Books
10 mystery audiobooks to listen to now
We enjoy curling up with a good book, but nothing beats an audiobook. You can squeeze it into your busy schedule and make even the most tedious tasks fly by – whether you’re doing the housework, stuck on the morning commute, or working out at the gym. In our opinion, nothing will take your mind off the treadmill faster than a good psychological thriller.
But with so many audiobooks now available on so many different platforms, the latest being Spotify, how do you know where to start? Fear not: we’ve rounded up the best mystery and thriller audiobooks on Spotify, Audible, and other streaming platforms.
Best mystery and suspense audiobooks of 2024
Close to Death – audio by Anthony Horowitz
Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz
Length: 9 hours 11 minutes
The residents of a quiet, gated community are appalled by the arrival of Giles Kenworthy, the noisy neighbour from hell. So appalled, in fact, that one of them resorts to murder. Detective Daniel Hawthorne is on the case, but how can he solve the crime when everyone shares the same motive? With its inventive plot and complex characters, the latest book in the Hawthorne series is a clever, surprising read. Rory Kinnear does a great job narrating this story, as Horowitz himself acknowledges in the audiobook.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
None of This Is True - audio by Lisa Jewell
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Length: 10 hours 14 minutes
Lisa Jewell’s latest book is one of the best-selling audiobooks on Spotify and Audible – and for good reason. The story itself hooks you from the beginning, as podcast host Alix befriends lonely local mum Josie and invites her onto her podcast, only to gradually realise that Josie has her own sinister intentions… The narration and music add to the creeping suspense of the story, and it’s so absorbing that it feels like watching a jumpy film or listening to a true crime podcast.
If you enjoy None of This Is True, we’d also recommend True Crime Story, which has a clever structure and a similarly meta premise, as it unfolds like a true crime investigation.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
The Wrong Sister – audio by Claire Douglas
The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
Length: 8 hours 54 minutes
In this psychological thriller, Tasha leaves her children in her sister Alice’s care to go on a well-deserved holiday. But while she’s away, Alice is attacked and left in intensive care. Tasha rushes home and, there, finds a note addressed to her: It was supposed to be you. This page-turner is particularly brilliant in audiobook format, as it’s narrated by talented actress Eleanor Tomlinson (whom you might recognise as the captivating anti-hero in our recent TV obsession, The Couple Next Door).
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Length: 12 hours 25 minutes
Richard Osman’s runaway success The Thursday Murder Club – and its subsequent series – needs no introduction. But in case you need it, here goes: four residents in a retirement village bond over their enjoyment of discussing cold crime cases. But when someone is killed in their community, they have their first live case. The audiobook is narrated by Lesley Manville, who plays Princess Margaret in series 5 and 6 of The Crown, and includes a bonus interview between Richard Osman and bestselling author Marian Keyes.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
The Secret – audio by Lee Child and Andrew Child
The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Length: 8 hours 18 minutes
In this Jack Reacher thriller, our hero investigates a mysterious death: a hospital patient who fell to his death from a twelfth-floor window. As Reacher tracks down the killer, he uncovers a decades-old conspiracy and must decide whether to follow the rules or administer his own form of justice. This action-packed story is brought to life by Jeff Harding, who also narrated the Jack Reacher audiobooks Killing Floor, The Sentinel, No Plan B and Tripwire, among others.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
The Last Goodbye – audio by Tim Weaver
The Last Goodbye by Tim Weaver
Length: 13 hours 21 minutes
When Tom Brenner and his 9-year-old son visit a theme park, they head straight for the haunted house. But somewhere inside the ride, the pair vanish. Missing persons investigator David Raker thinks there could be a connection to a cold case: Fiona Murphy, who went missing nearly four decades ago and now, out of the blue, has sent a letter to her daughter. What’s the connection, and who can Raker trust as he delves into the case? This mystery will have you hooked straight away, and the skilled narration adds another layer to the story.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
Prima Facie – audio by Suzie Miller
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller
Length: 9 hours 18 minutes
The award-winning play starring Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer has been transformed into a novel – and now an audiobook, read by Comer herself. The story follows Tessa, a criminal defence barrister who loves her job and has a reputation for getting her clients acquitted. But when she is assaulted by a male colleague, she finds herself on the other side of the courtroom, questioning everything she once believed in. This is a thought-provoking story that will stay with you, and Jodie Comer gives another standout performance.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
You Don't Know Me – audio by Imran Mahmood
You Don’t Know Me by Imran Mahmood
Length: 7 hours 25 minutes
An unnamed defendant stands accused of murder. Just before the closing speeches, he fires his lawyer and decides to tell his side of the story. This first-person narration puts you, the listener, in the position of the jury, to make your own conclusions about whether you think he is guilty and, more importantly, whether you think his actions are justifiable. This compelling story was adapted into a BBC drama.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
The Trial – audio by Rob Rinder
The Trial by Rob Rinder
Length: 10 hours 12 minutes
Do you love courtroom dramas and legal thrillers? Then you’ll love criminal barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder’s debut novel, which became an instant bestseller when it was published last year. A policeman is poisoned at the Old Bailey and all the evidence points to one man. It’s trainee defence barrister Adam Green’s job to defend him and find the person responsible. If you enjoyed The Trial, you’re sure to love Rinder’s latest book, The Suspect.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
Everyone Here Is Lying – audio by Shari Lapena
Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena
Length: 9 hours 28 minutes
In Shari Lapena’s latest domestic thriller, the quiet neighbourhood of Stanhope is rocked to its core when a 9-year-old girl goes missing. Her father, William, has been hiding an affair, but he’s not the only one keeping secrets. As witnesses come forward with subjective evidence, the neighbours become increasingly unhinged and the story builds to a surprising climax. This is a story you could listen to across one weekend.
Listen now on Spotify, Audible, Apple or Google Play.
What’s the best way to listen to audiobooks?
If you’re looking for the best audiobook app, we’ve got you covered. There are so many different platforms for listening to audiobooks, but we’ve rounded up some of our favourites below:
Spotify: If you have a Spotify Premium membership (£11.99/month), you can listen to up to 15 hours of audiobooks every month. Simply download the title you want, as you would with a song or album.
Audible: For £7.99/month, you get one credit a month, meaning you can download (and keep) one audiobook, alongside unlimited access to podcasts and select audiobooks.
Apple Books: If you have an iPhone, it’s super easy to buy an audiobook through the Books app. You don’t need a subscription, just pay for each title individually.
Google Play Books: If you have an Android, this is the app for you. Like Apple Books, you can listen without a subscription, buying each title separately.
Libby: Did you know that libraries have audiobooks too? Libby is an app that allows you to browse and borrow free audiobooks and ebooks from your local library.
Please note: Moderation is enabled and may delay your comment being posted. There is no need to resubmit your comment. By posting a comment you are agreeing to the website Terms of Use.