If you often see the same books being read on your morning commute, it may be your cue to grab a copy yourself. Amazon just released its list of the 20 best-selling books of 2014, and chances are youve already seen people reading them on the train. Its not too late to read — or reread — the bestsellers of the year. 1. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kid: Set in the south in the early 1800s, this Oprah Book Club book follows the complicated relationship between Handful, a slave, and Sarah, her owner, as they grow up together from childhood. Their confusing friendship, in the face of politics and societal norms, becomes a beautiful and difficult thing to watch as it changes over time. 2. Gray Mountain by John Grisham: When the recession causes Samantha Kofer to lose her Wall Street law firm job, she takes a job at a legal aid clinic in Virginia until she can hopefully get back to big law. But while her new job, for the first time, puts her front and center in the court room, it also puts her in terrible danger. 3. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: This National Book Award Finalist follows both Marie-Laure, a blind French Girl living with her father during World War II, and Werner, a German orphan with a knack for building and fixing radios. As their paths cross, this haunting story will question how life and art are influenced by war. 4. Twenty Seconds Ago (Jack Reacher, #19) by Lee Child: After years of being out of the Army, Jack Reacher is pulled back into service at the CIA and State Department after someone tried to shoot the president of France. In Childs latest Jack Reacher installment, Reacher finds himself face to face with an old enemy and old memories. 5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: From the author of the bestselling The Husbands Secret, this book focuses on three Australian moms, all with pre-schoolers in the same class. Sounds straightforward, except by the end of the book one of them will be dead. Each mother carries a secret in this witty book that dissects the lives of three suburban families. 6. The Target (Will Robie series) by David Baldacci: Will Robie and his partner Jessica Reel are called in by the President to take down an international criminal. Baldaccis thrilling page-turner keeps the reader hooked as Robie and Reel hunt down their target, yet become targets themselves. 7. The Fixed Trilogy by Laurelin Paige: Fans of Fifty Shades of Gray will love The Fixed Trilogy, which follows Alayna Wither, a rising star at the nightclub she works at, and Hudson Pierce, her boss who cant keep his eyes off her, and who Alayna cant seem to stay away from despite both their troubled pasts. 8. The Heroes of Olympus Book Five: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan: The fifth book in Riordans hit series launches the reader right in the middle of the Argo II crews battle with the earth mother, Gaia. The story is funny and action-packed as the crew races against time to stop Gaia and her giants before the world is destroyed. 9. Top Secret Twenty-One (Stephanie Plum) by Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum has to bring in a criminal used car dealer who missed his court date. But hes gone missing, and his No. 2 man is Stephanies only clue and, to top it all off, now his old boss wants him dead. All in a days work for Stephanie Plum. 10. Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II’s Most Audacious General by Bill OReilly: Just one of two nonfiction books to make the list, Killing Patton takes a look into the mysterious death of General George Patton, Jr., and theories about what, or who, may have really killed him. 11. Unlucky 13 (Womens Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro: With a loving husband, new baby, great job, and close friends, San Francisco detective Lindsay Boxer has it all figured out... until the FBI mails her a photo of a notorious killer, and Lindsay and fellow members of the Womens Murder club must find the killer before she finds them. 12. The Edge of Eternity: Book Three of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett: The Century Trilogy follows five families from different countries through the 20th century. The third book spans from the 60s to the 80s — an engrossing look at how the events of these three decades impact families from around the world. 13. Shadow Spell (Cousins ODwyer) by Nora Roberts: In the second book of the trilogy, Connor ODwyer and his sister Brannas best friend Meara work together on a regular basis without incident, but a near-death experience brings the two of them closer than ever — which would be fine, except Meara is afraid to get too close, and Connor is afraid of what he might unleash if he falls for her. 14. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King: Hundreds of people are waiting hopefully on line for a job fair when a Mercedes plows into the crowd, killing and injuring a number of people before driving off. Months later retired cop Bill Hodges gets a letter from the alleged driver threatening to do more damage, pulling him out of retirement to prevent history from repeating itself. 15. Blood Magick (Cousins ODwyer) by Nora Roberts: The second Nora Roberts book to make the list is the third in the ODwyer trilogy. This time Branna finds herself reunited with an old lover, yet both fear for a repeat of the heartache they caused each other years ago. Blood Magick is an entertaining, mystical finale to Roberts beloved trilogy. 16. Field of Prey by John Sandford: When a teenage couple encounter a dead body in an abandoned cornfield, Lucas Davenport is called in. Then more bodies turn up — 15 to be precise, and Lucas starts to notice an unusual pattern about when the victims were killed, almost like clockwork. 17. Written in My Own Hearts Blood (Outlander) by Diana Gabaldon: Its 1778. France has just declared war of Great Britain, and the Fraser family is caught up in marriages, re-marriages, illegitimate children... and time travel. Gabaldons thrilling series comes to life again in her latest installment. 18. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney: Everyones favorite wimpy kid Greg Heffley doesnt want to go on his family road trip. Its bound to be a disaster. But despite wrong turns, a fender bender, and gross gas station bathrooms, Greg is in for a bigger adventure than he imagined in Kinneys entertaining and cleverly illustrated short chapter book. 19. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare: In an alternate, fantasy world, Sebastian Morgenstern is turning shadowhunters into demons and against each other. Clary, Jace, and Simon must stop him, which would be easier if only he werent Clarys brother. 20. Flash Boys by Michael Lewis: Post-financial crisis, the stock market is less free than before, and all the characters involved either benefit from it big time, or are set to level the playing field. Flash Boys is a compelling nonfiction book that reveals the darkness, greed, and corruption on Wall Street. SEE ALSO: The 15 Best War Stories Ever Told DONT FORGET: Follow Business Insiders Life on Facebook! Join the conversation about this story »
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:06:08 +0000
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