The Cold Dish: A Longmire Mystery

Craig Johnson

Dec 2004 · A Longmire Mystery Book 1 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Introducing Wyoming’s Sheriff Walt Longmire in this riveting first Longmire novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Land of Wolves

Fans of Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr and Robert B. Parker will love this outstanding first novel, in which New York Times bestselling author Craig Johnson introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming’s Absaroka County. Johnson draws on his deep attachment to the American West to produce a literary mystery of stunning authenticity, and full of memorable characters. After twenty-five years as sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire’s hopes of finishing out his tenure in peace are dashed when Cody Pritchard is found dead near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Two years earlier, Cody has been one of four high school boys given suspended sentences for raping a local Cheyenne girl. Somebody, it would seem, is seeking vengeance, and Longmire might be the only thing standing between the three remaining boys and a Sharps .45-70 rifle.

With lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and a cast of characters both tragic and humorous enough to fill in the vast emptiness of the high plains, Walt Longmire attempts to see that revenge, a dish best served cold, is never served at all.

Ratings and reviews

I like the TV show, so when I found out it was based upon a book series it was easy to buy the first book. Johnson's prose takes some getting used to; you'll have to get used to reading a few paragraphs with no idea as to context or even who is speaking. It is a good story though, and I look forward to the next book in the series

First off, I fell in love with this character on the TV series. I was devastated when it was canceled. So when I saw there were books, I had to try them. I started and now can't stop. This Author does not disappoint. He makes every page into a whole chapter and I can't put it down. You won't either.

Love the plot, the settings, and the characters. I think the first person pov somewhat detracts from the stoic quality that I really love about Walt (whose character I first came to like through the television series), but is still one of my favorite characters of all time. There are some technical/factual inaccuracies/errors regarding some issues around some of the firearms discussed in this story, but they're not deal breakers.

About the author

Craig Johnson is the author of the award-winning and New York Times bestselling Longmire mystery series, the basis for Longmire, the hit A&E original drama series. Johnson's next Longmire book, Any Other Name, will be published May 13, 2014. He lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-five. Visit craigallenjohnson.com and aetv.com/longmire.