TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Fiction

Week of January 18, 2015

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ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE
Anthony Doerr
Cover of ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE

by Anthony Doerr · Scribner

5 wks at #1 · 35 on list

An imaginative and intricate novel inspired by the horrors of World War II and written in short, elegant chapters that explore human nature and the contradictory power of technology.

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GRAY MOUNTAIN
John Grisham
Cover of GRAY MOUNTAIN

GRAY MOUNTAIN

by John Grisham · Doubleday

11 wks on list

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • John Grisham has a new hero ... and she’s full of surprises. The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer’s career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the fast track—until the recession hits and she is downsized, furloughed, and escorted out of the building. Samantha, though, is offered an opportunity to work at a legal aid clinic for one year without pay, all for a slim chance of getting rehired. In a matter of days Samantha moves from Manhattan to Brady, Virginia, population 2,200, in the heart of Appalachia, a part of the world she has only read about. Samantha’s new job takes her into the murky and dangerous world of coal mining, where laws are often broken, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack. But some of the locals aren’t so thrilled to have a big-city lawyer in town, and within weeks Samantha is engulfed in litigation that turns deadly. Because like most small towns, Brady harbors big secrets that some will kill to conceal.

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HOPE TO DIE
James Patterson
Cover of HOPE TO DIE

HOPE TO DIE

by James Patterson · Little, Brown

6 wks on list

NOW THE INSPIRATION FOR THE ORIGINAL SERIES 'CROSS' ON PRIME VIDEO ____________________________________ The final part of the thrilling duology in the bestselling Alex Cross series, preceded by CROSS MY HEART 'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. The Alex Cross series proves it.' LEE CHILD _______________________________________ Detective Alex Cross has lost everything and everyone he's ever cared about. His enemy, Thierry Mulch, is holding his family hostage. Driven by feelings of hatred and revenge, Mulch is threatening to kill them all, and break Cross for ever. But Alex Cross is fighting back. In a race against time, he must defeat Mulch, and find his wife and children - no matter what it takes. THE END-GAME HAS BEGUN. 'Alex Cross is a legend' HARLAN COBEN

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THE ESCAPE
David Baldacci
Cover of THE ESCAPE

THE ESCAPE

by David Baldacci · Grand Central

7 wks on list

Special Agent Puller's brother is the country's most wanted criminal, but his conviction points to a cover-up--and a dangerous enemy bent on burying the truth in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller. It's a prison unlike any other. Military discipline rules. Its security systems are unmatched. None of its prisoners dream of escaping. They know it's impossible...until now. John Puller's older brother, Robert, was convicted of treason. His inexplicable escape from prison makes him the most wanted criminal in the country. Some in the government believe that John Puller represents their best chance at capturing Robert alive, and so Puller must bring in his brother to face justice. But Puller quickly discovers that his brother is pursued by others who don't want him to survive. Puller is in turn pushed into an uneasy, fraught partnership with another agent, who may have an agenda of her own. They dig more deeply into the case together, and Puller finds that not only are her allegiances unclear, but there are troubling details about his brother's conviction...and someone out there doesn't want the truth to ever come to light. As the nationwide manhunt for Robert grows more urgent, Puller's masterful skills as an investigator and strengths as a fighter may not be enough to save his brother--or himself.

5
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DIE AGAIN
Tess Gerritsen
Cover of DIE AGAIN

DIE AGAIN

by Tess Gerritsen · Ballantine

1 wks on list

Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles investigate the murder of a big game hunter whose demise is linked to several seemingly unrelated deaths and a camping safari in Botswana.

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REVIVAL
Stephen King
Cover of REVIVAL

REVIVAL

by Stephen King · Scribner

8 wks on list

Stephen King presents “a fresh adrenaline rush of terror” (People) in this electrifying #1 New York Times bestseller! The new minister came to Harlow, Maine, when Jamie Morton was a boy doing battle with his toy army men on the front lawn. The young Reverend Charles Jacobs and his beautiful wife brought new life to the local church and captivated their congregation. But with Jamie, he shares a secret obsession—a draw so powerful, it would have profound consequences five decades after the shattering tragedy that turned the preacher against God, and long after his final, scathing sermon. Now Jamie, a nomadic rock guitarist hooked on heroin, meets Charles Jacobs again. And when their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, Jamie discovers that the word revival has many meanings…. A dark and disturbing novel about addiction, fanaticism, and what might exist on the other side of life, Revival spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written.

