# Is "Unnatural Death" by Patricia Cornwell a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell (Grand Central Publishing, 2023) is identified by: Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard modern Grand Central (Hachette) hardcover form '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1'; the presence of the 1 confirms the first printing. US Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book Group) hardcover is the true first, published November 28, 2023; twenty-seventh Kay Scarpetta novel.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Copyright page states 'First Edition' and carries a full descending number line ending in 1, the standard modern Grand Central (Hachette) 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 Grand Central Publishing
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Patricia Cornwell |
| Publisher | Grand Central Publishing |
| Year | 2023 |
| 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 modern Grand Central (Hachette)… |
| 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 modern Grand Central (Hachette) 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 Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book Group) hardcover is the true first, published November 28, 2023; twenty-seventh Kay Scarpetta novel. ISBN 978-1-5387-4316-4.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition of significance. Confirm the first printing by both the stated 'First Edition' line and the number line ending in 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Unnatural Death* by Patricia Cornwell a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/unnatural-death
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.