# Is "Drowned Hopes (Dortmunder #7)" by Donald E. Westlake a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Drowned Hopes (Dortmunder #7) by Donald E. Westlake (Mysterious Press, 1990) is identified by: Mysterious Press, New York, 1990, hardcover, the seventh Dortmunder novel, about 422 pages, jacket designed by Harold Nolan. The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition, confirmed by the stated 'First Printing' line and the number line retaining the 1.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Mysterious Press, New York, 1990, hardcover, the seventh Dortmunder novel, about 422 pages, jacket designed by Harold Nolan
- Mysterious Press firsts of this period are identified by the copyright-page statement 'First Printing' with the month and year, accompanied by a descending number line retaining the numeral 1
- A first-state jacket carries its printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Mysterious Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Donald E. Westlake |
| Publisher | Mysterious Press |
| Year | 1990 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Mysterious Press, New York, 1990, hardcover, the seventh Dortmunder novel, about 422… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Mysterious Press, New York, 1990, hardcover, the seventh Dortmunder novel, about 422 pages, jacket designed by Harold Nolan. Mysterious Press firsts of this period are identified by the copyright-page statement 'First Printing' with the month and year, accompanied by a descending number line retaining the numeral 1. A first-state jacket carries its printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition, confirmed by the stated 'First Printing' line and the number line retaining the 1.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists and is distinguished by the board stamp and the absence of a printed jacket price; later printings drop the 1 from the number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Drowned Hopes (Dortmunder #7)* by Donald E. Westlake a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/drowned-hopes-dortmunder-7
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.