Listen to Most Popular Audiobooks in Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

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Title: The Winter Queen

Author: Boris Akunin

Narrator: William Hootkins

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-15-06

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A 23-year-old law student commits suicide in broad daylight in Moscow's Alexander Gardens. Fandorin is put on the case to find out what drove him to it, a case that deepens as he discovers that the young man was the son of a rich and influential factory owner. The story is enhanced by its authentic backdrop of 19th century Russia. After all, it's difficult to keep your mind on a case when the new Dostoyevsky novel has just hit the shops.

Fandorin has been described as "the James Bond of the 19th century" and Akunin has been compared to Gogol, Tolstoy, and Conan Doyle. The UK publication of these books will be an international literary event and mark the arrival of a startling new voice in the thriller marketplace.

Members Reviews:

The Winter Queen

Brilliant Erast Fandoren is my hero - goodbye Sherlock Holmes, Erast has far more style!

If you enjoy a good mystery and hanker after the good old detectives of the 19th century, look no further.

Gripping 'til you think it's over then...

As a lover of detective fiction this fits the bill immediately! You will recognise and yet not our hapless hero. Well worth a listen, the language and detail are impressive.

The Winter Queen

A most enjoyable introduction the modern Russian mystery and detective stories, along with an interesting depiction of late 19th century Russia.

Well read but such a pity it was abridged.

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Title: End in Tears

Author: Ruth Rendell

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 07-17-06

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 140 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

A lump of concrete dropped deliberately from a little stone bridge over a relatively unfrequented road kills the wrong person. The driver behind is spared. But only for a while.

One particular member of the local press is gunning for the Chief Inspector, distinctly unimpressed with what he regards as old-fashioned police methods. But Wexford, with his old friend and partner, Mike Burden, along with two new recruits to the Kingsmarkham team, pursue their inquiries with a diligence and humanity that make Ruth Rendell's detective stories enthralling, exciting, and very touching.

Critic Reviews:

"[Rendell is] flat-out brilliant." (The New York Times) "Prolific three-time Edgar winner Rendell proves a master at rendering the joys and sorrows of human relationships, from amicable marriages to the cruel practice of preying on sterile women desperate to have children." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Intriguing & complicated story

I quite enjoyed this book. I had never read any of the "Inspector Wexford" books by Ruth Rendell, and was relieved that I didn't have to have read any of them before. What made the book so interesting is how Rendell follows the step-by-step of the investigation along with the happenings in the personal lives of the investigators. There was an interesting red herring that certainly kept me wondering how to put all the information together. This is really a "thinking persons" detective story, it doesn't have a lot of the traditional action you see in most detective stories and thrillers. Books in a similar vein I enjoyed were The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston, and One Dangerous Lady by Jane Stanton Hitchcock.

Felt like an abridged book

While the characters were quite enjoyable, they all were meshed together in a way that defied coincidence. This was more than the "suspending disbelief" that is necessary in some books, and to me, really detracted from the story. I enjoyed listening to the story unfold, it just got too wacky and almost amateurish at the end.

Full of twists and turns

This is one of my favorite Ruth Rendell books, and the audio rendering is terrific. John Lee is the best Wexford narrator, in my opinion.

The story has complexity, and the central characters are particularly rich in this book. You don't need to read the Wexford books in order (no spoilers between books) but the characters do age and evolve over time, which makes the Inspector and his companions much less like cardboard cutouts and more like real people who happen to have jobs solving crimes.

You've got to be kidding.

This starts out fine but the closer you get to finding out what really happened, the more ridiculous it gets. No one is stupid enough to believe what the women in this book apparently believed. No one. I usually like the Inspector Wexford books but this one was a waste of a credit. I only gave it 2 stars because the narrator was good. It is rather annoying, however, that they are using so many different narrators for the Wexford series. They really should stick to one for the whole series.

A Miss

This is my first Ruth Rendell book and I was a bit disappointed. It just never seem to get off the ground and didn't flow well. It's an ok summer listen, I guess but I doubt I'll download another one of hers.

