Audiobooks Like The Big Sleep

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Scott Brick gives Philip Marlowe a controlled, unhurried cool — the narration never quite sounds impressed by anything, which is exactly right for a detective working in a world where everyone is selling something and the only honest transaction is a fist. At seven hours it's a tight listen, quick enough that the noir atmosphere doesn't have time to become parody. Six of these recommendations feature Brick's voice, and ten have won awards, so the list is built around quality crime fiction delivered by a narrator who has made this register his own.

10 audiobooks for fans of The Big Sleep

  1. 1
    Brimstone cover

    Brimstone

    Pendergast • Book 5

    by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    ★ 4.37 ABR Score (48.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (43.6K) ★ 4.55 Audible (5.1K)
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    Bodies appear burned from the inside with claw marks on walls and brimstone in the air, pulling FBI Agent Pendergast into a case that seems supernatural.

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  2. 2
    In Cold Blood cover

    In Cold Blood

    by Truman Capote

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    Why this book?

    Scott Brick's measured, introspective narration deepens the psychological intensity that mystery fans crave, and In Cold Blood delivers a grittier, more atmospheric exploration of crime than Chandler's detective noir—trading the quick wit of The Big Sleep for Capote's methodical examination of real criminal psychology. The extended runtime allows Brick to build a more immersive, haunting listening experience that rewards the same appetite for morally complex storytelling.

    ★ 4.37 ABR Score (751.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (735.8K) ★ 4.44 Audible (15.6K)
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    Capote meticulously reconstructs the senseless murder of a Kansas farm family and tracks the killers' capture in this pioneering work of true crime. Brick's gravitas matches the material's weight.

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  3. 3
    Mystic River cover

    Mystic River

    by Dennis Lehane

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    Why this book?

    Scott Brick's noir-inflected narration brings the same atmospheric tension to Lehane's modern crime drama, deepening the psychological complexity that made The Big Sleep compelling. Both audiobooks explore the moral ambiguity of flawed protagonists navigating dark mysteries, though Mystic River expands the scope to examine how past trauma shapes present violence across an entire community.

    ★ 4.31 ABR Score (170.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (166.9K) ★ 4.46 Audible (3.2K)
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    Three childhood friends reunite over a murder in working-class Boston, with Scott Brick's Boston-tinged delivery grounding every character interaction.

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  4. 4
    Squeeze Me cover

    Squeeze Me

    Skink Series • Book 8

    by Carl Hiaasen

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    Why this book?

    Scott Brick's distinctive noir delivery brings the same sharp, cynical wit to Hiaasen's Florida mystery that made Chandler's detective work so compelling, though with a darker comedic edge that transforms crime investigation into absurdist social commentary. Both audiobooks feature hard-boiled investigation and morally complex protagonists navigating corrupt systems, but Hiaasen expands that world with satirical bite and an ensemble cast that Brick's nuanced narration brings vividly to life.

    ★ 4.14 ABR Score (44.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.03 Goodreads (39.6K) ★ 4.38 Audible (4.6K)
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    Scott Brick's deadpan delivery transforms Hiaasen's Florida satire into comedy gold—every absurd character and political jab lands harder when spoken aloud.

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  5. 5
    The Boy from the Woods cover

    The Boy from the Woods

    Wilde • Book 1

    by Harlan Coben

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    ★ 4.10 ABR Score (123.2K ratings)
    ★ 3.95 Goodreads (113.9K) ★ 4.31 Audible (9.3K)
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    Scott Brick follows Wilde, the feral child found thirty years ago, as he uses his unique perspective to track another missing teenager in Coben's latest mystery.

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  6. 6
    Murder on the Orient Express cover

    Murder on the Orient Express

    A Hercule Poirot Mystery • Book 10

    by Agatha Christie

    Narrated by Dan Stevens

    Why this book?

    Both audiobooks deliver classic mystery narratives with sharp, distinctive narration that brings morally complex characters to life, though Christie's locked-room puzzle offers a more intricate plot mechanics compared to Chandler's hard-boiled detective work. The equal runtime makes this a natural pairing for listeners who appreciate golden-age crime fiction with witty dialogue and atmospheric tension.

    ★ 4.66 ABR Score (755.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (741.3K) ★ 4.68 Audible (13.8K)
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    Hercule Poirot faces his most confounding case when a passenger is murdered aboard a snowbound luxury train. Stevens's crisp delivery suits Christie's methodical plotting perfectly.

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  7. 7
    The Mysterious Affair at Styles cover

    The Mysterious Affair at Styles

    A Hercule Poirot Mystery • Book 1

    by Agatha Christie

    Narrated by Hugh Fraser

    Why this book?

    The Mysterious Affair at Styles shares the intricate puzzle-solving and sharp dialogue that makes The Big Sleep so compelling, while Hugh Fraser's narration brings the same engaging character-driven storytelling to a more traditional whodunit format. Both audiobooks deliver classic mystery craftsmanship with narrators who bring wit and personality to their investigations.

    ★ 4.29 ABR Score (515.5K ratings)
    ★ 4 Goodreads (514.2K) ★ 4.55 Audible (1.3K)
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    Hercule Poirot investigates his first case when wealthy Emily Inglethorp dies mysteriously at her country estate. Hugh Fraser's narration introduces the Belgian detective's distinctive mannerisms with theatrical precision.

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  8. 8
    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time cover

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

    by Mark Haddon

    Narrated by Jeff Woodman

    Why this book?

    Both mysteries feature deeply flawed protagonists navigating complex cases through keen observation and unconventional logic, though Haddon's narrator captures a more intimate, neurodivergent perspective that offers a refreshing counterpoint to Chandler's hard-boiled cynicism. The audiobook narration in both is exceptionally crafted to enhance the detective work, with Jeff Woodman's performance conveying the protagonist's singular way of processing the world much as Scott Brick's captures noir atmosphere.

    ★ 4.21 ABR Score (1.6M ratings)
    ★ 3.89 Goodreads (1.6M) ★ 4.35 Audible (16.4K)
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    Christopher's investigation into his neighbor's murdered dog reveals family secrets he never expected in this unique mystery told from an autistic perspective.

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  9. 9
    White Jazz cover

    White Jazz

    L.A. Quartet • Book 4

    by James Ellroy

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    ★ 3.77 ABR Score (10.4K ratings)
    ★ 3.92 Goodreads (10.1K) ★ 4.09 Audible (264)
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    Corrupt LAPD Lieutenant Dave Klein operates as enforcer and bagman until a federal corruption investigation makes him the fall guy. Scott Brick captures Klein's paranoid, violent mindset in Ellroy's staccato prose.

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  10. 10
    A Is for Alibi cover

    A Is for Alibi

    Kinsey Millhone Mysteries • Book 1

    by Sue Grafton

    Narrated by Mary Peiffer

    ★ 3.64 ABR Score (195.4K ratings)
    ★ 3.86 Goodreads (192.6K) ★ 3.91 Audible (2.8K)
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    Kinsey Millhone's wisecracking PI debut feels like hanging out with your toughest friend over drinks. Mary Peiffer captures Kinsey's sardonic voice perfectly, making this Santa Teresa mystery impossible to pause.

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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 →