Call number
MYST JOH
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Penguin Books (2007), Edition: Reprint, 271 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. From Craig Johnson, author of the acclaimed novel The Cold Dish (W1071), comes this enthralling Sheriff Walt Longmire mystery that received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. With a distinctive literary flair, Johnson leads us into the wide open space of Absaroka County, Wyoming. When an elderly local woman is found poisoned, Longmire begins an investigation that soon has him ensnared in a deadly spider's web.
User reviews
LibraryThing member SamSattler
I'm coming late to the Walt Longmire mystery series - and, of course, this is actually the second book in the series, not the first. Somehow, not having seen any of the TV shows, I knew absolutely nothing about the series and its characters before stumbling upon a copy of "Death Without Company."
Set in a sparsly populated county, in a sparsly populated state (Wyoming), "Death Without Company" is long on small town atmosphere and characters with a shared history. The "mystery" in the novel, in fact, involves a family feud that goes back three generations and is still capable of getting people killed. Oil and gas is making millionaires out of a few, select families and, to some people, the money is big enough to kill for.
Walt Longmire, sheriff of little Absaroka County, finds himself trying to solve a murder at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, a facility that will soon be keeping him a bit busier than he imagined could be possible. But, along with a wonderfully interesting group of deputies and friends, Walt will somehow manage to identify the bad guys and bring them to justice - if they don't kill him first.
Among my favorite characters are: Victoria Moretti, the beautiful deputy with Philadelphia policing experience; retired sheriff, Lucian Connelly; and, of course, Walt's best friend in the world, Henry Standing Bear. Absaroka County is heavily populated by American Indians and a prominent Basque population, adding lots of color and ethnic culture into Craig Johnson's mix.
I'm looking forward to catching up on the series and have already watched the pilot episode of what has become a very successful television series (thank you NetFlix, for that). Yes, I'm hooked now.
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All that said, Walt Longmire was a pleasant surprise.Set in a sparsly populated county, in a sparsly populated state (Wyoming), "Death Without Company" is long on small town atmosphere and characters with a shared history. The "mystery" in the novel, in fact, involves a family feud that goes back three generations and is still capable of getting people killed. Oil and gas is making millionaires out of a few, select families and, to some people, the money is big enough to kill for.
Walt Longmire, sheriff of little Absaroka County, finds himself trying to solve a murder at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, a facility that will soon be keeping him a bit busier than he imagined could be possible. But, along with a wonderfully interesting group of deputies and friends, Walt will somehow manage to identify the bad guys and bring them to justice - if they don't kill him first.
Among my favorite characters are: Victoria Moretti, the beautiful deputy with Philadelphia policing experience; retired sheriff, Lucian Connelly; and, of course, Walt's best friend in the world, Henry Standing Bear. Absaroka County is heavily populated by American Indians and a prominent Basque population, adding lots of color and ethnic culture into Craig Johnson's mix.
I'm looking forward to catching up on the series and have already watched the pilot episode of what has become a very successful television series (thank you NetFlix, for that). Yes, I'm hooked now.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Walt Longmire is the sheriff of Absaroka County in Wyoming and Death Without Company by Craig Johnson is the second book about his cases. This time, an elderly woman dies in the Durant Home for Assisted Living and every one assumes her heart finally played out, everyone except for one other
Once again Craig Johnson delivers a top notch mystery full of complex characters. His knowledge of the area shines through in his vivid descriptive writing. He weaves the story skilfully back and forth in time, delves into the background and history of his victim and creates a plot rife with greed and secrets.
This is proving to be an excellent series, and Death Without Company is a highly readable addition to it. All the characters that I met an enjoyed in the first book have returned, along with some new additions that help flesh out the story. I am looking forward to my next trip to Absaroka Country.
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resident in the home who is loudly shouting, “Murder”. Walt immediately seals her room and orders an autopsy, as this other resident is the former sheriff whom Walt trained under.Once again Craig Johnson delivers a top notch mystery full of complex characters. His knowledge of the area shines through in his vivid descriptive writing. He weaves the story skilfully back and forth in time, delves into the background and history of his victim and creates a plot rife with greed and secrets.