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THE ASSASSINATION OPTION
W. E. B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV
Cover of THE ASSASSINATION OPTION

THE ASSASSINATION OPTION

by W. E. B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV · Putnam

1 wks on list

From the #1 New York Times– and Wall Street Journal–bestselling author comes the dramatic second adventure in the brand-new Clandestine Operations series about the Cold War, the fledgling Central Intelligence Agency—and a new breed of warrior. In Top Secret, W.E.B. Griffin introduced a remarkable new cast of heroes as they found themselves on the front lines of an entirely different kind of war. Now, these men and women are going to find out what they’ve really gotten themselves into. James Cronley thought he had done well—he didn’t know he’d done this well. His first successful mission for the about-to-be-official new Central Intelligence Directorate has drawn all kinds of attention, some welcome, some not. On the plus side, he’s now a captain; promoted to Chief, DCI, Europe; and in charge of a top secret spy operation. On the minus side, a lot of people would like to know about that operation, including not only the Soviets, but his own Pentagon, as well as a seething J. Edgar Hoover. Cronley knows that if just one thing goes wrong, he’s likely to get thrown to the wolves. As if that weren’t enough pressure, complications are springing up on all sides. He’s discovered a surprising alliance between the former German intelligence chief and, of all things, the Mossad. A German family that Cronley never knew he had has suddenly, and suspiciously, emerged. And he’s due for a rendezvous with an undercover agent against the Soviets known only as Seven K. It’s when he meets Seven K that he gets the real surprise.

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TOM CLANCY: FULL FORCE AND EFFECT
Mark Greaney
Cover of TOM CLANCY: FULL FORCE AND EFFECT

TOM CLANCY: FULL FORCE AND EFFECT

by Mark Greaney · Putnam

5 wks on list

President Jack Ryan faces a global threat on the verge of going nuclear in this thriller in Tom Clancy's #1 New York Times bestselling series. A North Korean ICBM crashes into the Sea of Japan. A veteran CIA officer is murdered in Ho Chi Minh City. A package of forged documents goes missing. The pieces are there, but assembling the puzzle will cost Jack Ryan, Jr., and his fellow Campus agents precious time. Time they don’t have... The challenge facing President Jack Ryan is an old one with a terrifying new twist. As the international stalemate with North Korea continues into its seventh decade, a young, untested dictator is determined to prove his strength by breaking the deadlock. Like his father before him, he hangs his plans on the country’s nuclear ambitions, a program impeded by a lack of resources—until now. A recently discovered deposit of valuable minerals has caused a dramatic change in the nation’s economic fortune. Coupled with their nuclear capabilities, the money from this find will make North Korea a dangerous force on the world stage. There’s just one more step needed to complete this perfect plan...the elimination of the president of the United States.

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RAIN ON THE DEAD
Jack Higgins
Cover of RAIN ON THE DEAD

RAIN ON THE DEAD

by Jack Higgins · Putnam

1 wks on list

The past comes back to haunt black ops specialist Sean Dillon and his colleagues in this New York Times bestselling novel of terrorism, revenge, and a very old nemesis... On a dark summer night, two Chechen mercenaries emerge from the waters off Nantucket to kill a high-value target, the former President of the United States. Unfortunately for them, the president has guests that night, including Sean Dillon and his colleague, Afghan war hero Captain Sara Gideon. The Chechens do not survive the night, but Dillon is curious about how they even got on the island. What he discovers sends a chill through his bones—a name from Dillon’s distant past. If this man is working with the terrorists now, the assassination attempt is only the beginning—and next time, the results may be much, much different.

