# Is "Singing in the Shrouds" by Ngaio Marsh a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Singing in the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh (Little, Brown, 1958) is identified by: US Little, Brown (Boston, 1958) precedes the UK Collins Crime Club edition (1959). True first is the US Little, Brown edition (1958), preceding the UK Collins edition (1959).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Little, Brown (Boston, 1958) precedes the UK Collins Crime Club edition
- A Roderick Alleyn novel; the true first is the American issue
- Some UK dealers date the Collins issue 1958, but the London edition is properly 1959
- Correct publisher/imprint: Little, Brown

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ngaio Marsh |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 1958 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Comic / graphic novel |
| Key point | US Little, Brown (Boston, 1958) precedes the UK Collins Crime Club edition |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Little, Brown (Boston, 1958) precedes the UK Collins Crime Club edition (1959). A Roderick Alleyn novel; the true first is the American issue. Some UK dealers date the Collins issue 1958, but the London edition is properly 1959.

## Is this the true first?
True first is the US Little, Brown edition (1958), preceding the UK Collins edition (1959).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later reprints and book-club issues follow the 1958 US first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Singing in the Shrouds* by Ngaio Marsh a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/singing-in-the-shrouds
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.