Most Popular Thriller Books of the 1970s

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

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Books in this list

Maryjane Tonight at Angels Twelve

Martin Caidin

Thriller

1972

Matarese Dynasty #1

The Matarese Circle

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1979

Sub-Zero!

Robert W. Walker

Thriller

1979

The Day of the Jackal

Frederick Forsyth

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1971

George Smiley #7

Smiley's People

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1979

George Smiley #6

The Honourable Schoolboy

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1977

Hercule Poirot #44

Curtain

Agatha Christie

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

June 7, 1975

By the Rivers of Babylon

Nelson DeMille

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1979

The Stepford Wives

Ira Levin

Psychological Horror · Mystery · Thriller

October 13, 1972

The Devil's Alternative

Frederick Forsyth

Science Fiction · Thriller

1979

Dirk Pitt #5

Vixen 03

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1978

Dirk Pitt #4

Raise the Titanic!

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1976

The Gemini Contenders

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1976

Dirk Pitt #3

Iceberg

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1975

The Quest

Nelson DeMille

Fantasy · Thriller

1975

The Rhinemann Exchange

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1974

The Cry of the Halidon

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1974

The Dogs of War

Frederick Forsyth

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

January 1, 1974

Dirk Pitt #2

Mayday!

Clive Cussler

War & Military · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

1973

The Matlock Paper

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1973

Odessa #1

The Odessa File

Frederick Forsyth

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1972

The Scarlatti Inheritance

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1971

Mayday

Nelson DeMille, Thomas Block

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1979

The Naïve and Sentimental Lover

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1971

SS-GB

Len Deighton

Alternate History · Thriller

1978

George Smiley #5

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

John Le Carré

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1974

Hercule Poirot #42

Elephants Can Remember

Agatha Christie

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

November 1, 1972

Hercule Poirot #43

Poirot's Early Cases

Agatha Christie

Crime Fiction · Collection · Short Stories · Mystery · Thriller

April 1, 1974

The Holcroft Covenent

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1978

The Chancellor Manuscript

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1977

Road to #1

The Road to Gandalfo

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1975

Spenser #1

The Godwulf Manuscript

Robert B. Parker

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

June 2, 1973

Trevayne

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1973

The Osterman Weekend

Robert Ludlum

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Thriller

1972

Miss Marple #11

Nemesis

Agatha Christie

Crime Fiction · TV Series · Mystery · Thriller

November 5, 1971

Bear Island

Alistair MacLean

Movie · Thriller

1971