Best Detective Book Series That'll Keep You Guessing

The 10 Detective Book Series That Keep Us Guessing

Chances are if you’re a mystery or crime fan, you love detective novels. And if, like me, you hate having a suspenseful story interrupted by life’s chores and routines, then you’re always on the lookout for the best detective book series in audio. Here are 10 detective series that are so good, you’ll have a hard time not marathoning them all. Bonus: We’re traveling the world, and since everyone’s lives are different levels of hectic, I’ve got short marathons, two completed series, and series with more than five books for you. Let’s go!

The Ruin

By: Dervla McTiernan

Narrated by: Aoife McMahon

Series: The Cormac Reilly Series, Book 1

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Release date: 07-03-18

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 28,659 ratings

Where are my Irish detective fans? Cormac Reilly, a once wet-behind-the-ears police officer, is now a detective when a case from his past comes back. There’s a lot to like here, from past and present mysteries to a look at the detective's life to enjoyable supporting characters. Plus, who doesn’t love a nice Irish accent?! We’ve only got two books and a prequel thus far, so consider this is a quick catch-up and then you can impatiently wait with all us fans.
The Last Place You Look

By: Kristen Lepionka

Narrated by: Allyson Ryan

Series: The Roxane Weary Mysteries, Book 1

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Release date: 06-13-17

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 326 ratings

Kristen Lepionka has taken a lot of what we love in noir detective novels and modernized it. In this novel, we watch Roxane Weary transform from a hot mess—dead dad, chaotic relationships, drinking too much—to pulling her life into order, bit by bit. And all the while, she's the person cops should be listening to, because as a PI, she always figures out the solve to the mystery—most likely with an explosive ending! Narrator Allyson Ryan really brings to life the dry, sarcastic, weary the way I read her on the page.
The Frangipani Tree Mystery

Crown Colony

By: Ovidia Yu

Narrated by: Crystal Yu

Series: Crown Colony, Book 1

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Release date: 06-27-19

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 72 ratings

This excellent historical mystery series pairs a British-born detective and a local teen sleuth in 1930s Singapore. SuLin takes a job as a nanny to escape being married—after the previous nanny was murdered in the acting governor’s home. Sounds dangerous! I love smart and curious teen sleuths, and actress Crystal Yu really brings SuLin to life with a sweet voice that easily flows between languages.
Land of Shadows

A Detective Elouise Norton Novel

By: Rachel Howzell Hall

Narrated by: Je Nie Fleming

Series: Detective Elouise Norton Series, Book 1

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Release date: 03-19-19

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 462 ratings

Looking for a good LA detective series that has a tough protagonist with a messy personal life and a missing sister from childhood? Here ya go! While Elouise Lou Norton tries to solve assigned homicide cases—and work out issues with her husband and a new work partner—she’ll also find herself on the trail of what happened to her sister, who vanished years ago. Between Je Nie Fleming’s warm voice and Lou’s fighter personality, I’m always rooting for her and looking forward to the next book!
City of the Lost

A Rockton Novel (Casey Duncan Novels, Book 1)

By: Kelley Armstrong

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer

Series: Casey Duncan, Book 1

Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins

Release date: 05-03-16

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 2,996 ratings

This is a detective novel with a unique twist that will regularly have you on the edge of your seat. The twist is that it starts with a homicide detective, Casey Duncan, running away to a remote/secret town to protect her best friend. This town is a haven for victims who need safety and also for criminals—and the only person who knows who is who is the sheriff! Have fun guessing as Casey works with the sheriff to keep themselves safe and solve crimes in the community. Bonus: If you like the same narrator throughout a series, Therese Plummer does a great job switching between characters without grating changes in voice.
Unquiet Dead

A Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak Novel

By: Ausma Khan

Narrated by: Peter Ganim

Series: Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak Series, Book 1

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Release date: 01-13-15

Language: English

4 out of 5 stars 232 ratings

This series is set in Canada but travels the world as Detectives Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak work for a sensitive crimes department. You get an excellent partnership between them, if that’s your favorite thing in detective novels, along with stories that spotlight social issues and bring many different communities to life. Not only do I enjoy listening to Peter Ganim’s lovely, deep-ish voice, I also get to learn how to properly pronounce a bunch of words and names. Win-win!
The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra

By: Vaseem Khan

Narrated by: Sartaj Garewal

Series: A Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation, Book 1

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Release date: 09-15-15

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 602 ratings

Forced to retire for health reasons, inspector Ashwin Chopra ends up inheriting a baby elephant and solving crimes as a PI, while also running a restaurant. I was so sold on this series just from hearing baby elephant, and it was everything I hoped for and more. It also straddles the line between cozy and detective, which gives it mass appeal—and like I said, there’s a baby elephant! There are five books in the series so far, and the audiobooks have two narrators who will transport you to India for a lovely trip of solving mysteries, making you wish you too could inherit a baby elephant.
Wife of the Gods

A Novel

By: Kwei Quartey

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Series: Darko Dawson, Book 1

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Release date: 02-03-10

Language: English

4 out of 5 stars 272 ratings

This is a great five-book series that follows Detective Inspector Darko Dawson in Ghana and gives you glimpses of culture and family as he solves twisty mysteries. I’m not sure why book 2 never got an audiobook—publishing, am I right?—but I technically started with book 3, then 1, and then 4 and 5, and I loved the series! It starts with British narrator Simon Prebble, who is very good, but I was also happy to hear Dominic Hoffman, of A Different World fame, read the third installment!
Sue Grafton ABC Gift Collection

"A" Is for Alibi, "B" Is for Burglar, "C" Is for Corpse

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Series: Kinsey Millhone (abridged), Book 1-3

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Release date: 07-10-12

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,154 ratings

This one is bittersweet, because Grafton passed away before Z, but since her family is honoring her request for no one else to write her series, it is now complete and ends with Y. So we are left with 25 books in this very long and very great series, which follows a PI in California. You get humor, a smart woman, great mysteries to try to solve, and some action! And since almost all the books are narrated by the same narrator, this series is perfect if you find comfort in the familiar.

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