10 audiobooks for fans of Past Tense
- 1
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)12h 30m listening time • Released 2018Scott Brick's measured intensity perfectly calibrates the tension in this revenge thriller—his voice makes Evan's calculated fury feel earned rather than explosive, which is exactly what sets Hurwitz apart from other action writers.
- 2
Into the Fire
Orphan X • Book 5
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.73 ABR Score (28.5K ratings)★ 4.43 Goodreads (19.1K) ★ 4.79 Audible (9.3K)11h 58m listening time • Released 2020Scott Brick's relentless intensity transforms this fifth Orphan X into pure propulsive momentum—his voice becomes the weapon, making every tense standoff and moral reckoning land with genuine weight.
- 3
Out of the Dark
Orphan X • Book 4
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.71 ABR Score (31.8K ratings)★ 4.4 Goodreads (21.6K) ★ 4.77 Audible (10.1K)12h 49m listening time • Released 2019Scott Brick's measured intensity perfectly captures Evan Smoak's lethal precision—making this fourth Orphan X installment feel like a masterclass in smart thriller narration that never oversells the danger.
- 4
Chain of Command
Jack Ryan Universe • Book 33
Narrated by Scott Brick
Scott Brick's commanding narration brings the same propulsive intensity to this geopolitical thriller that made Past Tense so gripping, while both novels deliver intricate plots that unfold with meticulous pacing over their extended runtimes.
★ 4.60 ABR Score (11.6K ratings)★ 4.42 Goodreads (8.5K) ★ 4.73 Audible (3.1K)13h 40m listening time • Released 2021Scott Brick's commanding narration elevates this Jack Ryan thriller into pure political intrigue—his pacing keeps you locked in through 13+ hours of high-stakes maneuvering and moral complexity that feels urgent and utterly current.
- 5
Prodigal Son
Orphan X • Book 6
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.59 ABR Score (22.8K ratings)★ 4.35 Goodreads (17.7K) ★ 4.69 Audible (5.2K)14h 15m listening time • Released 2021Scott Brick's narration transforms this spy thriller into something addictive—his measured intensity makes every revelation land harder, and the character work hits deeper than typical action fare.
- 6
Dark Horse
Orphan X • Book 7
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.59 ABR Score (21.5K ratings)★ 4.37 Goodreads (16.9K) ★ 4.68 Audible (4.6K)15h 7m listening time • Released 2022Scott Brick's measured intensity perfectly captures Evan Smoak's controlled precision in this seventh installment—a thriller that rewards longtime fans while delivering genuine stakes and moral complexity.
- 7
Enemy of the State
Mitch Rapp • Book 16
Narrated by Scott Brick
Scott Brick's narration anchors both thrillers with the same measured intensity and authoritative presence that keeps listeners gripped through complex plots and high-stakes action. Both audiobooks deliver that page-turning momentum of a taut mystery where you'll want to keep listening through just one more chapter.
★ 4.58 ABR Score (31.2K ratings)★ 4.33 Goodreads (21.6K) ★ 4.63 Audible (9.6K)11h 33m listening time • Released 2017Scott Brick's measured intensity makes this geopolitical thriller feel like classified briefings you're not supposed to hear—the perfect match for Mills and Flynn's intricate plotting about buried Saudi secrets and covert retaliation.
- 8
Lone Wolf
Orphan X • Book 9
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 4.54 ABR Score (16.3K ratings)★ 4.33 Goodreads (13.4K) ★ 4.68 Audible (2.9K)13h 31m listening time • Released 2024Scott Brick's delivery transforms this ninth Orphan X into a masterclass in restraint—his measured intensity makes Evan's calculated violence feel inevitable rather than gratuitous, elevating what could be pulp into genuine suspense.
- 9
First Thrills
First Thrills • Book 1
by Lee Child, Bill Cameron, Marc Paoletti, Kelli Stanley, CJ Lyons, Rebecca Cantrell, J.T. Ellison, Karen Dionne, Grant McKenzie, Rip Gerber, Cynthia Robinson, Daniel Palmer, Unknown Author
Narrated by Jim Bond, Nick Podehl, Luke Daniels, Joyce Bean, Dick Hill
★ 3.63 ABR Score (4.8K ratings)★ 3.58 Goodreads (4.6K) ★ 3.49 Audible (131)12h 3m listening time • Released 2010 - 10
Tom Clancy Defense Protocol
Jack Ryan Universe • Book 40
by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson, Tom Clancy
Narrated by Scott Brick
Scott Brick's measured narration brings the same methodical tension to this espionage thriller that made Past Tense so gripping, while both novels deliver intricate plots that reward close listening with satisfying payoffs. The extended runtime allows for the same deliberate pacing and atmospheric world-building that defines Child's work.
★ 4.58 ABR Score (7.5K ratings)★ 4.57 Goodreads (6.3K) ★ 4.75 Audible (1.2K)15h 2m listening time • Released 2024Scott Brick's measured, authoritative delivery transforms a high-stakes diplomatic crisis into a nail-biter where a single misstatement could trigger war—every word lands like a loaded gun.
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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.