Two international novelists topped the Italian bestsellers list in April with Wilbur Smith's Assegai , the latest in his Courtney family saga, landing at #1. Assegai, which has hit several other bestsellers lists including in the U.K. and South Africa, is just out in the U.S. from St. Martin's. French thriller writer Fred Vargas secured the second spot with her newest, A Dubious Place, which was a bestseller in France last year.

The new #1 fiction title in France is from author and playwright Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, whose latest novel is set in Japan and features a rebellious 10-year-old who learns the way of sumo wrestlers. France also has a new top-seller in nonfiction. Captured is the story of Clara Rojas, who was captured in 2002 by FARC guerrillas in Colombia when she was campaigning with then presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Rojas, along with other hostages, was freed in 2008.

Sweden's fiction list has its own international flavor. Carlos Ruiz Zafón, born in Barcelona but living in Los Angeles, followed up his international bestseller, Shadow of the Wind, with The Angel's Game, which debuted at #1 in Sweden. Doubleday will release Angel's in the U.S. next month. The new nonfiction top-seller presents an alternative view of the life of Jesus.

International Bestsellers

France
Fiction Nonfiction
1 The Sumo Ringer Who Wouldn't Grow FatEric-Emmanuel Schmitt Albin Michel CapturedClara Rojas Plon
2 The Gun SellerHugh Laurie Sonatine Editions Will You Call Me Upon Arrival?Patrick Sebastien Florent Massot
3 Hold TightHarlan Coben Belfond Me, Nojoud, 10 Years Old, DivorcedNojoud Ali Michel Lafon
For week ending April 25, used by arrangement with Livres Hebdo
Italy
Combined
1 AssegaiWilbur Smith Longanesi 4 The RattleAndrea Camilleri Sellerio Editore Palermo
2 A Dubious PlaceFred Vargas Einaudi 5 The First Day of HappynessErri De Luca Feltrinelli
3 The Girl with the Dragon TattooStieg Larsson Marsilio 6 Castles in the SkyStieg Larsson Marsilio
For week ending April 25, used by arrangement with Informazioni Editoriali
Sweden
Fiction Nonfiction
1 The Angel's GameCarlos Ruiz Zafón Albert Bonniers Forlag About JesusJonas Gardell Norstedts Forlag
2 Careless in RedElizabeth George Norstedts Forlag Dr. Dahlqvist's and Airam's Low Carb, High Fat Cook BookAnnika Dahlqvist Pagina Forlag
3 Private PatientP. D. James Wahlstorm & Widstrand Morberg: The Stage, the Life, and the Art of CookingPer Morberg Bonnier Fakta
For week ending April 25, used by arrangement with Svensk Bokhandel