This is proving to be an excellent series, and Death Without Company is a highly readable addition to it. All the characters that I met an enjoyed in the first book have returned, along with some new additions that help flesh out the story. I am looking forward to my next trip to Absaroka Country.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
It's almost Christmas. Walt's daughter Cady is due home if the weather holds, there are new deputies to audition and Henry Standing Bear has a photo exhibition to prepare for. I liked how this second story, set in Absaroka County, picks up just shortly after the events of The Cold Dish. Walt is
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still trying to decide what to call Vonnie's dog (although Dog seems to be sticking), when retired sheriff Lucian Connally's past comes to light with a new death at the Assisted Living home. The Basque settlers become as interesting as the Indians, with the mystery slowly unfolding among family troubles and mineral rights. Johnson bookends, as he did with the first mystery, the beginning and end of this book with similar scenes. Show Less
LibraryThing member jenforbus
Walt Longmire and gang return in the second book of Craig Johnson's Absaroka County series. DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY finds Walt investigating the death of Mari Baroja. Baroja's death appears to be of natural causes, but Lucien Connally insists that there is foul play in the death of his...wife? Walt
When I finished THE COLD DISH, I recall hoping Lucien would be back playing a more prominent role. It was as if Johnson heard my request. However, DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY was written before I read THE COLD DISH, please pay no attention the reviewer with a ridiculous sense of self-aggrandizement. Regardless, I was happy to see Lucien not only back, but at the center of all the hoopla. Johnson brings Lucien's back story out in grand fashion, which is only befitting a character as spectacular as the one-legged, former sheriff of Absaroka County.
Also in this installment, Johnson introduces a couple new characters; one of whom is Santiago Saizarbitoria, a.k.a. "Sancho." He's come to town to apply for the deputy's position with Walt and Vic. Also joining the tight-knit community is Lana Baroja, the young town baker and granddaughter of Mari Baroja. Craig Johnson truly has a gift with characters. I don't think stereotype is in his vocabulary. Instead he has extra helpings of "depth," "dimension," "dynamics," and of course "humor."
But as great as Johnson is with his characters, there's one element he's even better with - I guess it's technically related to character, but - Johnson knocks the ball out of the park with his relationships between characters. Lucien and Walt could be playing chess for the entire duration of the novel and you'd be glued to the book simply because the interaction between these two characters is so magnificent.
And each of these men would give his life for the other. As a reader I want to be a part of all that, so Johnson rolls out the red carpet and invites you in. It's hard not to feel like you're riding in Walt's truck, sitting at the counter in the Bee, or observing a hot game of chess in Room 32 at the Durant Home for Assisted Living.
As with THE COLD DISH, the setting also becomes a prominent character in DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY. Mother Nature can be beautiful and devastating, but she's still a major character; Johnson depicts Nature's relationships with the human characters as vividly and grand as with any other. Johnson does for Wyoming what Burke does for Louisiana.
My heart raced; I shivered with cold; and I didn't notice any of it until after it was already happening. The plot of DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY has a great mystery, but the even greater mystery is how anyone could read it and not simply drift away into Johnson's beloved Wyoming and Walt's beloved Absaroka. The poetry of Johnson's prose envelope's the reader, blocking the rest of the world out. And when the reader turns that last page, and Johnson releases him/her, a small part of that world goes along in their head until the reader can return once again.
I think it goes without saying that DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY receives my highest recommendation. Another astounding effort by Craig Johnson.
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begins investigating to find out that there is indeed foul play and a whole lot of money at stake; the question then becomes just how deep does this foul run?When I finished THE COLD DISH, I recall hoping Lucien would be back playing a more prominent role. It was as if Johnson heard my request. However, DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY was written before I read THE COLD DISH, please pay no attention the reviewer with a ridiculous sense of self-aggrandizement. Regardless, I was happy to see Lucien not only back, but at the center of all the hoopla. Johnson brings Lucien's back story out in grand fashion, which is only befitting a character as spectacular as the one-legged, former sheriff of Absaroka County.
Also in this installment, Johnson introduces a couple new characters; one of whom is Santiago Saizarbitoria, a.k.a. "Sancho." He's come to town to apply for the deputy's position with Walt and Vic. Also joining the tight-knit community is Lana Baroja, the young town baker and granddaughter of Mari Baroja. Craig Johnson truly has a gift with characters. I don't think stereotype is in his vocabulary. Instead he has extra helpings of "depth," "dimension," "dynamics," and of course "humor."
But as great as Johnson is with his characters, there's one element he's even better with - I guess it's technically related to character, but - Johnson knocks the ball out of the park with his relationships between characters. Lucien and Walt could be playing chess for the entire duration of the novel and you'd be glued to the book simply because the interaction between these two characters is so magnificent.
And each of these men would give his life for the other. As a reader I want to be a part of all that, so Johnson rolls out the red carpet and invites you in. It's hard not to feel like you're riding in Walt's truck, sitting at the counter in the Bee, or observing a hot game of chess in Room 32 at the Durant Home for Assisted Living.
