The Longmire Defense

by Craig Johnson

Other authorsMatt Vee (Cover designer), Cora Wigan (Designer)

Ebook, 2023

Library's rating

Library's review

This is the 19th book in Johnson's series about Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire, and it's a strong entry for so late in the series. Readers of the last book (Hell and Back) who were put off by the high level of mystical woo-woo can rest assured that we are back on Planet Earth in this one.

In this

one, Walt and his undersheriff Victoria Moretti are on the search for a missing woman who disappeared in the back country after abandoning her car. Along the way, Walt solves that mystery and is faced with another, much more personal one when he discovers an old hunting rifle that he believes was used to kill a Wyoming state official 60 years ago. Even more troubling, Walt has good reason to believe that his late grandfather, Lloyd Longmire, was involved in the long-ago crime.

Along the way there are developments on both the personal and the professional fronts for Walt, who has been contemplating retirement for several books now. I suspect this is author Johnson signaling to his readers that Walt will not be with us much longer. If that's the case, I'd be happy to have him go out on the sort of high note he reaches in this book than carry on too long and make it a relief when he finally hangs it up.

Show Less

Description

"Walt Longmire faces one of his most challenging crime scenes as he tries to reckon with the revelations of his last case where he confronted the ghosts of his past and questioned the very nature of justice and mercy in the hard country of the West. Deepin the heart of the Wyoming countryside, Sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire, is called to a crime scene like few others that he has seen. This crime brings up issues that go back to Walt's grandfather's time in Wyoming, as the revelations he learnsabout his grandfather come back to offer clues and motives for Walt's investigation. Filled with back-country action, and with the great cast of characters that readers have come to love with the Longmire series, this new book will be sure to satisfy both long-time readers and those new to the series"--… (more)