The points of issue
US Viking first, 2004. The copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a number line that includes the 1, and the first issue carries an unclipped jacket with the original price. This is Johnson's debut and the first Walt Longmire mystery.
Is this the true first?
The US Viking 2004 edition is the true first; UK editions are later.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions lack the printed jacket price.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Cold Dish a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: US Viking first, 2004. The copyright page states 'FIRST EDITION' with a number line that includes the 1, and the first issue carries an unclipped jacket with the original price. This is Johnson's debut and the first Walt Longmire mystery.
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 Viking 2004 edition is the true first; UK editions are later.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line that does not include the 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions lack the printed jacket price.
I have a first edition of The Cold Dish — 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.