As with THE COLD DISH, the setting also becomes a prominent character in DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY. Mother Nature can be beautiful and devastating, but she's still a major character; Johnson depicts Nature's relationships with the human characters as vividly and grand as with any other. Johnson does for Wyoming what Burke does for Louisiana.
My heart raced; I shivered with cold; and I didn't notice any of it until after it was already happening. The plot of DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY has a great mystery, but the even greater mystery is how anyone could read it and not simply drift away into Johnson's beloved Wyoming and Walt's beloved Absaroka. The poetry of Johnson's prose envelope's the reader, blocking the rest of the world out. And when the reader turns that last page, and Johnson releases him/her, a small part of that world goes along in their head until the reader can return once again.
I think it goes without saying that DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY receives my highest recommendation. Another astounding effort by Craig Johnson.
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LibraryThing member ccayne
I love this western mystery series - great characters and setting. Johnson artfully mixes crime and humor, akin to Robert Parker. It's a shame that the covers are really awful - I listened to this book and probably would have not have picked it up in print. I did find the final chase scene a bit
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overdone but the rest of the book made up for this flaw. Show Less
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
Lots of character development. A bit of non-gory violence. A decent mystery/plot, though a bit on the complicated side. Lots of characters.
I'll read another in the series because the characters are so well developed that you'll want to know what happens with them in the future. Though after the
I'll read another in the series because the characters are so well developed that you'll want to know what happens with them in the future. Though after the
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beating Walt gets, I wonder how long his old body will last. Show Less
LibraryThing member herbcat
Another fine example of the depth that can be reached in an ordinary genre when explored by an extraordinary writer.
LibraryThing member jepeters333
Elderly local woman Mari Baroja is poisoned, breathing her last at the Durant Home for Assisted Living. Sheriff Longmire wants to know who'e been to see her lately. As the Sheriff enters the outermost edge of her web, he sets in motion a string of disturbing occurrences involving members of the
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isolated community: the coal and methane industry, the former Sheriff, and other interests. With Deputy Victoria, Mr. Santiago, and his friend Henry Standing Bear, Longmire must wrangle a man with an appalling history of abuse. Show Less
LibraryThing member qstewart
In this, the second in the Longmire series, the case that Walt and his crew become involved with is tied to the previous sheriff who is Walt’s mentor. An elderly woman dies that Lucian had been involved with and he claims to Walt that she was murdered. Walt has to go back through family histories
Craig Johnson’s books are excellent reads and should be on the reading list of anyone that is interested in mysteries. The one thing I enjoy and keeps me coming back is his development of his characters. Walt and all of the characters are interesting and he has developed them to the point that you almost feel that you know what they are going to say next. Walt, Henry, Vic, Ruby, Ferg and Lucian are all believable and you feel like laughing with them and also crying with them. The interaction between and among the characters is also a strong aspect of this cast of characters. You get the feeling that they are ready to put their lives on the line for each other. You feel like they are all one happy family and that they are pulling for each other.
As in the first novel in the series Wyoming and the environment play big roles in this one too. Johnson takes great pains to describe the countryside and the snow and ice that are found in that area during December.
A very satisfying read and now I am ready to move on to number three in the series.
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to find a motive and to come to understanding of the ones that are affected by the case. He has to deal with the Basque portion of the population in Absaroka County. There are the twists and turns that one finds in a mystery and it seems that Walt will never solve this case, but in his slow, sure, way he figures it all out. It is not easy and it will take the reader and while to figure it out if they can.Craig Johnson’s books are excellent reads and should be on the reading list of anyone that is interested in mysteries. The one thing I enjoy and keeps me coming back is his development of his characters. Walt and all of the characters are interesting and he has developed them to the point that you almost feel that you know what they are going to say next. Walt, Henry, Vic, Ruby, Ferg and Lucian are all believable and you feel like laughing with them and also crying with them. The interaction between and among the characters is also a strong aspect of this cast of characters. You get the feeling that they are ready to put their lives on the line for each other. You feel like they are all one happy family and that they are pulling for each other.
As in the first novel in the series Wyoming and the environment play big roles in this one too. Johnson takes great pains to describe the countryside and the snow and ice that are found in that area during December.
A very satisfying read and now I am ready to move on to number three in the series.
