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 Deceivers

John D. MacDonald

Mystery

May 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

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

The Price of Murder

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1957

Cape Fear

John D. MacDonald

Horror · Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1957

The Empty Trap

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery

December 1, 1957

Death Trap

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1957

A Man of Affairs

John D. MacDonald

Mystery

January 1, 1957

Deep Water

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 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

Assignment: Murder

Donald Hamilton

Spy Thriller · Mystery

January 1, 1956

Be Shot For Six Pence

Michael Gilbert

Mystery

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

Adventure #8

The River of Adventure

Enid Blyton

Childrens · Middle Grade · Adventure · Mystery

1955

6/10 2 ratings

Loser Takes All

Graham Greene

Novella · Mystery

January 1, 1955

Death of a Nurse

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery

August 1, 1955

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

Sky High

Michael Gilbert

Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · Mystery · Romance

January 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

Cut Me In

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1954

Night Walker

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1954

Contrary Pleasure

John D. MacDonald

Mystery

August 1, 1954

All These Condemned

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1954

Area of Suspicion

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1954