Robert Crais First Editions

• The Monkey's Raincoat — 1987 · Bantam BooksUS Bantam mass-market paperback original, 1987, a true paperback original with no preceding hardcover. It is Crais's debut and the first Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel. The first printing is identified by a complete number line ending in 1 and the original Bantam cover art. It won the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original and the Macavity Award for Best First Novel. The US Bantam 1987 paperback is the true first. Any later hardcover issue is a first-thus in hardback, not the true first. Reissue printings carry altered cover art or a number line that does not end in 1; the true first is the 1987 Bantam mass-market.
• Stalking the Angel — 1989 · BantamFirst US hardcover edition, Bantam Books, dated 1989, the second Elvis Cole novel and Crais's first book published in hardcover. First printing shows the complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Binding is quarter black cloth over light blue paper boards with silver spine lettering, collating to roughly 231 pages, issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket with the printed price present on the front…. The true first is the US Bantam HARDCOVER, not a paperback original. Stalking the Angel was Crais's first book published in hardcover; it is the second Elvis Cole novel. (His debut, The Monkey's Raincoat, was the paperback original.). Verify a first printing by the complete number line and the priced dust jacket; a book-club edition, where present, lacks the printed jacket price and shows a lighter binding, and should not be confused with later paperback printings.
• Lullaby Town — 1992 · BantamFirst US hardcover edition, Bantam Books, dated 1992, the third Elvis Cole novel, an octavo of roughly 295 pages. First printing carries the complete number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page. Binding is red cloth on the spine with gilt spine lettering over yellow boards, and the book is issued in a priced pictorial dust jacket, the printed price present on the front flap; a price-clipped flap does…. The US Bantam hardcover is the true first; the third Elvis Cole novel. Note it was NOT Crais's first hardcover, since Stalking the Angel (1989) preceded it in hardcover. A book-club edition exists and is distinguished from the trade first by the absence of a printed price on the jacket, a smaller and lighter binding, and typically a blindstamp or small dot to the rear board, versus the trade first's full 10-to-1 number line and priced jacket.
• Free Fall — 1993 · BantamStated "First Edition" with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page; Bantam issues of this period also carry the printing statement "A Bantam Book / June 1993." Bound in half navy blue cloth with marigold paper over the boards; 280 pages. The first-state jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap (unclipped). US Bantam hardcover is the true first; fourth Elvis Cole novel. Book club editions are smaller, lack the number line, may show a blindstamp on the rear board, and carry no price on the jacket flap.
• Voodoo River — 1995 · HyperionFirst printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line descending to 1. Bound in cloth with gilt spine title, the roughly 298-page text block issued in the pictorial dust jacket; on an unclipped copy the printed price is present at the front flap corner. Confirm both the stated line and the terminal 1. US Hyperion hardcover is the true first; the fifth Elvis Cole novel. No significant book club edition noted for the first printing; the gilt-titled cloth binding, the priced pictorial jacket, and the stated line ending in 1 identify the Hyperion first.
• Sunset Express — 1996 · HyperionFirst printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page above the full number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Bound in orange boards with gold quarter cloth and orange lettering on the spine, with orange endpapers; the roughly 274-page text block issued in a pictorial dust jacket by Dan O'Leary. On an unclipped copy the printed price appears at the front flap corner. US Hyperion hardcover is the true first; the sixth Elvis Cole novel. No significant book club edition noted for the first printing; the orange boards with gold quarter cloth, the orange endpapers, and the stated line with full 10-to-1 sequence identify the Hyperion first.
• Indigo Slam — 1997 · HyperionFirst printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page above a complete descending number line ending in 1. Bound in blue quarter cloth over matching green boards with green lettering on the spine; the roughly 288-page text block issued in a pictorial dust jacket by Ken Dewy. On an unclipped copy the printed price appears at the front flap corner; confirm the stated line together with the terminal 1. US Hyperion hardcover is the true first; the seventh Elvis Cole novel. No significant book club edition noted for the first printing; the quarter-cloth-and-boards binding, the Ken Dewy pictorial jacket, and the stated line ending in 1 identify the Hyperion first.
• L.A. Requiem — 1999 · DoubledayFirst printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line descending to 1. Bound in black boards, the text block issued in the pictorial dust jacket; on an unclipped copy the printed price is present at the front flap corner. Confirm both the stated line and the terminal 1. US Doubleday hardcover is the true first; the eighth Elvis Cole novel and the series breakout title. A same-year Scorpion Press (UK) limited edition — 99 numbered copies signed by Crais plus 16 specially bound lettered copies, carrying an appreciation by Tami Hoag — was also issued; it is a separate signed limited issue and does not displace the Doubleday trade edition as the first. No significant book club edition noted for the first printing; the stated "First Edition" line with terminal 1, the black boards, and the priced trade jacket separate the Doubleday first from the later trade printings and from the Scorpion Press limited.
