# Is "The Last Detective" by Robert Crais a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Last Detective by Robert Crais (Doubleday, 2003) is identified by: The first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page together with a complete number line descending to and including the numeral 1 (Doubleday's number-row practice of this era); the terminal 1 is the decisive identifier, since later printings keep the "First Edition" wording but drop the 1 from the number line. The US Doubleday hardcover is the true first edition, preceding the UK edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page together with a complete number line descending to and including the numeral 1 (Doubleday's number-row practice of this era); the terminal 1 is the decisive identifier, since later printings keep the "First Edition" wording but drop the 1 from the number line
- Published by Doubleday in 2003 (ISBN 0-385-50426-8) as the ninth Elvis Cole novel
- The first-issue dust jacket should retain the printed price on the front flap; presence of the unclipped price is the expected first-issue state
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert Crais |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Year | 2003 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page together with a complete… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The first printing states "First Edition" on the copyright page together with a complete number line descending to and including the numeral 1 (Doubleday's number-row practice of this era); the terminal 1 is the decisive identifier, since later printings keep the "First Edition" wording but drop the 1 from the number line. Published by Doubleday in 2003 (ISBN 0-385-50426-8) as the ninth Elvis Cole novel. The first-issue dust jacket should retain the printed price on the front flap; presence of the unclipped price is the expected first-issue state.

## Is this the true first?
The US Doubleday hardcover is the true first edition, preceding the UK edition. It is the ninth book in the Elvis Cole series and marks Crais's return to the character after Demolition Angel and Hostage.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book club edition is not a concern for this title; the trade first is confirmed by the stated "First Edition" line plus the full number line ending in 1, with later printings identifiable by the missing terminal 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Last Detective* by Robert Crais a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-last-detective
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.