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LibraryThing member mtnmamma
small town sheriff Walt Longmire, trusty sidekick Vic
Henry Standing Bear, Lakota,
Sancho joins crew, Double Tough, Omar
Henry Standing Bear, Lakota,
Sancho joins crew, Double Tough, Omar
LibraryThing member SunnySD
There's nothing unusual about someone in a retirement home dying, but when former sheriff Lucian Connelly hollers murder, Sheriff Longmire reluctantly starts investigating. Family secrets cast a long, bloody, deadly shadow across the Wyoming winterscape as greed and dead men come back to haunt the
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living. Perfect read for a snowed in winter day. Show Less
LibraryThing member ChrisConway
An appealing entry in the Longmire series, set in Wyoming and full of characters you want to take home with you. I found this second book to be a bit weaker than the first mainly because of how certain personal relationships and characters were handled. The plotting was not as tight as in the
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first. Still, I liked it and plan on coming back for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member fiberfool
An older woman dies in an assisted living facility. An equally old, retired sheriff insists it is murder despite little to no evidence of foul play. Turns out it may be and it may be tied to a 50+ year old murder that had been undiscovered until now. Complicate that with a reduced workforce, a
This second book takes place only weeks after the first book which kind of surprised me. While it may be a tad crazy to think of yet another murder in such a short time span in rural America, I kind of enjoyed the proximity to the previous book (Johnson did kind of poke fun at such a think in the dialogue as well). It allowed some of the unresolved issues brought up to be carried into this one which lent a bit more depth to the series I think.
This is only my second Walt Longmire book that I’ve read. I’m a bit of stickler for reading series in order. I was in some ways quite surprised to be as drawn into this book as I was the first. I’m not a huge procedural fan so it takes a really well done one to keep me reading. Keep me reading it did. I’m definitely looking forward to jumping into the next title before too long.
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Wyoming winter, two different and distinct ethnicities, and you get a really interesting procedural mystery plot. Add in well drawn characters who are unique with distinctive voices and you have a fabulous read.This second book takes place only weeks after the first book which kind of surprised me. While it may be a tad crazy to think of yet another murder in such a short time span in rural America, I kind of enjoyed the proximity to the previous book (Johnson did kind of poke fun at such a think in the dialogue as well). It allowed some of the unresolved issues brought up to be carried into this one which lent a bit more depth to the series I think.
This is only my second Walt Longmire book that I’ve read. I’m a bit of stickler for reading series in order. I was in some ways quite surprised to be as drawn into this book as I was the first. I’m not a huge procedural fan so it takes a really well done one to keep me reading. Keep me reading it did. I’m definitely looking forward to jumping into the next title before too long.
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LibraryThing member bookswoman
Sheriff Walt Longmire is back, along with his cast of co-workers and friends. Craig Johnson continues to hit all the right notes. The characters are human and sometimes make mistakes, the place is so real that you know this author lives where he writes and loves what he sees. Highly recommended
LibraryThing member delphimo
One of my book clubs read the first Walt Longmire book, A Cold Dish, and I was ambivalent about the book. You can imagine my chagrin when the second Walt Longmire book was chosen. Of course, I was mildly surprised that I enjoyed reading this book, but feel that Walt encounters too many brushes with
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death. I liked the premise of this story and the secret of love the spans decades. The love between Mari Baroja and Lucian Connally reminds me of the love in The Secret of the Nightingale Palace between Goldie and Henry Nakamura. That love can endure separation and hardship and still remind poignant after decades shows that life is amazing. The characters in this second novel jump off the page as more dimensional individuals. In closing, I have decided to give Craig Johnson a second chance in hopes of reading the third Walt Longmire book Show Less
LibraryThing member gbelik
This is the second Walt Longmire mystery and, I thought, was even better than the first. It centers on the death of an elderly Basque woman in a nursing home, but then ranges far afield and involves events and relationships from the long distant past. I love the characters in this mystery series,
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not only Walt, but his deputy Victoria, a recent emigre to Wyoming from big-city Philadelphia, his wonderful office manager Ruby, his new deputy Sancho and many others. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
When a woman dies at the assisted living facility where former sheriff Lucien Connolly lives, current sheriff Walt Longmire is asked by his friend and mentor to investigate the death as a murder. Much to Walt's surprise, it does appear that the woman has been murdered. The motive seems to have
As in the first book in the series, the characters and setting are more interesting than the crime being investigated. A couple of new characters are added to the mix in this installment, and it appears that readers will see more of them in the future. There seems to be a growing attraction between Walt and his much-younger, newly single, attractive but foul-mouthed deputy. It looks like there will continue to be mystical elements in this series as well, with some emphasis on Native American spirituality. This book is set just a few weeks after the events of the first book in the series, and it's assumed that readers are familiar with those events. This is a series that is best read in order, so new readers should start with The Cold Dish
