Our Best Seller List for Holiday 2011

Here's a look at what sold best in our store during the holiday period, from mid-November through Christmas. What sold seems to be anything by P.D. James, Lisa Scottoline or Anne Perry as well as signed books. The parody Goodnight iPad was stronger than we guessed it would be. Two other non-fiction titles were hits: 100 Unforgettable Dresses and History of the World in 100 Objects.

Big hits in kids books were Wimpy Kid, of course, Shel Silverstein and the Great Global Puzzle, a book that takes you around the world with the help of Google Earth.

For paperbacks, Pittsburgh was a winning subject with Sid vs. Ovi, the story of Sidney Crosby and his rival, Pittsburgh Noir edited by Kathy George and The Odds, written by Kathy George. Now if only Kathy George played hockey! It was so nice to see an old favorite, Hercule Poirot's Christmas, on the list along with a new favorite, The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault. Our good friend Margaret Maron, however, topped the list with Christmas Mourning.

Best Sellers in Hardcover

Best Sellers in Kid's Hardcover

Best Sellers in Paperback

Hardcover Best Sellers

1. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

The great P.D. James move from contemporary police action to the historical mystery in this book that features Elizabeth and Darcy as sleuths.

$25.95

2. V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

PI Kinsey Milhone takes on her 22nd adventure as Sue Grafton wends her way to the end of the alphabet. Order now to ensure a signed copy.

$27.95 signed copies available

3. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's life is set to blow sky high when international murder hits dangerously close to home.

$28 signed copies available

4. Best Friends, Occasional Enemies by Lisa Scottoline

The title certainly describes the relationship between co-authors and mother daughter in this humorous and touching collection of essays.

$24.99

5. Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry

A holiday tradition--Anne Perry's holiday mystery featuring one of the supporting characters from her two popular series. This time it's Charlotte's mother, Caroline, who serves a sleuth.

$18

6. Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd

A completely contemporary send-up of the classic children's tale as we bid goodnight to each of our beeping, blinking screens secure in the knowledge that they will be waiting for us in the morning, fully charged.

$14.95

7. History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor

An original and thought-provoking book by the director of the British Museum that illustrates human history through 100 objects drawn from the museum's collection.

$45

8. The Impossible Dead by Ian Rankin

A second volume in Rankin's new series with Malcolm Fox and his "Complaints" group who investigate corrupt cops

$25.99

9. The Queen's English by C.J. Moore

An A to Zed guide to distinctively British words. Indispensable for fans of British mystery.

$14.95

10. 100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubenstein

Gorgeously illustrated, here are the stories, secrets, intrigue, and insights behind the most indelible dresses in our collective memories.

$35

Hardcover Kid's Best Sellers

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

The sixth episode in Jeff Kinney's popular series about Greg Heffley and his middle school misadventures

$13.95

2. Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein

A new poetry book chock full of unpublished poems and artwork by the beloved Silverstein

$19.99

3. Great Global Puzzle Challenge with Google Earth by Clive Gifford

A lushly illustrated book of geographical puzzles that you can solve using Google Earth

$15.99

4. Can You See What I See? Toyland Express by Walter Wick

Everyone's favorite seek and solve, puzzle master, Walter Wick is back with gorgeous photos of "all things toy related".

$13.99

5. Christmas in the Mouse House by Maggie Kneen

It's Christmas Eve, and the Mouse house is full of activity. Each spread shows a different room in the Mouse house.

$14.99

6. Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris van Allsberg

An inspired collection of short stories by an all-star cast of bestselling storytellers based on the thought-provoking illustrations in Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.

$24.99

Paperback Best Sellers

1. Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron

Deborah Knott celebrates a family Christmas, one interrupted by murder

$7.99

 

2. Pittsburgh Noir by edited by Kathleen George

Pittsburgh takes its rightful place alongside New York, Los Angeles, Istanbul and other great cities--we've got our own volume of Noir stories.

$15.95

3. Charlie Brown's Christmas with Tree

Desktop decor for the holidays--Charlie Brown's pathetic Christmas tree, including Linus's blanket and a mini edition of Charlie Brown's Christmas.

$8.95

4. Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

A charming collection of stories featuring the unforgettable characters of Cold Comfort farm

$16

5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Don’t let the Young Adult classification fool you – this will be a memorable read for teens as well as adults and a favorite with book clubs.

$12.99

6. Sid vs. Ovi by Andrew Podnieks

The story behind hockey legends, and rivals, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin

$22

7. The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault

A unique and charming mystery about a directionless young man who takes a job at a dictionary publisher and stumbles across a mystery

$15

8. Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler

Collection of Christmas-themed mystery stories

$14.99

9. Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

A classic country house puzzle set during the holidays

$12.99

10. The Odds by Kathleen George

Local writer Kathleen George's Edgar-nominated mystery, set in Pittsburgh

$14.99