Best Ticking Clock / Race Against Time Mystery Audiobooks

Visions in Death

In Death • Book 19

by J.D. Robb

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

Eve Dallas hunts a killer who poses victims like prayers and removes their eyes with surgical precision in Central Park's humid summer darkness.

Golden in Death

In Death • Book 50

by J.D. Robb

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

Memory in Death

In Death • Book 22

by J.D. Robb, Nora Roberts

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

Eve Dallas faces her most personal case when Trudy Lombard, a figure from her nightmarish childhood, appears demanding money—then turns up murdered.

Fantasy in Death / Indulgence in Death / Treachery in Death

In Death #30-32 • Book 30

by J.D. Robb

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

Three Eve Dallas mysteries pack virtual reality murders, serial killers targeting the wealthy, and police corruption into one adrenaline-fueled collection.

Dark in Death

In Death • Book 46

by J.D. Robb

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

An ice pick murder during a *Psycho* screening in Times Square launches Eve Dallas into a case where someone's copying classic film murders across futuristic New York.

Hell Is Empty

Walt Longmire • Book 7

by Craig Johnson

Narrated by George Guidall

Sheriff Walt Longmire pursues escaped killers through a Wyoming blizzard in this intense survival thriller that George Guidall narrates with weathered gravitas.

The Ghostway

Leaphorn & Chee • Book 6

by Tony Hillerman

Narrated by George Guidall

Old Joseph Joe witnesses a deadly encounter at a Navajo laundromat, setting Jim Chee on a trail that weaves through reservation mysteries and ancient traditions.

The Cold Dish

Walt Longmire • Book 1

by Craig Johnson

Narrated by George Guidall

When Cody Pritchard turns up dead two years after his rape conviction, Sheriff Walt Longmire suspects vigilante justice in Wyoming's Absaroka County. George Guidall's weathered voice perfectly embodies the laconic lawman.

The Black Box

Harry Bosch • Book 16

by Michael Connelly

Narrated by Michael McConnohie

Twenty years after the LA riots, Bosch connects a recent shooting to an unsolved photographer's murder from 1992, proving some crimes never truly die.

What the Devil Knows

Sebastian St. Cyr • Book 16

by C.S. Harris

Narrated by Davina Porter

Davina Porter's crisp, commanding narration anchors this locked-room mystery with such authenticity that you'll swear you're eavesdropping on 1814 London. Harris delivers the perfect blend of historical detail and serial killer dread that keeps you hooked for all 9+ hours.

The Black Echo

Harry Bosch • Book 1

by Michael Connelly

Narrated by Dick Hill

Vietnam tunnel rat turned LAPD detective Harry Bosch investigates when a fellow veteran turns up dead in a drainage pipe. Titus Welliver, who plays Bosch on screen, inhabits the character's war-haunted cynicism and stubborn moral code with authentic grit.

Badlands

The Highway Quartet • Book 3

by C.J. Box

Narrated by January LaVoy

North Dakota's oil boom attracts crime to Grimstad, where detective Cassie Dewell investigates a twelve-year-old's disappearance amid the chaos of sudden wealth. January LaVoy captures the gritty atmosphere of a frontier town corrupted by black gold.

Depth of Winter

Walt Longmire • Book 14

by Craig Johnson

Narrated by George Guidall

Mexican cartel leader kidnaps Sheriff Walt Longmire's daughter Cady, planning to auction her to his enemies. George Guidall's weathered voice matches perfectly with Longmire's desperate cross-border pursuit through cartel territory.

12th of Never

Women's Murder Club • Book 12

by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro

Narrated by January LaVoy

Lindsay Boxer returns to work just days after giving birth to face two massive cases in this thriller that January LaVoy performs with urgent intensity.

Who Cries for the Lost

Sebastian St. Cyr • Book 18

by C.S. Harris

Narrated by Jenny Sterlin

While London awaits news from Waterloo, Sebastian investigates a mutilated major pulled from the Thames. Sterlin captures Regency London's anxious atmosphere.

The 19th Christmas

Women's Murder Club • Book 19

by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro

Narrated by January LaVoy

Daisy Darker

by Alice Feeney

Narrated by Stephanie Racine

Family members start dying one by one during a birthday party on a tidal island, with each death mirroring a line from a twisted nursery rhyme. Feeney's trademark unreliable narration gets extra layers of menace through Stephanie Racine's careful vocal choices.

The Jubilee Problem

Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery • Book 4

by Charles Veley, Anna Elliott

Narrated by Simon Prebble, Wendy Tremont King

Sherlock Holmes and daughter Lucy James race to stop a conspiracy targeting Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebration. Simon Prebble and Wendy Tremont King handle the Victorian atmosphere and international intrigue with expertise.

