Mystery Bestsellers for the Week Ending July 26, 2013

A list of the top 15 Mystery Hardcover Bestsellers for the week ending July 26th, 2013 has been posted by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books.

A virtual three-way tie for first place this week, but by the smallest of margins Dan Brown's Robert Langdon thriller, Inferno, remains atop the list.

Two new titles debut this week (postion in [brackets]).

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[12]: Light of the World
James Lee Burke
— Dave Robicheaux (20th)

Louisiana Sherriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux and his longtime friend and partner Clete Purcel are vacationing in Montana's spectacular Big Sky country when a series of suspicious events leads them to believe their lives — and the lives of their families — are in danger.

In contrast to the tranquil beauty of Flathead Lake and the colorful summertime larch and fir unspooling across unblemished ranchland, a venomous presence lurks in the caves and hills, intent on destroying innocent lives. First, Alafair Robicheaux is nearly killed by an arrow while hiking alone on a trail. Then Clete's daughter, Gretchen Horowitz, whom readers met in Burke's previous bestseller Creole Belle, runs afoul of a local cop, with dire consequences. Next, Alafair thinks she sees a familiar face following her around town — but how could convicted sadist and serial killer Asa Surette be loose on the streets of Montana? Surrette committed a string of heinous murders while capital punishment was outlawed in his home state of Kansas.

Years ago, Alafair, a lawyer and novelist, interviewed Surette in prison, aiming to prove him guilty of other crimes and eligible for the death penalty. Recently, a prison transport van carrying Surette crashed and he is believed dead, but Alafair isn't so sure.

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[15]: The White Princess
Philippa Gregory
— Cousins' War

When Henry Tudor picks up the crown of England from the mud of Bosworth field, he knows he must marry the princess of the enemy house — Elizabeth of York — to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades.

But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III — and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. While the new monarchy can win power, it cannot win hearts in an England that plots for the triumphant return of the House of York.

Henry's greatest fear is that somewhere a prince is waiting to invade and reclaim the throne. When a young man who would be king leads his army and invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother: the rose of York come home at last.

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