# Is "Why Me? (Dortmunder #5)" by Donald E. Westlake a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Why Me? (Dortmunder #5) by Donald E. Westlake (Viking Press, 1983) is identified by: The Viking Press, New York, 1983, hardcover; the fifth Dortmunder novel, in which the crew steals the ninety-carat Byzantine Fire ruby. The US Viking Press hardcover, 1983, is the true first edition; confirm by the Viking first-published statement on the copyright page and the Bob Shein jacket art with R.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The Viking Press, New York, 1983, hardcover; the fifth Dortmunder novel, in which the crew steals the ninety-carat Byzantine Fire ruby
- The dust jacket carries art by Bob Shein with jacket design by R. Adelson
- Viking firsts of this period state "First published in 1983 by The Viking Press" on the copyright page with no additional printing statement
- The jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap
- Publisher imprint reads Viking Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Donald E. Westlake |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The Viking Press, New York, 1983, hardcover; the fifth Dortmunder novel, in which the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The Viking Press, New York, 1983, hardcover; the fifth Dortmunder novel, in which the crew steals the ninety-carat Byzantine Fire ruby. The dust jacket carries art by Bob Shein with jacket design by R. Adelson. Viking firsts of this period state "First published in 1983 by The Viking Press" on the copyright page with no additional printing statement. The jacket should retain its printed price on the front flap.

## Is this the true first?
The US Viking Press hardcover, 1983, is the true first edition; confirm by the Viking first-published statement on the copyright page and the Bob Shein jacket art with R. Adelson jacket design.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A book-club edition exists and is distinguished by a blindstamp to the rear board, smaller/lighter boards, and the absence of any printed price on the jacket (whereas the trade first should show the printed price).

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Why Me? (Dortmunder #5)* by Donald E. Westlake a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/why-me-dortmunder-5
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.