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roots reaching back 50 years or more, but no one seems to want to talk about the past. As the body count mounts, Walt must uncover long-buried secrets in order to stop the killings. In addition to the murder investigation, Walt also has remember to do his Christmas shopping and worry about whether the snow storms will prevent his daughter, Cady, from coming home for Christmas.As in the first book in the series, the characters and setting are more interesting than the crime being investigated. A couple of new characters are added to the mix in this installment, and it appears that readers will see more of them in the future. There seems to be a growing attraction between Walt and his much-younger, newly single, attractive but foul-mouthed deputy. It looks like there will continue to be mystical elements in this series as well, with some emphasis on Native American spirituality. This book is set just a few weeks after the events of the first book in the series, and it's assumed that readers are familiar with those events. This is a series that is best read in order, so new readers should start with The Cold Dish
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LibraryThing member SteveAldous
Great follow-up to THE COLD DISH. Whilst the mystery may be basic fare, although not without its complexities, it is the characters that demand our time. Craig Johnson has sketched out a group of likable and real heroes and their bantering dialogue is both witty and spontaneous. The action
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sequences are well written too and Johnson manages to build the tension as he unpeels the layers from his mystery. Show Less
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
The four stars I have given the second Walt Longmire mystery are devoted to the sarcastic sheriff himself; I love his droll humour, weak attempt at a gruff demeanour, and endearing community of friends and colleagues. The plot, however, was completely formulaic, and I'm only two books in. Stop with
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the death-defying action sequences and near-death, spiritual experiences! I was hard pressed to decide which character deserved the nickname 'Rasputin' most - Walt or the killer he was chasing. I know the sheriff is modern day cowboy, but even John Wayne would have stayed down after the beating he takes in this adventure (especially following on from the equally inventive trauma of the first novel). Great character, beautifully atmospheric descriptions of local scenery, well paced mystery - just please hold off on the violence in book three! Show Less
LibraryThing member Yllom
Love the narrator, and the sense of place of these Wyoming sheriff/western mysteries. The characters have become old friends. I am really enjoying listening to these a few years after reading them.
LibraryThing member luvamystery65
[Death Without Company] is the second book in the Longmire series. I loved the first book, but I am only in like with the second book. The plot was a little much for me but I really enjoy the characters in this book. Walt has another experience from another dimension. This one was a little
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different than the first book with the dead woman coming to him in his dreams. I don't think I learned anything new about Walt in this one. Maybe the next. I will be reading the third. Show Less
LibraryThing member bicyclewriter
I liked this second book in the series almost as much as the first. Really excellent characters. What I like most is the descriptive and poetic nature of how Mr. Johnson uses words. Very nice.
LibraryThing member kylenapoli
Another excellent outing with Sheriff Longmire.
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Entertaining continuation of the series. Not exactly believable, but then that's hardly the point.
An old lady dying in a nursing home is hardly a remarkable event, and wouldn't normally have come to Walt's attention, even in this small town, other than his retired sheriff raised a ruckus asking for
Walt eventually tracks down the suspect, through some routine police work, which is good to see. It leads him out into a blizzard again, and you'd have though he'd have learnt better from his previous escapade only a few weeks ago. Doesn't america have summer? There is some but limited Native Indian involvement, and so probably easier for non-USians to follow this time.
Enjoyable.
An old lady dying in a nursing home is hardly a remarkable event, and wouldn't normally have come to Walt's attention, even in this small town, other than his retired sheriff raised a ruckus asking for
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an autopsy. It turns out she was briefly his wife and he had suspicions (exactly what was never stated) about her death. The lady had various children all of whom turn up to hear her Will - Somehow Walt had missed that a massive methane extraction was happening in the region, and the family stood to profit extensively from it. Nearly all the women seem magnetically attracted to Walt, which remains very odd. Walt eventually tracks down the suspect, through some routine police work, which is good to see. It leads him out into a blizzard again, and you'd have though he'd have learnt better from his previous escapade only a few weeks ago. Doesn't america have summer? There is some but limited Native Indian involvement, and so probably easier for non-USians to follow this time.
Enjoyable.
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LibraryThing member hailelib
In the second book of the Longmire series, Johnson has written another good novel with great characters. The death of an old lady in an assisted living facility didn't seem unusual but Lucien, the former sheriff, insists on a full investigation which finds that she was poisoned. So, who would want
I'm still enjoying the Longmire books more than the Hillerman mysteries but both are interesting and worth trying.
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to kill Mari Baroja?I'm still enjoying the Longmire books more than the Hillerman mysteries but both are interesting and worth trying.
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Pages
271
ISBN
0143038389 / 9780143038382