| CUJO | 1981 novel by Stephen King |
| CLAW | The ___, 1981 novel by Norah Lofts (4) |
| RED | 1981 novel by Thomas Harris (3,6) |
| DRAGON | 1981 novel by Thomas Harris (3,6) |
| MENSCLUB | "The ... ...", 1981 novel by Leonard Michaels (4,4) |
| MOSQUITO | The ___, 1981 novel by Paul Theroux (8,5) |
| SHARPES | 1981 novel by Bernard Cornwell (7,5) |
| PUTONBY | 1981 novel by Ruth Rendell (3,2,2,7) |
| LUCIANOS | And 8 1981 novel by Jack Higgins (8,4) |
| TARBABY | 1981 novel by Toni Morrison |
| SHARPESEAGLE | 1981 novel by Bernard Cornwell |
| LUCIANOSLUCK | 1981 novel by Jack Higgins |
| NIGHTPROBE | 1981 novel by Clive Cussler |
| TWICESHY | 1981 novel by Dick Francis |
| LANARK | 1981 novel by Alasdair Gray (6) |
| REBELANGELS | 1981 novel by Canadian writer Robertson Davies, The ___ ___ |
| BABY | 1981 novel by Toni Morrison (3,4) |
| TAR | 1981 novel by Toni Morrison (3,4) |
| FIDDLECITY | 1981 novel by Dan Kavanagh aka Julian Barnes |
| DAD | 1981 novel by William Wharton (3) |
