Audiobooks Like By Any Other Name

Billie Fulford-Brown leads a ten-narrator production of Jodi Picoult's parallel-timeline novel, with the cast separation giving the two centuries genuinely distinct sonic identities rather than just alternating chapters — at 18 hours the complexity of keeping two worlds distinct is real, and the full-cast approach earns its ambition. Simon Vance and John Lee among the cast bring deep historical fiction credibility to their sections. Five of the recommendations are narrated by voices from this same cast, with seven highly rated titles that share the novel's investment in women claiming authorship and historical fiction told across centuries.

10 audiobooks for fans of By Any Other Name

  1. 1
    The Swan Thieves cover

    The Swan Thieves

    by Elizabeth Kostova

    Narrated by John Lee, Treat Williams, Sarah Zimmerman, Anne Heche, Erin Cottrell

    ★ 3.29 ABR Score (36.7K ratings)
    ★ 3.58 Goodreads (35.6K) ★ 3.73 Audible (1.1K)
    17h 56m listening time • Released 2010
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  2. 2
    The Pillars of the Earth cover

    The Pillars of the Earth

    Kingsbridge • Book 1

    by Ken Follett

    Narrated by John Lee

    ★ 4.68 ABR Score (874.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.35 Goodreads (838.5K) ★ 4.64 Audible (36.3K)
    40h 56m listening time • Released 2007
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  3. 3
    Bring Up The Bodies cover

    Bring Up The Bodies

    Thomas Cromwell • Book 2

    by Hilary Mantel, Unknown Author

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    ★ 4.40 ABR Score (109.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.3 Goodreads (105.7K) ★ 4.54 Audible (3.3K)
    14h 34m listening time • Released 2012

    Simon Vance's narration transforms Mantel's intricate political prose into pure suspense—you'll hear the machinery of power and betrayal click into place across 14 hours you won't want to pause.

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  4. 4
    River of Stars cover

    River of Stars

    Under Heaven • Book 2

    by Guy Gavriel Kay

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    ★ 4.14 ABR Score (8.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (8.0K) ★ 4.5 Audible (608)
    20h 49m listening time • Released 2013

    Simon Vance transforms Kay's sprawling Song Dynasty epic into something immersive and propulsive—twenty hours that feel essential, not indulgent. Multiple award winner that deserves every accolade.

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  5. 5
    Children of Earth and Sky cover

    Children of Earth and Sky

    Sarantine Universe • Book 7

    by Guy Gavriel Kay

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    ★ 4.09 ABR Score (9.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (8.3K) ★ 4.42 Audible (848)
    19h 25m listening time • Released 2016

    Simon Vance makes the perfect guide through Kay's Renaissance-inspired world of colliding empires and revenge—his layered narration captures the intrigue and heartbreak that define this interconnected cast of characters.

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  6. 6
    The Rose Code cover

    The Rose Code

    by Kate Quinn

    Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

    ★ 4.85 ABR Score (406.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.44 Goodreads (381.4K) ★ 4.8 Audible (25.2K)
    16h 2m listening time • Released 2021
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  7. 7
    The Frozen River cover

    The Frozen River

    by Ariel Lawhon

    Narrated by Jane Oppenheimer, Ariel Lawhon

    ★ 4.71 ABR Score (610.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (594.0K) ★ 4.7 Audible (16.2K)
    15h 5m listening time • Released 2023

    The dual narration captures Martha Ballard's fierce intelligence against a corrupt town that underestimates her—a historical mystery that hinges on one woman's refusal to let power bury the truth.

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  8. 8
    Code Name Hélène cover

    Code Name Hélène

    by Ariel Lawhon

    Narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Peter Ganim

    ★ 4.69 ABR Score (90.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.41 Goodreads (82.5K) ★ 4.76 Audible (7.8K)
    17h 17m listening time • Released 2020
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  9. 9
    A Land Remembered cover

    A Land Remembered

    by Patrick D. Smith

    Narrated by George Guidall

    A Land Remembered shares the same sweeping, multi-layered narrative structure that makes By Any Other Name so compelling, weaving together complex character arcs across time with meticulous attention to detail. George Guidall's commanding narration delivers the same immersive, character-driven mystery experience that Picoult's ensemble cast creates, drawing listeners deep into a richly constructed world of secrets and revelation.

    ★ 4.69 ABR Score (20.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.48 Goodreads (14.8K) ★ 4.79 Audible (5.4K)
    14h 59m listening time • Released 2011

    George Guidall's gravelly voice turns this multigenerational Florida saga into something hypnotic—you'll hear the dust and sweat of frontier life settle into your bones over nearly 15 hours.

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  10. 10
    The Reformatory cover

    The Reformatory

    by Tananarive Due

    Narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

    ★ 4.68 ABR Score (81.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (78.1K) ★ 4.79 Audible (3.2K)
    20h 51m listening time • Released 2023
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Browse Related Lists

By Any Other Name Best Historical Fiction Audiobooks Most Popular Historical Fiction

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.

Read our full ranking methodology →