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Death Without Company

(Walt Longmire #2)

Craig Johnson

4.23 · Rating details · 15,350 ratings · 1,320 reviews

Walt investigates a death by poison in this gripping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Cold Dish and Dry Bones, the second in the Longmire Mystery Series, the basis for LONGMIRE, the hit Netflix original seriesFans of Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr and Robert B. Parker will love Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Is Empty and As the Cr ...more

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Paperback, 271 pages

Published February 27th 2007 by Penguin Books (first published March 16th 2006)

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Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson

Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson

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Aug 16, 2013 Jeffrey Keeten rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

”A life without friends means death without company. (Adiskidegabeco bizita, auzogabeko heriotza.)”--Basque Proverb.

One thing that Walt Longmire will never be short of are friends. He also will never have to look far to find an enemy either, but when your bestfriend is a Cheyenne warrior named Henry Standing Bear, tested in the killing fields of Vietnam, you are never in more trouble than the two of you can't climb out of. ”It was three against two, but I had the Indian and that always evened th ...more

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Aug 09, 2013 Michael rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Michael by: Harry

Shelves: fiction, wyoming, mystery, rural-life

I was overjoyed with this introduction to the mystery series featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire in northern Wyoming (I couldn’t nab the first, “Cold Dish”). Johnson played all my emotions like a talented pianist, from heartbreak to hilarity. Wrung me of awe and concern for a hero of mythic stature, but one who comes off humble and sincere like the dad you wish you had. And evoked so well the setting and human values of rural life in the high plains near the Bighorn Mountains, where the dangers of w ...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Robert rated it it was amazing

Shelves: robert-s-reads

I’d never heard of Craig Johnson before I attended Left Coast Crime 2011 in Santa Fe, NM. Let me say it was more than just a minor oversight on my part: it was probably a borderline tragedy. During a Sunday morning panel titled "Crime Fiction on Big and Little Screens," he spoke about the Longmire series in production with A&E, and I was intrigued from when he first opened his mouth to the end of the discussion. To entice us to stick around and thank us for showing up on Sunday, cards for a I’d never heard of Craig Johnson before I attended Left Coast Crime 2011 in Santa Fe, NM. Let me say it was more than just a minor oversight on my part: it was probably a borderline tragedy. During a Sunday morning panel titled "Crime Fiction on Big and Little Screens," he spoke about the Longmire series in production with A&E, and I was intrigued from when he first opened his mouth to the end of the discussion. To entice us to stick around and thank us for showing up on Sunday, cards for a giveaway were being handed out, and I happened to be second to the trough. An ARC of Craig’s upcoming release Hell Is Empty was one of the items being offered, and I snapped it up faster than a rattlesnake might attack a field mouse. And I was enamored enough with the writing and the characters to start at the beginning of the Walt Longmire series.

Like Craig Johnson the man, Craig Johnson the author leaves a damn good third impression. Death Without Company brings back all the familiar faces from The Cold Dish, and even manages to throw in a few new ones. The familiarity mixed with the new is certainly intriguing, and he only ratchets it up with great characterization, setting, and an intriguing mystery. Even though this is a first person narrative, like the other two, the secondary characters are rich in depth, description, and details to the point that the reader isn’t lacking a single piece of information. If that isn’t enough for you, he takes it a step further and Absaroka County feels about as close and homey as my own backyard.

Speaking of my backyard, he was kind enough to stop in New Mexico on his book tour for his latest novel As The Crow Flies, and I was impressed with the way he carried himself. Afterwards, he signed three novels for me, not his latest, and he seemed both genuine and sincere. My last encounter with him was an email exchange, and he exhibited all the same qualities I gathered from my first impression.

So what’s my point? It’s a beautiful thing when nice guys find success, and I hope he discovers it in droves. He’s built up a faithful audience through wonderful prose, received numerous writing awards, but it wasn’t until his seventh novel that he hit The New York Times Bestsellers List. If I had a cowboy hat, I’d tip it in Craig Johnson’s direction, and I’d wish him nothing but the best. And if you like mysteries as much as I do, you’ll want to remember the name Craig Johnson. It’s one I won’t likely forget.

