10 books for fans of The Maltese Falcon
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Murder on the Orient Express
A Hercule Poirot Mystery • Book 10
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver classic detective mysteries with sharp, atmospheric narration that keeps you engaged through intricate plots and morally complex characters. Where Hammett's hardboiled detective work unfolds through gritty urban streets, Christie's locked-room puzzle offers the same intellectual satisfaction and expertly paced revelations, just with a more refined setting and equally skilled narrator bringing the tension to life.
★ 4.20 Goodreads (741.3K ratings) - 2
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
A Hercule Poirot Mystery • Book 1
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver classic detective fiction with sharp, methodical plotting and morally ambiguous protagonists navigating dark mysteries. Hugh Fraser's refined narration complements Christie's intricate puzzle-box construction much as Dufris's noir-inflected delivery enhances Hammett's hard-boiled atmosphere, offering a similarly immersive listen in roughly the same timeframe.
★ 4.00 Goodreads (514.2K ratings) - 3
A Is for Alibi
Kinsey Millhone Mysteries • Book 1
by Sue Grafton
Why this book?
Both novels feature a shrewd, independent private investigator navigating morally complex cases through sharp dialogue and meticulous detective work, with narrators who bring the same hard-boiled sensibility to their audiobook performances. Grafton's alphabet series offers that same page-turning mystery and cynical wit, making it a natural progression for listeners who appreciated Dufris's delivery of Hammett's classic noir style.
★ 3.86 Goodreads (192.6K ratings) - 4
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver sharp, intelligent mysteries anchored by unforgettable protagonists navigating morally complex worlds, and Jeff Woodman's narration captures the same conversational immediacy that makes William Dufris's performance of Hammett's noir so compelling. While The Maltese Falcon unfolds as classic detective intrigue, The Curious Incident offers a similarly clever puzzle wrapped in a more intimate, psychologically layered perspective that rewards the close listening these narratives demand.
★ 3.89 Goodreads (1.6M ratings) - 5
Only to Sleep
by Lawrence Osborne
More about this pick
Philip Marlowe returns in this authorized continuation, aging but still sharp as he takes on one final case that becomes a piercing psychological study of literature's most beloved detective.
★ 3.59 Goodreads (2.0K ratings) - 6
The Whisper House
Rylan Flynn • Book 3
by Dawn Merriman
More about this pick
Rylan Flynn's ghost-hunting expertise is tested when her ex-boyfriend's mansion harbors both restless spirits and a fresh corpse. Merriman blends paranormal investigation with murder mystery in this third series installment.
★ 4.47 Goodreads (958 ratings) - 7
Killing Dreams
Sam Mason Mysteries • Book 5
by L.A. Dobbs
More about this pick
A grim discovery in small-town New Hampshire gives Police Chief Sam Mason the break he needs against elusive drug dealer Lucas Thorne, but the evidence threatens to destroy his closest professional relationship.
★ 4.42 Goodreads (5.1K ratings) - 8
Remember, Remember
Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery • Book 3
by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley
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A memory-wiped American actress wakes up in 1897 London believing she may have committed murder, with only the name 'Sherlock Holmes' as her guide through a deadly conspiracy.
★ 4.40 Goodreads (1.5K ratings) - 9
Legacy in the Blood
Chiara Corelli Mystery • Book 4
More about this pick
The murder of investigative reporter Ned Rich reveals a web of blackmail victims, each with motive enough to kill the man who threatened their carefully guarded secrets.
★ 4.36 Goodreads (194 ratings) - 10
Dogged Pursuit
Andy Carpenter • Book 31
More about this pick
Rosenfelt takes us back to Andy's origin story as he leaves the prosecutor's office to defend the little guy in his first solo case. See how the beloved defense attorney got his start fighting the system.
★ 4.35 Goodreads (2.7K ratings)