Jonathan Kellerman First Editions

• When the Bough Breaks — 1985 · AtheneumThe first edition is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page with no additional printing statement. It is an octavo quarter-bound in burgundy cloth over grey boards with silver lettering to the spine, issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price at the flap corner. US Atheneum hardcover is the true first, published 1985; Kellerman's debut and the first Alex Delaware novel, winner of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and the Anthony Award, a key modern collectible. The book-club edition typically lacks the printed jacket price and carries a blindstamp to the rear board; boards are often slightly smaller than the trade issue.
• Blood Test — 1986 · AtheneumThe first edition is identified by the words First Edition stated on the copyright page with no additional printing statement. It is an octavo in cloth-backed boards bound in brown and black with gilt lettering to the spine, issued in a pictorial dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon; the jacket should retain its printed price at the flap corner. US Atheneum hardcover is the true first, published 1986; the second Alex Delaware novel. The book-club edition lacks the printed jacket price and typically carries a blindstamp to the rear board, with boards often slightly smaller than the trade issue.
• Over the Edge — 1987 · AtheneumThe words 'First Edition' are stated on the copyright page with a number line ending in 1, the title-page date matching the copyright verso and no additional printings listed. Bound in gray paper-covered boards with a green cloth spine and gilt spine lettering, blind-stamped decoration to the boards, and blue-stained top edges. The glossy illustrated first-state jacket should retain its printed price. US Atheneum hardcover (ISBN 0689116357) is the true first, 1987; the third Alex Delaware novel. The book club edition lacks the printed jacket price, is a smaller and lighter volume printed on thinner boards, and typically carries a blindstamp to the lower rear board.
• The Butcher's Theater — 1988 · BantamThe words 'First Edition' are stated on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1 (Bantam, ISBN 0553052519). Bound in quarter beige cloth with gilt spine lettering over beige boards; a thick royal-octavo volume of 627 pages. The first-state jacket should retain its printed price. US Bantam hardcover is the true first, 1988; a Jerusalem-set standalone thriller. The book club edition lacks the printed jacket price and typically carries a blindstamp to the lower rear board, and is a lighter volume on thinner boards.
• Silent Partner — 1989 · BantamThe fourth Alex Delaware novel, roughly 404 pages. The US Bantam hardcover has the words First Edition stated on the copyright page together with a number line descending to 1, and the first-issue dust jacket retains its printed price (present, not clipped). The US Bantam hardcover is the true first, published September 1989. A UK first appeared the same year from Macdonald (simulated black cloth in a pictorial jacket); the two are near-simultaneous, with the US Bantam edition taken as the trade first. None significant noted; a book-club issue, if encountered, would follow the usual pattern of an unpriced jacket and a rear-board blindstamp, and would lack the stated First Edition line.
• Time Bomb — 1990 · BantamThe first printing of the Bantam hardcover (ISBN 0-553-05796-0) states FIRST EDITION on the copyright page together with the complete descending printer's number line ending in 1. The book runs 468 pages in publisher's cloth issued in a pictorial dust jacket; the first-issue jacket carries the printed price on the front flap, so an unclipped jacket is the desirable state, though the printing point resides in the…. US Bantam hardcover is the true first. Fifth Alex Delaware novel, following When the Bough Breaks (1985), Blood Test (1986), Over the Edge (1987), and Silent Partner (1989). A UK edition followed under a separate imprint, but the New York Bantam issue holds precedence. No significant book-club point that misleads identification; the FIRST EDITION statement together with the full number line ending in 1 is the reliable first-printing tell, and later Bantam mass-market paperbacks (e.g. ISBN 0-553-29170-4) are a distinct, non-first format.
• Private Eyes — 1992 · BantamFirst printing of the Bantam hardcover (ISBN 0-553-08013-X) has FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page together with the complete descending number line ending in 1 (in the form 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); later printings carry a shortened line. The book is bound in black cloth-covered boards with silver lettering stamped to the spine, in the original pictorial dust jacket, which in first state retains the printed…. US Bantam hardcover is the true first, the sixth Alex Delaware novel. The UK edition, under a different ISBN, followed and is not the first. No significant book-club printing point misleads identification; the complete number line ending in 1 with the stated FIRST EDITION is the reliable first-printing tell, and a stripped line indicates a later printing.