• Demolition Angel — 2000 · DoubledayFirst printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line descending to 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Bound in cloth-covered boards with gilt spine lettering, the 386-page text block issued in the pictorial dust jacket; on an unclipped example the printed jacket price is present at the front flap corner. Confirm both the stated line and the terminal 1, as later Doubleday printings…. US Doubleday hardcover is the true first; a standalone novel introducing LAPD bomb-squad investigator Carol Starkey. A signed uncorrected advance reading copy (proof) preceded trade publication for promotional use but is a separate pre-publication state, not the first edition. No significant book club edition noted for the first printing; the stated "First Edition" line with terminal 1 and the priced trade jacket distinguish the Doubleday first from later trade printings.
• Hostage — 2001 · DoubledayNew York: Doubleday, 2001. "First Edition" is stated on the copyright page above a complete descending number line ending in 1. A standalone thriller, later adapted to film. The first-issue dust jacket should retain its printed cover price at the base of the front flap and, when fine, is bright with no chipping or creasing. The US Doubleday edition is the true first; a standalone thriller (later adapted to film). No book club edition is a significant concern for identifying the first printing.
• The Last Detective — 2003 · DoubledayThe first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page together with a complete number line descending to and including the numeral 1 (Doubleday's number-row practice of this era); the terminal 1 is the decisive identifier, since later printings keep the "First Edition" wording but drop the 1 from the number line. Published by Doubleday in 2003 (ISBN 0-385-50426-8) as the ninth Elvis Cole novel. The…. The US Doubleday hardcover is the true first edition, preceding the UK edition. It is the ninth book in the Elvis Cole series and marks Crais's return to the character after Demolition Angel and Hostage. A book club edition is not a concern for this title; the trade first is confirmed by the stated "First Edition" line plus the full number line ending in 1, with later printings identifiable by the missing terminal 1.
• The Forgotten Man — 2005 · DoubledayThe first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page accompanied by a complete number line descending to and including the numeral 1; the presence of the 1 in the number row is the decisive point, as later printings carry the same "First Edition" wording but a number line that no longer terminates in 1. Issued by Doubleday in 2005 (ISBN 0-385-50428-4) as the tenth Elvis Cole novel. The first-issue dust…. The US Doubleday hardcover is the true first edition; it precedes the UK Orion/Weidenfeld & Nicolson printing. It is the tenth novel in the Elvis Cole series. A book club edition is not a concern for this title; the trade first printing is identified by the stated "First Edition" line together with the full number line ending in 1, whereas any later state lacks the terminal 1.
• The Two Minute Rule — 2006 · Simon & SchusterThe first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page with a complete number line descending to and including the numeral 1; because later printings retain the "First Edition" wording, the presence of the terminal 1 in the number row is the decisive point. Published by Simon & Schuster in 2006 (ISBN 0-7432-8161-6) as a standalone (out-of-series) thriller centered on ex-con Max Holman. The first-issue…. The US Simon & Schuster hardcover is the true first edition, preceding the UK Orion printing. It is a non-series standalone rather than an Elvis Cole or Joe Pike novel. A book club edition is not a concern for this title; the trade first is identified by the stated "First Edition" line and the complete number line ending in 1.
• The Watchman — 2007 · Simon & SchusterThe first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page with a complete number line descending to and including the numeral 1; the terminal 1 is the deciding point, as subsequent printings retain the "First Edition" wording but not the 1. Published by Simon & Schuster in 2007 (ISBN 0-7432-8163-2) with a large announced first printing. The first-issue dust jacket should retain the printed price on the…. The US Simon & Schuster hardcover is the true first edition, preceding the UK Orion printing. It is the first novel to feature Joe Pike as the lead character rather than Elvis Cole. A book club edition is not a concern for this title; the trade first is identified by the stated "First Edition" line together with the complete number line ending in 1.
• Chasing Darkness — 2008 · Simon & SchusterNew York: Simon & Schuster, 2008. "First Edition" is stated on the copyright page above a complete descending number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. An Elvis Cole novel. The first-issue dust jacket should retain its printed cover price at the base of the front flap. The US Simon & Schuster edition is the true first; an Elvis Cole novel. No book club edition is a significant concern for identifying the first printing.
• The First Rule — 2010 · G.P. Putnam's SonsThe first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line that still includes the numeral 1. The binding is distinctive: black quarter cloth with silver spine lettering over powder-blue boards, the initials "RC" stamped in silver on the front board. The first-issue dust jacket carries a cityscape photograph credited to Ted Wilcox and shows the publisher's printed price on the…. The US G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover (ISBN 9780399156137) is the true first edition, a Joe Pike novel published in 2010, identified by the "First Edition" statement, the intact number line, and the black-and-powder-blue binding with silver "RC" device. No significant book club edition affects the true first.
