# Is "Without Fail" by Lee Child a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Without Fail by Lee Child (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2002) is identified by: The US Putnam hardcover first printing is identified by a complete number line on the copyright page reading down to 1 ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1"), with no later-printing statement or advanced number line. The US G.P.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- The US Putnam hardcover first printing is identified by a complete number line on the copyright page reading down to 1 ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1"), with no later-printing statement or advanced number line
- It is bound in publisher's boards and issued in a first-state pictorial dust jacket carrying the printed cover price on the front flap; the jacket price should be present and unclipped on an unmarked example, and the rear panel/flaps carry the publisher's promotional copy and author photo rather than later reissue text
- The sixth Jack Reacher novel
- Publisher imprint reads G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Lee Child |
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons |
| Year | 2002 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | The US Putnam hardcover first printing is identified by a complete number line on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
The US Putnam hardcover first printing is identified by a complete number line on the copyright page reading down to 1 ("10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1"), with no later-printing statement or advanced number line. It is bound in publisher's boards and issued in a first-state pictorial dust jacket carrying the printed cover price on the front flap; the jacket price should be present and unclipped on an unmarked example, and the rear panel/flaps carry the publisher's promotional copy and author photo rather than later reissue text. The sixth Jack Reacher novel.

## Is this the true first?
The US G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover is the US first; a UK Bantam Press hardcover also appeared in 2002. Collectors treat each national edition as the first in its own market rather than one preceding the other.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None significant. Book-club issues, where they exist, lack the full Putnam number line ending in 1 and are typically printed on lighter bulk with a blind board 'dot' and a clubbed jacket without a printed cover price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Without Fail* by Lee Child a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/without-fail
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.