# Is "The Narrows" by Michael Connelly a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Narrows by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown, 2004) is identified by: Look for the complete descending number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page; the first printing carries a full line ending in 1. US Little, Brown and Company true first, published May 2004; a Harry Bosch novel that also functions as a sequel to The Poet.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Look for the complete descending number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page; the first printing carries a full line ending in 1
- The trade first is a royal octavo bound in quarter black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine over black boards, in the original priced (unclipped) dust jacket
- The printed cover price should be present on the front jacket flap; identify by the number line and binding rather than by price, and note that the price should be present but is never a valuation
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Connelly |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 2004 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Look for the complete descending number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Look for the complete descending number line reading 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page; the first printing carries a full line ending in 1. The trade first is a royal octavo bound in quarter black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine over black boards, in the original priced (unclipped) dust jacket. The printed cover price should be present on the front jacket flap; identify by the number line and binding rather than by price, and note that the price should be present but is never a valuation.

## Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown and Company true first, published May 2004; a Harry Bosch novel that also functions as a sequel to The Poet. A separate signed and numbered limited edition was issued in slipcase by Dennis McMillan in a small stated quantity; that is a distinct publisher issue, not the Little, Brown trade first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book club edition lacks a price on the jacket and is typically smaller and lighter than the trade first, often with a small blindstamp (dot or square) to the lower rear board; the trade first has no rear-board blindstamp.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Narrows* by Michael Connelly a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-narrows
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.