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Title: Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Burglar

Author: Maurice Leblanc

Narrator: Walter Covell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-14-05

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 64 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The stories include, "The Arrest of Arsene Lupin", "Arsene Lupin in Prison", "The Escape of Arsene Lupin", "The Mysterious Traveller", "The Queen's Necklace", "The Seven of Hearts", "Madame Imbert's Safe", "The Black Pearl", and "Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late".

Editorial Reviews:

Arsene Lupin was a massively popular Robin Hood-style thief first introduced by Maurice LeBlanc in this 1907 collection of stories.

Witty and urbane, Lupin stole from the rich through elaborate capers and gave to the poor in bursts of generosity. In one adventure, Lupin manages to rob a set of prize paintings while he is in prison through a series of delightful but plausible twists. In another tale, he pits himself against Sherlock Holmes (whose name was changed to Herlock Sholmes when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle objected).

Walter Covell adopts a genteel British accent in performing LeBlancs formal diction, switching capably to a Parisian accent in his pronunciation of French names and places.

Critic Reviews:

"Intelligent, daring, but oh what a rogue. Nothing is safe from Arsene Lupin, the intriguing, intrepid thief. Only his good friend Inspector Ganimard has managed to arrest him, but only briefly. Even Sherlock Holmes, who arrives to sort out a complicated burglary is embarrassed by Lupin's much publicized wiles. Good plots, great narration (a super job by Covell) and the wonderful Lupin create an excellent few hours of short stories." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Delightful

How I do love the clever Arsine Lupine! The book is not one long mystery, but several smaller stories about the con-man. The narration is good and the content is appropriate for all readers.

An Old Favorite Made Better

I had read and liked several of the Arsene Lupin stories, so I was happy to find it in audio form, but I never expected it to be so good. The narration was delightful, making this classic as fresh and lively as when it was written. A must-have for lovers of old-fashioned mystery and adventure stories.

audio problems

The stories are well written, but Covell does not sound very good. I don't know if it sounds bad because the narrater himself is bad or if it was just recorded badly. It's a shame that such a good batch of stories would be presented in such a bad way. Preview the audio first to see if you can get past the narration problems.

A wonderful classic

A superb sample of the Gentleman Cabrioleur adventures.These marvellous classic tales transport us to the elegant Belle Époque in the company of the supremely charming Master Criminal Arséne Lupin a man who devotes his outstanding skills to the delightful and very lucrative métier of burglary.

A great narration is the icing on the cake.

Engaging Stories!!

Delighted to see these books are available. I wish the sound quality was better.

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Title: The Sherlock Holmes Collection

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrator: David Ian Davies

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-24-03

Publisher: One Voice Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 70 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Enjoy this wonderful collection of Sherlock Holmes' adventures.

Critic Reviews:

"The most incredible one-person audio you have heard. Has to be heard to be believed. David Ian Davies creates theatre in a book." (Charles Prepolec, one of the most respected Sherlockians)

Members Reviews:

Horrible

I couldn't even finish this one. The stories are fine but the narration is awful. The guy uses the same inflection pattern over and over for every line of each character. He talks like he's running out of tape on the recorder. No puses between thoughts or character transitions. He reads the stories like they are one long run-on sentence. After a while all I could hear was blah, blah, blah. Don't waste your money on this one.

Too fast, too repetitive

The narrator has a few good character voices, but speaks everyone's lines with the same cadence. It is too fast. It is monotonous. It is tiring. It is hard to follow.

An Unusual Achievement

It's hard to ruin the Sherlock Holmes stories, but this reader has managed it. He gallops through the text with barely a pause. His attempts to differentiate one character from another are ineffective. And in case this wasn't sufficiently annoying, every once in a while brief passages are rendered with the hollow, echoing sound of someone yelling down a pipe.

