# Is "True Detectives" by Jonathan Kellerman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine, 2009) is identified by: Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard post-1980 Ballantine hardcover form '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of the 1 confirms the first printing. US Ballantine Books hardcover is the true first edition; standalone novel featuring Moe Reed and Aaron Fox.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard post-1980 Ballantine hardcover form '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of the 1 confirms the first printing
- A first-state dust jacket should retain its printed price at the front-flap corner
- Publisher imprint reads Ballantine
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Jonathan Kellerman |
| Publisher | Ballantine |
| Year | 2009 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard post-1980 Ballantine hardcover… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard post-1980 Ballantine hardcover form '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of the 1 confirms the first printing. A first-state dust jacket should retain its printed price at the front-flap corner.

## Is this the true first?
US Ballantine Books hardcover is the true first edition; standalone novel featuring Moe Reed and Aaron Fox.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None significant. Confirm the first printing by both the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line ending in 1; any higher lowest-digit indicates a later printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *True Detectives* by Jonathan Kellerman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/true-detectives
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.