# Is "The Night Gardener" by George Pelecanos a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos (Little, Brown, 2006) is identified by: First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Little, Brown descending number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first printing. US Little, Brown is the true first; standalone novel, published 2006.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Little, Brown descending number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first printing
- Standalone novel of 377 pages
- Copies signed by Pelecanos are signed on the title page
- First-issue dust jacket should retain the original printed price on the front flap (the presence of the printed price is the point, not any amount)
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | George Pelecanos |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 2006 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Little, Brown descending number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First Edition stated on the copyright page together with the Little, Brown descending number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, the terminal 1 confirming the first printing. Standalone novel of 377 pages. Copies signed by Pelecanos are signed on the title page. First-issue dust jacket should retain the original printed price on the front flap (the presence of the printed price is the point, not any amount).

## Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown is the true first; standalone novel, published 2006.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No significant book-club issue affecting the trade first-printing point.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Night Gardener* by George Pelecanos a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-night-gardener
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.