Best Betrayal Books

The highest-rated books featuring betrayal, ranked by readers. Browse 50 titles across Fantasy, Thriller, Sci-Fi.

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Betrayal works because it demolishes the comfortable lie that loyalty is guaranteed. When someone you trusted turns against you, it rewires everything: your sense of safety, your ability to read people, your understanding of what the relationship actually was. The emotional punch comes from that moment of revelation, but also from what comes after—whether that's revenge, survival, forgiveness, or something more complicated. It's a trope that gives stories genuine stakes.

You'll find betrayal woven through nearly every genre on this list—historical fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, even crime thrillers. Some books make it the explosive center of the plot (think revenge narratives). Others use it as a slow-burn corrosion of trust that quietly rewrites everything. What these 201 books share is the understanding that betrayal isn't just a plot point. It's a wound that changes people.

These are the highest-rated betrayal books across Fantasy, Thriller, Sci-Fi, ranked by reader ratings from Goodreads and Audible.

  1. 1
    This Inevitable Ruin cover

    This Inevitable Ruin

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 7

    by Matt Dinniman

    ★ 4.87 BLT Score (74.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.68 Goodreads (74.1K)
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  2. 2
    The Count of Monte Cristo cover

    The Count of Monte Cristo

    The Seaside Library • Book 1

    by Alexandre Dumas

    ★ 4.82 BLT Score (1.0M ratings)
    ★ 4.33 Goodreads (1.0M)
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  3. 3
    Reverse cover

    Reverse

    The Bittersweet Symphony Duet • Book 2

    by Kate Stewart

    ★ 4.79 BLT Score (29.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.63 Goodreads (29.0K)
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  4. 4
    Rhythm of War cover

    Rhythm of War

    The Stormlight Archive • Book 4

    by Brandon Sanderson

    ★ 4.76 BLT Score (245.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.58 Goodreads (245.5K)
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  5. 5
    The Trouble with Peace cover

    The Trouble with Peace

    The Age of Madness • Book 2

    by Joe Abercrombie

    ★ 4.70 BLT Score (46.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.6 Goodreads (46.4K)
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  6. 6
    The Lost Metal cover

    The Lost Metal

    The Mistborn Saga • Book 7

    by Brandon Sanderson

    ★ 4.70 BLT Score (122.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.48 Goodreads (122.5K)
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  7. 7
    Crooked Kingdom cover

    Crooked Kingdom

    Six of Crows • Book 2

    by Leigh Bardugo

    ★ 4.68 BLT Score (779.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.57 Goodreads (779.9K)
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  8. 8
    The Primal Hunter 8 cover

    The Primal Hunter 8

    The Primal Hunter • Book 8

    by Zogarth

    ★ 4.67 BLT Score (9.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.57 Goodreads (9.4K)
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  9. 9
    Betrayal in Death cover

    Betrayal in Death

    In Death • Book 12

    by J.D. Robb

    ★ 4.66 BLT Score (36.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.35 Goodreads (36.7K)
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  10. 10
    The Enemy cover

    The Enemy

    Jack Reacher • Book 8

    by Lee Child

    ★ 4.62 BLT Score (148.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (148.0K)
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  11. 11
    A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire cover

    A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

    Blood and Ash • Book 2

    by Jennifer L. Armentrout

    ★ 4.62 BLT Score (603.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.31 Goodreads (603.8K)
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  12. 12
    The Cartel cover

    The Cartel

    Power of the Dog • Book 2

    by Don Winslow

    ★ 4.61 BLT Score (39.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.36 Goodreads (39.5K)
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  13. 13
    Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure cover

    Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure

    Constable Evan Mystery

    by Rhys Bowen

    ★ 4.61 BLT Score (25.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.46 Goodreads (25.5K)
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  14. 14
    Whistleblower cover

    Whistleblower

    The Senator's Wife • Book 3

    by Jen Lyon

    ★ 4.60 BLT Score (3.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.65 Goodreads (3.7K)
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  15. 15
    The Power of the Dog cover

    The Power of the Dog

    Power of the Dog • Book 1

    by Don Winslow

    ★ 4.58 BLT Score (49.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (49.4K)
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  16. 16
    The Other Boleyn Girl cover

    The Other Boleyn Girl

    The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels • Book 9

    by Philippa Gregory

    ★ 4.52 BLT Score (515.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (515.4K)
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  17. 17
    The Empire of Gold cover

    The Empire of Gold

    The Daevabad Trilogy • Book 3

    by S.A. Chakraborty

    ★ 4.52 BLT Score (76.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.49 Goodreads (76.6K)
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  18. 18
    The Escape cover

    The Escape

    John Puller • Book 3

    by David Baldacci

    ★ 4.51 BLT Score (62.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (62.9K)
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  19. 19
    The Good Sister cover

    The Good Sister

    by Sally Hepworth

    ★ 4.51 BLT Score (233.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (233.2K)
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  20. 20
    Age of Swords cover

    Age of Swords

    The Legends of the First Empire • Book 2

    by Michael J. Sullivan, Marc Simonetti

    ★ 4.47 BLT Score (26.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (26.6K)
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  21. 21
    Best Served Cold cover

    Best Served Cold

    First Law World • Book 4

    by Joe Abercrombie

    ★ 4.46 BLT Score (113.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.25 Goodreads (113.4K)
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  22. 22
    The Rascor Plains cover

    The Rascor Plains

    The Immortal Great Souls • Book 2

    by Phil Tucker

    ★ 4.46 BLT Score (4.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.6 Goodreads (4.0K)
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  23. 23
    Defiance of the Fall 9 cover

