Craig Johnson

Craig Johnson is an American author best known for writing the Walt Longmire mystery series, which began with The Cold Dish in 2004. The series follows Sheriff Walt Longmire in fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming, and has grown to include more than 17 novels and multiple novellas. The Longmire books gained wider recognition when they were adapted into the television series "Longmire," which ran from 2012 to 2017 on A&E and Netflix. Johnson's work combines elements of traditional Western fiction with contemporary crime procedurals, incorporating themes of Native American culture and the modern American West. Before becoming a writer, Johnson worked as a law enforcement officer and educator. He lives on a ranch in Ucross, Wyoming, which has a population of 25, and draws extensively from his surroundings and experiences in the region to create authentic depictions of modern Western life. Johnson has received several literary awards for his work, including the Western Writers of America Spur Award and the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Award. His novels have been translated into multiple languages and have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Readers connect strongly with Johnson's authentic portrayal of Wyoming and Native American culture. Many cite the complex relationships between characters, particularly Walt Longmire's friendship with Henry Standing Bear, as a key draw. Liked: - Rich descriptions of Wyoming landscapes and weather - Dry humor and natural dialogue - Character depth and development across the series - Accurate law enforcement procedures - Balance of mystery plots with personal stories Disliked: - Some find the pacing slow, especially in scene-setting passages - Later books in the series can feel formulaic - Occasional issues with timeline consistency - Some readers note the novels differ significantly from the TV adaptation Ratings: - Goodreads: Average 4.2/5 across series - Amazon: 4.5/5 average for most titles - The Cold Dish (first book): 4.3/5 from 76,000+ Goodreads ratings Reader quote: "Johnson makes you feel the Wyoming wind and know these characters like neighbors." - Amazon reviewer

The Cold Dish - Sheriff Walt Longmire investigates a murder connected to four youths who received suspended sentences for assaulting a developmentally disabled Cheyenne girl.

Death Without Company - A resident at a assisted living facility is found poisoned, leading Longmire to uncover long-buried secrets from Wyoming's Basque community.

Kindness Goes Unpunished - Longmire travels to Philadelphia where his daughter is assaulted, forcing him to work with local law enforcement to find the perpetrator.

Another Man's Moccasins - A Vietnamese woman is found dead along a Wyoming highway, connecting to Longmire's past as a Vietnam War investigator.

The Dark Horse - Longmire goes undercover in a neighboring county to investigate a woman's confession to killing her husband.

Junkyard Dogs - A bizarre series of crimes unfolds around a junkyard during a harsh Wyoming winter.

Hell Is Empty - Longmire pursues escaped convicts up a frozen mountain during a deadly blizzard.

As the Crow Flies - While helping his daughter plan her wedding, Longmire investigates a woman's fatal fall from a cliff on the Cheyenne reservation.

A Serpent's Tooth - An investigation into a young Mormon "lost boy" leads to a dangerous compound of religious zealots.

Any Other Name - Longmire looks into a detective's suicide in a neighboring county that may be connected to missing persons cases.

Dry Bones - The discovery of a valuable T. Rex skeleton leads to murder and jurisdictional complications.

An Obvious Fact - During a motorcycle rally in Hulett, Longmire investigates a shooting that involves his friend Henry Standing Bear.

The Western Star - A story split between Longmire's first days as a deputy in 1972 and a present-day murder investigation.

Depth of Winter - Longmire travels to Mexico to rescue his kidnapped daughter from a deadly cartel leader.

Land of Wolves - After returning from Mexico, Longmire investigates a shepherd's death possibly connected to a wolf pack.

Next to Last Stand - Longmire investigates a death connected to an allegedly destroyed painting from Custer's Last Stand.

Daughter of the Morning Star - Longmire investigates the disappearance of a Native American high school basketball star.

Hell and Back - Longmire wakes up in a street with no memory of who he is, wearing someone else's clothes in a town that doesn't exist.

Standalone Novella: Spirit of Steamboat - On Christmas Eve, Longmire recalls a dangerous medical rescue flight during a blizzard in a World War II era plane.

Tony Hillerman writes crime fiction set in the American Southwest featuring Navajo Tribal Police officers. His work shares Johnson's attention to Native American culture and remote Western settings.

C.J. Box sets his Joe Pickett series in rural Wyoming, featuring a game warden who solves crimes. The books explore similar themes of law enforcement in sparsely populated Western locations with strong ties to the natural landscape.

William Kent Krueger writes the Cork O'Connor series about a part-Ojibwe former sheriff in Minnesota who investigates crimes. His work incorporates Native American elements and small-town dynamics in remote settings.

Steve Hamilton creates mysteries featuring former Detroit cop Alex McKnight in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The series deals with law enforcement in isolated communities and features a protagonist with a similar world-weary perspective to Walt Longmire.

Nevada Barr writes about National Park Service ranger Anna Pigeon who solves crimes in different U.S. national parks. Her books combine crime solving with detailed depictions of Western landscapes and the culture of law enforcement in remote locations.