# Is "The Night Crew" by John Sandford a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Night Crew by John Sandford (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1997) is identified by: First edition so stated on the copyright page, with a complete number line ending in 1 confirming the first printing. US G.P.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition so stated on the copyright page, with a complete number line ending in 1 confirming the first printing
- Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons (Putnam Publishing Group), New York, April 1997
- ISBN 0-399-14237-0
- Binding is quarter navy paper over purple paper-covered boards with silver lettering on the front board and spine
- A first-issue dust jacket retains the printed cover price on the front flap (present, not clipped)
- Publisher imprint reads G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Sandford |
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 1997 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition so stated on the copyright page, with a complete number line ending in 1… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition so stated on the copyright page, with a complete number line ending in 1 confirming the first printing. Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons (Putnam Publishing Group), New York, April 1997; ISBN 0-399-14237-0. Binding is quarter navy paper over purple paper-covered boards with silver lettering on the front board and spine. A first-issue dust jacket retains the printed cover price on the front flap (present, not clipped).

## Is this the true first?
US G.P. Putnam's Sons is the true first edition; a standalone thriller featuring Anna Batory, a departure from the Lucas Davenport 'Prey' series.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club edition issue affecting the first printing; the later Berkley paperback (ISBN 0-425-16338-5) is a reprint, not a first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Night Crew* by John Sandford a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-night-crew
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.