The 6th Target

Women's Murder Club • Book 6

by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro

Narrated by Carolyn McCormick

A Women's Murder Club member fights for her life while the others hunt a madman targeting children and their nannies across San Francisco.

The Last Moriarty

Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery • Book 1

by Charles Veley

Narrated by Edward Petherbridge

Holmes faces dual mysteries when an American actress seeks help while the Prime Minister demands he solve a politically sensitive murder. Edward Petherbridge's classical delivery honors the Doylean tradition beautifully.

The 5th Horseman

Women's Murder Club • Book 5

by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro

Narrated by Carolyn McCormick

The Women's Murder Club tackles mysterious hospital deaths while newcomer Yuki Castellano faces explosive courtroom battles. Patterson keeps multiple plot threads racing toward collision with his signature breakneck pace.

Death in the Devil's Acre

Charlotte & Thomas Pitt • Book 7

by Anne Perry

Narrated by Davina Porter

Inspector Thomas Pitt and wife Charlotte investigate a series of brutal murders in London's most dangerous neighborhood, where the victims span all social classes. Porter's narration captures Perry's Victorian atmosphere while maintaining the mystery's mounting tension.

Firewall

Kurt Wallander • Book 8

by Henning Mankell, Ebba Segerberg

Narrated by Dick Hill

Cash machines killing users, teenage murderers without remorse, and a nationwide blackout—Hill's gravelly narration matches Wallander's mounting paranoia perfectly.

Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line

Finlay Donovan • Book 6

by Elle Cosimano

Narrated by Angela Dawe

Single mom turned accidental hitwoman faces her biggest challenge when her partner gets arrested — Angela Dawe keeps the madcap energy crackling.

The Vows of Silence

Simon Serrailler • Book 4

by Susan Hill

Narrated by Steven Pacey

Detective Serrailler hunts a sniper terrorizing young women while questioning whether one or two killers are at work. Steven Pacey's performance builds tension around the marksman's unpredictable pattern.

Dying Games

Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery • Book 6

by Steve Robinson

Narrated by Simon Vance

Twin brothers found drowned in a Perspex box kicks off a serial killer case targeting genealogist Jefferson Tayte's contacts.

What Have You Done?

by Shari Lapena

Narrated by January LaVoy, Jorjeana Marie, Barrett Leddy

Three skilled narrators handle the shifting perspectives as teenagers' ghost stories in a Vermont graveyard spiral into real danger.

Diamond Dust

Peter Diamond • Book 7

by Peter Lovesey

Narrated by Steve Hodson

Detective Peter Diamond faces his most personal case when his wife becomes a victim in a series of murders targeting police spouses. Steve Hodson's performance captures Diamond's anguish and determination despite orders to step aside.

The Six

by Anni Taylor

Narrated by Barrie Kreinik

Watson on the Orient Express

Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery • Book 8

by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley

Narrated by Simon Prebble, Wendy Tremont King

Kidnapped Watson overhears an assassination plot against Holmes that could ignite international war, forcing him to escape his captors and race across Europe to prevent disaster. Simon Prebble and Wendy Tremont King handle both the thriller pacing and period detail of this 1898 adventure.

The Body in the Bookseller's: A Sherlock and Lucy Short Story

Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery #8.4 • Book 20

by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley

Narrated by Simon Prebble, Mary Jane Wells

A stolen diplomatic packet threatens England's security, leading Sherlock and Lucy to a kindly bookstore owner and his daughter. Simon Prebble and Mary Jane Wells create distinct period voices for this 1899 London mystery racing against national disaster.

The Bone Bed

Kay Scarpetta • Book 20

by Patricia Cornwell

Narrated by Kate Reading

Kate Reading narrates as Kay Scarpetta connects a paleontologist's disappearance in remote Canada to a series of crimes landing mysteriously in her Boston inbox.

Christmas on the Nile: A Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery (The Sherlock and Lucy Mystery Book 24)

Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery #8.7 • Book 23

by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley

Narrated by Simon Prebble, Mary Jane Wells

Sherlock and Lucy face their nemesis Lord Sonneborne across two continents in this season finale, with dual narrators Simon Prebble and Mary Jane Wells splitting detective duties.

Tracking the Truth (Security Hounds Investigations Book 1)

Security Hounds Investigations • Book 1

by Dana Mentink

Narrated by Abby Craden

When someone dumps Emery in a frozen lake to stop her investigation, she teams with a bloodhound-partnered PI to uncover her father's real story. Abby Craden handles the K-9 thriller elements and family mystery with steady pacing.

