# Is "Nine Dragons" by Michael Connelly a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown, 2009) is identified by: Copyright page states "First Edition: October 2009" with the full Little, Brown number line ending in 1. US Little, Brown is the true first; a Harry Bosch novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states "First Edition: October 2009" with the full Little, Brown number line ending in 1
- Bound in black boards with bold gilt lettering along the spine, in the priced, unclipped dust jacket (printed price present on the front flap)
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Connelly |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 2009 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states "First Edition: October 2009" with the full Little, Brown number… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states "First Edition: October 2009" with the full Little, Brown number line ending in 1. Bound in black boards with bold gilt lettering along the spine, in the priced, unclipped dust jacket (printed price present on the front flap).

## Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown is the true first; a Harry Bosch novel. Little, Brown and the UK Orion edition are separate simultaneous issues, so confirm the Little, Brown imprint, the "First Edition: October 2009" statement, and the number line rather than relying on the year alone.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club copies of this period are generally marked by a blind-stamp or dimple on the rear board and a clipped or unpriced jacket; the stated First Edition, number line, and priced jacket identify the trade first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Nine Dragons* by Michael Connelly a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/nine-dragons
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.