• Devil's Waltz — 1993 · BantamFirst printing of the Bantam hardcover (ISBN 0-553-09205-7) has FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page together with the complete descending number line ending in 1 (in the form 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); later printings show a shortened line. The dust-jacket art is credited to Alan Ayers, and a first-state jacket retains its printed price on the front flap. US Bantam hardcover is the true first, the seventh Alex Delaware novel. The UK edition, under a different ISBN, followed and is not the first. No significant book-club printing point misleads identification; the complete number line ending in 1 with the stated FIRST EDITION is the reliable first-printing tell.
• Bad Love — 1994 · BantamFirst printing of the Bantam hardcover (ISBN 0-553-08919-6) has FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page together with the complete descending number line ending in 1 (in the form 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); on later printings the low numbers are progressively stripped. The book is quarter-bound in black cloth over red paper-covered boards with gilt lettering to the spine, in the original pictorial dust jacket. The…. US Bantam hardcover is the true first, the eighth Alex Delaware novel. The UK edition (Little, Brown/Warner, different ISBN) followed and is not the first. No significant book-club printing point misleads identification; the complete number line ending in 1 alongside the stated FIRST EDITION is the reliable first-printing tell, and a stripped line indicates a later printing.
• Self-Defense — 1995 · BantamFirst printing of the Bantam hardcover (ISBN 0-553-08920-X) has FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page together with the complete descending number line ending in 1 (in the form 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); later printings show a shortened line. The book is quarter-bound in cloth over boards in the original pictorial dust jacket, which in first state retains its printed price on the front flap. US Bantam hardcover is the true first, the ninth Alex Delaware novel. The UK edition, under a different ISBN, followed and is not the first. No significant book-club printing point misleads identification; the complete number line ending in 1 with the stated FIRST EDITION is the reliable first-printing tell.
• The Web — 1996 · BantamFirst printing of the Bantam hardcover (ISBN 0-553-08921-8) has FIRST EDITION stated on the copyright page together with the complete descending number line ending in 1 (in the form 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1); later printings show a shortened line. The book is quarter-bound in black cloth over black paper-covered boards with gilt lettering to the spine, in the original pictorial dust jacket, which in first state…. US Bantam hardcover is the true first, the tenth Alex Delaware novel. The UK edition (Little, Brown/Warner, ISBN 0-7515-1585-X) followed and is not the first. No significant book-club printing point misleads identification; the complete number line ending in 1 with the stated FIRST EDITION is the reliable first-printing tell, and a stripped line indicates a later printing.
• Survival of the Fittest — 1997 · BantamThe words First Edition stated on the copyright page together with a complete number line that includes the 1. Bantam hardcover first printings of this period carry both the First Edition statement and a full number line down to 1. US Bantam hardcover is the true first; twelfth Alex Delaware novel. No significant book-club issue affecting first-edition identification.
• The Clinic — 1997 · BantamThe words First Edition stated on the copyright page together with a complete number line that includes the 1. Bantam hardcover first printings of this period carry both the First Edition statement and a full number line running down to 1. US Bantam hardcover is the true first; eleventh Alex Delaware novel. No significant book-club issue affecting first-edition identification.
• Billy Straight — 1998 · Random HouseThe words First Edition stated on the copyright page. For Random House hardcovers of this period the first printing carries the First Edition statement with a number line whose lowest number is 2 (for example a line reading 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9); the line does not end in 1. Rely on the stated First Edition together with the 2-low number line rather than looking for a 1. US Random House hardcover is the true first; standalone featuring Petra Connor. No significant book-club issue affecting first-edition identification.
• Dr. Death — 2000 · Random HouseThe words First Edition stated on the copyright page. Random House first printings of this era carry the First Edition statement with a number line whose lowest number is 2 rather than a line ending in 1. Identify by the stated First Edition plus the 2-low number line. US Random House hardcover is the true first; fourteenth Alex Delaware novel. No significant book-club issue affecting first-edition identification.
