# Is "Sometimes They Bite" by Lawrence Block a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Sometimes They Bite by Lawrence Block (Arbor House, 1983) is identified by: First hardcover edition, Arbor House, New York, 1983, with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page (ISBN 0877954852). The US Arbor House hardcover is the true first edition, identified by the stated "First Edition," the black-spine-over-green-boards binding, and the priced first-issue jacket.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First hardcover edition, Arbor House, New York, 1983, with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page (ISBN 0877954852)
- A collection of short crime stories including Scudder, Rhodenbarr, and Ehrengraff tales
- Bound with a black linen spine stamped in gilt over green paper-covered boards
- First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap (present, unclipped-agnostic)
- Publisher imprint reads Arbor House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lawrence Block |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First hardcover edition, Arbor House, New York, 1983, with "First Edition" stated on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First hardcover edition, Arbor House, New York, 1983, with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page (ISBN 0877954852). A collection of short crime stories including Scudder, Rhodenbarr, and Ehrengraff tales. Bound with a black linen spine stamped in gilt over green paper-covered boards. First-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the front flap (present, unclipped-agnostic).

## Is this the true first?
The US Arbor House hardcover is the true first edition, identified by the stated "First Edition," the black-spine-over-green-boards binding, and the priced first-issue jacket.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club issue affects identification of the Arbor House first; the stated "First Edition" and priced jacket confirm the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Sometimes They Bite* by Lawrence Block a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/sometimes-they-bite
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.