Better than the first book.

Two books into the Walt Longmire series and I'm a dedicated fan. This second novel takes the reader into the history of Walt's predecessor as Sheriff, the Basque culture of Wyoming, and a decades old mystery that is wrapped around both. It's a fascinating look at how small even wide open spaces can be. Highly recommended.

I really liked this for what it is, a solid second entry of a series that has many fans, awards and accolades. Its popularity has notched up due to the A&E TV program Longmire. The TV program has encouraged me to get on board with the books. I'm a fan of both which in the end means I'm becoming a fan of Craig Johnson.

I'm not quite in the saddle yet having only read two but I do know there is a great deal appeal here. The interplay alone between the Sheriff, Walt Longmire and Cheyenne, Henry Standing Bear, would keep me reading. The friendship, loyalty and regard they have for each other is refreshing and so often missing in characters. Sheriff Longmire is a complicated man with strong ties to many of the continuing characters in Wyoming's Absaroka County. Two new deputies were added this time and I'm looking forward to their return in book three.

Of course there's a mystery to solve and getting to the solution is satisfying. There are some loose ends but the main story ends, allowing a realistic closure to this crime, but assuring you'll be back to see what happens next.

A side note regarding the A&E program Longmire vs. The Longmire Mysteries. I have watched three seasons of Longmire before returning to the backlog of books. Do I see Robert Taylor or Lou Diamond Phillips or any of the characters as they are portrayed on tv. Not really. Though I think Longmire stays true to Johsnon's intent, my own vision of them is quite different. I like what I see in both.

I would never have thought I'd like this modern day western but I do. Johnson does a great job building his set, and staging his players.

Loved the audio of this book. George Guidall is perfect as Sheriff Walt Longmire.

Love Longmire & his posse!

On p. 23 there is a Basque proverb: "A life without friends means death without company." I liked this book very much and give it 4.5 out 5 stars. This is the second in the series that I have read and I find that the characters are growing on me. The plot starts with a death in a nursing home. Former Sheriff Lucian Connally gets current Sheriff Walt Longmire to treat it as a suspicious death. Old secrets and buried lies/cruelties are uncovered. More people die. Connally and Deputy Victoria Moretti are enjoyable, funny characters.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Book two in the adventures of Walter Longmire, this mystery takes place within a couple weeks (if I'm remembering right) after the first book's end. And it works.
It all works. The characters are back, without the exposition of their personalities needing to be driven up again. Lucian is still a bitter hard ass ex-sheriff with a heart he likes to keep hidden. Vic is still the foul mouth deputy who seems to hate all the police work, and yet is such a loyal adviser to Walt she stays. Ruby's still in the office, keeping Walt from having a computer, putting his duties on post-it notes. Henry still plays as a unofficial deputy, getting in deep with his best friend on cases and relationships, and so on and so forth. And they've grown, all of them. In such a quick read/listen all the characters feel and act so real. They're not predictable, but when they act it feels just right.
As for the story, this is the kind of mystery I enjoy. Walter is a smart man, who says little. But being inside his head, we hear ALL his thoughts, and his process. He's such a stubborn but funny man, who says and acts on what he means, until he does.
The entire crew gets involved in this mess, as does a new face who isn't in the show and I really grew to like. It's hard talking about sequels mostly because I don't want to give anything away, but also because a lot of the harder work was done in the first. As far as characters go, this grew them into people all their own. And the narrator does a fantastic job of setting that slight dry humor that all but Vic seems to possess, and giving Vic that wonderful touch to her profanity laced attitude without being such a cliche. It really adds to the story as a whole.

Another really good book in the series...

I really enjoyed this story and its twists and turns. Johnson has created a winning set of characters in Absaroka County, quick sketches originally but filled in skillfully between these first two books.