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Sheriff Walt Longmire is reading A Christmas Carol in his office on December 24 when he's interrupted by the ghost of Christmas past: a young woman with a hairline scar across her forehead and more than a few questions about Walt's predecessor, Lucian Connally. Craig Johnson's Spirit of Steamboat (Viking) is a seasonal holiday tale and the latest entry in his acclaimed mystery series.
The Wyoming lawman returns after staking his claim on the New York Times bestseller list.
Embarking on his eighth adventure, Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire has a more important matter on his mind than cowboys and criminals. His daughter, Cady, is getting married to the brother of his undersheriff, Victoria Moretti. Walt and old friend Henry Standing Bear are the de facto wedding planners and fear Cady’s wrath when the wedding locale arrangements go up in smoke two weeks before the big event.
The pair set out to find a new site for the nuptials on the Cheyenne Reservation, but their scouting expedition ends in horror as they witness a young Crow woman plummeting from Painted Warrior's majestic cliffs. It’s not Walt’s turf, but the newly appointed tribal police chief and Iraqi war veteran, the beautiful Lolo Long, shanghais him into helping with the investigation. Walt is stretched thin as he mentors Lolo, attempts to catch the bad guys, and performs the role of father of the bride.
With the popularity of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire series growing apace, fans new and old will relish As the Crow Flies, the sheriff's latest quirky and complex investigation.
Review:
"In bestseller Johnson's excellent eighth Walt Longmire mystery (after 2011's Hell Is Empty), Walt agrees to help the new tribal police chief of Wyoming's Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Lolo Long, with an investigation, even though his daughter Cady's wedding is imminent. Walt saw a woman, later identified as Audrey Plain Feather, plunge from Painted Warrior cliff holding her infant son, Adrian. Miraculously, Adrian survives, but the evidence points to murder, not suicide, in Audrey's death. Suspicion immediately falls on Audrey's abusive husband, Clarence Last Bull, but Walt isn't convinced of his guilt, especially when the FBI shows up, hot on the trail of illegal drugs. Meanwhile, Lolo, an Iraqi war vet, is eager to prove she can do her job, despite her lack of police training. Johnson expertly highlights his conflicted hero's dual role as father and sheriff in this deeply satisfying installment. The TV series Longmire, starring Australian actor Robert Taylor as the Wyoming sheriff, premiers on A&E in June. 10-city author tour. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review:
"All the elements his fans love are present: lively characters, easy banter, and, of course, a touch of the supernatural. In early books, Walt was less sure of himself, but, in his eighth adventure, it makes sense that he's now the one 'giving sheriff lessons.' This book fits the hand like a well-worn glove." Booklist
Review:
“Walt continues to be excellent company because he’s always keen to learn something from the strong Indian characters in this series....This time a wizened old medicine woman takes Walt in hand, guiding him through a Native American Church peyote ceremony deep in the woods…he [has] a vision that expands his mind and helps him solve the case.” Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
Review:
“The pleasure of the series rests in Walt’s narration, with its laid-back, observant, bemused recounting of events....Solid landscapes, a mélange of fully fleshed characters (familiar and new), drily laconic dialogue and assorted power struggles — including Walt’s endless war with Rezdawg, Henry’s recalcitrant, falling-apart truck — keep the latest in this rich and satisfying series on engaging course.” Houston Chronicle
Review:
“Walt’s voice lets readers in on his gentle and wry nature, while showcasing his devotion to bringing bad guys or gals to justice....Johnson enriches his narrative by using the setting itself as another well-developed character. Johnson’s Northern Cheyenne characters defy stereotype with self-depreciating humor and strength. Chief Lolo Long and Tribal Chief Lonnie Little Bird are especially well-crafted and appealing.” The Denver Post
Review:
“Johnson expertly highlights his conflicted hero’s dual role as father and sheriff in this deeply satisfying installment.” Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
Review:
“A top-notch tale of complex emotions and misguided treachery… Crow is a superb novel steeped in the culture of the American West.” USA Today
Synopsis:
LONGMIRE, a new A&E drama series
The Wyoming lawman returns after staking his claim on the New York Times bestseller list
Embarking on his eighth adventure, Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire has a more important matter on his mind than cowboys and criminals. His daughter, Cady, is getting married to the brother of his undersheriff, Victoria Moretti. Walt and old friend Henry Standing Bear are the de facto wedding planners and fear Cady’s wrath when the wedding locale arrangements go up in smoke two weeks before the big event.
The pair set out to find a new site for the nuptials on the Cheyenne Reservation, but their scouting expedition ends in horror as they witness a young Crow woman plummeting from Painted Warrior’s majestic cliffs. It’s not Walt’s turf, but the newly appointed tribal police chief and Iraqi war veteran, the beautiful Lolo Long, shanghais him into helping with the investigation. Walt is stretched thin as he mentors Lolo, attempts to catch the bad guys, and performs the role of father of the bride.
