# Is "The Suspect" by L. R. Wright a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Suspect by L. R. Wright (Doubleday Canada, 1985) is identified by: The Doubleday Canada (Toronto) 1985 edition is the true first. Precedence belongs to the Canadian Doubleday Canada 1985 edition, which dealers identify as the true first; the US Viking 1985 edition is the first US edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The Doubleday Canada (Toronto) 1985 edition is the true first
- The US Viking (New York) 1985 edition is the first US edition, with the 'FIRST EDITION' statement and a number line ending in 1
- Won the 1986 Edgar Award for Best Novel (for the best novel of 1985)
- Wright was the first Canadian to win in that category
- First Karl Alberg novel
- Publisher imprint reads Doubleday Canada
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | L. R. Wright |
| Publisher | Doubleday Canada |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | Canadian edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The Doubleday Canada (Toronto) 1985 edition is the true first |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The Doubleday Canada (Toronto) 1985 edition is the true first. The US Viking (New York) 1985 edition is the first US edition, with the 'FIRST EDITION' statement and a number line ending in 1. Won the 1986 Edgar Award for Best Novel (for the best novel of 1985); Wright was the first Canadian to win in that category. First Karl Alberg novel.

## Is this the true first?
Precedence belongs to the Canadian Doubleday Canada 1985 edition, which dealers identify as the true first; the US Viking 1985 edition is the first US edition. Wright was a Canadian author published first in Canada.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
On the US Viking edition, later printings drop the 1 from the number line and book-club issues lack the price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Suspect* by L. R. Wright a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-suspect
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.