Most Popular Mystery Books of the 1970s

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

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Books in this list

If You Can't Be Good

Ross Thomas

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1973

Quiller #5

The Tango Briefing

Adam Hall

Spy Thriller · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

1973

Seven

Evan Hunter

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

December 1, 1972

Inspector Wexford #7

Murder Being Once Done

Ruth Rendell

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

Message From Malaga

Helen MacInnes

Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

September 1, 1972

87th Precinct #27

Let's Hear It For The Deaf Man

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

87th Precinct #26

Sadie When She Died

Ed McBain

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

Roman Grey Novels

Canto for a Gypsy

Martin Cruz Smith

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

Modesty Blaise collections #1

Pieces of Modesty

Peter O'Donnell

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Collection · Short Stories · Adventure

January 1, 1972

Inspector Mercer #1

Body Of A Girl

Michael Gilbert

Mystery

January 1, 1972

Matt Helm #14

The Intriguers

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

Panic!

Bill Pronzini

Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

The Khufra Run

Jack Higgins, James Graham

Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

Rambo: First Blood Series #1

First Blood

David Morrell

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

January 1, 1972

Binary

Michael Crichton, John Lange

Science Fiction · Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Mystery

January 1, 1972

Travis McGee #14

The Scarlet Ruse

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

July 1, 1972

A Sergeant Cribb Investigation #3

Abracadaver

Peter Lovesey

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1972

Dr. David Audley & Colonel Jack Butler #3

Colonel Butler's Wolf

Anthony Price

Spy Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

A Dog's Ransom

Patricia Highsmith

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

Parker #15

Plunder Squad

Richard Stark

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1972

The Porkchoppers

Ross Thomas

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

June 1, 1972

Close-Up

Len Deighton

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

1972

The Levanter

Eric Ambler

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

1972

Nobody Knew They Were There

Evan Hunter

Dystopia · Mystery

January 1, 1971

One Across, Two Down

Ruth Rendell

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

Inspector Wexford #6

No More Dying Then

Ruth Rendell

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

Roman Grey Novels #1

Gypsy in Amber

Martin Cruz Smith

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

Modesty Blaise series #5

The Impossible Virgin

Peter O'Donnell

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

March 9, 1971

Matt Helm #13

The Poisoners

Donald Hamilton

Crime Fiction · Spy Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

The Stalker

Bill Pronzini

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

The Fly on the Wall

Tony Hillerman

Crime Fiction · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

A Dark Corner

Celia Dale

Horror · Crime Fiction · Novella · Mystery

January 1, 1971

Travis McGee #13

A Tan and Sandy Silence

John D. MacDonald

Crime Fiction · Suspense Thriller · Adventure · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

A Sergeant Cribb Investigation #2

The Detective Wore Silk Drawers

Peter Lovesey

Crime Fiction · Historical Fiction · Mystery

January 1, 1971

Dr. David Audley & Colonel Jack Butler #2

The Alamut Ambush

Anthony Price

Spy Thriller · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971

The Alan Grofield Novels #4

Lemons Never Lie

Richard Stark

Crime Fiction · Mystery · Thriller

January 1, 1971