KEY POINTS:
Nicky Hager's book The Hollow Men attacking the National Party hit bookshop shelves yesterday ... then left them quickly.
While chain stores in Auckland were reluctant to disclose sales figures, Wellington bookshops reported a brisk trade.
At Wellington's Bennetts Government Bookshop, salesman Nicholas Mawley said the books arrived at 9.30am with about 100 copies selling in the first hour.
"It's going faster than I've ever seen anything," he said.
A lot of MPs had been in to buy the book, as well as people off the street. About 190 copies had been pre-booked.
Wellington Dymocks Bookstore franchise owner Bruce Caddy expected all the copies he had ordered to sell out by close of business yesterday.
Whitcoulls' Queen St, Auckland store expected to sell out of the book by the end of the week, but up the road at Borders Books there were plenty available. However, general manager Justin Barratt said sales had been strong and "exceeded expectations".
Whitcoulls and Bennetts national book promotions manager Dorothy Vinicombe said a third of all ordered books had been pre-booked on Friday.
It was proving particularly popular in stores along Wellington's Lambton Quay.
She did not think the extensive media reports on the book would hurt sales.
"I think it's one of those books that appeals to anyone who's interested in politics."
Just 3000 copies were printed in the first run and "I think this is one they underestimated".
Craig Potton Publishing managing director Robbie Burton said another print run would be ordered, but he could not give figures.
- NZPA