Cross-posted at Robert's Reads ...more

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Sep 06, 2014 carol. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fans of Barr, weatherbeaten sheriffs, dry humor, good characters

Recommended to carol. by: Jeffrey Keeten

Shelves: favorites, multi-culti, mystery, should-buy

Walt Longmire is sheriff of the least populated county in one of the least populated states, or so he likes to remind us. The population is so small, in fact, he has Deputy Vic hunting up talis jurors (bystander) at the grocery store before a blizzard is due. He’s about to head home when he gets a call from Lucian, prior sheriff and now terror of the Durant Home for Assisted Living. A resident has died and Lucian wants the room sealed and an autopsy on the deceased. When Walt questions why, Luci Walt Longmire is sheriff of the least populated county in one of the least populated states, or so he likes to remind us. The population is so small, in fact, he has Deputy Vic hunting up talis jurors (bystander) at the grocery store before a blizzard is due. He’s about to head home when he gets a call from Lucian, prior sheriff and now terror of the Durant Home for Assisted Living. A resident has died and Lucian wants the room sealed and an autopsy on the deceased. When Walt questions why, Lucian has a response:

“He looked old just then; small, old, and tired, as I had never seen him before. His eyes returned to the dead lights of the tree. ‘She was my wife.’“

Walt is shocked, but despite his doubts as to the likelihood of a murder, he does some investigating. The deceased woman, Mari Baroja, controlled lucrative mineral rights on a large piece of land, and the heirs are circling with lawyers in tow. Walt has his hands full; he’s still mourning the end of an almost-relationship, a blizzard looks to be settling in, the department needs a replacement deputy, and his daughter is on her way back to Wyoming from Philly. Dealing with Lucian and hiring new blood brings back memories of when Walt himself applied and first met Lucian.

Understated, subtle humor weaves through the book, particularly in Walt’s inner thoughts. Humor of the confrontational sort is gleefully provided by Deputy Vic. Walt’s humor, however, never overpowers to the mood or situation:

“I walked between the two people at the desk and loomed over Janine, whom I had a special fondness for whenever I remembered that she is Ruby’s granddaughter.“

“He finished his coffee and dropped the cup into the biohazard container with the gloves. I agreed with his diagnosis and tossed mine in too“

“…knowing that he and XX were in cahoots, cahoots being a legal term in Wyoming, see cahooting in the first degree, intent to cahoot, and so on.“

I enjoyed the plotting, which was complex enough that the ending had a surprising twist. A nice variety of people are introduced that give flavor to the small town. Many had very little to do with the case, appreciated in a mystery, when all too often each character has a concrete plot-related role. Santiago Saizarbitoria is a prospective deputy who seems almost too good to be true with his polite demeanor and a surprising facility with languages. I found myself enjoying witnessing Walt, Ruby and Vic adjust to the newcomer. Despite twenty-five years as a deputy, Walt discovers there is still more to learn about the people in his life:

“I looked up at the large map of the county that was illuminated by the flat, winter sun and wondered where the hell I was. The place on the wall wasn’t where I happened to be as of late; I was in a strange new place, a place where the people I had safely put on shelves were wandering around getting into messy things.“

What draws me to the series is the writing. Issues of race and ethnicity are woven into the story in a matter-of-fact way, an appreciated and realistic nod to diversity. Johnson is very good at being evocative, describing people and scenes without distracting, ostentatious prose. The tone is perfectly in keeping with the character of collegiate sheriff whose values are rooted in the simple life:

“Passion is a strange thing, a thing that warps and twists everything with which it comes in contact. It was like the combination of moisture and sunshine on wood; sometimes it turned out all right, most of the times it didn’t, but you couldn’t ignore its strength.“

If I have any complaint, it is the first person flashback that is used for Mari, a flashback that comes through Lucian’s storytelling, not through any other experience. Awkward and overly explicit for the situation, it also involves one of my least favorite justification crutches, likely the biggest reason for my half-star decrease.

Nonetheless, Death Without Company remains well worth reading; a library summons prevented me from the re-read I would have liked. I highly recommend it to fans of Nevada Barr and Colin Cotterill, as well as anyone who wants an enjoyable mystery. ...more

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Jul 28, 2013 Maria rated it it was amazing

Shelves: western, mystery

I have so much I want to say about this book! Since there are many, many summaries out there I'm going to skip over that part and go straight to my impressions.

I'm a fan of the Longmire series on A&E but I had never thought of reading the books until I was told by a friend that it would give me much better insight into the series. She also cautioned that although the television series is based on the books, I should keep them separate as I was reading.
I found this to be very true as I read, I have so much I want to say about this book! Since there are many, many summaries out there I'm going to skip over that part and go straight to my impressions.

