Historical Fiction bestsellers

James

A Novel

By: Percival Everett
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 7 hours 48 minutes

“Listening to James was marvellous, the clever story brought to life by Dominic Hoffman, gentle, resonating narration - I've played the sample aloud for customers at the shop and everyone stops to listen. You get a flavor with this audio book that reading might be hard to match, as the southern accents are almost impossible to imagine. One of my... Read more

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

By: Stephen Graham Jones
Narrated by: Shane Ghostkeeper, Marin Ireland & Owen Teale
Length: 15 hours 28 minutes

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians is a chilling historical horror novel tracing the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice.

A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran Pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go... Read more

The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick

A Novel

By: Ariel Lawhon
Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer & Ariel Lawhon
Length: 15 hours 5 minutes

“I tend to struggle a little with fiction on audio - I'm always afraid I'll lose the characters or the story! But The Frozen River is an engaging listen that hooked me from the first hour. The story is interesting and a part of history I know little about. The narration is wonderful; I feel like I'm back in 1700s Maine and it's been a great book... Read more

Babel

Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of The Oxford Translators' Revolution

By: R. F. Kuang
Narrated by: Chris Lew Kum Hoi & Billie Fulford-Brown
Length: 21 hours 45 minutes

“This is it. This is the magical school story that adults who grew up in the 90s and 00s have been hoping to find: one that incorporates a beautiful, erudite, delightfully post-steampunk world of magic, but that is ultimately about the hopes and the friendships of young people who came from outside the elite class, and whose lives have been... Read more

The Song of Achilles

A Novel

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
Length: 11 hours 14 minutes

“Beautifully heartbreaking, like grieving the living. Please - listen and enjoy <3 Read more

Circe

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Perdita Weeks
Length: 12 hours 8 minutes

“A bold retelling of the Circe episode from Homer's Odyssey that not only captures the interlocking pieces of Greek mythology, but also gives each god, titan, and Grecian a pulsing complexity. Both Circe the book and the character are quiet, sensual and--at times--freewheeling, adventurous, and devastating. Perdita Week's performance here is... Read more

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

By: V. E. Schwab
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Length: 17 hours 9 minutes

“When I first read the desription of this book, I got chills! If there was one book that I could read for the 1st time again, it would be this one! Read more

The Antidote

A Novel

By: Karen Russell
Narrated by: Elena Rey, Sophie Amoss, Mark Bramhall, Shayna Small, Jon Orsini, Natasha Soudek, Karen Russell & James Riding In
Length: 16 hours 55 minutes

“I was blown away (pun intended) by The Antidote! Such a wonderful book. A dust bowl novel with elements of magical realism intrigued me and Russell did not disappoint. It reminded me of The Giver, but for adults. Read more

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

A Novel

By: James McBride
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 12 hours 21 minutes

“Depression-era Pottsdown, PA. Immigrant Jews and Blacks who moved from the South cope with discrimination from the White Christian community. Moshe runs an integrated musical theater, assisted by Nate, while his wife Chona runs the local grocery store, assisted by Nate's wife Addie, catering to the black community, in the 'Chicken Hill'... Read more

Isola: Reese's Book Club

A Novel

By: Allegra Goodman
Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham & Allegra Goodman
Length: 12 hours 53 minutes

“Fascinating account of a woman's resilience in the face of cold, starvation, loneliness, grief, and polar bears! Resplendent with the natural splendor of a remote island off the coast of Canada. Read more

North Woods

A Novel

By: Daniel Mason
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, Michael Crouch, Jason Culp, Mark Deakins, Jayne Entwistle, Billie Fulford-Brown, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Kirsten Potter & Simon Vance
Length: 11 hours 5 minutes

“North Woods is an extraordinary tale told in an extraordinary voice. The history of one home in the wilds of Massachusetts through generations of inhabitants from a Puritan couple to a modern-day professor. The story is told by the living, the dead, and even some lovelorn beetles. The cast narration (Simon Vance and Mark Bramhill are two... Read more

The Poppy War

A Novel

The Poppy War

By: R. F. Kuang
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 19 hours 27 minutes

“In The Poppy War, Rin falls somewhere between the lines of morally gray and morally bankrupt. Exploring themes of racism, violence, gender and social inequality, and war, it’s a tough read, but well worth it in my opinion. Kuang is an expert at character development. Even her worst characters will have you rooting for them at times (my personal... Read more

Good Dirt

A Novel

By: Charmaine Wilkerson
Narrated by: January LaVoy
Length: 11 hours 26 minutes

“A beautiful, emotional family saga centered around an heirloom. I particularly loved Ebby, and the writing gave such rich context to each character. If you like family sagas or stories across time, give this a try! Read more

The Story She Left Behind

A Novel

By: Patti Callahan Henry
Narrated by: Julia Whelan & Theo Solomon
Length: 12 hours 31 minutes

“Patti Callahan Henry's enchanting historical mystery will sweep you away to 1950s London in this breathtaking story of the power of a mother and daughter's love! Told only in the lyrical beautiful way that Patti Callahan Henry can tell a tale, The Story She Left Behind is one for the ages… 🩷 Read more

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

A Novel

By: Shannon Chakraborty
Narrated by: Lameece Issaq & Amin El Gamal
Length: 16 hours 59 minutes

“An absolute must-read for fantasy fans, one of the best audiobooks I've ever read. The author's stated goal of 'entirely historically accurate except for the plot' means that this is an incredibly well-executed historical fantasy placed in an area and time period that is extremely rare from a non-Eurocentric point of view. The actual writing... Read more

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

20th Anniversary Edition

By: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
Length: 36 hours 14 minutes

“While Napoleon threatens to conquer Europe, a magician offers his services to the British government. A wonderful, dark, and often funny alternate history fantasy novel. Read more

Mexican Gothic

By: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
Length: 10 hours 39 minutes

“This was gothic vibes, horror, murder mystery…I couldn’t look away. I was fascinated by where the story was going. It was a cozy read and yet I was on the edge of my seat making all kinds of wild guesses about what was going on. I loved it. Read it immediately so we can discuss! Read more

Weyward

A Novel

By: Emilia Hart
Narrated by: Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley & Nell Barlow
Length: 10 hours 51 minutes

“I couldn’t stop listening. The narrator’s do an amazing job of telling the story of three generations of women who learn to live through the persistent horrors of the patriarchy. Read more

The Briar Club

A Novel

By: Kate Quinn
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 15 hours 3 minutes

The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the... Read more

The Nightingale

A Novel

By: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Polly Stone
Length: 17 hours 37 minutes

A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War... Read more

Black Sun

Between Earth and Sky: Book #1

By: Rebecca Roanhorse
Narrated by: Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, Kaipo Schwab & Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Length: 12 hours 46 minutes

“A slow burn and long build up leads to a big pay off and leaves you wanting for more! I enjoyed this as an audiobook for the pronunciation of words and names as well as the multicast narration. It is perfect for those who love their fantasy based on mythology, enjoy Hero’s Journey and Chosen One story arcs, and like political intrigue and... Read more

The Lincoln Highway

A Read with Jenna Pick (A Novel)

By: Amor Towles
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland & Dion Graham
Length: 16 hours 38 minutes

“Loved, loved, LOVED listening to the new Amor Towles book. The story was wonderful, but the readers made it especially enjoyable. Read more

Trust (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

By: Hernan Diaz
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marnò & Orlagh Cassidy
Length: 10 hours 20 minutes

“Hernan Diaz does things I've never seen in a novel before. Trust ties up threads of money and art, family and history, lies and truth. Think historical fiction turned meta, with a beating heart and spectacular writing. Read more

The Bright Sword

A Novel of King Arthur

By: Lev Grossman
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith & Lev Grossman
Length: 23 hours 9 minutes

“An expansive and epic adventure following the lesser-known knights of King Arthur’s Round Table. Buckle up, you’re in for some fun! Read more

There Are Rivers in the Sky

A novel

By: Elif Shafak
Narrated by: Olivia Vinall & Elif Shafak
Length: 16 hours 48 minutes

“A beautiful listening experience that I would recommend to anyone - especially lovers of historical fiction. I am an Elif Shafak fan for life. Read more

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

By: Lisa See
Narrated by: Jennifer Lim & Justin Chien
Length: 13 hours 15 minutes

“Historical fiction of the kind we don't get enough in the US. Rich with See's meticulous research, we are taken on an intimate journey to one remarkable woman's life during the Ming Dynasty. Beautiful writing of complicated women's relationships, women's health, class, and the politics of the day. A book to savor, especially with the stunning... Read more

Heartless Hunter

The Crimson Moth: Book #1

By: Kristen Ciccarelli
Narrated by: Grace Gray
Length: 12 hours 8 minutes

"A steamy game of cat and mouse between witch and witch-hunter, played out against a backdrop of opulence, secrets, and bloody history. I couldn't look away." - Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Champion of Fate

Enemies-to-lovers doesn't get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love in bestselling... Read more

By Any Other Name

A Novel

By: Jodi Picoult
Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Laura Benanti, Jodi Picoult, Jayne Entwistle, Andrew Fallaize, Joe Jameson, John Lee, Nicholas Guy Smith, Simon Vance & Steve West
Length: 18 hours 25 minutes

“With wonderful, relatable, characters you’ll be rooting for up until the very end. This well researched book is not only fun and entertaining, but astonishing! What a great listen! Read more

The Starless Sea

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman & Various
Length: 18 hours 36 minutes

“Harry Potter meets Greek mythology in this fantastical novel. Part adventure story, part fairytale compilation, The Starless Sea is an amazing book that takes listeners on a magical journey beyond time and fate. Zachary Ezra Rollins is a quiet man living a comfortable life of solitude. He allows himself just enough social interaction to not be... Read more

The Reformatory

A Novel

By: Tananarive Due
Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Length: 20 hours 51 minutes

“I am in awe of Tananarive Due. A horror story set in Jim Crow Florida, The Reformatory is the kind of book that I will never ever forget, no matter how many years have passed. It’s clear that Due poured her heart and soul into this story, her efforts manifesting in vivid storytelling, impeccably researched history, and characters so fully... Read more

The Four Winds

A Novel

By: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Length: 15 hours 20 minutes

“Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds is a gut-punch of a historical drama that throws you straight into the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Elsa Martinelli starts as a quiet, overlooked woman but transforms into a fierce survivor, fighting for her family against impossible odds. Hannah brings the era to life with raw emotion, heartbreak, and... Read more

The Jackal's Mistress

A Novel

By: Chris Bohjalian
Narrated by: Marni Penning & Chris Bohjalian
Length: 9 hours 29 minutes

“Set during the Civil War, The Jackal’s Mistress is a gripping tale. The true story of a Southern woman who harbored a gravely injured Union soldier and nursed him back to health grappling with the ethics of her actions and her developing feelings for the soldier. Read more

The Lost Apothecary

A Novel

By: Sarah Penner
Narrated by: Lorna Bennett, Lauren Anthony & Lauren Irwin
Length: 10 hours 17 minutes

“I initially expected this book to lean more towards fantasy rather than a realistic depiction of 1700s apothecaries, but I was not disappointed. The dual timeline effectively enhances the narrative, revealing crucial information at just the right moments. The sections set in the historical apothecary are particularly captivating, with richly... Read more

1984

By: George Orwell
Narrated by: Theo Solomon
Length: 12 hours 18 minutes

One of the most celebrated classics of the twentieth century, this cautionary tale of a man trapped under the gaze of an authoritarian state is more relevant now than ever before.“Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get... Read more

The Stolen Queen

A Novel

By: Fiona Davis
Narrated by: Linda Jones
Length: 10 hours 17 minutes

“Great interplay between past present. Fascinating Egyptology as foundation for empowerment, a passion for the past and the question of recovering from the past. Fun name dropping with The Met, Diana Vreeland and art scene luminaries in the 70s New York. Paced well and good inner and outer dialogues of the characters. Good take along for trips.... Read more

West with Giraffes

A Novel

By: Lynda Rutledge
Narrated by: Danny Campbell
Length: 10 hours 28 minutes

“The time period is 1938 and travel looks different than it does today. Two giraffes have miraculously survived a hurricane and must be transported to a zoo for care. The decision is made to travel cross country by truck to the San Diego Zoo. This epic road trip is adventurous, daring, time sensitive, and charming. Inspired by true events! This... Read more

A Fate Inked in Blood

Book One of the Saga of the Unfated

Saga of the Unfated: Book #1

By: Danielle L. Jensen
Narrated by: Nina Yndis
Length: 15 hours 15 minutes

“An amazing audiobook with an excellent narrator. Danielle L. Jensen has a talent of creating tension between the FMC and her love interest like a pro, keeping me at the edge of my seat and desperate for them to just kiss already. Romance isn't the core of the story though, there's an intriguing plot and twists and turns that will keep you... Read more

The Paris Express

By: Emma Donoghue
Narrated by: Justin Avoth
Length: 7 hours 15 minutes

“As someone who struggled through history classes designed to simply memorize bits and pieces. I really enjoy historical fiction because it puts history into a better format to remember. The Paris Express not only accomplished this but then at the end, the author took the time to tell you facts about the real historical people in the story as... Read more

The Fox Wife

A Novel

By: Yangsze Choo
Narrated by: Yangsze Choo
Length: 14 hours 36 minutes

“The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo is a lovely story brilliantly uses the folk legend of fox who can present as human and live long lives, if they avoid misadventure. Snow is hunting the killer of her child, a photographer of low character who coveted a snow-white fox kit and left it piteously injured to die. Snow will follow him from 1908 Manchuria... Read more

The Hymn to Dionysus

By: Natasha Pulley
Narrated by: Sid Sagar
Length: 15 hours 59 minutes

Bloomsbury presents The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley, read by Sid Sagar

A timely reimagining of the story of Dionysus—Greek god of ecstasy, revelry, and ruin—and a captivating queer love story for readers of The Song of Achilles and Elektra.

Raised in a Greek legion, Phaidros has been taught to follow his commander’s orders at all costs. But... Read more

Cloud Cuckoo Land

A Novel

By: Anthony Doerr
Narrated by: Marin Ireland & Simon Jones
Length: 14 hours 51 minutes

“This book is the best thing I’ve read - and the most complex and sophisticated - since Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. Three story lines tied together by the mythical quest of a man named Aethon: 1400’s Constantinople, present day Idaho, and a futuristic voyage of a ship called The Argos! Suspense and adventure! With all the beautiful... Read more

Horse

A Novel

By: Geraldine Brooks
Narrated by: James Fouhey, Lisa Flanagan, Graham Halstead, Katherine Littrell & Michael Obiora
Length: 14 hours 5 minutes

“This book centers on Lexington, often considered the greatest horse in history. But this book is much more than the story of a horse. Brooks writes of slavery, the Civil War, academia, art and publishing, love and loyalty, and racism in history and today. I loved the bond between Jarret, an enslaved boy, and Lexington. I will be thinking of this... Read more

The Familiar

A Novel

By: Leigh Bardugo
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
Length: 12 hours 57 minutes

“Set in 16th century Spain, this Jewish fantasy CONSUMED me! It's all about magic, the Spanish Inquisition, greed, lust, a holy magical tournament, and a hot little scorpion man named Santangel. The book starts off at a languid pace, but by page 100, I was hooked! There is no way The Familiar is not making my top 5 of 2024! Read more

A Gentleman in Moscow

A Novel

By: Amor Towles
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith
Length: 17 hours 51 minutes

“Within the pages of this captivating novel lies a poignant portrayal of a turbulent era in Russian history, rendered with remarkable depth, detail, and grace. Alexander Rostoff, initially portrayed as a haughty aristocrat, undergoes a profound transformation as he navigates the intricate web of relationships that will shape the next three... Read more

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

By: Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by: January LaVoy
Length: 12 hours 20 minutes

“"The Ten Thousand Doors of January" is a story about stories, and about escape, and about adventure. A fantastic tale that follows January Scholar, as she shares the story of the Doors that changed her life. January LaVoy's narration, combined with the portal fantasy aspects of the story sucked me into the ten thousand worlds of the book. An... Read more

Long Island

By: Colm Toibin
Narrated by: Jessie Buckley
Length: 9 hours 40 minutes

“In Colm Tóibín’s new book, Long Island, his masterful language and ability to draw quietly engaging characters is on full display. When a stranger knocks on Eilis Lacey’s door with an alarming message, her life and that of her family is thrown into disarray. After receiving the news, she returns to her hometown of Enniscorthy, where she... Read more

The Night Circus

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Jim Dale
Length: 13 hours 38 minutes

“Listening to The Night Circus is truly a magical experience. Narrated by Jim Dale–best known for being the voice of a certain child wizard–the listening experience was part nostalgia, part wonder. Be ready to be swept away to Victorian London and the romance of a century. Read more

The Marriage Portrait: Reese's Book Club

A novel

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Genevieve Gaunt & Maggie O'Farrell
Length: 13 hours 21 minutes

“A captivating story about a young bride, just out of childhood, entering into a marriage with an unfamiliar court, culture, and an unpredictable husband who is basically a stranger to her. The world building in the book is unmatched. The author sets an immersive scene that you can touch, feel, smell, and see. We follow the main character from... Read more

Hamnet

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Ell Potter
Length: 12 hours 42 minutes

“A wonderful imaginative tale of the family of one of England’s most famous writers – who is never named, but of course you know immediately who it is. O’Farrell has a beautiful style of language, with astute observations and lovely vivid descriptions and Daisy Donovan is the perfect narrator. At the core it is a story of shared grief and how... Read more

The Rose Code

A Novel

By: Kate Quinn
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 16 hours 1 minute

“I was really impressed with Kate Quinn's newest work, The Rose Code, following three women during their turn as codebreakers at Bletchley Place during WWII. The novel jumps back and forth between their BP days, where we witness their blossoming friendships as well as falling out, and the period leading up to Queen Elizabeth's royal wedding when... Read more