Find your next listen
- New to Thriller? Start here → American Dirt
- Shortest on this list → Verity (8h 10m)
- For a long haul → The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium Series #3) (20h 17m)
- Most popular of all time → The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Hidden gem → Sons of Valor II: Violence of Action (Sons of Valor #2)
- Prefer something shorter? →
- 1
Only the Dead
Terminal List • Book 6
by Jack Carr
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.82 ABR Score (32.5K ratings)★ 4.54 Goodreads (24.0K) ★ 4.85 Audible (8.6K)More about this pick
Ray Porter's intense delivery matches James Reece uncovering a conspiracy that reaches from a 1980 congressman's murder to current global threats.
- 2
American Dirt
by Jeanine Cummins
Narrated by Yareli Arizmendi
★ 4.81 ABR Score (735.6K ratings)★ 4.37 Goodreads (700.6K) ★ 4.72 Audible (35.1K)More about this pick
Bookstore owner Lydia and her son flee Mexico after cartel violence destroys their family, joining migrants on the dangerous journey north. Arizmendi's bilingual narration honors the characters' experiences.
- 3
Red Sky Mourning
Terminal List • Book 7
by Jack Carr
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.79 ABR Score (30.2K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (20.4K) ★ 4.84 Audible (9.8K)More about this pick
Porter's commanding delivery intensifies the tension as James Reece confronts a rogue Chinese submarine and a tech mogul's quantum computing revolution.
- 4
True Believer
Terminal List • Book 2
by Jack Carr
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.78 ABR Score (76.5K ratings)★ 4.35 Goodreads (43.6K) ★ 4.8 Audible (32.9K)More about this pick
Former Navy SEAL James Reece hunts terrorists across multiple continents after coordinated holiday attacks crash global markets, with detailed military action throughout.
- 5
Sons of Valor III: War Machine
The Sons of Valor Series • Book 3
by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.78 ABR Score (3.0K ratings)★ 4.9 Audible (3.0K) - 6
The Terminal List
Terminal List • Book 1
by Jack Carr
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.76 ABR Score (132.2K ratings)★ 4.29 Goodreads (73.5K) ★ 4.75 Audible (58.7K)More about this pick
Navy SEAL James Reece discovers his team's death was orchestrated by his own government, launching a methodical revenge campaign. Porter's gravelly delivery matches Reece's military precision and barely contained fury.
- 7
Verity
Narrated by Vanessa Johansson, Amy Landon
★ 4.74 ABR Score (4.0M ratings)★ 4.29 Goodreads (3.9M) ★ 4.51 Audible (137.0K)More about this pick
Vanessa Johansson and Amy Landon create distinct voices for a psychological thriller where manuscript pages reveal whether Verity Crawford is victim or monster.
- 8
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Millennium Series • Book 3
by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland - translator
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 4.73 ABR Score (810.0K ratings)★ 4.24 Goodreads (779.5K) ★ 4.69 Audible (30.5K)More about this pick
Hospitalized Lisbeth faces trial while Blomkvist uncovers the conspiracy that destroyed her childhood. Simon Vance's steady narration guides readers through this complex finale of corruption and revenge.
- 9
Sons of Valor II: Violence of Action
Sons of Valor • Book 2
by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.73 ABR Score (7.2K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (2.2K) ★ 4.9 Audible (5.0K)More about this pick
Tier One Navy SEALs hunt the legendary Lion of Ramadi sniper who's targeting American operators with deadly precision. Ray Porter's military thriller narration captures the tactical intensity and brotherhood among these elite warriors.
- 10
Misery
by Stephen King
Narrated by Lindsay Crouse
★ 4.73 ABR Score (859.0K ratings)★ 4.23 Goodreads (847.7K) ★ 4.76 Audible (11.3K)More about this pick
Novelist Paul Sheldon becomes prisoner to his "number one fan" Annie Wilkes after a car crash in rural Colorado. Lindsay Crouse's chilling performance makes Annie's manic devotion absolutely terrifying.
- 11
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Millennium Series • Book 2
by Stieg Larsson
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 4.73 ABR Score (1.0M ratings)★ 4.26 Goodreads (991.2K) ★ 4.66 Audible (32.3K)More about this pick
Lisbeth Salander becomes the prime suspect when her legal guardian is murdered alongside a journalist exposing sex trafficking. Simon Vance navigates the complex Swedish thriller with clear character voices and building tension.
- 12
Hellbent
Orphan X • Book 3
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.73 ABR Score (38.1K ratings)★ 4.44 Goodreads (25.3K) ★ 4.75 Audible (12.8K)More about this pick
The Nowhere Man faces his past when his surrogate father Jack Johns is targeted for knowing too much about the secret Orphan X assassination program.
- 13
Consent to Kill
Mitch Rapp • Book 8
by Vince Flynn
Narrated by George Guidall
★ 4.72 ABR Score (66.7K ratings)★ 4.41 Goodreads (53.1K) ★ 4.73 Audible (13.6K)More about this pick
Mitch Rapp's ruthless counterterrorism methods finally provoke retaliation when foreign agents target his personal life, forcing him to balance vengeance against protecting those he loves most.
