TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Fiction

Week of May 18, 2014

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1
THE TARGET
David Baldacci
Cover of THE TARGET

THE TARGET

by David Baldacci · Grand Central

2 wks at #1 · 2 on list

The world's greatest assassins are on a high-risk mission for the President--but a powerful mastermind wants them dead in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller. The President knows it's a perilous, high-risk assignment. If he gives the order, he has the opportunity to take down a global menace, once and for all. If the mission fails, he would face certain impeachment, and the threats against the nation would multiply. So the president turns to the one team that can pull off the impossible: Will Robie and his partner, Jessica Reel. Together, Robie and Reel's talents as assassins are unmatched. But there are some in power who don't trust the pair. They doubt their willingness to follow orders. And they will do anything to see that the two assassins succeed, but that they do not survive. As they prepare for their mission, Reel faces a personal crisis that could well lead old enemies right to her doorstep, resurrecting the ghosts of her earlier life and bringing stark danger to all those close to her. And all the while, Robie and Reel are stalked by a new adversary: an unknown and unlikely assassin, a woman who has trained her entire life to kill, and who has her own list of targets--a list that includes Will Robie and Jessica Reel.

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NATCHEZ BURNING
Greg Iles
Cover of NATCHEZ BURNING

NATCHEZ BURNING

by Greg Iles · Morrow/HarperCollins

1 wks on list

#1 New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles continues the electrifying story of Natchez Burning with this second volume in an epic trilogy of blood and race, family and justice. Penn Cage is caught in the darkest maelstrom of his life. The death of his father's African-American nurse has fractured Penn's family and turned Dr. Tom Cage into a fugitive. Penn has inadvertently started a war with an offshoot of the KKK called the Double Eagles, and Penn's fiancee, journalist Caitlin Masters, is chasing the biggest story of her career. Both Caitlin and the Feds that Penn reluctantly teams up with believe Tom can lead them to evidence of America's most secret, shameful history, a time when powerful men committed violent race murders to conceal a conspiracy involving the Mafia, the Double Eagles, and the assassination of JFK. In the end, all roads lead to the Bone Tree, a legendary killing site that may conceal far more than the remains of the forgotten.

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THE GOLDFINCH
Donna Tartt
Cover of THE GOLDFINCH

THE GOLDFINCH

by Donna Tartt · Little, Brown

28 wks on list

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION Theo Decker, aged thirteen, is left alone in the world after surviving a catastrophe that kills his only close relative - his mother - and tears him away from everything he knows. Tormented by grief, drifting from home to home, he grows increasingly obsessed with a small, enchanting work of art which dominates his imagination and ultimately draws him, as an adult, into a much darker life than he could ever have foreseen. 'A masterpiece' The Times 'Astonishing' Guardian 'Superb' Daily Mail 'A gripping page turner' Independent on Sunday 'A triumph' Stephen King 'Dazzling' New York Times

4
THE COLLECTOR
Nora Roberts
Cover of THE COLLECTOR

THE COLLECTOR

by Nora Roberts · Putnam

3 wks on list

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts comes a novel about a woman who needs nothing, a man who sees everything, and the web of deceit, greed and danger that brings them together—and could tear them apart... When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one... Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Chalking up their intense attraction to the heat of the moment, Lila agrees to help Ash try to find out who murdered his brother and why. From the penthouses of Manhattan to grand Italian villas, their investigation draws them into a rarefied circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away and stolen; where what you possess is who you are; and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession...

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CHESTNUT STREET
Maeve Binchy
Cover of CHESTNUT STREET

CHESTNUT STREET

by Maeve Binchy · Knopf

2 wks on list

Superb storytelling from one of the world's best-loved writers. Just round the corner from St Jarlath's Crescent (featured in MINDING FRANKIE) is Chestnut Street. Here, the lives of the residents are revealed in Maeve Binchy's wonderfully compelling tales: Bucket Maguire, the window cleaner, who must do more than he bargained for to protect his son. Nessa Byrne, whose aunt comes to visit from America for six weeks every summer and turns the house - and Nessa's world - upside down. Lilian, the generous girl with a big heart, and the fiancé not everyone approves of. And Melly, whose gossip about the neighbours leads to trouble in the form of the fortune teller, 'Madame Magic'... 'In Chestnut Street [there is] enough kindness, wisdom and insight into human nature, to remind readers why Maeve Binchy was one of the most beloved writers this country has ever produced' Irish Times

