The points of issue
UK Hutchinson first edition, 1977, in first-issue priced dust jacket; the copyright page carries a single first-published statement with no later-impression line. Opens with the celebrated line naming the murderer at the outset: Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.
Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson (1977) precedes the US Doubleday edition (1978). One of Rendell's most acclaimed standalone novels.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add a printing line on the copyright page; book-club copies lack the stated jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Judgement in Stone a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: UK Hutchinson first edition, 1977, in first-issue priced dust jacket; the copyright page carries a single first-published statement with no later-impression line. Opens with the celebrated line naming the murderer at the outset: Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Hutchinson (1977) precedes the US Doubleday edition (1978). One of Rendell's most acclaimed standalone novels.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later impressions add a printing line on the copyright page; book-club copies lack the stated jacket price.
I have a first edition of A Judgement in Stone — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.