Kidnapped at the Tower

Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery #8.1 • Book 17

by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley

Narrated by Simon Prebble, Mary Jane Wells

Six-year-old boy vanishes from the Tower of London with his nanny, launching Sherlock and Lucy into a tense ransom case. Dual narrators handle the Victorian urgency well.

Lady Killer

87th Precinct • Book 8

by Ed McBain

Narrated by Dick Hill

"I will kill the lady tonight at 8" launches twelve hours of frantic investigation across three potential victims. Dick Hill's veteran narration builds tension as detectives race against time to identify the target among hookers, singers, and socialites.

Killer's Wedge

87th Precinct • Book 7

by Ed McBain

Narrated by Dick Hill

Virginia Dodge storms the 87th Precinct with a gun and nitroglycerin bottle, determined to kill Detective Steve Carella. Dick Hill captures the claustrophobic tension as the entire squad becomes hostages in their own station house.

Fugitive Search

Security Hounds Investigations • Book 2

by Dana Mentink

Narrated by Abby Craden

When her father's killer escapes prison and kidnaps Catherine, private investigator Garrett Wolfe and his tracking dog mount a rescue mission. The second Security Hounds mystery blends canine procedural with personal stakes.

Death in Zanzibar

by M.M. Kaye

Narrated by Bahni Turpin

Dany Ashton's vacation to her stepfather's mysterious Zanzibar house becomes deadly before she even boards the plane. Bahni Turpin's narration captures both the exotic setting and mounting suspense perfectly.

Jigsaw

87th Precinct • Book 24

by Ed McBain

Narrated by Dick Hill

A twisted killer sends cryptic clues through strategically placed corpses, forcing detectives to solve his deadly puzzle before more pieces appear. Dick Hill's tense performance keeps pace with this classic cat-and-mouse thriller.

Last Redemption

Rick Cahill • Book 8

by Matt Coyle

Narrated by Michael Rose

PI Rick Cahill faces terminal illness and sadistic killers while awaiting his first child, with Michael Rose capturing the raw desperation of a man racing against time.

The Collected Stories, Season Two, Volume I: A Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery Collection

A Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery

by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley

Narrated by Simon Prebble, Mary Jane Wells

Holmes and his female partner Lucy James tackle Victorian London's darkest cases in this elegant mystery collection. Simon Prebble and Mary Jane Wells alternate perspectives, creating distinct voices for each investigator's approach.

Ghost of a Smile

Ghostfinders • Book 2

by Simon R. Green

Narrated by full cast, Nanette Savard, Matthew Keenan, Scott McCormick, Colleen Delany, Kimberly Gilbert, Ken Jackson, Doug Brown, Nora Achrati, Thomas Keegan, Steven Carpenter, Bradley Smith

The Heckler - a novel of the 87th Precinct

87th Precinct • Book 12

by Ed McBain

Narrated by Dick Hill

Anonymous harassment calls escalate to murder in this classic police procedural from Ed McBain's long-running series. Dick Hill's seasoned narration captures the gritty urban atmosphere perfectly.

Road Rage

Inspector Wexford • Book 17

by Ruth Rendell

Narrated by Davina Porter

Environmental protesters fight a new highway through Kingsmarkham's beloved woods, but some may have turned to kidnapping five hostages. Davina Porter navigates Rendell's examination of how far people will go for their convictions.

Odyssey’s End

Rick Cahill • Book 10

by Matt Coyle

Narrated by Evan Lavelle

Evan Lavelle narrates Rick Cahill at his breaking point: a man with a degenerative disease, an abandoning family, and nothing left but the chance to protect a future he won't see.

Hell or High Water

Luce Allen Mystery • Book 3

by Barbara Winkes

Narrated by Abby Craden

Detective Luce Allen races to find an abducted daughter while navigating family politics and workplace prejudice in this lesbian mystery thriller.

Nox Dormienda: A Long Night for Sleeping

Roman Noir • Book 1

by Kelli Stanley

Narrated by Ray Porter

In 83 AD Londinium, spy Vibius Maecenas lies throat-slit on an underground altar. Doctor Arcturus has one week to prevent Britannia's civil war with Rome.

The Frumious Bandersnatch

87th Precinct • Book 53

by Ed McBain

Narrated by Michael Arkin

A pop star gets kidnapped mid-performance from a luxury yacht in full view of hundreds of witnesses. McBain's 87th Precinct procedural unfolds with methodical police work punctuated by the surreal music industry backdrop.