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THE INVENTION OF WINGS
Sue Monk Kidd
Cover of THE INVENTION OF WINGS

THE INVENTION OF WINGS

by Sue Monk Kidd · Viking Press

17 wks on list

An exclusive free sample chapter from THE INVENTION OF WINGS... From the celebrated author of the international bestseller THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES comes an extraordinary novel about two exceptional women. Sarah Grimké is the middle daughter. The one her mother calls difficult and her father calls remarkable. On Sarah's eleventh birthday, Hetty 'Handful' Grimké is taken from the slave quarters she shares with her mother, wrapped in lavender ribbons, and presented to Sarah as a gift. Sarah knows what she does next will unleash a world of trouble. She also knows that she cannot accept. And so, indeed, the trouble begins ... A powerful, sweeping novel, inspired by real events, and set in the American Deep South in the nineteenth century, THE INVENTION OF WINGS evokes a world of shocking contrasts, of beauty and ugliness, of righteous people living daily with cruelty they fail to recognise; and celebrates the power of friendship and sisterhood against all the odds.

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I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
Mary Higgins Clark
Cover of I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN

I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN

by Mary Higgins Clark · Simon & Schuster

5 wks on list

In this gripping #1 New York Times bestseller from Queen of Suspense Mary Higgins Clark, a Manhattan ER doctor is brazenly murdered in front of his young son in a city playground. Five years later, his killer is still at large. When Laurie Moran’s husband was brutally murdered, only three-year-old Timmy saw the face of his father’s killer. Five years later his piercing blue eyes still haunt Timmy’s dreams. Laurie is haunted by more—the killer’s threat to her son as he fled the scene: “Tell your mother she’s next, then it’s your turn…” Now Laurie is dealing with murder again, this time as the producer of a true-crime, cold-case television show. The series will launch with the twenty-year-old unsolved murder of Betsy Powell. Betsy, a socialite, was found suffocated in her bed after a gala celebrating the graduation of her daughter and three friends. The sensational murder was news nationwide. Reopening the case in its lavish setting and with the cooperation of the surviving guests that night, Laurie is sure to have a hit on her hands. But when the estranged friends begin filming, it becomes clear each is hiding secrets…small and large. And a pair of blue eyes is watching events unfold, too…

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THE SERPENT OF VENICE
Christopher Moore
Cover of THE SERPENT OF VENICE

THE SERPENT OF VENICE

by Christopher Moore · Morrow/HarperCollins

2 wks on list

Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from the Queen of Britain: the rascal-Fool Pocket. This trio of cunning plotters—the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago—have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising an evening of sprits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia. But their invitation is, of course, bogus. The wine is drugged. The girl isn't even in the city limits. Desperate to rid themselves once and for all of the man who has consistently foiled their grand quest for power and wealth, they have lured him to his death. (How can such a small man, be such a huge obstacle?). But this Fool is no fool . . . and he's got more than a few tricks (and hand gestures) up his sleeve. Greed, revenge, deception, lust, and a giant (but lovable) sea monster combine to create another hilarious and bawdy tale from modern comic genius, Christopher Moore.

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KEEP QUIET
Lisa Scottoline
Cover of KEEP QUIET

KEEP QUIET

by Lisa Scottoline · St. Martin's

4 wks on list

"Jake Whitmore is enjoying a rare bonding moment with his sixteen-year-old son, Kurt, when disaster strikes. They get in a terrible car accident that threatens to derail not only Kurt's chances at college, but his entire future. Jake makes a split-second decision that saves his son from formal punishment, but plunges them both into a world of guilt, lies, and secrecy. Just when Jake thinks he has everything under control, a malevolent outsider comes forward with the power to expose Jake's secret and taunts him to the breaking point. Keep Quiet is the powerful and gut-wrenching tale of the unraveling--and the ultimate redemption--of a family"--

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NYPD RED 2
James Patterson and Marshall Karp
Cover of NYPD RED 2

