Browse Great First Listens by Category
Featured in Mysteries & Thrillers
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The Lost Man
- Written by: Jane Harper
- Narrated by: Stephen Shanahan
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Two brothers meet at the remote fence line separating their cattle ranches in the lonely outback. In an isolated belt of Western Australia, they are each other’s nearest neighbor, their homes a four-hour drive apart. The third brother lies dead at their feet. Something caused Cam, the middle child who had been in charge of the family homestead, to die alone in the middle of nowhere. So the eldest brother returns with his younger sibling to the family property and those left behind. But the fragile balance of the ranch is threatened.
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Nowhere near the Dry
- By Aditi Sen on 2020-11-18
A scorching Aussie whodunit
Deep in the outback of Queensland, dozens of kilometres from the nearest sheep station, Cameron Bright, a successful cattleman with everything to live for, lies dead beneath the skin-blistering sun. How he got there is the central mystery to Jane Harper's standalone thriller, The Lost Man. I loved the twists and turns of Harper's debut The Dry, also set in the remote Australian wilderness, but nothing could prepare me for the slow burn and shocking reveals of this expertly plotted whodunit. Initially, it appears that the scorching outback is the prime antagonist of the story, but in learning more about Bright’s family history and Cameron’s brother Nathan’s standing in the tiny rural community, we find that the real danger in this nearly uninhabitable climate is entirely human.
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Kingdom of the Blind
- A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, Book 14
- Written by: Louise Penny
- Narrated by: Robert Bathurst
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, and frankly curious, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder. None of them had ever met the elderly woman. The will is so odd and includes bequests that are so wildly unlikely that Gamache and the others suspect the woman must have been delusional.
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Gamache ... I mean Penny, does it again!
- By Tina Fehr Kehler on 2018-12-12
A dominant force in the Canadian mystery genre
Louise Penny is a dominant force in the Canadian mystery genre, and you don't need to start at Book 1 in her acclaimed series to appreciate her mastery. In Kingdom of the Blind, the legendary Chief Inspector Gamache is once again faced with a troubling crime in a small Quebec village. He must face both present demons as well as those from his past if he is going to solve the case in Three Pines.
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The Silent Patient
- Written by: Alex Michaelides
- Narrated by: Jack Hawkins, Louise Brealey
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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Couldn't stop listening
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-02-21
Suspense at its best!
This recently released debut novel by Alex Michaelides has been called a psychological thriller, but I think the more appropriate term would be a psychological suspense, and a fantastic one at that. The reader is not anxiously awaiting another attack from an unknown villain, but rather sits in page-turning anticipation of understanding the ‘why’ of a known killer. Since the murder takes place in the very beginning of the book and we are pretty sure (with occasional moments of doubt) that we know who the murderer is, the brilliance is how the author takes us through numerous twists and turns as we follow the mystery of why and how this event occurred.
The writing is tight, the characters engrossing in a macabre sense, and the darkness so well orchestrated that the reader is left with the sense that one can really never know oneself, let alone someone else…or what we/they are capable of. Bravo. Great debut novel.
More Great First Listens: Mysteries & Thrillers
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Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
- Written by: Stephen Fry - introductions, Arthur Conan Doyle
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 71 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the complete works of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and five collections of short stories.
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An Elementary Purchase
- By Gentleman Gamer on 2017-09-21
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Call Me God
- The Untold Story of the DC Sniper Investigation
- Written by: Jim Clemente, Tim Clemente
- Narrated by: Maureen O'Connell
- Length: 7 hrs
- Original Recording
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Wednesday, October 2, 2002.
Aspen Hill, Maryland. Northgate Plaza.
5:20 PM.
Inside Michael’s craft supply store, cashier Ann Chapman rings up another customer. Then it happens. A loud crack; a gust of wind; the light in register five goes dark.
Over the next 23 days, the entire DC area will be thrust into a reign of terror unprecedented in American history. Sniper attacks targeting and murdering everyday citizens will bring the entire region to its knees.
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Chilling
- By P Ross on 2019-11-01
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The Murderer's Son
- A Jackman and Evans Thriller
- Written by: Joy Ellis
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Crimebusting duo DI Jackman and DS Evans are back, solving another crime that will make your skin crawl. Twenty years ago: a farmer and his wife are cut to pieces by a ruthless serial killer. Now: a woman is viciously stabbed to death in the upmarket kitchen of her beautiful house on the edge of the marshes. Then a man called Daniel Kinder walks into Saltern police station and confesses to the murder. But DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans of the Fenland Constabulary soon discover that there is a lot more to Daniel than meets the eye.
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Great story, fantastic narration
- By Lucy on 2019-03-29
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The Couple Next Door
- A Novel
- Written by: Shari Lapena
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night, when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately lands on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.
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Really dysfunctional families
- By P. R. Trust on 2018-01-28
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Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
- Written by: Stephen Fry - introductions, Arthur Conan Doyle
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 71 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the complete works of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and five collections of short stories.
