Most Popular Crime Fiction Books of the 1950s

Discover popular Crime Fiction books from the 1950s, with reader ratings and new favorites to explore.

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Books in this list

The Empty Trap

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery

December 1, 1957

Death Trap

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1957

Deep Water

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1957

87th Precinct #3

The Pusher

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1956

87th Precinct #2

The Mugger

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1956

87th Precinct #1

Cop Hater

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1956

James Bond #4

Diamonds Are Forever

Ian Fleming

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

March 26, 1956

April Evil

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1956

Murder in the Wind

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1956

Border Town Girl

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Short Stories · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1956

The Night-Comers

Eric Ambler

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1956

Pray for a Brave Heart

Helen MacInnes

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Mystery

January 1, 1955

Line of Fire

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1955

Sky High

Michael Gilbert

Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · Mystery · Romance

January 1, 1955

Cry Hard, Cry Fast

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1955

A Bullet for Cinderella

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1955

Night Walker

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1954

All These Condemned

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1954

Area of Suspicion

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1954

The Blunderer

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

December 17, 1954

Charter to Danger

Eric Ambler

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1954

A Kiss Before Dying

Ira Levin

Horror · Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

June 1, 1953

Inspector Hazlerigg #6

Fear To Tread

Michael Gilbert

Crime Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1953

James Bond #1

Casino Royale

Ian Fleming

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1953

Dead Low Tide

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1953

The Neon Jungle

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1953

The Schirmer Inheritance

Eric Ambler

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Historical Fiction · Mystery

1953

Death In Captivity

Michael Gilbert

Crime Fiction · War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1952

Damned

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1952

The Felse Investigations #1

Fallen into the Pit

Ellis Peters

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1951

Inspector Hazlerigg #5

Death Has Deep Roots

Michael Gilbert

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1951

Murder for the Bride

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1951

Tender To Danger

Eric Ambler

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1951

Judgment on Deltchev

Eric Ambler

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1951

Inspector Hazlerigg #4

Smallbone Deceased

Michael Gilbert

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1950

The Brass Cupcake

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1950