Audiobooks Like 1st To Die

Suzanne Toren narrates James Patterson's Women's Murder Club opener with a propulsive clarity — her voice keeps the four-protagonist ensemble readable even as the thriller mechanics accelerate, and at nine hours the pacing does exactly what Patterson plots are designed to do. Ten of the ten recommendations come from Patterson's catalog, so the fast-cut chapter structure, the reliable forward momentum, and the author's consistent output are all in steady supply.

10 audiobooks for fans of 1st To Die

  1. 1
    Escape cover

    Escape

    Billy Harney • Book 3

    by James Patterson, David Ellis

    Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini

    Patterson and Ellis craft the same propulsive mystery-thriller momentum that made 1st To Die compelling, with a protagonist caught in an impossible situation that demands constant problem-solving. Edoardo Ballerini's narration delivers the same page-turning intensity as Suzanne Toren's performance, keeping listeners engaged through intricate twists and high personal stakes.

    ★ 4.54 ABR Score (18.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.33 Goodreads (16.2K) ★ 4.7 Audible (2.3K)
    8h 53m listening time • Released 2022

    Ballerini's rapid-fire delivery transforms this into a propulsive cat-and-mouse game where you can't tell if Billy or the billionaire is actually winning. Patterson and Ellis keep the twists coming fast enough that you'll blow through all 9 hours in two sittings.

    Listen Free on Audible
  2. 2
    Cross Down cover

    Cross Down

    Alex Cross • Book 31

    by James Patterson, Brendan DuBois

    Narrated by William Christopher Stephens, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Mela Lee, Inger Tudor, Zeno Robinson, Wayne Carr, Peter Giles

    ★ 4.52 ABR Score (26.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (25.5K) ★ 4.66 Audible (1.2K)
    9h 46m listening time • Released 2023
    Listen Free on Audible
  3. 3
    The Black Book cover

    The Black Book

    Billy Harney • Book 1

    by James Patterson, David Ellis

    Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini

    ★ 4.46 ABR Score (58.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.28 Goodreads (43.4K) ★ 4.42 Audible (15.4K)
    10h 18m listening time • Released 2017

    Edoardo Ballerini's delivery cuts through Patterson's twisty Chicago noir like a knife—he nails the cynicism, the tension, and the moral rot underneath every scene.

    Listen Free on Audible
  4. 4
    Cross and Sampson cover

    Cross and Sampson

    Alex Cross • Book 35

    by James Patterson, Brian Sitts

    Narrated by Isaiah Mustafa, Dion Graham

    ★ 4.40 ABR Score (6.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.5 Goodreads (6.2K) ★ 4.62 Audible (404)
    7h 24m listening time • Released 2026

    Isaiah Mustafa and Dion Graham split the dual-detective narrative perfectly, each bringing distinct energy to Cross and Sampson's investigation. The dual-narrator format transforms what could be a standard thriller into something more immersive, letting you inhabit both detectives' headspace simultaneously.

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  5. 5
    Roses Are Red cover

    Roses Are Red

    Alex Cross • Book 6

    by James Patterson

    Narrated by Peter Jay Fernandez

    ★ 4.37 ABR Score (79.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.1 Goodreads (76.8K) ★ 4.5 Audible (2.6K)
    8h 5m listening time • Released 2000
    Listen Free on Audible
  6. 6
    Violets Are Blue cover

    Violets Are Blue

    Alex Cross • Book 7

    by James Patterson

    Narrated by Daniel Whitner, Kevin O'Rourke

    ★ 4.33 ABR Score (73.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.02 Goodreads (71.5K) ★ 4.51 Audible (2.2K)
    8h 5m listening time • Released 2005
    Listen Free on Audible
  7. 7
    Pop Goes the Weasel cover

    Pop Goes the Weasel

    Alex Cross • Book 5

    by James Patterson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    ★ 4.32 ABR Score (79.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.05 Goodreads (76.9K) ★ 4.48 Audible (2.2K)
    9h 57m listening time • Released 1999

    Michael Kramer's narration transforms this serial killer thriller into something genuinely unsettling—his voice work on Shafer, Cross's nemesis, is so chilling it'll make you check your mirrors. Patterson's twisty plot moves fast, but Kramer never lets you settle into comfort.

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  8. 8
    Cat & Mouse cover

    Cat & Mouse

    Alex Cross • Book 4

    by James Patterson

    Narrated by Jeff Harding

    ★ 4.26 ABR Score (85.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.04 Goodreads (83.1K) ★ 4.38 Audible (2.0K)
    10h 38m listening time • Released 2015
    Listen Free on Audible
  9. 9
    Double Cross cover

    Double Cross

    Alex Cross • Book 13

    by James Patterson

    Narrated by Peter Jay Fernandez, Michael Stuhlbarg

    ★ 4.25 ABR Score (59.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.05 Goodreads (57.6K) ★ 4.38 Audible (2.1K)
    8h 6m listening time • Released 2007
    Listen Free on Audible
  10. 10
    The Big Bad Wolf cover

    The Big Bad Wolf

    Alex Cross • Book 9

    by James Patterson

    Narrated by Peter Jay Fernandez, Denis O'Hare

    ★ 4.20 ABR Score (65.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.04 Goodreads (63.2K) ★ 4.31 Audible (2.0K)
    8h 13m listening time • Released 2003
    Listen Free on Audible

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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.

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