Craig Johnson

Craig Johnson: The Brothers McKay

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Walt Longmire #22

It’s no secret that Walt Longmire loves literature; so does his creator Craig Johnson. The Longmire books are filled with literary references and allusions but The Brothers McKay is a straight-up homage to Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. As a mystery lover, I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t read Dostoevsky’s classic but it’s not required reading to understand and enjoy Walt’s latest adventure.

Like The Brothers Karamazov, The Brothers McKay is about the murder of a despicable man (Pepper McKay) and his four sons, all suspects in his murder. At stake is the ownership of the O-Kay Lodge, a lucrative resort/dude ranch built at the turn of the previous century. Without giving anything away, suffice to say the relationships of the four brothers are complicated and Walt uncovers lots of secrets and past discord. Complicating the investigation is the fact that one brother is a monk being visited by his Elder Bishop, Abbot Deputy, and a novice of their order, thereby increasing the suspect pool. But are the monks actually suspects? As in Dostoevsky’s novel, these characters lead a lot of interesting philosophical discussions about God and morality, an important theme of the story. read more

Craig Johnson: Return to Sender

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Longmire #21

After the flashback settings of First Frost (2024) and the novella Tooth and Claw (also 2024), Return to Sender brings us back to present day* Absaroka County, Wyoming: the least populated county in the least populated state in the US, jurisdiction of Sheriff Walt Longmire. Walt is asked by a cousin to search for missing mail carrier Blair McGowan. There are just two problems. First, she went missing from her 307 mile postal route in the Red Desert. Second, the desert, which is not Walt’s jurisdiction, is 9,320 square miles of desolation. read more

Reviewers & Book Club Faves

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Our two regular reviewers, Cathy Akers-Jordan and Vicki Kondelik, have shared their top 10 lists with us, and the book club chimes in on their favorite reads of the year as well.  Lots of good reading here!

Cathy:

Daughter of the Morning Star, Craig Johnson.  The new Longmire book is always the highlight of my mystery-reading year. The rez isn’t part of Walt Longmire’s jurisdiction, but when Tribal Police Chief Lolo Long recruits Walt and Henry to protect her niece, we learn the shocking statistics on the abuse and murder of Indian Women. Walt deals with a teenage basketball star while trying his best to keep her alive. read more

Craig Johnson: Daughter of the Morning Star

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This review is by our frequent guest reviewer, Cathy Akers-Jordan.

Walt Longmire has been in some awkward and dangerous situations during his decades as Sheriff of Absaroka county. This year he faces one he had no way of anticipating: guarding a Indian teenage girls’ basketball team. Longmire, big, tough, and a man of few words, is clearly out of his depth. He survives but only due to the help of best friend Henry Standing Bear and Deputy Vic Moretti.

The story focuses on Jaya Long, niece of Tribal Police Chief Lolo Long. A year after Jaya’s sister Jeanie disappears, Jaya begins to receive threatening notes. Knowing she’s unlikely to keep her niece safe when she’s off the rez, Chief Long recruits Walt and Henry to do so and to find whoever is sending notes. Complicating the situation is Jaya’s status as a superstar basketball player. Traveling to other schools for away games means there are more opportunities for someone to kidnap or kill Jaya. read more