# Is "Five Decembers" by James Kestrel a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Five Decembers by James Kestrel (Hard Case Crime, 2021) is identified by: The Hard Case Crime / Titan hardcover (October 2021, series number 150) is the first edition and follows Titan's first-printing convention. The Hard Case Crime hardcover of October 2021, issued through the Titan Books imprint, is the true first edition worldwide.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- 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
- Publisher imprint reads Hard Case Crime
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James Kestrel |
| Publisher | Hard Case Crime |
| Year | 2021 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The Hard Case Crime / Titan hardcover (October 2021, series number 150) is the first edition and follows Titan's first-printing convention |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## 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.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Five Decembers* by James Kestrel a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/five-decembers
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.