    Defiance of the Fall 9

    Defiance of the Fall • Book 9

    by TheFirstDefier, J.F. Brink

    ★ 4.45 BLT Score (7.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.46 Goodreads (7.1K)
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  24. 24
    A Feast for Crows cover

    A Feast for Crows

    A Song of Ice and Fire • Book 4

    by George R.R. Martin

    ★ 4.44 BLT Score (797.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (797.4K)
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  25. 25
    Jar of Hearts cover

    Jar of Hearts

    by Jennifer Hillier

    ★ 4.41 BLT Score (220.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.13 Goodreads (220.6K)
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  26. 26
    Countdown cover

    Countdown

    Welcome to the Multiverse • Book 2

    by Sean Oswald

    ★ 4.41 BLT Score (3.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.42 Goodreads (3.7K)
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  27. 27
    Nemesis cover

    Nemesis

    Orphan X • Book 10

    by Gregg Hurwitz

    ★ 4.41 BLT Score (10.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (10.2K)
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  28. 28
    Cataclysm cover

    Cataclysm

    Arisen • Book 9

    by Michael Stephen Fuchs

    ★ 4.41 BLT Score (1.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (1.8K)
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  29. 29
    Who Buries the Dead cover

    Who Buries the Dead

    Sebastian St. Cyr • Book 10

    by C.S. Harris

    ★ 4.40 BLT Score (7.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.24 Goodreads (7.0K)
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  30. 30
    The Lying Woods cover

    The Lying Woods

    by Ashley Elston

    ★ 4.40 BLT Score (7.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (7.0K)
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  31. 31
    The Closers cover

    The Closers

    Harry Bosch • Book 11

    by Michael Connelly

    ★ 4.40 BLT Score (63.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (63.9K)
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  32. 32
    Filthy Secret cover

    Filthy Secret

    The Five Points' Mob Collection • Book 6

    by Serena Akeroyd

    ★ 4.40 BLT Score (4.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.5 Goodreads (4.4K)
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  33. 33
    Why Kings Confess cover

    Why Kings Confess

    Sebastian St. Cyr • Book 9

    by C.S. Harris

    ★ 4.38 BLT Score (7.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (7.2K)
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  34. 34
    Bastion cover

    Bastion

    The Immortal Great Souls • Book 1

    by Phil Tucker

    ★ 4.38 BLT Score (7.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.39 Goodreads (7.0K)
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  35. 35
    Blackwood Farm cover

    Blackwood Farm

    The Vampire Chronicles • Book 9

    by Anne Rice

    ★ 4.37 BLT Score (35.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.9 Goodreads (35.0K)
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  36. 36
    Locked On cover

    Locked On

    Jack Ryan, Jr. • Book 3

    by Tom Clancy, Mark Greaney

    ★ 4.37 BLT Score (17.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.12 Goodreads (17.4K)
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  37. 37
    Cometh the Hour cover

    Cometh the Hour

    The Clifton Chronicles • Book 6

    by Jeffrey Archer

    ★ 4.36 BLT Score (36.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.21 Goodreads (36.7K)
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  38. 38
    Thaddeus cover

    Thaddeus

    Gold Team • Book 2

    by Riley Edwards

    ★ 4.36 BLT Score (3.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (3.2K)
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  39. 39
    Halo: Mortal Dictata cover

    Halo: Mortal Dictata

    Halo • Book 13

    by Karen Traviss

    ★ 4.36 BLT Score (3.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (3.4K)
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  40. 40
    Glory to the Brave cover

    Glory to the Brave

    Ascend Online • Book 3

    by Luke Chmilenko

    ★ 4.35 BLT Score (2.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.28 Goodreads (2.1K)
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  41. 41
    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow cover

    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

    by Gabrielle Zevin

    ★ 4.35 BLT Score (1.4M ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (1.4M)
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  42. 42
    The Godfather cover

    The Godfather

    The Godfather • Book 1

    by Mario Puzo

    ★ 4.35 BLT Score (468.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (468.0K)
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  43. 43
    Wrecked Beginnings: Reckless Memories / Perfect Wreckage / Wrecked Palace cover

    Wrecked Beginnings: Reckless Memories / Perfect Wreckage / Wrecked Palace

    Wrecked #1-3 • Book 1

    by Catherine Cowles

    ★ 4.34 BLT Score (553 ratings)
    ★ 4.5 Goodreads (553)
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  44. 44
    Promised in Blood cover

    Promised in Blood

    Broken Bloodlines • Book 2

    by Sadie Kincaid

    ★ 4.34 BLT Score (39.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.05 Goodreads (39.7K)
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  45. 45
    16th Seduction cover

    16th Seduction

    Women's Murder Club • Book 16

    by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (44.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.12 Goodreads (44.3K)
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  46. 46
    Penric’s Mission cover

    Penric’s Mission

    Penric and Desdemona (Publication order) • Book 3

    by Lois McMaster Bujold

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (6.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.34 Goodreads (6.8K)
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  47. 47
    Sharp Ends cover

    Sharp Ends

    First Law World • Book 7

    by Joe Abercrombie

    ★ 4.33 BLT Score (27.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (27.7K)
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  48. 48
    Earth Defiant cover

    Earth Defiant

    The Ember War Saga • Book 4

    by Richard Fox

    ★ 4.32 BLT Score (1.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.31 Goodreads (1.9K)
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  49. 49
    What Lies in the Woods cover

    What Lies in the Woods

    by Kate Alice Marshall

    ★ 4.31 BLT Score (205.8K ratings)
    ★ 3.94 Goodreads (205.8K)
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  50. 50
    The Last Night in London cover

    The Last Night in London

    by Karen White

    ★ 4.30 BLT Score (9.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (9.3K)
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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.

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