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LEAVING TIME
Jodi Picoult
Cover of LEAVING TIME

LEAVING TIME

by Jodi Picoult · Ballantine

12 wks on list

'Oh wow! Jodi Picoult has written her ultimate novel ever!... This book was beautifully written with a feeling of constant suspense... and that major twist??? What??? Highly recommended!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ten years ago, Alice Metcalf vanished after a car accident, leaving her daughter Jenna to grow up grappling with the mystery of her disappearance. Jenna has never believed that her mother could have simply left her. Determined to uncover the truth of what happened to Alice, she sets out to retrace the events of that fateful night. But nothing can prepare her for the answers that await. Number One bestselling author Jodi Picoult returns to themes about love and loss, and just how far we would go for the ones we love in this addictive bestseller. Readers adore Leaving Time: 'WOW WOW WOW incredible book' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'OMG!!!! UNBELIEVABLE TWISTS AND ENDINGS I DIDN'T SEE COMING WHAT-SO-EVER!!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The most brilliant, moving, emotionally resonant novel I've read in a long time... Once again, Jodi Picoult brings the magic!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Oh. My. God. This book was incredible!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I absolutely loved this book! It is a wonderful story of love and respect, grief and loss... The twist at the end of the book blew me away! Absolutely brilliant' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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NO FORTUNATE SON
Brad Taylor
Cover of NO FORTUNATE SON

NO FORTUNATE SON

by Brad Taylor · Dutton

1 wks on list

A hostage situation places America’s most powerful political elite at the mercy of its worst enemies in this Pike Logan thriller from New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor. When veteran operator Pike Logan and partner Jennifer Cahill receive a letter from the umbrella cover company for their real employer, a top secret counterterrorist unit called the Taskforce—they expect orders for their next mission. Instead, they learn that their latest actions have gotten them fired, despite having saved thousands of innocent lives. Pike’s shock and fury is redirected when their commander, Colonel Kurt Hale, asks him and Jennifer for help with a personal matter: His niece Kylie, an exchange student in England, has gone missing. Neither Pike nor Jennifer understands how critical her disappearance will become. Meanwhile, all Taskforce teams have been redirected to a developing situation. A terrorist organization has targeted military relatives of key members of the US government, including the vice president’s son. Now they’re faced with a terrible choice: cease counter-terrorist operations, or watch hostages die one by one. How much is a single life worth? Unless the Taskforce can decipher the web of lies devised by their enemies, the United States is about to find out.

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STATION ELEVEN
Emily St. John Mandel
Cover of STATION ELEVEN

STATION ELEVEN

by Emily St. John Mandel · Knopf

4 wks on list

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FINALIST • Set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse—the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity. • Now an original series on HBO Max. • Over one million copies sold! One of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end. Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed. Look for Emily St. John Mandel’s bestselling new novel, Sea of Tranquility!

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THE BURNING ROOM
Michael Connelly
Cover of THE BURNING ROOM

THE BURNING ROOM

by Michael Connelly · Little, Brown

9 wks on list

The new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly follows Detective Harry Bosch and his new partner as they investigate a recent murder where the trigger was pulled nine years earlier. In the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit, not many murder victims die almost a decade after the crime. So when a man succumbs to complications from being shot by a stray bullet nine years earlier, Bosch catches a case in which the body is still fresh, but all other evidence is virtually nonexistent. Now Bosch and rookie Detective Lucia Soto, are tasked with solving what turns out to be a highly charged, politically sensitive case. Beginning with the bullet that's been lodged for years in the victim's spine, they must pull new leads from years-old information, which soon reveal that this shooting may have been anything but random. In this gripping new novel, Michael Connelly shows once again why Harry Bosch is "one of the greats of crime fiction" (New York Daily News).

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THE BOSTON GIRL
Anita Diamant
Cover of THE BOSTON GIRL

THE BOSTON GIRL

by Anita Diamant · Scribner

4 wks on list

Recounting the story of her life to her granddaughter, octogenarian Addie describes how she was raised in early-twentieth-century America by Jewish immigrant parents in a teeming multicultural neighborhood.

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THE GOLDFINCH
Donna Tartt
Cover of THE GOLDFINCH

THE GOLDFINCH

by Donna Tartt · Little, Brown

58 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

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