Most Popular Suspense Thriller Books of the 1970s

Discover popular Suspense Thriller books from the 1970s, with reader ratings and new favorites to explore.

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Books in this list

Matarese Dynasty #1

The Matarese Circle

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1979

9.0/10 1 ratings

The Day of the Jackal

Frederick Forsyth

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1971

9.0/10 1 ratings

George Smiley #7

Smiley's People

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1979

8.5/10 2 ratings

George Smiley #6

The Honourable Schoolboy

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1977

8.5/10 2 ratings

By the Rivers of Babylon

Nelson DeMille

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1979

8.0/10 2 ratings

The Gemini Contenders

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1976

8.0/10 1 ratings

The Rhinemann Exchange

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1974

8.0/10 1 ratings

The Cry of the Halidon

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1974

8.0/10 1 ratings

The Dogs of War

Frederick Forsyth

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

January 1, 1974

8.0/10 1 ratings

The Matlock Paper

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1973

8.0/10 1 ratings

Odessa #1

The Odessa File

Frederick Forsyth

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1972

8.0/10 1 ratings

The Scarlatti Inheritance

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1971

8.0/10 1 ratings

Mayday

Nelson DeMille, Thomas Block

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1979

7.5/10 2 ratings

The Naïve and Sentimental Lover

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1971

7.5/10 2 ratings

George Smiley #5

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1974

7.3/10 3 ratings

The Holcroft Covenent

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1978

7.0/10 1 ratings

The Chancellor Manuscript

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1977

7.0/10 1 ratings

Road to #1

The Road to Gandalfo

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1975

7.0/10 1 ratings

Spenser #1

The Godwulf Manuscript

Robert B. Parker

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

June 2, 1973

7.0/10 1 ratings

Trevayne

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1973

7.0/10 1 ratings

The Osterman Weekend

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1972

7.0/10 1 ratings

Ripley #2

Ripley Under Ground

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

June 1, 1970

7.0/10 1 ratings

Travis McGee #18

The Green Ripper

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1979

Travis McGee #17

The Empty Copper Sea

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1978

The Dancing Dodo

John Gardner

Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1978

Spenser #5

The Judas Goat

Robert B. Parker

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1978

Arthur Case Wu #1

Chinaman's Chance

Ross Thomas

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

March 15, 1978

Quiller #8

The Sinkiang Executive

Adam Hall

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1978

Sea Witch

Alistair MacLean

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

January 1, 1977

Condominium

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

March 1, 1977

Edith's Diary

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1977

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less

Jeffrey Archer

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

January 1, 1976

Spenser #4

Promised Land

Robert B. Parker

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

September 1, 1976

Quiller #7

The Kobra Manifesto

Adam Hall

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1976

Harry Palmer #7

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Spy

Len Deighton

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

1976

Roger Levin #1

Your Day in the Barrel

Alan Furst

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1976