# Is "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead" by James Lee Burke a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke (Hyperion, 1993) is identified by: The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to 1; the first printing carries both the stated-edition line and the complete key. The US Hyperion edition of 1993 is the true first and precedes the UK (Hodder & Stoughton) edition; it is the sixth Dave Robicheaux novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to 1; the first printing carries both the stated-edition line and the complete key
- The book is bound in quarter black cloth over light gray paper-covered boards with red lettering stamped on the spine, running to 344 pages
- The first-issue dust jacket bears a color illustration of a Confederate soldier in a cemetery on the front panel, with a dark blue spine and rear panel carrying review praise; the printed price should be present on the front flap on an unclipped example
- Publisher imprint reads Hyperion
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | James Lee Burke |
| Publisher | Hyperion |
| Year | 1993 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The copyright page states 'First Edition' together with a full number line descending to 1; the first printing carries both the stated-edition line and the complete key. The book is bound in quarter black cloth over light gray paper-covered boards with red lettering stamped on the spine, running to 344 pages. The first-issue dust jacket bears a color illustration of a Confederate soldier in a cemetery on the front panel, with a dark blue spine and rear panel carrying review praise; the printed price should be present on the front flap on an unclipped example.

## Is this the true first?
The US Hyperion edition of 1993 is the true first and precedes the UK (Hodder & Stoughton) edition; it is the sixth Dave Robicheaux novel.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club editions typically lack the number line, are noticeably lighter and smaller than the trade hardcover, and carry a rear-board blindstamp with an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead* by James Lee Burke a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/in-the-electric-mist-with-confederate-dead
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.