The 25 Best Short Story Audiobooks for 2025

Short fiction has long captivated readers with its compact storytelling, quick immersion, and emotionally resonant arcs. Now, thanks to the rising popularity of audiobook platforms and the growth of specialized audio sites like AudioShortStories—a haven for fans of the short form in spoken word—discovering top-tier short story audiobooks has never been easier. Whether you're into chilling horror, heartwarming drama, classic mysteries, or experimental literary tales, this list showcases 25 of the best short story audiobooks of 2025 to stream or download today.

1. Around the Camp-Fire

• By: Sir Charles G. D. Roberts | Narrated by: David Wales
• A richly atmospheric collection of frontier and wilderness stories, perfect for those who love tales with rugged adventure and timeless nature themes.

2. Off Limits Temptation

• By: Lara Taylor | Narrated by: Virtual Voice
• Sizzling with tension, this sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance delivers both spice and emotional depth in under eight hours.

3. Clouds of Witness

• By: Dorothy L. Sayers | Narrated by: Stephen Scalon
• Lord Peter Wimsey investigates a murder at a country estate, blending clever wit with classic detective intrigue.

4. Unnatural Death

• By: Dorothy L. Sayers | Narrated by: Stephen Scalon
• More of Sayers' elegant mystery writing shines through as Wimsey uncovers secrets hidden beneath polite society.

5. I, Robot

• By: Isaac Asimov | Narrated by: Scott Brick
• A foundational work of science fiction, Asimov’s linked short stories explore AI, ethics, and human identity.

6. Mistakes Can Kill You

• By: Louis L’Amour | Narrated by: Lance Axt
• Classic Western tales of moral dilemmas, courage, and justice—gripping from start to finish.

7. Short Story Collection, Vol. 051

• By: Keisha Wilmore | Narrated by: A full cast
• A mix of genres and styles, this diverse collection offers something for everyone in nearly 10 hours of storytelling.

8. Sparring Partners

• By: John Grisham | Narrated by: Jeff Daniels, Ethan Hawke, January LaVoy, John Grisham
• Three legal thrillers filled with drama, sharp prose, and compelling moral complexity.

9. Men Without Women

• By: Haruki Murakami | Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
• Melancholic and mysterious, these stories explore male loneliness and longing with Murakami’s signature surreal touch.

10. The Ways of White Folks

• By: Langston Hughes | Narrated by: J.D. Jackson
• Powerful, poignant, and deeply insightful, these stories explore race, class, and identity in 20th-century America.

11. The Things They Carried

• By: Tim O'Brien | Narrated by: Bryan Cranston
• A modern classic that blends fiction and memoir, giving voice to soldiers' psychological and emotional burdens.

12. Ghost Camera

• By: Darcy Coates | Narrated by: Vanessa Moyen
• When a cursed camera begins showing ghosts in every photo, terror creeps in slowly in this supernatural thriller.

13. Nocturnal by Nature & Other Stories

• By: Nick Roberts | Narrated by: Derek Austin, Felix Blackwell
• Dark, eerie, and wonderfully paced, this horror collection delivers psychological frights and twisted thrills.

14. Three More Jack Reacher Novellas

• By: Lee Child | Narrated by: Dick Hill
• More bite-sized action-packed Reacher tales, each delivering sharp suspense and raw justice.

15. Hellions

• By: Julia Elliott | Narrated by: Suzy Jackson, Matt Godfrey
• Surreal and often grotesque, Elliott’s stories dive deep into Southern gothic territory with literary flair.

16. The History of Sound

• By: Ben Shattuck | Narrated by: Full cast including Paul Mescal, Nick Offerman
• A beautifully written and performed set of stories centered on love, memory, and music—intimate and moving.

17. Besieged

• By: Kevin Hearne | Narrated by: Luke Daniels
• Set in the Iron Druid universe, these stories are perfect for fans of witty urban fantasy and mythology.

18. The Runagates Club

• By: John Buchan | Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
• A gentleman’s club becomes the backdrop for gripping adventure tales steeped in early 20th-century mystery.

19. Rejection

• By: Tony Tulathimutte | Narrated by: Ensemble cast
• These razor-sharp, often satirical tales take aim at modern anxieties around identity, failure, and ambition.

20. The Scariest Bedtime Scary Stories

• By: Liber Occultis | Narrated by: Virtual Voice
• A chilling blend of psychological horror and dread, ideal for those who prefer their nightmares served slowly.

21. Dread: 22 Tales of Terror

• By: Kevin Bachar | Narrated by: Cheryl May
• A tight collection of horror shorts that keeps you up at night—perfect for lovers of the macabre.

22. Waking the Dead

• By: Bryan Asbury | Narrated by: Drew Blood, Geoff Sturtevant, Otis Jiry
• Zombie horror meets character-driven storytelling in this standout addition to the Evil Cookie series.

23. A Deadly Affair

• By: Agatha Christie | Narrated by: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Joan Hickson
• Rare romantic mysteries from the Queen of Crime, brought to life by familiar voices of Poirot and Miss Marple fame.

24. The Books of Blood, Volume 1

• By: Clive Barker | Narrated by: Simon Vance, Dick Hill, et al.
• Visceral and boundary-pushing, Barker’s iconic horror tales are terrifying and unforgettable.

25. Ford County

• By: John Grisham | Narrated by: John Grisham
• A deeply Southern collection of courtroom dramas and slice-of-life tales with darkly humorous undertones.

Whether you want a quick scare, a thoughtful reflection, or just something to entertain you during a commute, this list of the best short story audiobooks of 2025 offers something for everyone. Happy listening—and don’t forget to bookmark AudioShortStories.net for more gems as the year continues to unfold.