At this time of year, booksellers are busy selling hardbacks as furiously as they can. Refreshing the paperback displays should pose no problem, as there is a good mix of top sellers, but the rest of the lists are severely pruned.

Topsellers

John Grisham Skipping Christmas Arrow, 5.99 £, 4th, 0099481685

Not a "normal" Grisham book but, as the title suggests, the tale of a couple bent on avoiding the frenzy and chaos of a traditional Christmas. What is exciting is that a film is being realeased at the same time. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Tim Allen and Dan Ackroyd, it's been re-titled "Christmas with the Kranks", and this tie-in (first p/b) edition bears both titles.

Danielle Steel Sate Harbour Corgi, 6.99 £, 1st, 05.52149914

Another massive bestseller, which comes with a h/b, Echoes, simultaneously.

Harlan Coben Just One Look Orion, 6.99 £, 4th, 0752863819

One of his standalone, edge-of-the-seat stories in the mould of Tell No One and Gone for Good. Excellent.

Colleen McCullough The Touch Arrow, 6.99 £, 4th, 009928900X

Right back to Thorn Birds territory: a big, Australian Outback family drama full of tragedy, passion and loss. A certain winner.

Clive Cussler Trojan Odyssey Penguin, 6.99 £, 4th, 0141016949

More improbable adventures for Dirk Pitt fans. Great stuff. Incidentally, there is a film of Sahara (HCP, 6.99 £, 15th, 0007194390) due at about the same time.

Robert Goddard Play to the End Corgi, 6.99 £, 1st, 0552148792

Goddard at his best in this tale about a business cover-up, romantic entanglement and the thespian world. The publication date has moved forward a month to give more selling time before Christmas. He's one of my favourites.

Jack Higgins Toll for the Brave HCP, 6.99 £, 1st, 0007127251

One of his early (1971) titles, published under the names J Long (h/b) and Harry Patterson (p/b). Arrow published it in 1977 under his name, but it's been o.p. for a while, so it will sell as new.

Bernard Cornwell Sharpe's Escape HCP, 6.99 £, 1st, 0007120141

First-rate, according to a devoted fan. It comes with four reprints in the same new livery.

Peter Robinson Playing with Fire Pan, 6.99 £, 5th, 033049161X

A new Inspector Banks--the 14th.

Jeffery Deaver Twisted Coronet, 6.99 £, 8th, 0340833890

Devious short stories for the Christmas market.

Anne Rice Blood Canticle Arrow, 6.99 £, 4th, 0099460173

The wonderful Lestat is back narrating and lusting after Rowan May fair, as the Vampire and Witch chronicles continue to entwine. Six backlist titles, the sensuous The Mummy among them, reprint in the new style.

Major sellers

Olivia Goldsmith Wish Upon a Star HCP, 6.99 £, 1st, 0007133383

This sassy lady, who had begun to climb up the charts again, sadly died earlier this year. She sets this Cinderella story in London, the city her American heroine falls desperately in love with.

Maggie Alderson Handbags and Gladrags Penguin, 6. 99 £, B, 4th, 0141009047

From the author of Mad About the Boy. Sophisticated chick-lit, and a tale of self discovery...