# Is "Good Behavior (Dortmunder #6)" by Donald E. Westlake a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Good Behavior (Dortmunder #6) by Donald E. Westlake (Mysterious Press, 1986) is identified by: Mysterious Press, New York, 1986, hardcover, first trade edition. The earliest printing is the signed Neiman-Marcus limited edition dated 1985; the Mysterious Press trade hardcover of 1986 is the first trade edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Mysterious Press, New York, 1986, hardcover, first trade edition
- Sixth Dortmunder novel
- Note the true precedence: a signed limited edition produced for Neiman-Marcus is dated 1985 and precedes the 1986 trade edition
- Publisher imprint reads Mysterious Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Donald E. Westlake |
| Publisher | Mysterious Press |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Mysterious Press, New York, 1986, hardcover, first trade edition |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Mysterious Press, New York, 1986, hardcover, first trade edition. Sixth Dortmunder novel. Note the true precedence: a signed limited edition produced for Neiman-Marcus is dated 1985 and precedes the 1986 trade edition.

## Is this the true first?
The earliest printing is the signed Neiman-Marcus limited edition dated 1985; the Mysterious Press trade hardcover of 1986 is the first trade edition. Collectors should distinguish the two rather than treat the 1986 trade as the sole first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition of the trade text exists and is distinguished by the board stamp and the absence of a printed jacket price; it should not be confused with the 1985 limited edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Good Behavior (Dortmunder #6)* by Donald E. Westlake a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/good-behavior-dortmunder-6
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.