NYPD RED 2

by James Patterson and Marshall Karp · Little, Brown

6 wks on list

When NYPD Red arrives at a crime scene, everyone takes notice. Known as the protectors of the rich, famous, and connected, NYPD Red is the elite task force called in only for New York City's most high-profile crimes. And Detective Zach Jordan is the best of the best, a brilliant and relentless pursuer of justice. He puts professionalism above all, ignoring his feelings for his partner, Detective Kylie MacDonald, the woman who broke his heart when they first met in the academy. But even with their top-notch training, Zach and Kylie aren't prepared for what they see when they're called to a crime scene in the heart of Central Park. They arrive to find a carousel spinning round and round, its painted horses grinning eerily in the early morning dark. There is only one rider: a brutally slaughtered woman, her body tied up and dressed in a Hazmat suit, on display for the world to see. The victim, a woman of vast wealth and even greater connections, is the fourth in a string of shocking murders that have hit the city. As the public pressure mounts, and political and personal secrets of the highest order hang in the balance, Zach and Kylie must find out what's really behind the murderer's rampage. But Kylie has been acting strange recently--and Zach knows whatever she's hiding could threaten the biggest case of their careers. NYPD Red 2 is the next outstanding novel in James Patterson's newest series, a thriller that careens through New York City and deep into the psyche of a depraved killer you've never seen before.

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LIVE TO SEE TOMORROW
Iris Johansen
Cover of LIVE TO SEE TOMORROW

LIVE TO SEE TOMORROW

by Iris Johansen · St. Martin's

1 wks on list

Catherine Ling is one of the CIA's most prized operatives. Raised on the unforgiving streets of Hong Kong, she was pulled into the agency at the age of fourteen, already having accumulated more insight and secrets than the most seasoned professionals in her world. If life has taught her anything, it is not to get attached, but there are two exceptions to that rule: her son Luke and her mentor Hu Chang. When Luke was kidnapped at the age of two, it nearly broke her. Now, nine years later, her son has astonishingly been returned to her and Catherine vows never to fail him again. But when her job pulls her away from home, she relies on the brilliant and deadly Hu Chang to safeguard Luke in her absence. Now Erin Sullivan, an American journalist with mysterious ties to Hu Chang, has been kidnapped in Tibet. If Catherine doesn't agree to spearhead the CIA rescue mission, she knows that Hu Chang himself will go, a possibility she can't risk. But she will be facing a monster whose crimes stretch back forty years, always eluding the CIA. And the job grows even more complicated when Catherine meets Richard Cameron, a supposed ally who's clearly not telling all he knows. Their attraction is immediate, but Catherine isn't at all sure that he can be trusted. If she's going to rescue this journalist with a story worth killing for, she'll need to keep Cameron very close. From the treacherous landscape of the Himalayas to the twisting back alleys of San Francisco, the clock is ticking for Catherine and those she loves most. At every turn she faces a ruthless enemy who is determined to keep the truth buried, even if it means that none of them live to see tomorrow, in this novel from bestseller Iris Johansen.

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BRIDGE TO HAVEN
Francine Rivers
Cover of BRIDGE TO HAVEN

BRIDGE TO HAVEN

by Francine Rivers · Tyndale House

1 wks on list

A New York Times , USA Today , and Publishers Weekly bestseller! In this riveting saga of temptation, grace, and unconditional love, the New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and The Masterpiece delivers big-canvas storytelling at its very best. To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Few know her real name is Abra. Even fewer know the price she's paid to finally feel like she's somebody. To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Zeke and his son, Joshua―Abra's closest friend―watch her grow into an exotic beauty. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth have etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking charmer who lures her to Tinseltown. Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naive Abra quickly learns what's expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. But fame comes at a devastating price. She has burned every bridge to get exactly what she thought she wanted. Now all she wants is a way back home. This riveting and emotional tale is perfect for fans of: Historical fiction and Christian romance Glamorous, vintage Hollywood settings Faith-filled stories about broken characters on the road to redemption "One of the edgiest Christian romances I have had the pleasure of reading in a long while. Francine Rivers has woven a deeply moving story with an adept hand that knows just how to layer humanity, in all its beautiful and ugly truth, into almost every individual who steps onto the page." ― USA Today 's Happy Ever After Blog "This is another compelling and moving story by one of the genre's most honored and talented writers." ― Library Journal , starred review "Rivers returns with a page-turning recasting of the story of the prodigal son, here a prodigal daughter. . . . This story arc will be particularly resonant for Christian readers, but Rivers has the writing ability to reel in others who enjoy a well-told tale of redemption." ― Publishers Weekly