Don't waste your money.

sherlock holmes collection unabridged

YOU REALLY DO GET THE FEELING THAT WHEN WATSON RECOUNTS HIS EXPERIENCES, . HE CONVEY'S, EVERY QUIRK OF CHARACTER, EVERY NUANCE OF ATMOSPHERE. WHAT A PLEASURE TO HEAR THAT AMAZINGLY VERSATILE VOICE OF DAVID IAN DAVIES. WHO HAS RECORDED MANY ENTERTAINING HOURS OF ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S WORK. HIS PHRASING IS IMPECCABLE, HIS CHARACTERISATION SUPERB.

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Title: Scales of Justice

Author: Ngaio Marsh

Narrator: Nadia May

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-15-01

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 134 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The quiet village of Swevenings seemed an English pastoral paradise, until the savagely beaten body of a lord was found near a tranquil stream. Suddenly, the playground of British bluebloods has been soiled by murder and the lowest sort of intrigue. But if anyone can clean it up, it's the famous Inspector Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard.

©1983 by Gerald Ross Lascelles, Esq. and George Crowley Weston, Esq.; 1955 by Ngaio Marsh (P)1996 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews:

"A handsome bit of craftsmanship - a classical detective story, with lots of suspects." (The London Times) "She writes better than Christie." (The New York Times)

Members Reviews:

Excellent Plot with a sad secondary plot

Would you listen to Scales of Justice again? Why?

I will listen to this book repeatedly. The narration is terrific and the story unfolds sensibly without ever giving anything away too quickly.

What did you like best about this story?

The pun on 'scales of justice' as the story progresses is just great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book is thought-provoking, because of a secondary plot involving treason and suicide, loyalty and forebearance. I admire the actions of the characters and wonder if I could be as honourable.

Excellent, but with minor editing glitches

I thought the book was quite good and the narrator's work quite professional. In perhaps 3 or 4 places, the recording seemed to skip the end of a sentence. I had the impression that only a few words were left out.

Ngaio Marsh is always good

Old Sins Cast Long Shadows could be a good alternative title for this book if it weren't too gothic sounding. The book is not gothic at all, the settings and people are endearing and believable. (Though I do thing the relationship between the Captain and the Nurse is a little forced. And how could such a shy man ever rise to Captain in the British navy?)

A good crime well told

Another wonderful rendition of a classic Ngaio Marsh Inspector Alleyn murder mystery. Beautifully narrated. One to listen to again and again. More titles please Audible!

Good writing spoiled by bad reading

I have enjoyed a a number of Nagio Marsh audiobooks read excellently by James Saxon. I had to give up on this book owing to the croaky and uneven delivery by the reader.

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Title: The Heretic's Apprentice

Subtitle: The Sixteenth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Author: Ellis Peters

Narrator: Sir Derek Jacobi

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 49 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

It is June in the Year of Our Lord 1143 when Elave, young clerk to William of Lythwood, returns from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with his elderly master's body. His mission is twofold, to bury William in his home abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, and to deliver a dowry to William's adopted daughter Fortunata. But Elave, suspected of harboring views inimical to church doctrine, is held for ecclesiastical trial. And when Aldwin, the Lythwood family clerk hired in Elave's absence, is stabbed to death, Elave is incarcerated not only for heresy, but for murder. Fortunata's dowry, an intricately carved box with mysterious contents, holds the key to the mysteries that spring up around Elave and the Lythwood family. Shrewd and patient, Brother Cadfael is at his best here.

Performed by Tony Award-winning actor Derek Jacobi, this sixteenth chronicle of Brother Cadfael is sure to delight old friends and new fans.

Critic Reviews:

"Peters' historical mysteries are vivid standouts...an old-fashioned joust between good and evil." (Chicago Sun-Times)

Members Reviews:

Simon Prebble Preferred

This is one of my favorite Cadfael stories, but Jacobi is not my favorite reader. Simon Prebble is my hands down favorite of all the Cadfael narrators.

The Heretic's Apprentice

Please know that Cadfael becomes addictive! Each performance by Sir Derek Jacobi is a masterpiece. I only wish this one were longer!