With the popularity of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire series growing apace, fans new and old will relish As the Crow Flies, the sheriff’s latest quirky and complex investigation.
Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery series, now an A&E drama series, Longmire. He is the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award for fiction, the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir, and the Prix 813. He lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-five.
Wyoming Cowgirl, January 1, 2013 (view all comments by Wyoming Cowgirl)
Craig Johnson improves his craft with every new volume in the series. His character development and dialogue are top rate. Probably due to his acting training in his early years.
Adya, June 22, 2012 (view all comments by Adya)
Johnson's charm as a writer is twofold: his storytelling skills and his ability to capture the life emotions of his characters. No matter what kind of characters, they all come to life in Johnson's narration.
As the Crow Flies has everything you would want a mystery/ thriller to be: an interesting storyline with plenty of action that moves swiftly and surely, laugh-out-loud humor in all the right places, a cast of characters that you will loyally want to follow (to their numerous adventures), and even true tear-jerker moments (rare, but they are there).
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No (8 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"In bestseller Johnson's excellent eighth Walt Longmire mystery (after 2011's Hell Is Empty), Walt agrees to help the new tribal police chief of Wyoming's Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Lolo Long, with an investigation, even though his daughter Cady's wedding is imminent. Walt saw a woman, later identified as Audrey Plain Feather, plunge from Painted Warrior cliff holding her infant son, Adrian. Miraculously, Adrian survives, but the evidence points to murder, not suicide, in Audrey's death. Suspicion immediately falls on Audrey's abusive husband, Clarence Last Bull, but Walt isn't convinced of his guilt, especially when the FBI shows up, hot on the trail of illegal drugs. Meanwhile, Lolo, an Iraqi war vet, is eager to prove she can do her job, despite her lack of police training. Johnson expertly highlights his conflicted hero's dual role as father and sheriff in this deeply satisfying installment. The TV series Longmire, starring Australian actor Robert Taylor as the Wyoming sheriff, premiers on A&E in June. 10-city author tour. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Review"
by Booklist,
"All the elements his fans love are present: lively characters, easy banter, and, of course, a touch of the supernatural. In early books, Walt was less sure of himself, but, in his eighth adventure, it makes sense that he's now the one 'giving sheriff lessons.' This book fits the hand like a well-worn glove."
"Review"
by Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review,
“Walt continues to be excellent company because he’s always keen to learn something from the strong Indian characters in this series....This time a wizened old medicine woman takes Walt in hand, guiding him through a Native American Church peyote ceremony deep in the woods…he [has] a vision that expands his mind and helps him solve the case.”
"Review"
by Houston Chronicle,
“The pleasure of the series rests in Walt’s narration, with its laid-back, observant, bemused recounting of events....Solid landscapes, a mélange of fully fleshed characters (familiar and new), drily laconic dialogue and assorted power struggles — including Walt’s endless war with Rezdawg, Henry’s recalcitrant, falling-apart truck — keep the latest in this rich and satisfying series on engaging course.”
"Review"
by The Denver Post,
“Walt’s voice lets readers in on his gentle and wry nature, while showcasing his devotion to bringing bad guys or gals to justice....Johnson enriches his narrative by using the setting itself as another well-developed character. Johnson’s Northern Cheyenne characters defy stereotype with self-depreciating humor and strength. Chief Lolo Long and Tribal Chief Lonnie Little Bird are especially well-crafted and appealing.”
"Review"
by Publisher’s Weekly (starred review),
“Johnson expertly highlights his conflicted hero’s dual role as father and sheriff in this deeply satisfying installment.”
"Review"
by USA Today,
“A top-notch tale of complex emotions and misguided treachery… Crow is a superb novel steeped in the culture of the American West.”
"Synopsis"
by Penguin,
LONGMIRE, a new A&E drama series
The Wyoming lawman returns after staking his claim on the New York Times bestseller list
Embarking on his eighth adventure, Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire has a more important matter on his mind than cowboys and criminals. His daughter, Cady, is getting married to the brother of his undersheriff, Victoria Moretti. Walt and old friend Henry Standing Bear are the de facto wedding planners and fear Cady’s wrath when the wedding locale arrangements go up in smoke two weeks before the big event.
The pair set out to find a new site for the nuptials on the Cheyenne Reservation, but their scouting expedition ends in horror as they witness a young Crow woman plummeting from Painted Warrior’s majestic cliffs. It’s not Walt’s turf, but the newly appointed tribal police chief and Iraqi war veteran, the beautiful Lolo Long, shanghais him into helping with the investigation. Walt is stretched thin as he mentors Lolo, attempts to catch the bad guys, and performs the role of father of the bride.
With the popularity of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire series growing apace, fans new and old will relish As the Crow Flies, the sheriff’s latest quirky and complex investigation.
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