TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Fiction

Week of February 5, 2006

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1
THE DA VINCI CODE
Dan Brown
Cover of THE DA VINCI CODE

THE DA VINCI CODE

by Dan Brown · Doubleday

59 wks at #1 · 148 on list

THE #1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLING PHENOMENON, WITH MORE THAN 85 MILLION COPIES SOLD “Blockbuster perfection . . . a gleefully erudite suspense novel.” —The New York Times “A pulse-quickening, brain-teasing adventure.” —People While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion, a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever. Robert Langdon returns in The Lost Symbol, Inferno, Origin, and The Secret of Secrets (coming soon)!

2
THE HOSTAGE
W. E. B. Griffin
Cover of THE HOSTAGE

THE HOSTAGE

by W. E. B. Griffin · Putnam

3 wks on list

W. E. B. Griffin’s #1 New York Times bestselling series finds Presidential Agent Charley Castillo in the middle of an investigation into kidnapping, assassination, and even political scandal in this action-packed thriller. U.S. Army Special Forces Major Charley Castillo is tasked with a discreet mission by the President himself: to investigate the death of an American diplomat in Argentina and the kidnapping of that diplomat’s wife. With the woman’s children and family now at risk, Castillo’s running out of time to uncover the connections and truth behind it all. Amidst threats, murder, and a scandal tying the United Nations to Iraq, there is also a lot of money flying around—and some people will do anything it takes to get their hands on it...

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MARY, MARY
James Patterson
Cover of MARY, MARY

MARY, MARY

by James Patterson · Little, Brown

10 wks on list

When he investigates the murder of an actress outside of her Beverly Hills home, FBI agent Alex Cross learns that the attack was the latest in a series of celebrity killings linked to the elusive Mary Smith.

4
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DEATH DANCE
Linda Fairstein
Cover of DEATH DANCE

DEATH DANCE

by Linda Fairstein · Scribner

1 wks on list

Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper has always been fascinated by the stage, especially the Metropolitan Opera. When a world-renowned Russian ballerina is murdered at the Met shortly after her performance, Cooper quickly launches into an investigation, eager to go behind the scenes. But she soon discovers that the clues--and the suspects--are as complex as the corridors that zigzag throughout the great opera house.

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EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
Judith McNaught
Cover of EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE

by Judith McNaught · Ballantine

7 wks on list

Unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and riveting suspense: These are the trademarks of beloved author Judith McNaught. Returning to the lavish Chicago setting of her popular novel Paradise, and revisiting some of that book’s characters as well, this story will captivate in inimitable Judith McNaught style. High atop a snow-covered hill, the stately old Wyatt mansion is perched like a crown, its stone spires pointing upward, its stained glass windows glowing like colorful jewels. Such opulence means success and, surely, happiness. But on the eve of wealthy philanthropist Cecil Wyatt’s eightieth birthday, all the money in the world won’t bring back his missing grandson, William Wyatt. The only thing for certain: Foul play was involved. The family, the police, the media–all have tried in vain to discover the young man’s fate. Now suspicion has turned shockingly toward William’s own half-brother, the rather distant and enigmatic Mitchell Wyatt. Kate Donovan never dreamed that a chance romantic encounter on a tropical island paradise would tag her as a suspect in a high-society murder case. But after Kate tangles with the darkly charismatic Mitchell Wyatt, she finds herself cast in a shadow of guilt and mistrust. As the Chicago police tighten their net, it will take all of Kate’s ingenuity to clear her name. With her calm, cool wit, and the help of a man who may or may not be a dangerous catch, Kate vows to claim the life and love she desires. Includes bonus scenes.

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THE CAT WHO DROPPED A BOMBSHELL
Lilian Jackson Braun
Cover of THE CAT WHO DROPPED A BOMBSHELL

THE CAT WHO DROPPED A BOMBSHELL

by Lilian Jackson Braun · Putnam

2 wks on list

When a wealthy couple dies, Jim Qwilleran and his cats, Koko and Yum Yum, must follow the case to its explosive conclusion in this mystery in the bestselling Cat Who series. The town of Pickax is buzzing with excitement: its residents are about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding. But in the midst of all the preparations, Qwill has to take time out to entertain aspiring architect Harvey Ledfield—and deal with Koko’s strange new habit. Because the Siamese star has started dropping from balconies and landing in the oddest of places, including on Harvey’s head! And now that Harvey’s aunt and uncle have mysteriously gone missing, Qwill better brush up on his paw language before Pickax is hit with a bombshell...

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AT FIRST SIGHT
Nicholas Sparks
Cover of AT FIRST SIGHT

AT FIRST SIGHT

by Nicholas Sparks · Warner

14 wks on list

There are few things Jeremy Marsh was sure he'd never do: he'd never leave New York City: never give his heart away again after barely surviving one failed marriage: and most of all, never become a parent. Now, Jeremy is living in the tiny town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, married to Lexie Darnell, the love of his life, and anticipating the birth of their daughter. But just as his life seems to be settling into a blissful pattern, an unsettling and mysterious message re-opens old wounds and sets off a chain of events that will forever change the course of this young couple's marriage...

