The points of issue
US Minotaur/St. Martin's first, 2012 (ISBN 9780312655464), with 'First Edition' on the copyright page and a number line. The eighth Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel; it won the 2012 Agatha Award and the 2013 Anthony and Macavity Awards for Best Novel.
Is this the true first?
The US Minotaur 2012 hardcover is the recognized priority first for collectors; UK and other-territory editions are separate, later settings.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not ending in 1, or a stated later printing, indicates a reprint; book-club issues differ from the trade first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Beautiful Mystery a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Minotaur/St. Martin's first, 2012 (ISBN 9780312655464), with 'First Edition' on the copyright page and a number line. The eighth Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel; it won the 2012 Agatha Award and the 2013 Anthony and Macavity Awards for Best Novel.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The US Minotaur 2012 hardcover is the recognized priority first for collectors; UK and other-territory editions are separate, later settings.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line not ending in 1, or a stated later printing, indicates a reprint; book-club issues differ from the trade first.
I have a first edition of The Beautiful Mystery — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.