Local bestsellers

Local bestsellers based on sales at select area bookstores

1. The Appeal, by John Grisham ($26.95, Doubleday). A jury returns a verdict against a chemical company.

2. Strangers in Death, by J.D. Robb ($25.95, Putnam). The facts don't add up as Lt. Eve Dallas attempts to solve a scandalous murder.

3. Lady Killer, by Lisa Scottoline ($25.95, Harper). A woman faces danger to unmask the killer of a high school rival.

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini ($25.95, Riverhead). Two women from different backgrounds are brought together by war.

5. Duma Key, by Stephen King ($28, Scribner). A man recovers from an accident in which he loses an arm.

1. In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan ($21.95, Penguin). How to eat for good health.

3. The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne (Beyond Words, $23.95). The law of attraction is the key to getting what you want.

4. Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois ($27.95, Harper). A guide on preparing fresh breads.