Audiobooks Like The Name of the Rose

10 audiobooks for fans of The Name of the Rose

1. 1

   

   The Nightingale

   by Kristin Hannah

   Narrated by Polly Stone

   ★ 5.00 ABR Score (2.3M ratings)

   ★ 4.65 Goodreads (2.2M) ★ 4.84 Audible (116.4K)

   17h 19m listening time • Released 2015

   Polly Stone's dual narration captures two sisters' raw defiance under Nazi occupation with such emotional precision that you'll forget you're listening rather than living it.

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2. 2

   

   The Shadow of the Wind

   Cemetery of Forgotten Books • Book 1

   by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

   Narrated by Daniel Weyman

   Both novels weave intricate mysteries through richly atmospheric settings—a medieval monastery and a post-Civil War Barcelona—where the search for truth unfolds through layered narratives and literary puzzles. Daniel Weyman's narration captures the same contemplative, immersive quality that makes these audiobooks ideal for deep listening, as the mysteries reward patient attention to detail and historical texture.

   ★ 4.31 ABR Score (727.9K ratings)

   ★ 4.31 Goodreads (727.6K) ★ 4.51 Audible (304)

   17h 13m listening time • Released 2011

   A love letter to books and Barcelona — a boy finds a novel by a forgotten author and uncovers a mystery that threatens his own life.

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3. 3

   

   The Help

   by Kathryn Stockett

   Narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Jenna Lamia, Octavia Spencer, Bahni Turpin

   Both novels weave together multiple compelling narratives to expose hidden truths within rigid social systems, and their ensemble casts of narrators create an immersive listening experience that brings distinct perspectives to life. The Help shares The Name of the Rose's deliberate pacing and layered storytelling, rewarding patient listeners with gradually deepening mysteries rooted in institutional power and moral complexity.

   ★ 4.95 ABR Score (3.1M ratings)

   ★ 4.47 Goodreads (3.0M) ★ 4.81 Audible (46.3K)

   18h 6m listening time • Released 2009

   The four narrators each disappear into their characters so completely, you'll forget you're listening to a performance. This is how ensemble audiobooks should work.

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4. 4

   

   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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5. 5

   

   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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6. 6

   

   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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7. 7

   

   The Song of Achilles

   by Madeline Miller

   Narrated by Frazer Douglas

   ★ 4.66 ABR Score (2.1M ratings)

   ★ 4.3 Goodreads (2.0M) ★ 4.61 Audible (40.8K)

   11h 15m listening time • Released 2012

   Frazer Douglas's tender, controlled performance makes this reimagining of the Iliad feel intimate and devastating—he captures the quiet ache of a love that rewrites mythology.

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8. 8

   

   This Tender Land

   by William Kent Krueger

   Narrated by Scott Brick

   Both novels weave mystery through richly atmospheric settings—Eco's medieval monastery and Krueger's Depression-era Minnesota—where plot unfolds through intimate character perspectives rather than rapid revelation. Scott Brick's measured narration captures the same contemplative tone that makes the multiple narrators in The Name of the Rose so effective, allowing listeners to sink into morally complex narratives that prioritize emotional depth over procedural thrills.

   ★ 4.62 ABR Score (236.8K ratings)

   ★ 4.39 Goodreads (223.8K) ★ 4.64 Audible (12.9K)

   14h 19m listening time • Released 2019

   Scott Brick's weathered narration transforms this Depression-era journey into something haunting and deeply human, turning what could be a heavy historical tale into an unforgettable emotional gut-punch.

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9. 9

   

   The Huntress

   by Kate Quinn

   Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

   ★ 4.60 ABR Score (231.6K ratings)

   ★ 4.3 Goodreads (217.5K) ★ 4.66 Audible (14.1K)

   19h 4m listening time • Released 2019

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10. 10

    

    Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

    by Min Jin Lee

    Narrated by Sandra Oh, Min Jin Lee

    ★ 4.51 ABR Score (642.9K ratings)

    ★ 4.34 Goodreads (641.5K) ★ 4.64 Audible (1.4K)

    17h 48m listening time • Released 2024

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