrs and 41 mins
    • Release Date: 08-02-18
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 333 ratings
    • Stuart Turton submerges the listener into a chilling murder mystery, where the young and beautiful Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered at a masquerade ball. However, this is no normal murder… the day will repeat itself and Evelyn will be killed again and again. The only way to break the cycle is to identify the killer. Waking up in the body of a different guest every day, Aiden, a fellow guest, must put together the pieces and find Evelyn’s killer. In this listen, Gosford Park meets Inception to create a gripping and exciting story that rivals the work of Agatha Christie.
  • The Da Vinci Code cover art

    • The Da Vinci Code

    • Written by: Dan Brown
    • Narrated by: Jeff Harding
    • Series: Robert Langdon, Book 2
    • Length: 16 hrs and 39 mins
    • Release Date: 05-12-05
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 335 ratings
    • Following the success of Angels & Demons, Dan Brown brings expert symbologist Robert Langdon back to solve another murder in The Da Vinci Code. When Professor Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu are called in regarding a violent crime perpetrated at the Louvre Museum in France, they're soon thrown into a battle between extreme religious sects that unlocks a world of unforeseen puzzles and mysteries. One of the benefits of listening to this thriller is your ability to analyse and solve the case alongside Langdon. Paul Michael delivers this listen with ease, teetering between quick and meandering. It’s easy to find yourself not only breezing through this thrilling story but also deep-diving into the alternate religious history Dan Brown has crafted.
  • And Then There Were None cover art

    • And Then There Were None

    • Written by: Agatha Christie
    • Narrated by: Hugh Fraser
    • Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins
    • Release Date: 27-12-06
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 194 ratings
    • Crime fiction mastermind Agatha Christie will satisfy mystery lovers with her thrilling work in And Then There Were None. Ten strangers, with nothing in common with one another, are lured to an island mansion by the mysterious and elusive U.N. Owen. At a seemingly normal dinner, a record starts playing the voice of the unseen host, who accuses each person of hiding a deep, dark and guilty secret. When a former reckless driver is found poisoned that same evening, it becomes apparent that the killer is in their midst and preparing to strike again and again… This chilling, ingenious and dynamic audiobook will keep listeners on their toes as they search for the murderer commences.
  • Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less cover art

    • Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less

    • Written by: Jeffrey Archer
    • Narrated by: John Lee
    • Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
    • Release Date: 17-07-14
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 99 ratings
    • A fraudulent scheme and a string of broken promises result in four successful individuals wanting to get revenge on Harvey Metcalfe. This thrilling listen tells a story of payback and revenge after four men lose their respective fortunes overnight, at the hands of the shady crook that is Mr Metcalfe. Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less sees an heir, a doctor, an art dealer and an Oxford don join forces to track down their mutual enemy, get every penny back, and then destroy him.
  • The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra cover art

    • The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra

    • Written by: Vaseem Khan
    • Narrated by: Sartaj Garewal
    • Series: A Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation, Book 1
    • Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins
    • Release Date: 15-09-15
    • Language: English
    • 4 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
    • Inspector Ashwin Chopra is about to retire when he inherits two surprises, an unsolved case of a young boy who was drowned and a baby elephant. The suspicious death raises questions when nobody seems to want to solve this tragic mystery. Chopra’s quest for answers takes him across the slums and high-rise buildings of the Mumbai City’s underworld to uncover secrets about this mysterious death, accompanied by his new companion. Garewal’s engaging narration of The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra will grip you with his eclectic vocal range that distinguishes the bold characters created by Vaseem Khan.