- 14
Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance
A Jack Ryan Novel (chronological order) • Book 17
by Mark Greaney
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.72 ABR Score (8.9K ratings)★ 4.72 Audible (8.9K) - 15
Oath of Loyalty
Mitch Rapp • Book 21
Narrated by George Guidall
★ 4.71 ABR Score (31.6K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (24.5K) ★ 4.75 Audible (7.1K)More about this pick
Mitch Rapp goes into exile when the President declares him a threat, but global terrorism forces him back into action. George Guidall's authoritative narration suits this high-stakes political thriller perfectly.
- 16
Cry Havoc
Tom Reece • Book 1
by Jack Carr
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.71 ABR Score (13.4K ratings)★ 4.45 Goodreads (8.7K) ★ 4.85 Audible (4.8K)More about this pick
Set in 1968 as America burns with riots and war, this thriller follows the aftermath of a captured spy ship off North Korea. Porter's commanding performance matches the period tension and military precision of Carr's latest protagonist, Tom Reece.
- 17
Imitation in Death
In Death • Book 17
by J.D. Robb
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
★ 4.71 ABR Score (37.5K ratings)★ 4.39 Goodreads (32.8K) ★ 4.82 Audible (4.7K)More about this pick
A killer studies history's most notorious serial murderers and recreates their crimes in 2059 New York, personally challenging Lieutenant Eve Dallas to a deadly game of identification.
- 18
Apprentice in Death
In Death • Book 43
by J.D. Robb
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
★ 4.71 ABR Score (34.2K ratings)★ 4.45 Goodreads (27.5K) ★ 4.76 Audible (6.7K)More about this pick
A sniper kills three random people at a Central Park ice rink, but Dallas discovers the shooter is learning from a master. Susan Ericksen's performance captures the urgency as the body count rises and the killer's skills improve.
- 19
Crusader One
Tier One • Book 3
by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.71 ABR Score (13.4K ratings)★ 4.51 Goodreads (5.4K) ★ 4.79 Audible (8.0K)More about this pick
John Dempsey faces his most personal mission yet when terrorism strikes Israeli intelligence, threatening everything he's sworn to protect. Ray Porter's commanding performance matches the relentless pace perfectly.
- 20
The Hard Line
Gray Man • Book 15
by Mark Greaney
Narrated by Jay Snyder
★ 4.70 ABR Score (4.5K ratings)★ 4.68 Goodreads (2.6K) ★ 4.91 Audible (1.9K)More about this pick
Court Gentry discovers he's become the target instead of the hunter in this role-reversal thriller. Snyder's controlled performance captures the Gray Man's realization that family loyalty cuts both ways.
- 21
Purity in Death
In Death • Book 15
by J.D. Robb
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
★ 4.70 ABR Score (37.2K ratings)★ 4.38 Goodreads (33.1K) ★ 4.82 Audible (4.0K)More about this pick
Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates deaths caused by a computer virus that literally kills, and Susan Ericksen's narration expertly balances the procedural investigation with the futuristic tech elements.
- 22
War Shadows
Tier One • Book 2
by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson
Narrated by Ray Porter
★ 4.69 ABR Score (17.3K ratings)★ 4.47 Goodreads (7.3K) ★ 4.75 Audible (10.0K)More about this pick
Ray Porter's commanding performance drives this globe-spanning thriller where ex-SEAL John Dempsey hunts a decade-old enemy across three continents.
- 23
The Hunt for Red October
Jack Ryan • Book 3
by Tom Clancy
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.68 ABR Score (402.8K ratings)★ 4.12 Goodreads (389.7K) ★ 4.78 Audible (13.1K)More about this pick
Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius attempts to defect with Russia's most advanced nuclear sub. Scott Brick's authoritative narration matches Clancy's technical precision in this cat-and-mouse thriller that launched the Jack Ryan series.
- 24
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Millennium Series • Book 1
by Stieg Larsson
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 4.67 ABR Score (3.5M ratings)★ 4.18 Goodreads (3.5M) ★ 4.56 Audible (42.2K)More about this pick
A disgraced journalist teams with a punk hacker to solve a decades-old disappearance on a remote Swedish island. Simon Vance navigates the intricate mystery with perfect pacing and distinct character voices.
- 25
Memorial Day
Mitch Rapp • Book 7
by Vince Flynn
Narrated by George Guidall
★ 4.67 ABR Score (64.2K ratings)★ 4.33 Goodreads (53.1K) ★ 4.71 Audible (11.1K)More about this pick
Rapp races from Afghanistan to Washington as intelligence points toward a nuclear attack during Memorial Day ceremonies, uncovering a plot that threatens the nation's World War II veterans tribute.
Looking to refine your search? Explore thriller audiobooks by narrator, runtime, or popularity to find exactly what you're in the mood for.
Browse Related Lists
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.