I'm a fan of the Longmire series on A&E but I had never thought of reading the books until I was told by a friend that it would give me much better insight into the series. She also cautioned that although the television series is based on the books, I should keep them separate as I was reading.
I found this to be very true as I read, and I found that I came to like the character of Sheriff Longmire even more than I already did. The book is told in the first person from his point of view, and his prolonged silences make so much more sense now! I usually really hate reading books written in the first person because the narrator can be difficult to relate to or unreliable, but in this case it really works. This is a man who is blend of humor and tragedy, and this makes him uniquely suited to be the narrator of what can sometimes be a difficult story to tell. Longmire narrates from the perspective of his age and experience: He still feels deep and powerful emotions, but he has created a space in his consciousness where he view and report these feelings dispassionately. What makes him the lawman he is, however, is also what makes it so difficult for him to connect with other people. Thankfully, other characters sense that they are what tether him to reality, and Longmire's greatest asset are the people he surrounds himself with.

All of these themes about man against nature/himself, community, and frontier are explored through a prose style I found delightfully pleasant to read. Like so many authors writing in this genre, Craig Johnson could have chosen to get caught up in long-winded descriptions of nature or Native American spiritualism; these elements are present, but they are shared with care and meaning. The people are most important part of the narrative, and Johnson's writing style forces me to slow down and work a little harder to collect the clues. It's a prose style that welcomes the reader and encourages sitting down and resting a spell; it really makes me want to to know what happens next.

The theme of community is powerful, and I was surprised by the variety of communities within Absaroka County. It takes a unique personality to survive life on the frontier, and these hardy people put down roots that can reach back for generations. Walt Longmire and his Cheyenne best friend, Henry Standing Bear, have grown up together over a lifetime that has included being enemies before being friends. Lucian, the old sheriff, seems like a Hollywood caricature of the frontier sheriff but, as the book progresses, there is a sense that he maintained law in a place that didn't always have much patience or use for it. Deputy Victoria "Vic" Moretti is the transplant from the big city: she's foul-mouthed and dismissive of this different view of life, but she's also drawn to put down roots and create a home for herself in a place that accepts her the way she is. Young Santiago Saizarbitoria is added in this second installment, and I liked him as much as all the ladies in the story do. The list goes on and on, and it seems like everybody has a story woven into the tapestry of the town; this isn't the big city where neighbors never meet, these people survive by learning to walk the fine line between independence and interdependence.

One of this book's most important themes is the sense of place, the American Frontier as a living place. I've heard many people say that Americans don't have a culture like people from other countries, but this isn't true: American culture is steeped in the frontier and even people who live in large urban areas identify with the fierce independence, toughness, and resilience of the pioneer. The frontier is where people who were different went to reinvent themselves, to start over fresh, and the characters in Death Without Company remind the reader of this, but in a thoroughly modern sense. No matter how technologically advanced we get as a society, or how liberal our views become, there are still places in this country where man stands resolute not only against his fellow man and the forces of nature, but also against himself.

This is the most excited I've been about a series in a long time, and I find myself both sad and happy. Sad, as in, "Why the heck did it take me so long to start reading this series?" Happy, as in, "There are nine books in this series? Yee haw!"
...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Algernon (Darth Anyan) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2012

I know what I want for Christmas this year:
a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 y.o. Bourbon, the poison of choice for Lucian Connally:
bottle

Probably the best way to relax and enjoy another Walt Longmire adventure: sipping an aged bourbon, seated in a comfy armchair by the fire while outside a winter night is settling down for a bit of snow. An appropriate image for this second installment by Craig Johnson, set around Christmas time in Absaroka County, a couple of months after the events described in The Cold Dish .

Walt is still feeling under the weather and antisocial (growing a beard, of all things to choose as a form of protest) and he has to endure the friendly chidding of Henry Standing Bear about his tentative girlfriend from book one (view spoiler) . The banter and the zingers between the two old friends are as good as it gets, but I felt Henry took a step back here in terms of plot. He continues to be involved, in a honorary deputy capacity, but the focus this time is on team work and the by-play between the different members of the Absaroka County Sheriff department, especially Vic Moretti, Ruby, the Ferg, plus the freelance investigator, town gossip and nouriture provider Dorothy, patron of the Busy Bee tavern. We also meet a newcomer, Santiago Saizarbitoria, alias Sanchez, a rookie with a lot of enthusiam that has to learn the ropes around the wacky town and its weird inhabitants, providing extra comic relief and more snarky dialogue. Sanchez is of Basque origins, which will come in useful, as the plot of Death Without Company revolves around the members of this small community in Wyoming, the place where they immigrated initially as farmers and sheepherders, and later got involved in mining. Even the title of the book is taken from a Basque proverb. Another addition to the cast is Craig's daughter Cady, home on a visit for the holiday Season, and a chip of the old block with the same sense of humor and the same passion for justice. Craig gets also a chance at dating a hot lady from out of town, I forgot her name, but her pesence is not gratuitous, she has her own role to play in the plot too.