• The Sentry — 2011 · G.P. Putnam's SonsThe trade first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line retaining the numeral 1, in Putnam boards with a pictorial dust jacket bearing the publisher's printed price on the front flap. The separate Mysterious Bookshop deluxe issue is a signed limited edition of 100 numbered copies, bound in blue quarter cloth with gilt spine titling and marbled paper over boards, signed…. A Joe Pike novel in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series; the 2011 G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover is the trade first. The Mysterious Bookshop signed limited edition of 100 copies, issued by arrangement with G.P. Putnam's Sons in 2011, stands as the true first for collectors of the deluxe form and precedes the ordinary trade printing. No book club edition affects the true first; the trade first is identified by the "First Edition" statement and intact number line, as distinct from the numbered signed limited issue.
• Taken — 2012 · G.P. Putnam's SonsThe trade first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line retaining the numeral 1; later printings drop the low numbers. Issued in Putnam boards with a pictorial dust jacket carrying the publisher's printed price on the front flap, so an unclipped flap assists identification. The US G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover (ISBN 9780399158278) is the true first trade edition, the fourth Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel, published in 2012. The Mysterious Bookshop also issued a signed, numbered limited edition of the title, distinct from and preceding the ordinary trade issue for collectors of the deluxe form. No book club edition affects the true first; the trade first is identified by the "First Edition" statement with an intact number line, as distinct from the signed limited issue.
• Suspect — 2013 · G.P. Putnam's SonsThe first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line that still includes the numeral 1; subsequent printings shed the lowest numbers. Bound in Putnam boards with a pictorial dust jacket; the first-issue jacket shows the publisher's printed price on the front flap, so an unclipped flap aids identification. The US G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover (ISBN 9780399161483) is the true first edition, published in January 2013. Marketed as a standalone but became the first Scott James and Maggie novel, the German shepherd Maggie sharing the point of view with the LAPD officer. No significant book club edition affects the true first; the "First Edition" statement with intact number line distinguishes the trade first.
• The Wanted — 2017 · G.P. Putnam's SonsThe first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a full number line descending to end in 1. Issued in hardcover with dust jacket; the first-issue jacket carries the printed cover price to the upper front flap and bears the ISBN 978-0-399-16150-6 to the lower rear panel. A fine copy should retain the jacket with its printed price present. The US G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover (2017) is the true first edition and first appearance of this Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel. A separate UK edition was issued by Simon & Schuster (ISBN 978-1-4711-5749-3); collectors of the US first look to the Putnam imprint with the stated "First Edition" and terminal 1 in the number line. No significant book club edition affects the true first. Later Putnam printings advance the number line so it no longer ends in 1; confirm both the stated "First Edition" line and the terminal 1.
• A Dangerous Man — 2019 · G.P. Putnam's SonsThe US first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page beneath a complete number line that retains the numeral 1; on later printings the low numbers drop away. Issued in G.P. Putnam's Sons boards with a photographic dust jacket carrying the author's name and title; the first-issue jacket bears the publisher's printed price on the front flap, and a fully unclipped flap is preferred for identification. The US G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover (ISBN 9780525535683) is the true first US edition, an Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel published August 6, 2019. Note that the UK Simon & Schuster hardcover was published earlier, on July 18, 2019, so the UK issue precedes the US edition by roughly three weeks and is the earliest hardcover appearance internationally. No book club edition affects the true first. A separately issued signed limited edition was also produced; the ordinary trade first is identified by the "First Edition" statement and intact number line.
• Racing the Light — 2022 · G.P. Putnam's SonsUS G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover first printing states 'First Edition' on the copyright page with a full number line descending to 1. Issued in a priced dust jacket; the printed jacket price should be present. Trade first edition carries ISBN 9780525535720 (0525535721). Elvis Cole #19 and Joe Pike #8. US Putnam hardcover is the true first, published November 1, 2022; an Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel (Cole #19 / Pike #8). None significant. A publisher signed first-printing issue exists under a separate ISBN but is the same first edition; a UK edition (Simon & Schuster) also appeared and does not affect US precedence.
• The Big Empty — 2025 · G.P. Putnam's SonsG.P. Putnam's Sons first edition (2025): number line ending in 1 with 'First Edition' stated; first-issue jacket carries the printed price. Twentieth Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel. Won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2026. The US G.P. Putnam's Sons edition of 2025 is the true first. Signed first printings are widely available. No meaningful book-club edition; the main distinction is signed versus unsigned trade first printings.

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