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MISSING YOU
Harlan Coben
Cover of MISSING YOU

MISSING YOU

by Harlan Coben · Dutton

7 wks on list

From the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger comes the #1 New York Times bestseller about the ties we have to our past—and the lies that bind us together—as the ultimate Internet scam unfolds... Surfing an online dating site, NYPD detective Kat Donovan feels her whole world explode. Staring back at her is her ex-fiancé, the man who shattered her heart—and whom she hasn’t seen in eighteen years. But when Kat reaches out to the man in the profile, an unspeakable conspiracy comes to light. As Kat begins to investigate, her feelings are challenged about everyone she’s ever loved—even her father, whose cruel murder so long ago has never been fully explained. With lives on the line, including her own, Kat must venture deeper into the darkness than she ever has before and discover if she has the strength to survive what she finds there.

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THE HUSBAND'S SECRET
Liane Moriarty
Cover of THE HUSBAND'S SECRET

THE HUSBAND'S SECRET

by Liane Moriarty · Amy Einhorn/Putnam

22 wks on list

The no 1. New York Times bestseller from the author of Big Little Lies and new novel Apples Never Fall. "A staggeringly brilliant novel. It is literally unputdownable." Mail on Sunday How well do you know your husband? Cecilia Fitzpatrick, devoted mother, successful Tupperware business owner and efficient P&C President, has found a letter from her husband. "For my wife, Cecilia Fitzpatrick, to be opened only in the event of my death" But Cecilia's husband isn't dead, he's on a business trip. And when she questions him about it on the phone, Cecilia senses something she hasn't experienced before. John-Paul is lying. What happens next changes Cecilia's formerly blissful suburban existence forever, and the consequences will be life-changing for the most unexpected people. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Jodi Picoult and Paula Hawkins will love Liane Moriarty. PRAISE FOR THE HUSBAND'S SECRET "So good you won't be able to keep it to yourself" USA Today "The story is cleverly plotted, full of suspense and so well-written that it pulls you in from the first page" Sunday Mirror "Dark and compelling, this is a must read" Sun "Intelligent and funny" Sydney Morning Herald Named one of Entertainment Weekly's Best Books of the Year and People magazine's Top Ten Books of the Year

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THE STORIED LIFE OF A. J. FIKRY
Gabrielle Zevin
Cover of THE STORIED LIFE OF A. J. FIKRY

THE STORIED LIFE OF A. J. FIKRY

by Gabrielle Zevin · Algonquin

3 wks on list

Don't miss Gabrielle Zevin's new novel, Young Jane Young, coming in August 2017. “Funny, tender, and moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love.”* A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives alone, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, its unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over--and see everything anew. “This novel has humor, romance, a touch of suspense, but most of all love--love of books and bookish people and, really, all of humanity in its imperfect glory.” —Eowyn Ivey, author of The Snow Child “Marvelously optimistic about the future of books and bookstores and the people who love both.” —The Washington Post “You won’t want it to end.” —Family Circle “A natural for book groups.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch “A reader’s paradise of the first order.” —The Buffalo News “A fun, page-turning delight.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune “Captures the joy of connecting people and books . . . Irresistible.” —Booklist “A wonderful, moving, endearing story of redemption and transformation that will sing in your heart for a very, very long time.” —Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain “Readers who delighted in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Letters from Skye will be equally captivated by this novel.” —*Library Journal, starred review

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CARNAL CURIOSITY
Stuart Woods
Cover of CARNAL CURIOSITY

CARNAL CURIOSITY

by Stuart Woods · Putnam

When crime hits Manhattan’s rarefied circles, Stone Barrington finds himself in the bull’s-eye in this #1 New York Times bestseller. Stone Barrington seems to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When Manhattan’s elite are beset by a series of clever crimes—and Stone is a material witness—he and his former partner Dino Bacchetti find themselves drawn into the world of high-end security and fraud, where insider knowledge and access are limited to a privileged few, and the wealthy are made vulnerable by the very systems meant to keep them safe. As Stone and Dino delve deeper into their investigation, they learn that the mastermind behind the incidents may have some intimate ties to Stone...and that the biggest heist is still to come.

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