# Is "Creole Belle" by James Lee Burke a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Creole Belle by James Lee Burke (Simon & Schuster, 2012) is identified by: Simon & Schuster hardcover, 2012, the nineteenth Dave Robicheaux novel. The US Simon & Schuster hardcover is the true first; it is the nineteenth Dave Robicheaux novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Simon & Schuster hardcover, 2012, the nineteenth Dave Robicheaux novel
- The copyright page carries the statement 'First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition July 2012' together with a full descending number line ending in 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1)
- Bound with gilt-stamped spine lettering and black head- and tail-bands; the first-issue jacket retains its printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Simon & Schuster
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James Lee Burke |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Year | 2012 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Simon & Schuster hardcover, 2012, the nineteenth Dave Robicheaux novel |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Simon & Schuster hardcover, 2012, the nineteenth Dave Robicheaux novel. The copyright page carries the statement 'First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition July 2012' together with a full descending number line ending in 1 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1). Bound with gilt-stamped spine lettering and black head- and tail-bands; the first-issue jacket retains its printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
The US Simon & Schuster hardcover is the true first; it is the nineteenth Dave Robicheaux novel.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club issue.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Creole Belle* by James Lee Burke a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/creole-belle
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.