# Is "The Ax" by Donald E. Westlake a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Ax by Donald E. Westlake (Mysterious Press, 1997) is identified by: US Mysterious Press hardcover, 1997. The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US Mysterious Press hardcover, 1997
- First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1
- A dark standalone widely regarded as a high point of Westlake's later work
- Publisher imprint reads Mysterious Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Donald E. Westlake |
| Publisher | Mysterious Press |
| Year | 1997 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | US Mysterious Press hardcover, 1997 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
US Mysterious Press hardcover, 1997. First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1. A dark standalone widely regarded as a high point of Westlake's later work.

## Is this the true first?
The US Mysterious Press hardcover is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are typically blind-stamped on the rear board and lack the number line; a full number line ending in 1 indicates the first printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Ax* by Donald E. Westlake a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-ax
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.