I left out Lucian Connolly, the former Sheriff, because he is the prime mover in this novel, starting with his report of a suspicious death at the retirement house where he lives now, and then slowly revealing a trove of dangerous secrets going back more than 40 years and involving an illicit love affair, an unreported murder, domestic violence, tribal pride, fake identities. Lucian himself becomes a target for a mysterious assassin, one that dramatically alters the record of the county as a quiet place, with a very low crime rate. I have the feeling, with at least six more books in the series to read, that Absaroka County troubles are just beginning.

In a way, I feel this book was even better than the debut, with less space dedicated to establishing the characters and the location, and more to the complex plot, weaving together the past and the present, raising questions about self adminstered justice and the rule of law, about family ties and long lasting friendships. The writing is tight, with very convincing, explosive action scenes, managing both tongue-in-cheek humor ( The place was packed when we flooded in, all the patrons freezing at the sight of an armed sheriff, two deputies, an Indian and a construction worker; we probably looked like the Village People. ) and painfull intimate disclosures. To the noir / western flavor and Twin Peaks weird / horror vibe already established, the book adds elements of modern CSI investigation, the careful analysis of forensic evidence and the use of modern tools (centralized databases, federal resources, etc). The last movie connection I'll make is for the street smart, tough cop with a fetish for foul language, a feminist clone of the Die Hard / Lethal Weapon model (this being the girl on the team - Vic Moretti).

Also present, and expanded, are the supernatural touches - ghosts of the dead and other visionary dreams, both Native Indian and Basque in origins. I don't usually buy into all this stuff, but I felt the spiritual mysteries are well integrated with the plot and with the character of Walt. Here's something I can agree with, mystical or not, in the words of Henry Standing Bear:

You don't own the land. You do not own your mother, do you? Sounds silly, owning your mother? It is like that with the land, silly to think you own it... But this land owns you.

I'll come back to this enchanted but harsh land of Wyoming, to its mountains, and streams, and windy plains, come to meet again Walt and Vic and Henry, and all the rest of the crew. ...more

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Dec 11, 2018 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, fiction

I'm trying hard to like this series. It's not often that I give the second book in a series a chance, but I enjoyed Johnson's first offering just enough to take a whack at number two.

This one didn't work so well for me. I'm seeing a pattern developing already, and it turns me right off. Johnson's culprit seems always to come out of the blue, with minimal involvement in the story right up until the big reveal. This literary device is acceptable on occasion, but overuse of any ploy becomes tedious ...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Rae rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery

Sheriff Walt Longmire tackles the murder of a Basque woman and all the convolutions that follow from it. This second book in the series is stronger than the first. Johnson continues to "grow" the characters that inhabit his world. And the Wyoming setting with its idiosyncrasies and uncertain weather is absolutely a crucial part of the series as well.

Describing his swearing deputy: ...my recently divorced deputy, a beautiful, intelligent woman with a body like Salome and a mouth like a saltwater ...more

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Jun 28, 2017 Scott rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery

After finishing the first book in the Longmire mystery series, “The Cold Dish”, I enjoyed it so much that I immediately jumped into the second, “Death Without Company”. As I openly admitted with the first book review, I am a devoted fan of the Longmire television show (on A/E and now Netflix) and was looking forward to reading the book series by Craig Johnson that inspired the show.

“Death Without Company” continues the fictional adventures of Walt Longmire, Sherriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, After finishing the first book in the Longmire mystery series, “The Cold Dish”, I enjoyed it so much that I immediately jumped into the second, “Death Without Company”. As I openly admitted with the first book review, I am a devoted fan of the Longmire television show (on A/E and now Netflix) and was looking forward to reading the book series by Craig Johnson that inspired the show.

