Reacher returns to No.1! Latest Ballymena bestsellers, half-price offers and book clubs revealed
Saturday 24 October 2026
Lee and Andrew Child have taken the number one spot at Waterstone’s Ballymena with Chain Reaction, the latest Jack Reacher thriller, as the store reveals a fresh Top 10 featuring crime fiction, literary favourites and classic novels.
Joanna Miller’s The Eights takes second place, while Claire Douglas completes the top three with The Family Friend. Irish author Niall Williams also features strongly, with O Now! taking fourth place.
The latest chart includes bestselling names such as Alice Feeney, Ian Rankin and Kristin Hannah, alongside literary classics from George Orwell and Robert W. Chambers.
Beyond the bestseller shelves, five half-price offers are available this week, while a Halloween-themed Saturday Storytime and three upcoming book club meetings give local readers plenty to look forward to.
This week’s Top 10
1. Chain Reaction — Lee Child and Andrew Child
Jack Reacher returns in another high-octane thriller, this time finding himself in a sinister town dominated by humming data centres and the ever-present threat of violence. Lee and Andrew Child deliver another fast-moving adventure featuring one of crime fiction’s most recognisable characters.
2. The Eights — Joanna Miller
Set against the backdrop of Oxford University, Miller’s historical novel follows four pioneering women whose friendships and ambitions unfold during a period of significant social change, exploring the barriers they face and the bonds that bring them together.
3. The Family Friend — Claire Douglas
Bestselling thriller writer Claire Douglas delivers another suspenseful psychological mystery, exploring trust, deception and the unsettling secrets that can lurk beneath apparently ordinary relationships.
4. O Now! — Niall Williams
The acclaimed Irish novelist returns with another work of literary fiction, bringing the lyrical prose, emotional depth and close observation of everyday life that have made his writing so widely admired.
5. My Husband’s Wife — Alice Feeney
A twist-filled psychological thriller from the bestselling author, exploring marriage, secrets and deception as the truth behind a relationship becomes increasingly difficult to unravel.
6. The King in Yellow — Robert W. Chambers
A classic collection of strange and unsettling stories first published in 1895, linked by a mysterious forbidden play whose influence threatens the minds of those who encounter it. Chambers’ work has become an enduring influence on supernatural and cosmic horror.
7. The Heights — Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin’s standalone thriller takes readers into the secretive world of London’s super-rich, where the murder of a night concierge in a luxury high-rise apartment building brings its wealthy residents under unexpected scrutiny.
8. Animal Farm — George Orwell
Orwell’s celebrated political allegory follows a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner in pursuit of equality, only to discover how easily revolutionary ideals can be corrupted by power.
9. The Killer Question — Janice Hallett
The bestselling author of The Appeal brings her inventive approach to mystery writing to another intriguing crime novel, inviting readers to piece together clues and uncover the truth behind a cleverly constructed puzzle.
10. Summer Island — Kristin Hannah
A moving story of family relationships, estrangement and second chances, following a mother and daughter forced to confront painful memories and rediscover their connection after years apart.
Five half-price books to discover
There is something for historical fiction fans, home cooks, football supporters, thriller readers and younger book lovers among this week’s half-price selections.
• Royal Witch — Philippa Gregory
The bestselling historical novelist breathes new life into the true story of a medieval noblewoman imprisoned after being accused of summoning the devil to secure royal power.
Gregory’s novel explores female agency, misogyny and the dangers faced by women navigating the political struggles of the medieval court.
• Mary All in One — Mary Berry
The much-loved cookery writer serves up her first collection of one-pot recipes, featuring accessible dishes ranging from traybakes and pasta meals to cakes and other family favourites.
• Games of My Life — Sir Alex Ferguson
The legendary former Manchester United manager reflects on seven decades of football through 21 iconic matches, charting his extraordinary career at the highest level of the game.
The memoir celebrates persistence, passion and the enduring importance of teamwork, offering football supporters an insight into the experiences that shaped one of the sport’s most successful managers.
• Chain Reaction — Lee Child and Andrew Child
This week’s number one bestseller is also included in the half-price selection, offering readers the latest Jack Reacher adventure for less.
Reacher finds himself drawn into danger in a sinister town dominated by data centres, where violence is never far away.
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Fight or Flight — Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley returns in the hilarious 21st instalment of the bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
When Greg becomes the target of a fearsome school bully, he must use all his cunning to escape trouble in another comedy-filled adventure.
Halloween fun at Saturday Storytime
Younger book lovers can enjoy a seasonal treat at Waterstone’s Ballymena next weekend, with a Halloween-themed Storytime and colouring session.
The event takes place on Saturday 31 October, when the team will be reading Peppa Pig: The Great Big Pumpkin Hunt.
The Halloween story promises plenty of pumpkin-themed fun for younger readers as the store marks the spookiest day of the year.
November Fiction Book Club
Readers who enjoy psychological suspense can mark their diaries for the next Waterstone’s Ballymena Fiction Book Club.
The group meets on Thursday 5 November to discuss We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer.
The chilling horror novel follows a young couple renovating an old house whose lives take a disturbing turn when strangers arrive at the door claiming they once lived there.
Readers are invited to come along for coffee, cake and a relaxed discussion about the book.
Romance Book Club returns
The next Romance Book Club meeting takes place at 7pm on Friday 20 November, when readers will be discussing Bromantasy by Máire Roche.
The meeting offers romance readers another opportunity to get together and share their thoughts on the month’s chosen title.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club
Fantasy readers can also look forward to the next Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club meeting on Thursday 19 November at 7pm.
This month’s selection is Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, the much-loved novel following the Owens sisters and their extraordinary family legacy of love, loss and witchcraft.
The atmospheric story makes a fitting choice for readers who enjoy fiction blending family relationships with supernatural elements.
Plenty to keep Ballymena readers turning the pages
With Jack Reacher returning to the top of the chart, historical fiction taking second place and psychological thrillers featuring prominently, this week’s Waterstone’s Ballymena bestsellers reflect a strong appetite for gripping stories.
The presence of Animal Farm and The King in Yellow also highlights the continuing appeal of literary classics alongside contemporary releases.
Meanwhile, five half-price titles, a Halloween Storytime and three November book club meetings provide further opportunities for local readers to discover new books and connect with others who share their interests.
As autumn reading continues and Halloween approaches, Waterstone’s Ballymena has plenty on offer for book lovers of all ages.
