The points of issue
Headline (Headline Feature), London, 1998 hardcover first edition; first printing carries a full number line. Third book in the Beast House Chronicles.
Is this the true first?
UK Headline hardcover is generally treated as the true first; Cemetery Dance issued signed limited editions (1,000 numbered and 52 lettered, art by Alan M. Clark) the same year in the US.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club and reprint copies lack the full number line; the Cemetery Dance limiteds are identified by their signed limitation page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Midnight Tour a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Headline (Headline Feature), London, 1998 hardcover first edition; first printing carries a full number line. Third book in the Beast House Chronicles.
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. UK Headline hardcover is generally treated as the true first; Cemetery Dance issued signed limited editions (1,000 numbered and 52 lettered, art by Alan M. Clark) the same year in the US.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book club and reprint copies lack the full number line; the Cemetery Dance limiteds are identified by their signed limitation page.
I have a first edition of The Midnight Tour — 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.