Exclusive Books top 10 bestsellers

For your reading pleasure, we bring you a synopsis of Exclusive Books’ best sellers just in time for the festive season.

Rank	Title	Author	Publisher	Synopsis
1.	Skorpio	Deon Meyer	Human & Rousseau	A high-stakes Afrikaans thriller where detectives Bennie Griessel and Vaughn Cupido, newly promoted to Captain, are immediately thrown into two complex, seemingly unrelated cases: the crushed body of Cupido’s close friend found under a car, and an unexplained explosion of a caravan on a farm outside Stellenbosch. They must navigate potential murder and mystery while grappling with their personal lives and a rising wave of violence.
2.	Damn Good Food	Fehmz	Human & Rousseau	The debut cookbook by social media sensation Fehmz, known for her bold, flavour-packed meals. The book offers over 80 “flop-proof” recipes, ranging from authentic family classics like mutton akhni and mince curry to fun twists like chilli bite waffles and peri-peri prawns. It’s a collection designed to inspire both kitchen newbies and seasoned home cooks to have fun and create flavour-forward meals.
3.	Exit Strategy	Lee Child & Andrew Child	Transworld Publishers Ltd	The latest thriller featuring Jack Reacher, the iconic former military policeman. Reacher makes three planned stops that turn into a desperate hunt when a cryptic note, a desperate plea for help, is slipped into his pocket. Impressed by the delivery and intrigued by the message, Reacher makes it his mission to find out more, leading him to stumble upon a dark conspiracy where he must use his legendary skills to expose the truth and protect the innocent.
4.	The Widow	John Grisham	Hodder & Stoughton	The novel follows a successful lawyer who is pulled into a controversial case involving a charismatic businessman, Troy Penn. When Penn’s wife dies under mysterious circumstances, the lawyer takes on her representation in a high-stakes civil suit. As the legal battle unfolds, the lawyer uncovers dark secrets and political corruption, forcing him to risk everything to uncover the truth and seek justice for the deceased.
5.	Unlocked	Eben Etzebeth	Human & Rousseau	This is the frank and disarming autobiography of Eben Etzebeth, the towering Springbok lock and most-capped player in South African rugby history. The book details his journey from humble beginnings in Goodwood, Cape Town, through his early club career, to becoming a key player in the Springboks’ astonishingly successful run, which included back-to-back World Cup victories. He offers personal insights into his on-field aggression, his relentless focus, and the factors behind his extraordinary professional success.
6.	Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper (Book 20)	Jeff Kinney	Penguin Random House Children’s UK	The 20th instalment in the wildly popular children’s series follows Greg Heffley as he faces a major social crisis: his 13th birthday. The problem isn’t the party itself, but the potential embarrassment and social pressure that comes with trying to throw an event cool enough for a teenager. Greg’s desperate attempts to plan the perfect, “non-cringey” birthday bash result in the usual array of chaotic, humorous, and relatable disasters.
7.	Rooted and Rising	Thebe Ikalafeng	Tafelberg	A compelling exploration of African brands, culture, and identity by one of Africa’s leading brand architects. The book delves into the powerful stories behind successful African businesses and individuals, examining how they have leveraged their roots, history, and unique cultural narratives to create globally competitive and meaningful brands. It is a work that champions African self-determination and creativity in the global marketplace.
8.	Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice	Virginia Roberts Giuffre	Alfred A. Knopf (Penguin Random House)	Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s powerful memoir details her harrowing experience as a survivor of the sex trafficking network run by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The book recounts her journey of surviving abuse, the isolation she faced, and her courageous decision to fight for justice, becoming a key figure in the legal battles that exposed the powerful individuals complicit in the crimes.
9.	Zapiro Annual 2025: What Else Could Go Wrong?	Zapiro	Jacana Media	The latest annual collection of the best political cartoons by Jonathan Shapiro, widely known as Zapiro, one of South Africa’s most influential commentators. The book offers a sharp, satirical, and often humorous visual chronicle of the past year’s political events, scandals, and public figures in South Africa and globally, encapsulated by the title’s wry question.
10.	The Let Them Theory	Mel Robbins	Penguin Life (Penguin Random House)	A self-help and motivational guide based on the author’s viral concept. Robbins teaches readers the simple yet powerful psychological tool: the “Let Them” theory. This theory encourages people to relinquish the need to control others’ opinions, actions, or expectations, freeing themselves from overthinking, fear of judgment, and unnecessary emotional labour, ultimately managing anxiety and reclaiming personal peace.

The information contained in this article is of a general nature and intended for information purposes only.