10 audiobooks for fans of The Maltese Falcon
- 1
Murder on the Orient Express
A Hercule Poirot Mystery • Book 10
Narrated by Dan Stevens
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver classic detective mysteries with sharp, atmospheric narration that keeps you engaged through intricate plots and morally complex characters. Where Hammett's hardboiled detective work unfolds through gritty urban streets, Christie's locked-room puzzle offers the same intellectual satisfaction and expertly paced revelations, just with a more refined setting and equally skilled narrator bringing the tension to life.
★ 4.66 ABR Score (755.1K ratings)★ 4.2 Goodreads (741.3K) ★ 4.68 Audible (13.8K)More about this pick
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.
- 2
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
A Hercule Poirot Mystery • Book 1
Narrated by Hugh Fraser
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver classic detective fiction with sharp, methodical plotting and morally ambiguous protagonists navigating dark mysteries. Hugh Fraser's refined narration complements Christie's intricate puzzle-box construction much as Dufris's noir-inflected delivery enhances Hammett's hard-boiled atmosphere, offering a similarly immersive listen in roughly the same timeframe.
★ 4.30 ABR Score (515.5K ratings)★ 4 Goodreads (514.2K) ★ 4.55 Audible (1.3K)More about this pick
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.
- 3
A Is for Alibi
Kinsey Millhone Mysteries • Book 1
by Sue Grafton
Narrated by Mary Peiffer
Why this book?
Both novels feature a shrewd, independent private investigator navigating morally complex cases through sharp dialogue and meticulous detective work, with narrators who bring the same hard-boiled sensibility to their audiobook performances. Grafton's alphabet series offers that same page-turning mystery and cynical wit, making it a natural progression for listeners who appreciated Dufris's delivery of Hammett's classic noir style.
★ 3.64 ABR Score (195.4K ratings)★ 3.86 Goodreads (192.6K) ★ 3.91 Audible (2.8K)More about this pick
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.
- 4
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon
Narrated by Jeff Woodman
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver sharp, intelligent mysteries anchored by unforgettable protagonists navigating morally complex worlds, and Jeff Woodman's narration captures the same conversational immediacy that makes William Dufris's performance of Hammett's noir so compelling. While The Maltese Falcon unfolds as classic detective intrigue, The Curious Incident offers a similarly clever puzzle wrapped in a more intimate, psychologically layered perspective that rewards the close listening these narratives demand.
★ 4.21 ABR Score (1.6M ratings)★ 3.89 Goodreads (1.6M) ★ 4.35 Audible (16.4K)More about this pick
Christopher's investigation into his neighbor's murdered dog reveals family secrets he never expected in this unique mystery told from an autistic perspective.
- 5
Only to Sleep
by Lawrence Osborne
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 3.52 ABR Score (2.2K ratings)★ 3.59 Goodreads (2.0K) ★ 3.98 Audible (256)More about this pick
An aging Philip Marlowe takes one last case in this authorized continuation of Chandler's detective series. Ray Porter brings weathered gravitas to Osborne's psychological study of literature's most enduring gumshoe.
- 6
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie - HINDI Book 1) (Hindi Edition)
Hercule Poirot • Book 4
Narrated by Hugh Fraser
★ 4.63 ABR Score (359.7K ratings)★ 4.26 Goodreads (354.0K) ★ 4.69 Audible (5.6K)More about this pick
Christie's most controversial Poirot mystery unfolds as Roger Ackroyd dies after learning a blackmailer's identity, with Hugh Fraser guiding listeners through every misdirection.
- 7
Junkyard Dogs
Walt Longmire • Book 6
Narrated by George Guidall
★ 4.57 ABR Score (28.1K ratings)★ 4.26 Goodreads (21.0K) ★ 4.7 Audible (7.1K)More about this pick
A severed thumb in a junkyard sparks warfare between developers and scrapyard owners in Durant, Wyoming. Guidall's weathered voice perfectly embodies Sheriff Longmire's dry wit.
- 8
Rebecca
by Daphne du Maurier
Narrated by Anna Massey
★ 4.56 ABR Score (741.5K ratings)★ 4.25 Goodreads (730.8K) ★ 4.57 Audible (10.7K)More about this pick
A shy bride arrives at her husband's estate, Manderley, only to find herself competing with the ghost of his deceased first wife. Massey's haunting narration perfectly captures the Gothic atmosphere.
- 9
The Western Star
Walt Longmire • Book 13
Narrated by George Guidall
★ 4.56 ABR Score (18.0K ratings)★ 4.27 Goodreads (12.2K) ★ 4.71 Audible (5.8K)More about this pick
Sheriff Longmire confronts a photograph of twenty-five lawmen from his past, triggering memories of a deadly train journey decades earlier. George Guidall's weathered delivery perfectly matches Walt's reflective mood.
- 10
The Life We Bury
Joe Talbert • Book 1
by Allen Eskens
Narrated by Zach Villa
★ 4.56 ABR Score (289.0K ratings)★ 4.09 Goodreads (213.3K) ★ 4.58 Audible (75.7K)More about this pick
College student Joe interviews dying Vietnam veteran Carl Iverson for a class assignment, uncovering a decades-old murder conviction. Zach Villa conveys Joe's growing obsession as he questions whether the man he's profiling is actually innocent.
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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.