Bookstore

Fiction

1. “The Da Vinci Code,” by Dan Brown (Doubleday, $24.95). The murder of a curator at the Louvre leads to a trail of clues found in the work of Leonardo and to the discovery of a centuries-old secret society.

2. “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” by Mitch Albom (Hyperion, $19.95). An old man who died while trying to rescue a little girl from danger discovers that all will be explained to him in the afterlife.

3. “Blow Fly,” by Patricia Cornwell (Putnam, $26.95). No longer the chief medical examiner of Virginia, Kay Scarpetta tries to unravel a conspiracy involving the Wolfman, a killer she helped put away years earlier.

4. “Shepherds Abiding,” by Jan Karon (Viking, $24.95). Father Tim tries to spruce up a nativity scene that has been neglected; a “Mitford Years” novel.

5. “Blood Canticle,” by Anne Rice (Knopf, $25.95). Continuing “The Vampire Chronicles”: longing for goodness and love, the formerly evil Lestat struggles with his vampirism.

Nonfiction

1. “A Royal Duty,” by Paul Burrell (Putnam, $25.95). A memoir by the man who served as butler to Diana, Princess of Wales.

2. “Dude, Where’s My Country?” by Michael Moore (Warner, $24.95). The author of “Stupid White Men” calls for “regime change” in Washington.

3. “Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them,” by Al Franken (Dutton, $24.95). A satirical critique of the rhetoric of right-wing pundits and politicians.

4. “Who’s Looking Out For You?” by Bill O’Reilly (Broadway, $24.95). The host of “The O’Reilly Factor” attacks those individuals and institutions that he believes have let down the American people.

5. “Bushwhacked,” by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose (Random House, $24.95). Two Texas journalists offer up an indictment of the Bush administration.

Advice, how-to and miscellaneous

1. “The South Beach Diet,” by Arthur Agatston (Rodale, $24.95). A weight-loss plan designed by a Miami cardiologist.

2. “The Purpose-Driven Life,” by Rick Warren (Zondervan, $19.99). Finding the meaning of life through God.

3. “The Ultimate Weight Solution,” by Phil McGraw (Free Press, $26). Dr. Phil identifies “seven keys” to losing weight.

4. “The World According to Mister Rogers,” by Fred Rogers (Hyperion, $16.95). Inspirational words from the TV personality, who died this year.

5. “Atkins for Life,” by Robert C. Atkins (St. Martin’s, $24.95). A physician’s program for finding one’s ideal weight and maintaining it.

— The New York Times