Audiobooks Like By Any Other Name

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Billie Fulford-Brown leads a ten-narrator production of Jodi Picoult's parallel-timeline novel, with the cast separation giving the two centuries genuinely distinct sonic identities rather than just alternating chapters — at 18 hours the complexity of keeping two worlds distinct is real, and the full-cast approach earns its ambition. Simon Vance and John Lee among the cast bring deep historical fiction credibility to their sections. Five of the recommendations are narrated by voices from this same cast, with seven highly rated titles that share the novel's investment in women claiming authorship and historical fiction told across centuries.

10 audiobooks for fans of By Any Other Name

  1. 1
    The Swan Thieves cover

    The Swan Thieves

    by Elizabeth Kostova

    Narrated by John Lee, Treat Williams, Sarah Zimmerman, Anne Heche, Erin Cottrell

    ★ 3.29 ABR Score (36.7K ratings)
    ★ 3.58 Goodreads (35.6K) ★ 3.73 Audible (1.1K)
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    A full cast brings depth to this multi-timeline mystery about a psychiatrist obsessed with his patient's fixation on a mysterious French impressionist painting and the woman within it.

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  2. 2
    The Pillars of the Earth cover

    The Pillars of the Earth

    Kingsbridge • Book 1

    by Ken Follett

    Narrated by John Lee

    ★ 4.69 ABR Score (874.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.35 Goodreads (838.5K) ★ 4.64 Audible (36.3K)
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  3. 3
    The Evening and the Morning cover

    The Evening and the Morning

    Kingsbridge

    by Ken Follett

    Narrated by John Lee

    ★ 4.67 ABR Score (149.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.39 Goodreads (136.4K) ★ 4.71 Audible (12.8K)
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    Set in 997 CE England, three lives intersect during Viking raids and political chaos as a new town rises. Lee's commanding voice spans decades of medieval intrigue in this Kingsbridge prequel about power, faith, and survival.

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  4. 4
    Fall of Giants cover

    Fall of Giants

    The Century Trilogy • Book 1

    by Ken Follett

    Narrated by John Lee

    ★ 4.52 ABR Score (370.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.33 Goodreads (350.4K) ★ 4.53 Audible (20.3K)
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    Five families' fates entwine with war, revolution, and history. John Lee's thirty-hour narration proves that epic scope and intimate human drama aren't opposites: they're inseparable.

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  5. 5
    Bring Up The Bodies cover

    Bring Up The Bodies

    Thomas Cromwell • Book 2

    by Hilary Mantel, Unknown Author

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    ★ 4.40 ABR Score (109.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.3 Goodreads (105.7K) ★ 4.54 Audible (3.3K)
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    Simon Vance's narration transforms Mantel's intricate political prose into pure suspense—you'll hear the machinery of power and betrayal click into place across 14 hours you won't want to pause.

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  6. 6
    River of Stars cover

    River of Stars

    Under Heaven • Book 2

    by Guy Gavriel Kay

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    ★ 4.14 ABR Score (8.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (8.0K) ★ 4.5 Audible (608)
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    Set four centuries after Under Heaven, Kay returns to his China-inspired world during a time of imperial decline and nomadic invasion. Simon Vance's narration captures both the intimate character moments and sweeping historical scope.

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  7. 7
    Children of Earth and Sky cover

    Children of Earth and Sky

    Sarantine Universe • Book 7

    by Guy Gavriel Kay

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    ★ 4.09 ABR Score (9.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (8.3K) ★ 4.42 Audible (848)
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    Renaissance-inspired fantasy where merchants, artists, and soldiers navigate the collision between empires and faiths along dangerous borderlands. Simon Vance's nuanced performance brings depth to Kay's complex political intrigue and gorgeous prose.

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  8. 8
    Beneath a Scarlet Sky cover

    Beneath a Scarlet Sky

    by Mark T. Sullivan

    Narrated by Will Damron

    ★ 4.81 ABR Score (445.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (396.0K) ★ 4.73 Audible (49.7K)
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    Teenager Pino Lella guides Jews over the Alps then becomes a Nazi general's driver, spying for the Italian resistance. Will Damron captures both Pino's youthful innocence and his growing courage throughout the war.

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  9. 9
    The Frozen River cover

    The Frozen River

    by Ariel Lawhon

    Narrated by Jane Oppenheimer, Ariel Lawhon

    ★ 4.71 ABR Score (610.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (594.0K) ★ 4.7 Audible (16.2K)
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    Maine, 1789: midwife Martha Ballard investigates a body frozen in the Kennebec River, using her detailed diary of births, deaths, and town secrets. Jane Oppenheimer's narration captures the cold grip of frontier justice.

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  10. 10
    A Land Remembered cover

    A Land Remembered

    by Patrick D. Smith

    Narrated by George Guidall

    Why this book?

    A Land Remembered shares the same sweeping, multi-layered narrative structure that makes By Any Other Name so compelling, weaving together complex character arcs across time with meticulous attention to detail. George Guidall's commanding narration delivers the same immersive, character-driven mystery experience that Picoult's ensemble cast creates, drawing listeners deep into a richly constructed world of secrets and revelation.

    ★ 4.69 ABR Score (20.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.48 Goodreads (14.8K) ★ 4.79 Audible (5.4K)
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    Three generations of the MacIvey family transform from dirt-poor Florida crackers into real estate tycoons, starting in 1858 with Tobias MacIvey's arrival in the harsh frontier.

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How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →