Richard Osman writes puzzle-plot mysteries with the kind of wit that actually makes you laugh out loud, which is rare in crime fiction. His Thursday Murder Club series, starting in 2020, follows four retirement-home residents who solve cold cases, and the audio versions are narrated by Lesley Manville, who brings every character to life with precision and warmth.

If you like crime that leans into comedy without losing the tension, this is your corner of the genre. Listeners who enjoy character-driven stories over gory procedurals tend to become completely obsessed.