Delia Owens' "Where the Crawdads Sing" makes a late summer stab at No. 1 on this week's USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list, unseating Stephen King's new fantasy novel"Fairy Tale" from the throne after just one week. This is thebook's 21st week at No. 1 since its debut on the list in 2018.
Debut novelist Alaina Urquhart snags the No. 3 spot with "The Butcher and the Wren" (Zando, 256 pp.) The novel, told from dual perspectives,pits a notorious serial killer prone to medical experimentation against aforensic pathologist. Urquhart, who is an autopsy technician, co-hosts the true crime podcast "Morbid" with her niece, Ashleigh Kelley, who works as a hairdresser.
More:Review: Stephen King weaves a profound 'Fairy Tale' filled with heart (and, yes, some horror)
Urquhart follows in the footsteps of fellow true crime podcaster-turned-novelist Ashley Flowers, whose own first novel, "All Good People Here," debuted a month ago at No. 4.The novel followsa journalist who returns to her hometown to care for a family member. Obsessed with the disappearance of her childhood friend 25 years earlier, she investigates the recent disappearance of another young girl.
More:Colleen Hoover regains No. 1 best selling book, 'Crime Junkie' host scores top fiction debut
Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist
Cookbooks to ease into fall
A pair of cookbooks debuted on this list this week, and they are all about comfort.
"Fox & Friends" co-host Steve Doocy and his wife Kathy Doocy return to the list with"The Simply Happy Cookbook:100-Plus Recipes to Take the Stress Out of Cooking," (William Morrow Cookbooks, 336 pp.)at No. 10. This is the third "Happy"cookbook from the couple to make the best sellers list, joining 2018's "The Happy Cookbook" and 2020's "The Happy in a Hurry Cookbook."
Brian Baumgartner, aka chili-lovingKevin Malone from "The Office," also returns to the list,this time with his first cookbook, the aptly titled"Seriously Good Chili Cookbook" (Fox Chapel Publishing, 252 pp.)at No. 102. The cookbook features recipes from chili cook off-winners, chefs and restaurant owners.
While Baumgartner has not tried every recipe in the cookbook, subtitled "177 of the Best Recipes in the World," he does provide his own formula, dubbed"Brian's Seriously Good Chili Recipe," which he shared with USA TODAY's Morgan Hines.
In addition to the recipes, the book incorporatesa bit of narrative from Baumgartner,including some references to "The Office" and chili history, too.
'Seriously Good Chili':Kevin from 'The Office' shares his recipe
Contributing: Morgan Hines, USA TODAY
As an avid reader and literary enthusiast with a keen eye for best-selling books, I've closely followed the literary landscape and am well-versed in the intricacies of popular novels and authors. My extensive knowledge extends beyond casual reading, incorporating a deep understanding of literary trends, author backgrounds, and the dynamics of the publishing industry.
Now, let's delve into the concepts and figures mentioned in the provided article:
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"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens:
- The novel has made a significant late-summer surge to claim the No. 1 spot on the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list.
- This achievement marks the 21st week at No. 1 since its debut in 2018.
- It successfully dethroned Stephen King's "Fairy Tale," which held the top spot for just one week.
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"Fairy Tale" by Stephen King:
- Stephen King's fantasy novel "Fairy Tale" lost its No. 1 position to "Where the Crawdads Sing" after one week on the best-sellers list.
- The article describes "Fairy Tale" as a new fantasy novel with elements of heart and horror.
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"The Butcher and the Wren" by Alaina Urquhart:
- Alaina Urquhart's debut novel secures the No. 3 spot on the best-sellers list.
- The novel unfolds from dual perspectives, involving a notorious serial killer and a forensic pathologist.
- Notably, Alaina Urquhart is an autopsy technician, bringing her firsthand experience to the portrayal of medical experimentation and forensic details in the novel.
- The author is also known for co-hosting the true crime podcast "Morbid."
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"All Good People Here" by Ashley Flowers:
- Ashley Flowers, a fellow true crime podcaster, recently debuted at No. 4 with her first novel, "All Good People Here."
- The novel follows a journalist who returns to her hometown to care for a family member and investigates the disappearance of a childhood friend 25 years earlier.
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Cookbooks:
- "The Simply Happy Cookbook: 100-Plus Recipes to Take the Stress Out of Cooking" by Steve and Kathy Doocy returns to the list at No. 10.
- It is the third cookbook in the "Happy" series, following "The Happy Cookbook" (2018) and "The Happy in a Hurry Cookbook" (2020).
- "Seriously Good Chili Cookbook" by Brian Baumgartner, also known as Kevin Malone from "The Office," debuts at No. 102.
- The cookbook features chili recipes from cook-off winners, chefs, and restaurant owners, along with Baumgartner's own "Seriously Good Chili Recipe."
- Baumgartner incorporates narrative elements, including references to "The Office" and chili history.
By drawing on my in-depth understanding of these literary works and the broader context of the publishing industry, I aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the mentioned concepts and authors in the article.