Great as Usual

I have been an Ellis Peters Fan for many years, and a fan of Sir Derek Jacobi for much longer. Perfect combination!

Value

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Although the story is good and the reading of it also, but the abreviation is poor and as to value for money, it is very poor and over prices.

What was most disappointing about Ellis Peterss story?

Badly edited

Any additional comments?

Poor value for money

great yourself

another classic.from Derek Jacobi and Ellis Peters. please Audible stock all her novels in the future

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Title: Master's Choice Volume 1

Subtitle: Mystery Stories by Today's Top Writers and the Masters Who Inspired Them

Author: Stephen King, Tony Hillerman, W.F. Harvey, Stephen Crane, Ed Gorman, Joyce Carol Oates, Donald Westlake, Joe Gores, John Lutz, Peter Lovesey

Narrator: Juliet Mills, Michael Gross

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-08-99

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 68 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Listen to mystery stories by today's top writers and the masters who inspired them. The idea for this collection came to Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Lawrence Block when he was asked, "What is your favorite mystery story?" Block compiled this unique collection by posing the same question to some of today's favorite writers of the genre. You'll hear: Peter Lovesey's "The Crime of Miss Oyster Brow" paired with Donald Westlake's "Too Many Crooks"; Stephen King's "The Wedding Gig" and one of his favorites, "Murder-Two" by Joyce Carol Oates; "En Famille" by Ed Gorman beside Stephen Crane's "The Blue Hotel"; Tony Hillerman's "First Lead Gasser" and "Goodbye, Pops" by Joe Gores; and "High Stakes" by John Lutz with W.F. Harvey's "August Heat." Certain to delight, enthrall, startle, and entertain, Master's Choice is a tribute to the enduring art of storytelling.

"First Lead Gasser" Copyright ©1993 Tony Hillerman; "Goodbye, Pops" Copyright ©1969 by Joe Gores; "High Stakes" Copyright ©1984 by John Lutz; "The Crime of Miss Oyster Brow" Copyright © by Peter Lovesey; "Too Many Crooks" Copyright ©1989 by Donald Westlake; "The Wedding Gig" Copyright ©1980 by Stephen King; "Murder-Two" Copyright ©1998 by Joyce Carol Oates; "En Famille" Copyright ©1996 by Ed Gorman; Copyright (P)1999 New Star Media Inc.

Members Reviews:

Mystery on Bayou Teche

Another great Dave Robicheaux novel by James Lee Burke, and this one really had me guessing until the end. Great mystery! Burke's descriptions of both the people and the land of Louisiana are beautifully expressed. And, Will Patton does an absolutely great job on the accents of the characters. You'll think you're on Bayou Teche, for real.

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Title: True Crime

Subtitle: Nathan Heller Series, Book 2

Author: Max Allan Collins

Narrator: Dan John Miller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-13-11

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 196 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

1934 Chicago dazzles with fast action and calculating, cold-blooded meanness as private detective Nate Heller combs Chicagos North Side looking for John Dillinger. But things take a turn for the strange when self-aggrandizing G-Man Melvin Purvis shoots down a Dillinger double in front of the Biograph Theater. Full of muscle and oozing Chicagos tough-guy persona to the hilt, Max Allan Collins Nate Heller is the ultimate private investigator - in the ultimate P.I. town. Hellers undercover search for a farmers-daughter-turned-gun-moll has him on the dusty Depression backroads of middle America, in the company of Ma Barker and her boys, Baby Face Nelson, Alvin Karpis, and a very-much-still-alive Dillinger - whose outlandish plan to kidnap J. Edgar Hoover in downtown Chicago is one Heller tries to foil. Including appearances by fan dancer Sally Rand, boxer Barney Ross, and Heller's godfather, Frank Nitti, True Crime is a relentless classic.

Members Reviews:

Fiction and historical fiction, a great read.

