Most Popular Thriller Books of the 1950s

87th Precinct #8

Killer's Payoff

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

87th Precinct #6

Lady Killer

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

James Bond #6

Dr. No

Ian Fleming

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

Deadly Welcome

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

Soft Touch

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

Clemmie

John D. MacDonald

Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

Philip Marlowe #7

Playback

Raymond Chandler

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

A Game for the Living

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

Passport to Panic

Eric Ambler

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1958

The Caves of Night

John Christopher

Thriller

1958

87th Precinct #4

The Con Man

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1957

87th Precinct #5

Killer's Choice

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1957

James Bond #5

From Russia with Love

Ian Fleming

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

April 8, 1957

Cape Fear

John D. MacDonald

Horror · Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 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

Fu Manchu #13

Re-Enter: Dr. Fu Manchu

Sax Rohmer

Fantasy · Thriller

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

Trial of Strength

Celia Dale

Thriller

June 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

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

The Bad Seed

William March

Horror · Thriller

1954

I and My True Love

Helen MacInnes

Spy Thriller · Mystery · Romance · Thriller

February 16, 1953