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TURNING ANGEL
Greg Iles
Cover of TURNING ANGEL

TURNING ANGEL

by Greg Iles · Scribner

4 wks on list

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Mississippi Blood and The Bone Tree keeps the secrets of the South alive in this “powerful…heartfelt…entirely gripping” (The Washington Post) novel of infatuation, murder, and sexual intrigue set in his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi. When the nude body of a beautiful young female student is found near the Mississippi River, the entire community is shocked—but no one more than Penn Cage, who discovers that his best friend, Drew Elliott, was entangled in a passionate relationship with the girl and may be accused of her murder. On the surface, Kate Townsend seems the most unlikely murder victim imaginable. A star student and athlete, she’d been accepted to Harvard and carried the hope and pride of the town on her shoulders. But like her school and her town, Kate also had a secret life—one about which her adult lover knew little. Penn will do all he can to exonerate Drew, but in a town where the gaze of a landmark cemetery statue—the Turning Angel—never looks away, Penn finds himself caught on the jagged edge of blackmail, betrayal, and deadly violence. By the time Penn arrives at the shattering truth, this quiet Southern town will never be the same and “Turning Angel will have you wondering where Greg Iles has been all your life” (USA TODAY).

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THE LAST TEMPLAR
Raymond Khoury
Cover of THE LAST TEMPLAR

THE LAST TEMPLAR

by Raymond Khoury · Dutton

1 wks on list

The first thrilling novel in Raymond Khoury’s New York Times bestselling Templar series. In 1291, a young Templar knight flees the fallen holy land in a hail of fire and flashing sword, setting out to sea with a mysterious chest entrusted to him by the Order's dying grand master. The ship vanishes without a trace. In present day Manhattan, four masked horsemen dressed as Templar Knights stage a bloody raid on the Metropolitan Museum of Art during an exhibit of Vatican treasures. Emerging with a strange geared device, they disappear into the night. The investigation that follows draws archaeologist Tess Chaykin and FBI agent Sean Reilly into the dark, hidden history of the crusading knights—and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with ruthless killers—as they race across three continents to recover the lost secret of the Templars.

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ON THE RUN
Iris Johansen
Cover of ON THE RUN

ON THE RUN

by Iris Johansen · Bantam

4 wks on list

For eight years, single mother Grace Archer has been living a picture-perfect life raising her daughter on a horse farm in the small town of Tallanville, Alabama. Watching Frankie grow into a talented and confident young girl has made Grace as happy as any mother could hope to be. Happy enough, even, to forget the past. But the past never quite goes away. Which is why a certain charismatic man also moved to Tallanville eight years ago to watch over her. But when violence threatens to shatter Grace and Frankie's idyllic home, the waiting is over. The ghosts of the past have returned. And they're hungry for blood. Now Grace must resume an identity she thought she had cast off forever, and match wits with an opponent as deadly as he is cunning. The prize: an extraordinary secret that only she can unfold. The forfeit: losing the thing more precious to her than life itself.

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JUST REWARDS
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Cover of JUST REWARDS

JUST REWARDS

by Barbara Taylor Bradford · St. Martin's

3 wks on list

The conclusion to the extraordinary tale of Emma Harte, the original Woman of Substance, and the powerful Harte clan... Love, passion, duty and honour collide as the members of this extraordinary dynasty try to protect their family name at all costs. Linnet O'Neill, heir apparent to Emma Harte and all she created, is determined to bring the Harte empire into the twenty-first century. But she and her mother Paula, head of the dynasty, lock horns. When Paula falls dangerously ill, Linnet is suddenly alone at the helm, just as her great-grandmother Emma once was. Linnet finds herself following in the footsteps of the original woman of substance as she battles to save what Emma created - upsetting her sister Tessa, who believes herself to be the rightful heir, in the process. Meanwhile, Emma's American great-granddaughter Evan faces her own headache. Her adopted sister Angharad is making trouble in the family, latching on to Jonathan Ainsley - deadly enemy of the Hartes - and so putting them all in danger. And when grief and heartbreak strike the family, all of Emma's great-granddaughters are tested to the limit as the extraordinary story of the Harte family takes another astonishing turn ...

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CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT
Anne Rice
Cover of CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT

CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT

by Anne Rice · Knopf

12 wks on list

Incorporates the latest New Testament scholarship to offer a fictional chronicle of the early years of Jesus Christ.

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ALL NIGHT LONG
Jayne Ann Krentz

ALL NIGHT LONG

by Jayne Ann Krentz · Putnam

3 wks on list

Shy Irene Stenson and wild Pamela Webb were best friends-until the night Irene returned home to find her parents' bodies on the kitchen floor. Consumed bu grief, Irene fled Dunsley, California and never looked back.

15
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THE PALE HORSEMAN
Bernard Cornwell
Cover of THE PALE HORSEMAN

THE PALE HORSEMAN

by Bernard Cornwell · HarperCollins

The last unvanquished piece of England, Wessex is eyed hungrily by the fearsome Viking conquerors. A dispossessed young nobleman, Uhtred is tied to the imperiled land by birth and marriage but was raised by the Danish invaders—and he questions where his allegiance must lie. But blood is his destiny, and when the overwhelming Viking horde attacks out of a wintry darkness, Uhtred must put aside all hatred and distrust and stand beside his embattled country's staunch defender—the fugitive King Alfred. The Pale Horseman is a gripping, monumental adventure that gives breathtaking life to one of the most important epochs in English history—yet another masterwork from New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell.

Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review, archived by Hawes Publications.