Most Popular Mystery Books of the 1950s

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

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Books in this list

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

Don't Crowd Me

Evan Hunter

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1953

I and My True Love

Helen MacInnes

Spy Thriller · Mystery · Romance · Thriller

February 16, 1953

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

Cancel all our vows

John D. MacDonald

Mystery

January 1, 1953

The Schirmer Inheritance

Eric Ambler

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

1953

Adventure #7

The Circus of Adventure

Enid Blyton

Childrens · Middle Grade · Adventure · Mystery

1952

Death In Captivity

Michael Gilbert

Crime Fiction · War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1952

Ballroom of the Skies

John D. MacDonald

Fantasy · Science Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1952

Damned

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1952

The Apple Tree: A Short Novel and Several Long Stories

Daphne du Maurier

Horror · Short Stories · Mystery

1952

The Felse Investigations #1

Fallen into the Pit

Ellis Peters

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1951

Neither Five nor Three

Helen MacInnes

Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Romance · Thriller

March 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

Weep for Me

John D. MacDonald

Mystery

January 1, 1951

Judge Me Not

John D. MacDonald

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

Adventure #6

The Ship of Adventure

Enid Blyton

Childrens · Middle Grade · Adventure · Mystery

1950

The Third Man

Graham Greene

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1950

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

Strangers on a Train

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

March 15, 1950

Skytip

Eric Ambler

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1950