• Flesh and Blood — 2001 · Random HouseThe words First Edition stated on the copyright page. Random House first printings of this era carry the First Edition statement with a number line whose lowest number is 2 rather than a line ending in 1. Identify by the stated First Edition plus the 2-low number line. US Random House hardcover is the true first; fifteenth Alex Delaware novel. No significant book-club issue affecting first-edition identification.
• The Murder Book — 2002 · BallantineThe words First Edition stated on the copyright page together with a number line that includes the 1. Ballantine hardcover first printings after 1980 carry either First Edition or First Edition with month and year, with the 1 present in the number line. US Ballantine hardcover is the true first; sixteenth Alex Delaware novel. This title marks Kellerman's move from the Random House imprint to Ballantine within the same house. No significant book-club issue affecting first-edition identification.
• A Cold Heart — 2003 · BallantineThe copyright page states 'First Edition' together with the Ballantine/Random House interleaved printer's key '2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1'; the first printing shows both the stated-edition line and the complete key. The book is bound in black boards with the spine stamped in silver. The US Ballantine hardcover of 2003 is the true first; the seventeenth Alex Delaware novel. No significant book-club edition to distinguish from the trade first; the interleaved number line and silver-on-black spine identify the first printing.
• Therapy — 2004 · BallantineFirst edition stated on the copyright page with a complete number line descending to 1. US Ballantine hardcover is the true first; the eighteenth Alex Delaware novel. No significant book-club edition to distinguish from the trade first.
• Twisted — 2004 · BallantineFirst edition stated on the copyright page with a complete number line descending to 1. US Ballantine hardcover is the true first; the second Petra Connor novel. No significant book-club edition to distinguish from the trade first.
• Rage — 2005 · BallantineThe copyright page states 'First Edition' together with the Ballantine/Random House interleaved printer's key '2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1'; the first printing shows both the stated-edition line and the complete key. The book is bound in black boards with the spine stamped in silver. The US Ballantine hardcover of 2005 is the true first American; the nineteenth Alex Delaware novel. A UK Michael Joseph hardcover also appeared in 2005, so US-versus-UK precedence is not firmly established without the exact release months, though the US Ballantine is the accepted collectible first. No significant book-club edition to distinguish from the trade first; the interleaved number line and silver-on-black spine identify the first printing.
• Gone — 2006 · BallantineThe copyright page states 'First Edition' together with the Ballantine/Random House interleaved printer's key '2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1'; the first printing shows both the stated-edition line and the complete key. The book is bound in black boards with the spine stamped in silver. The US Ballantine hardcover of 2006 is the true first; the twentieth Alex Delaware novel and the author's first #1 New York Times bestseller. No significant book-club edition to distinguish from the trade first; the interleaved number line and silver-on-black spine identify the first printing.
• Obsession — 2007 · BallantineThe copyright page states 'First Edition' together with the Ballantine/Random House interleaved printer's key '2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1'; the first printing shows both the stated-edition line and the complete key. The book is bound in black boards with the spine stamped in silver. The US Ballantine hardcover of 2007 is the true first; the twenty-first Alex Delaware novel. No significant book-club edition to distinguish from the trade first; the interleaved number line and silver-on-black spine identify the first printing.
• Bones — 2008 · BallantineCopyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (the presence of the 1 being the first-printing tell). Ballantine Books hardcover, New York, October 2008 (ISBN 978-0-345-49513-6). The first-issue photographic dust jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap. US Ballantine Books is the true first edition; twenty-third Alex Delaware novel. None significant.
• Compulsion — 2008 · BallantineCopyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the Ballantine number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first printing. Ballantine Books hardcover, published 25 March 2008 (ISBN 9780345465276), issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price. US Ballantine Books is the true first edition; the twenty-second Alex Delaware novel. None significant; a simultaneous large-print / book-club-style printing lacks the 'First Edition' statement and full number line.
• True Detectives — 2009 · BallantineCopyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard post-1980 Ballantine hardcover form '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of the 1 confirms the first printing. A first-state dust jacket should retain its printed price at the front-flap corner. US Ballantine Books hardcover is the true first edition; standalone novel featuring Moe Reed and Aaron Fox. None significant. Confirm the first printing by both the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line ending in 1; any higher lowest-digit indicates a later printing.
