# Is "Billy Straight" by Jonathan Kellerman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Billy Straight by Jonathan Kellerman (Random House, 1998) is identified by: The words First Edition stated on the copyright page. US Random House hardcover is the true first; standalone featuring Petra Connor.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The 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
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jonathan Kellerman |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1998 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The words First Edition stated on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The 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.

## Is this the true first?
US Random House hardcover is the true first; standalone featuring Petra Connor.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club issue affecting first-edition identification.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Billy Straight* by Jonathan Kellerman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/billy-straight
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.