Most Popular Adventure Books of the 1980s

Discover popular Adventure books from the 1980s, with reader ratings and new favorites to explore.

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Books in this list

Jake Grafton #1

Flight of the Intruder

Stephen Coonts

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Thriller

1986

Red Phoenix #1

Red Phoenix

Larry Bond

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

June 6, 1989

Matt Helm #25

The Frighteners

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1989

Patrick McLanahan #4

Day of the Cheetah

Dale Brown

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · War & Military · Adventure · Thriller

July 14, 1989

The Tiller Galloway Novels #1

Hatteras Blue

David Poyer

Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1989

Jake Grafton #4

The Minotaur

Stephen Coonts

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Thriller

1989

Brotherhood of War #8

The Aviators

W.E.B. Griffin

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

August 15, 1988

Mitla Pass

Leon Uris

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

July 1, 1988

Independent #1

Silver Tower

Dale Brown

Science Fiction · Suspense Thriller · War & Military · Adventure · Mystery

May 2, 1988

Rambo: First Blood Series #3

Rambo III

David Morrell

Crime Fiction · War & Military · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

May 1, 1988

Dan Lenson Novels #1

The Med

David Poyer

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

April 1, 1988

Island

Thomas Perry

Crime Fiction · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1988

Jake Grafton #3

Final Flight

Stephen Coonts

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Thriller

1988

White Cargo

Stuart Woods

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

1988

Corps #2

Call to Arms

W.E.B. Griffin

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

January 1, 1987

Brotherhood of War #7

The New Breed

W.E.B. Griffin

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

September 2, 1987

The Mitchell Gant Thrillers #3

Winter Hawk

Craig Thomas

Spy Thriller · Adventure · Thriller

January 1, 1987

Matt Helm #24

The Demolishers

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

September 12, 1987

Mortalis #3

The League of Night and Fog

David Morrell

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

January 1, 1987

Men at War #3

Soldier Spies

W.E.B. Griffin

Spy Thriller · War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

February 1, 1986

Corps #1

Semper Fi

W.E.B. Griffin

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

November 1, 1986

Brotherhood of War #6

The Generals

W.E.B. Griffin

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

February 1, 1986

Asian saga #6

James Clavell's Whirlwind

James Clavell

Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

January 1, 1986

Stallion Gate

Martin Cruz Smith

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1986

Matt Helm #23

The Vanishers

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

August 1, 1986

The Dougal Munro and Jack Carter Novels #1

Night of the Fox

Jack Higgins

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 15, 1986

Santorini

Alistair MacLean

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

December 1, 1986

A Matter of Honor

Jeffrey Archer

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Mystery

July 1, 1986

Labyrinth

A. C. H. Smith

Fantasy · Adventure

June 1, 1986

Men at War #2

The Secret Warriors

W.E.B. Griffin

Spy Thriller · War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

June 1, 1985

Men at War #1

The Last Heroes

W.E.B. Griffin

Spy Thriller · War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

January 1, 1985

Brotherhood of War #5

The Berets

W.E.B. Griffin

War & Military · Adventure · Historical Fiction · Thriller

January 1, 1985

Modesty Blaise series #11

Dead Man's Handle

Peter O'Donnell

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

October 3, 1985

Matt Helm #22

The Detonators

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

July 1, 1985

Liam Devlin #3

Confessional

Jack Higgins

Spy Thriller · War & Military · Adult · Adventure · Historical Fiction

January 1, 1985

Rambo: First Blood Series #2

Rambo

David Morrell

Crime Fiction · War & Military · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1985