• Deception — 2010 · BallantineCopyright page states 'First Edition' together with a number line in which the 1 is present, the first-printing tell for Ballantine hardcovers. Ballantine Books, New York, 2010 (ISBN 978-0-345-50567-5). Bound in black quarter cloth with gilt lettering on the spine over black boards; the first-issue photographic dust jacket shows a blurred image of a young woman against a gold ground and should retain its printed…. US Ballantine Books is the true first edition; twenty-fifth Alex Delaware novel. None significant.
• Mystery — 2011 · BallantineCopyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard post-1980 Ballantine hardcover form '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of the 1 confirms the first printing. A first-state dust jacket should retain its printed price at the front-flap corner. US Ballantine Books hardcover is the true first edition; twenty-sixth Alex Delaware novel. ISBN 978-0-345-50569-9. None significant. Confirm the first printing by both the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line ending in 1; any higher lowest-digit indicates a later printing.
• Victims — 2012 · BallantineCopyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard post-1980 Ballantine hardcover form '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of the 1 confirms the first printing. A first-state dust jacket should retain its printed price at the front-flap corner. US Ballantine Books hardcover is the true first edition; twenty-seventh Alex Delaware novel. None significant. Confirm the first printing by both the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line ending in 1; any higher lowest-digit indicates a later printing.
• Guilt — 2013 · Ballantine BooksThe first edition is stated "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries a full descending number line ending in 1; both must be present. A first-state dust jacket is unclipped with the publisher's printed price present on the front flap. The US Ballantine Books hardcover is the collected first edition, published February 2013; it is the twenty-eighth Alex Delaware novel (ISBN 978-0-345-50573-6). No earlier printing precedes the Ballantine first. No significant book club edition points are recorded; a later printing or club copy would lack the complete number line ending in 1. Identify the trade first by the stated "First Edition" line together with the full descending number line.
• Killer — 2014 · Ballantine BooksThe first edition is stated "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries a full descending number line ending in 1; both must be present to identify the trade first. A first-state dust jacket is unclipped with the publisher's printed price present on the front flap. The US Ballantine Books hardcover is the collected first edition, published 2014; it is the twenty-ninth Alex Delaware novel. No earlier printing precedes the Ballantine first. No significant book club edition points are recorded; a later printing or club copy would lack the complete number line ending in 1. Identify the trade first by the stated "First Edition" line together with the full descending number line.
• Motive — 2015 · Ballantine BooksFirst edition so stated on the copyright page, with the Ballantine house even-descending number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 present on a true first printing. Bound in black boards with a monogram device on the front cover and the title and author stamped in silver on the black spine. The first-issue dust jacket carries the jacket design credited to Scott Biel with jacket imagery by Roc Canals; the printed price should…. US Ballantine hardcover is the collected first edition; thirtieth Alex Delaware novel. No earlier trade hardcover precedes it. No significant book club edition points; identify the trade first by the stated first edition line together with the complete 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 number line, which drops digits from the left on later printings.
• Breakdown — 2016 · Ballantine BooksThe first edition is stated "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries a full descending number line ending in 1; both must be present to identify the trade first. A first-state dust jacket is unclipped with the publisher's printed price present on the front flap. The US Ballantine Books hardcover is the collected first edition, published 2016; it is the thirty-first Alex Delaware novel. Signed first-edition copies are typically flat-signed on the title page with no inscription; the signature does not affect edition status, which is set by the stated line and number line. No significant book club edition points are recorded; a later printing or club copy would lack the complete number line ending in 1. Identify the trade first by the stated "First Edition" line together with the full descending number line.
• Heartbreak Hotel — 2017 · Ballantine BooksThe first edition is stated "First Edition" on the copyright page and carries a full descending number line ending in 1; both must be present to identify the trade first. A first-state dust jacket is unclipped with the publisher's printed price present on the front flap. The US Ballantine Books hardcover is the collected first edition, published 2017; it is the thirty-second Alex Delaware novel. No earlier printing precedes the Ballantine first. No significant book club edition points are recorded; a later printing or club copy would lack the complete number line ending in 1. Identify the trade first by the stated "First Edition" line together with the full descending number line.
