# Is "A Cold Day in Paradise" by Steve Hamilton a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton (St. Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne, 1998) is identified by: Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne first, 1998: copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1; pictorial dust jacket over black boards. US St.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne first, 1998: copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1; pictorial dust jacket over black boards
- Alex McKnight #1
- It won both the 1999 Edgar and the 1999 Shamus for Best First Novel, an unusual double
- A scarce first printing
- Publisher imprint reads St. Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Steve Hamilton |
| Publisher | St. Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne |
| Year | 1998 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne first, 1998: copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1; pictorial dust jacket over… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US St. Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne first, 1998: copyright page states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1; pictorial dust jacket over black boards. Alex McKnight #1. It won both the 1999 Edgar and the 1999 Shamus for Best First Novel, an unusual double. A scarce first printing.

## Is this the true first?
US St. Martin's Press / Thomas Dunne 1998 is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions lack the jacket price and may carry a code on the rear board.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Cold Day in Paradise* by Steve Hamilton a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-cold-day-in-paradise
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.