# Is "Booked to Die" by John Dunning a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Booked to Die by John Dunning (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1992) is identified by: US Charles Scribner's Sons first, 1992: 'First Edition' stated with a complete number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced for 1992. US Charles Scribner's Sons 1992 is the true first; UK editions are later.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Charles Scribner's Sons first, 1992: 'First Edition' stated with a complete number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced for 1992
- The first Cliff Janeway bookman mystery, prized by collectors for its rare-book subject
- It won the Nero Award and was an Anthony Award nominee
- Publisher imprint reads Charles Scribner's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Dunning |
| Publisher | Charles Scribner's Sons |
| Year | 1992 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Charles Scribner's Sons first, 1992: 'First Edition' stated with a complete number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; dust… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Charles Scribner's Sons first, 1992: 'First Edition' stated with a complete number line counting down to 1 on the copyright page; dust jacket priced for 1992. The first Cliff Janeway bookman mystery, prized by collectors for its rare-book subject. It won the Nero Award and was an Anthony Award nominee.

## Is this the true first?
US Charles Scribner's Sons 1992 is the true first; UK editions are later.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line that does not count down to 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions are smaller and lack the jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Booked to Die* by John Dunning a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/booked-to-die
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.