# Is "Compulsion" by Jonathan Kellerman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Compulsion by Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine, 2008) is identified by: Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the Ballantine number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first printing. US Ballantine Books is the true first edition; the twenty-second Alex Delaware novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the Ballantine number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first printing
- Ballantine Books hardcover, published 25 March 2008 (ISBN 9780345465276), issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price
- Publisher imprint reads Ballantine
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jonathan Kellerman |
| Publisher | Ballantine |
| Year | 2008 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the Ballantine number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries the Ballantine number line reading 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first printing. Ballantine Books hardcover, published 25 March 2008 (ISBN 9780345465276), issued in a pictorial dust jacket that should retain its printed price.

## Is this the true first?
US Ballantine Books is the true first edition; the twenty-second Alex Delaware novel.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None significant; a simultaneous large-print / book-club-style printing lacks the 'First Edition' statement and full number line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Compulsion* by Jonathan Kellerman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/compulsion
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.