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An Elementary Purchase
- By Gentleman Gamer on 2017-09-21
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Call Me God
- The Untold Story of the DC Sniper Investigation
- Written by: Jim Clemente, Tim Clemente
- Narrated by: Maureen O'Connell
- Length: 7 hrs
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Wednesday, October 2, 2002.
Aspen Hill, Maryland. Northgate Plaza.
5:20 PM.
Inside Michael’s craft supply store, cashier Ann Chapman rings up another customer. Then it happens. A loud crack; a gust of wind; the light in register five goes dark.
Over the next 23 days, the entire DC area will be thrust into a reign of terror unprecedented in American history. Sniper attacks targeting and murdering everyday citizens will bring the entire region to its knees.
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Chilling
- By P Ross on 2019-11-01
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The Murderer's Son
- A Jackman and Evans Thriller
- Written by: Joy Ellis
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Crimebusting duo DI Jackman and DS Evans are back, solving another crime that will make your skin crawl. Twenty years ago: a farmer and his wife are cut to pieces by a ruthless serial killer. Now: a woman is viciously stabbed to death in the upmarket kitchen of her beautiful house on the edge of the marshes. Then a man called Daniel Kinder walks into Saltern police station and confesses to the murder. But DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans of the Fenland Constabulary soon discover that there is a lot more to Daniel than meets the eye.
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Great story, fantastic narration
- By Lucy on 2019-03-29
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The Couple Next Door
- A Novel
- Written by: Shari Lapena
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night, when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately lands on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.
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Really dysfunctional families
- By P. R. Trust on 2018-01-28
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No Time for Goodbye
- Written by: Linwood Barclay
- Narrated by: Christopher Lane
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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The house was deathly quiet. That was the first sign that something was terribly wrong. Fourteen-year-old Cynthia Bigge woke that morning to find herself alone. Her family - mother, father, and brother - had vanished without a word, without a note, without a trace. Twenty-five years later, Cynthia is still looking for answers. Now she is about to learn the devastating truth.
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wonderful book - kept me intrigued all the way thr
- By Linda L. on 2018-05-04
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The Woman in the Window
- A Novel
- Written by: A. J. Finn
- Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Anna Fox lives alone - a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times...and spying on her neighbors. Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, mother, their teenaged son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn't, her world begins to crumble. And its shocking secrets are laid bare.
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Hysterical and Grating
- By "puzzlee" on 2018-02-28
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The Demonologist
- A Novel
- Written by: Andrew Pyper
- Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Professor David Ullman's expertise in the literature of the demonic - notably Milton's Paradise Lost - has won him wide acclaim. But David is not a believer. One afternoon he receives a visitor at his campus office, a strikingly thin woman who offers him an invitation: travel to Venice, Italy, witness a "phenomenon", and offer his professional opinion, in return for an extravagant sum of money. Needing a fresh start, David accepts and heads to Italy with his beloved 12-year-old daughter, Tess. What happens in Venice will send David on an unimaginable journey from skeptic to true believer....
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Intelligent Chills
- By Jennie on 2019-09-22
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The Turn of the Key
- Written by: Ruth Ware
- Narrated by: Imogen Church
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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When Rowan stumbles across an ad for a live-in nanny, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss - with a staggeringly generous salary. And when she arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten - by the luxurious "smart" house fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family. What Rowan doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare - one that will end with a child dead and Rowan in prison awaiting trial for murder.
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Good nail biting read
- By Ollo on 2019-11-14
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One of Us Is Lying (TV Series Tie-In Edition)
- Written by: Karen M. McManus
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews, Shannon McManus, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Pay close attention, and you might solve this. On Monday afternoon five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app. Only Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead.
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Gripping!!
- By Sarah on 2020-01-08
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Murder on the Orient Express
- A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition
- Written by: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: Dan Stevens
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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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. One of his fellow passengers must be 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....
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A Thrilling, if Sombre Mystery
- By Gentleman Gamer on 2017-10-05
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You Will Know Me
- A Novel
- Written by: Megan Abbott
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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How far will you go to achieve a dream? That's the question a celebrated coach poses to Katie and Eric Knox after he sees their daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful, compete. For the Knoxes there are no limits - until a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community and everything they have worked so hard for is suddenly at risk. As rumors swirl among the other parents, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself irresistibly drawn to the crime itself.
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A great suspense novel
- By Gillian on 2019-03-08
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Conviction
- Written by: Denise Mina
- Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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The day Anna McDonald's quiet, respectable life explodes starts off like all the days before: Packing up the kids for school, making breakfast, listening to yet another true crime podcast. Then her husband comes downstairs with an announcement, and Anna is suddenly, shockingly alone. Reeling, desperate for distraction, Anna returns to the podcast. Other people's problems are much better than one's own - a sunken yacht, a murdered family, a hint of international conspiracy. But this case actually is Anna's problem. She knows one of the victims from an earlier life.
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Disappointing
- By Shirley on 2020-09-26