The points of issue
The Hard Case Crime / Titan hardcover (October 2021, series number 150) is the first edition and follows Titan's first-printing convention. Won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2022. Signed first printings exist.
Is this the true first?
The Hard Case Crime hardcover of October 2021, issued through the Titan Books imprint, is the true first edition worldwide.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The trade paperback is a later state, published September 2022, not a simultaneous first issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Five Decembers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Hard Case Crime / Titan hardcover (October 2021, series number 150) is the first edition and follows Titan's first-printing convention. Won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2022. Signed first printings exist.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The Hard Case Crime hardcover of October 2021, issued through the Titan Books imprint, is the true first edition worldwide.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The trade paperback is a later state, published September 2022, not a simultaneous first issue.
I have a first edition of Five Decembers — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.