• Night Moves — 2018 · Ballantine BooksFirst edition so stated on the copyright page, with the Ballantine house even-descending number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 present on a true first printing. Bound in black boards with the title and author stamped in silver on the black spine. The printed price should be present on the front flap of an unclipped first-issue jacket. US Ballantine hardcover is the collected first edition; thirty-third Alex Delaware novel. No earlier trade hardcover precedes it. No significant book club edition points; identify the trade first by the stated first edition line together with the complete 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 number line, which loses digits from the left on later printings.
• The Wedding Guest — 2019 · BallantineFirst edition stated as 'First Edition' on the copyright page, accompanied by a full number line descending to 1 (a complete run ending in the numeral 1 marks the first printing; any line missing the 1 indicates a later printing). Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in a price-carrying dust jacket, the printed retail price present on the front flap of an unclipped example. US Ballantine hardcover is the true first; thirty-fourth Alex Delaware novel, published February 2019. No significant book-club edition issue for the first printing.
• The Museum of Desire — 2020 · BallantineFirst edition so stated on the copyright page ('First Edition') with a full number line including 1. Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in dust jacket; ISBN 9780525618522. The first-issue jacket should retain its printed cover price and the ISBN barcode on the rear panel. US Ballantine hardcover, published February 4, 2020, is the true first; thirty-fifth Alex Delaware novel. Collectors should note a distinct Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition of the same title, issued concurrently, which adds a bonus essay by Kellerman and is a retailer variant rather than the standard trade first printing. No significant book-club edition issue for the standard first printing. Beyond the standard trade first, the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition (with added bonus essay) is a separate retailer state; a copy lacking the stated 'First Edition' with full number line, or with a price-less and barcode-less jacket, is a later or club-style printing.
• Serpentine — 2021 · BallantineFirst edition so stated on the copyright page ('First Edition') with a full number line including 1. Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in dust jacket; ISBN 9780525618553. The first-issue jacket should retain its printed cover price and the ISBN barcode on the rear panel. US Ballantine hardcover, published February 2, 2021, is the true first; thirty-sixth Alex Delaware novel. The UK Century edition appeared in the same month and does not precede the US stated first edition. No significant book-club edition issue for the first printing. Any copy without the stated 'First Edition' and full number line, or with a price-less and barcode-less jacket, is a later or club-style printing rather than the trade first.
• City of the Dead — 2022 · BallantineFirst edition so stated on the copyright page ('First Edition') with a full number line including 1. Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in dust jacket; ISBN 9780525618584. The first-issue jacket should retain its printed cover price and the ISBN barcode on the rear panel. US Ballantine hardcover, published February 2022, is the true first; thirty-seventh Alex Delaware novel. The UK edition (Century, ISBN 9781529125948) followed later in February 2022 and does not precede the US printing. A book-club printing of this title exists and is offered as such by sellers. A book-club copy is distinguished by the standard tells rather than by the copyright statement: typically a jacket lacking the printed price and rear barcode, and often a small blind stamp or gutter code; it lacks the stated 'First Edition' with the full number line of the trade first printing.
• Unnatural History — 2023 · BallantineFirst edition stated as 'First Edition' on the copyright page, accompanied by a full number line descending to 1 (the complete line ending in the numeral 1 marks the first printing; a line missing the 1 indicates a later printing). Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in a price-carrying dust jacket, the printed retail price present on the front flap of an unclipped example. US Ballantine hardcover is the true first; thirty-eighth Alex Delaware novel, published February 2023. No significant book-club edition issue for the first printing.
• Open Season — 2025 · BallantineFirst edition so stated on the copyright page ('First Edition') with a full number line including 1. Ballantine (Random House) hardcover in dust jacket; ISBN 9780593497692. The first-issue jacket should retain its printed cover price and the ISBN barcode on the rear panel. US Ballantine hardcover, published February 4, 2025, is the true first; this is the fortieth Alex Delaware novel (not 2024 and not the thirty-ninth). The thirty-ninth Alex Delaware novel is The Ghost Orchid (2024), which sits between Unnatural History and Open Season. The parallel UK Century edition does not precede the US printing. No significant book-club edition issue for the first printing; as a recent title it circulates chiefly as the trade first printing.

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