Black Cherry Blues (1989) Signed First Edition Reference
Black Cherry Blues won the 1990 Edgar Award for Best Novel, cementing James Lee Burke’s reputation as one of crime fiction’s premier stylists. The third Robicheaux novel takes Dave from Louisiana to Montana, where an old friend’s involvement with an oil company leads to murder and conspiracy. Burke’s prose reaches new heights here — the Montana landscape rendered with the same sensory precision he brings to Louisiana, and Robicheaux’s grief over Annie’s death giving the narrative a raw emotional center.
The Edgar Impact
The Edgar Award transformed Burke from a well-reviewed regional crime writer into a national literary figure. The award brought attention to the entire Robicheaux series and substantially increased Burke’s readership. For collectors, the Edgar winner always carries a premium — the recognition stamp that validates a collecting focus.
First Edition Identification
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, Boston Publication date: 1989 Format: Hardcover in dust jacket
Burke moved from Henry Holt to Little, Brown with this title. The first edition predates the Edgar announcement, so true first printings do not carry award winner notices.
Signed Copy Market Values
- Signed first edition, fine/fine: $300–$800
- With Edgar Award winner sticker: slight premium for copies with contemporary sticker
- Inscribed copies: $400–$1,000
- Unsigned first edition: $50–$150
The Edgar winner status makes this the second most collectible Robicheaux novel after The Neon Rain. Copies in truly fine condition with bright, unfaded dust jackets are the key desiderata.