Otago Daily Times
October 20, 2001

Ellis case book races to top spot on sales list
by Marjorie Cook

Lynley Hood's controversial book, A City Possessed - The Christchurch Creche Case, has rocketed to No 1 on the best-seller list, two weeks after its release.

Christchurch readers are buying the largest numbers of the book, according to the distributor, Reed Publishing, and major book seller Whitcoulls, which bought half the available copies.

The Dunedin publisher, Longacre Press, had sold about 50% of its print run, publicity manager Annette Riley said.

A reprint is not being contemplated at this stage.

Reed Publishing sales manager Jenny Brockie said 1000 books had been sold to Christchurch bookshops, another 1000 to Auckland bookshops, 600 to Wellington and 400 to Dunedin.

Whitcoulls national books manager Joan McKenzie said the franchises had sold almost a third of the stock. Figures were: Christchurch, 37% of stock; lower North Island, 24%; upper North Island, 24%; and Otago Southland, 13%.

The book documents the controversial conviction of Peter Ellis for child sex crimes.