The author obviously did a lot of research about the gangster era in the Midwest in the 1930's, and cleverly weaves P.I. Nate Heller into a succession of actual characters and historical events. The gangsters in the story, Frank Nitti, John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, the Barker brothers, Alvin Karpis, really existed and did the things related, as well as the federal agents Cowley & Purvis. Other characters, the Lady in Red, Anna Sage, and Dillinger's girl Polly Hamilton, were certainly at the Biograph Theatre shootout. Other colorful characters are Nate's friends, prizefighter Barney Ross and stripper Sally Rand. The author works Nate into this milieu in a very natural way. Nate espouses a theory about the demise of John Dillinger that has been put forth by author Jay Robert Nash, "The Dillinger Dossier," which is further elaborated on in the epilogue.

The narration by Dan Jay Miller was very good but not exceptional. I felt his attempts to portray female voices were not always appropriate, especially that of Sally Rand.

Regardless of the history, it is very well-written and engaging, offering a different type of mystery. I look forward to reading others in the series.

Great Detective story.

Takes you back to the nineteen thirty's.

Makes you feel like you are actually there.

True Crime: Nathan Heller Series Book 2

Neat gumshoe detective story. Well written with historical characters I liked and it keep me listening way past my bedtime. Can't beat the price for a really well narrated, everything it's suppose to be detective story.

Inside Story of Mob Life - Part 2

Historical Fiction. This sequel is every bit as good as the first book in the Nathan Heller series. It continues the story of this fictional detective's inside story of mob life in Chicago in the early and mid 20th century.

Very entertaining

Would you consider the audio edition of True Crime to be better than the print version?

Very interesting story and plot and very well-read. You cannot go wrong listening to this book.

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Title: Mystery in the Channel

Author: Freeman Wills Crofts

Narrator: Gordon Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-01-17

Publisher: Soundings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The captain of the Newhaven to Dieppe steamer spots a small pleasure yacht lying motionless in the water and, on closer inspection, sees a body lying on the deck. When members of his crew go aboard the yacht, they find not one male corpse but two.

The dead men were chairman and vice chairman of Moxon General Securities, one of the largest financial houses in the country. Inspector Joseph French of Scotland Yard is called in. French soon discovers that Moxon's is on the brink of collapse. Moxon and Deeping seem to have been fleeing the country with their ill-gotten gains, but who killed them, and how?

Members Reviews:

Excellent Golden Age Mystery

This is a well crafted whodunnit puzzle by a master of his craft. If you like puzzles that the protagonist painstakingly solves, you will enjoy this. Freeman Wills Crofts was much admired by T. S. Eliot for his well written detective stories. It is great that he is being rediscovered by new generations.

A new author to me

An excellent story, well read. I shall want to listen to more from this author

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Title: Evil Under the Sun

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrator: David Suchet

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 40 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Classic Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Ever since Arlena's arrival at the resort, Hercule Poirot had detected sexual tension in the seaside air. But could this apparent "crime of passion" have been something more evil and premeditated altogether?

Members Reviews:

OK

Shame Hugh Fraser hadnt narrated this. I havent seen more than a few minutes in passing of the TV adaptations with David Suchet and HF, so I dont have any preconception that HF is only the dim stooge to DS.

DS makes many voices comic, exaggerated, even for light fiction like this. Still I dont like much of the current ultra-violent crime fiction, especially as bedtime listening. Far better a sanitised assassination of an unpleasant person with a minimum of gore.

Love David Suchet and Agatha Christie books

Loved it great set of stories brought to life brilliantly on audible

Certainly a book to take on holiday

A classic Hercule Poirot mystery, though not the best, still thoroughly enjoyable as a Christie romp. The island setting, the close circle of suspects and the central mysterious death. Its a wonderful puzzle, great entertainment, and its great to hear David Suchet lending the voice of the true Poirot to this story. Loved it. Been a Christie fan since I was a kid and always enjoy a great mystery of hers. Roll on the next one!

Amazing

A fantastic story, fantastically read. David brings all the characters alive and brings you in to the book. Love this whole series'

Suchet is at tour de force

Brilliant performance by David Suchet. Funny with a very clever denouement. Believable characters brought to life by Suchet's voice.