Spirit of Steamboat

On Christmas Eve in Wyoming, Sheriff Walt Longmire encounters a mysterious visitor at his office who seems to know about a challenging rescue mission from his past. The visitor prompts Walt to recall a dangerous medical transport that took place on December 24, 1988, during a severe winter storm. The story shifts between the present day and 1988, when Walt and a skilled World War II veteran pilot needed to fly a critically injured child to a hospital in Denver. They attempt this risky flight in a vintage B-25 Mitchell bomber nicknamed "Steamboat," battling extreme weather conditions and mechanical issues. The narrative centers on determination and duty in the face of impossible odds, while exploring connections between past and present. At its core, this is a tale about the lengths people will go to save a life and the lasting impact of a single night's events.

Readers describe Spirit of Steamboat as a quick, heartwarming holiday novella that provides backstory for Walt Longmire's early days as sheriff. Many appreciate the blend of Christmas spirit with action sequences and historical details about B-25 bombers. Likes: - Fast-paced narrative - Military aviation history accuracy - Character development of Lucian Connally - Connection to It's a Wonderful Life theme Dislikes: - Too short compared to other Longmire books - Less mystery/crime focus than usual series entries - Some found the aviation sequences too technical Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (9,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,900+ ratings) One reader noted: "Perfect Christmas Eve read that adds depth to Walt's relationship with Lucian." Another mentioned: "The flying scenes felt overwhelming with technical terms." The novella rates lower than other Longmire books but higher than average for holiday-themed fiction.

The Far Empty by J. Todd Scott A Texas Border Patrol agent investigates a murder during a winter storm while confronting corrupt law enforcement and personal demons.

A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton A former Detroit cop working as a PI in Michigan's Upper Peninsula takes on a case during a blizzard that connects to his traumatic past.

The Highway by C.J. Box A Montana highway patrol officer races against time in brutal winter conditions to find two missing teenage girls.

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger A former Chicago cop turned small-town Minnesota sheriff investigates a murder that leads to dark secrets in his snow-covered community.

A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow An Aleut investigator searches for a missing park ranger in the harsh Alaskan wilderness during the darkest part of winter.

🌟 Craig Johnson wrote this installment of the Walt Longmire series as a Christmas gift to his readers, inspired by Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" 🌟 The B-25 bomber featured in the story, "Steamboat," was named after a famous rodeo horse that had never been ridden to a full eight-second count 🌟 The emergency flight detailed in the book was based on a real-life incident where a B-25 bomber made a harrowing winter rescue flight in Wyoming 🌟 The author spent time researching with actual B-25 pilots to ensure technical accuracy in his descriptions of flying the vintage aircraft 🌟 "Spirit of Steamboat" serves as both a standalone novella and part of the larger Walt Longmire series, making it accessible to new readers while rewarding longtime fans