Fiction, Bestseller | featured news

The story of 2012 in publishing was the story of "Fifty Shades of Grey," in more ways than one. E L James' erotic trilogy was easily the year's biggest hit, selling more than 35 million copies in the U.S. alone and topping bestseller lists for months. Rival publishers hurried to sign up similar books and debates started over who should star in the planned film version. Through James' books and how she wrote them, the general public was educated in the worlds of romance/erotica, start-up publishing and "fan fiction."

There are two newcomers to the graphic books hardcover best-seller list this week, and both shine a spotlight on artists — a trend worth supporting. “Dave Stevens’ Stories and Covers,” at No. 6, takes a look at the cover work of Mr. Stevens, who created the Rocketeer and was also well known for his renderings of women in a ’50s-pinup style.

Mitch Albom's third inspirational novel, The Time Keeper, lands on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list at No. 10, short of his first two fictional works. Both For One More Day (2006) and The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2003) were No. 1 on the list.

1. True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine, $27). In an Alex Delaware novel, interracial half-brothers investigate a young woman's death.

2. Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult (Atria, $27.95). A woman whose daughter has a dangerous birth defect must decide whether to sue her obstetrician.

3. Outcast by Aaron Allston (Del Rey/Ballantine, $27). A "Star Wars" novel about the extended Skywalker family.