“Death Without Company” continues the fictional adventures of Walt Longmire, Sherriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, as well as Henry Standing Bear, his best friend, and many other characters including previous and new deputies, members of the local town, and the local Indian reservation community. The primary challenge that Walt faces involves the mysterious poisoning of Mari Baroja, a resident at the Durant Home for the Assisted Living where previous sheriff and mentor to Longmire, Lucian Connally also lives. Lucian insists she was murdered on purpose and thus begins a search for a killer involving fifty years of history, love, violence, and a whole lot of lies and half-truths. More murders and Lucian’s true relationship to Mari challenges Longmire’s trust and his very life in seeking for the truth.

Again, the author uses a small-town setting in Wyoming and a heavy snowstorm to deliver extra character and adversity to increase the intensity of the situation. In this adventure, Longmire faces more physical danger than the last one. He is constantly chasing clues and physical attacks from one scene to another. Because of that, there is less banter between Walt and Henry in this book compared to the last. I kind of missed it, but it seemed to be replaced with Vic’s sarcastic comments to Walt during their interactions since they spent more time together in this outing. Vic is one energetic, restless, and beautiful woman. I am enjoying the simmering tensions between her and Walt.

Like the first book in the series, reading “Death Without Company” was a very enjoyable visit to Absaroka County, Wyoming, where characters like Walt, Henry, Vic, Ruby, and the new deputy, Santiago are becoming like family to me. I fell like I have known them for a long time and am personally invested in their adventures. This book hit most of the emotional levels that you could ask for – a good mystery, and continuous character development that promises more excitement, growth, and fun in future outings.

When I finished the first book, I started the second the same night. Guess what? I’ll be starting the third book tonight too. Try the series and you’ll find out why.
...more

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Jan 12, 2016 Mark rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fans of the modern western

Shelves: western, thriller, 2016

And so I just read Walt Longmire's second story which takes place a few weeks after the first book ended, and sheriff Longmire has still not come to terms of what happened at the end of book 1. That said you do not need to read book 1 to enjoy this installment, however it does actually enhances the enjoyment.

The books title comes from a Basque proverb "A life without friends means death without company." And it actually covers pretty much everything that happens during this story, the community ...more

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Aug 14, 2007 LJ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: wyoming, mystery, contemporary_post_1945, police_procedural

DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY (Police Procedural-Wyoming-Cont) – VG
Johnson, Craig, 2nd of series
Viking, 2006-Hardcover
Sheriff Walter Longmire receives a call from his mentor, good friend and the previous Sheriff, Lucian Connally. Lucian demands that Walt investigate the death of Mari Baroja, a fellow resident at the Durant Home for Assisted Living. Lucian and Mari were married very briefly when they were young. Now Lucian believes Mari has been murdered. The investigation uncovers greed, secrets and oth ...more

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Jan 23, 2014 Joel Neff rated it it was amazing

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.

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Sep 25, 2014 Mike (the Paladin) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I have got to put in a mystery shelf. I can't call this a thriller, not really.

Okay first off...I like this book. I plan to continue reading the Longmire books...I recommend them. I say all this because I'm going to say a few critical things about the book, but look I gave it a 4 star rating and recommend it. It's just that the book teetered a few times on the verge of the 3 star rating. In the end however I realized I liked it a good deal and was interested from the first.

I thought this one pic I have got to put in a mystery shelf. I can't call this a thriller, not really.

Okay first off...I like this book. I plan to continue reading the Longmire books...I recommend them. I say all this because I'm going to say a few critical things about the book, but look I gave it a 4 star rating and recommend it. It's just that the book teetered a few times on the verge of the 3 star rating. In the end however I realized I liked it a good deal and was interested from the first.

I thought this one picked up much more quickly than the first volume did. I was really pressed in the first volume to get through the day to day life of conversations and pancake breakfasts. This one didn't drag so much...but we still get to cook and do the "good ol' boy" thing a bit.

And believe I'm sort of a "good ol' boy" myself in some ways...I just don't get into reading about it.

So what else??? Well my daughter was a huge fan of The X Files. Any of you watch that show? What happened every time poor old Mulder chased a suspect or tried to apprehend anyone??? That's right, he got his butt kicked. Well Walt manages to find a way to lose his gun, fall on his face or nearly get killed. Sometimes this happens in a way that really strains the suspension of disbelief...but it had to happen that way for the book to follow the plot line so....

Also there are a few factual misstatements (view spoiler). Still it doesn't really hurt the story.

I like "The Cheyenne Nation", LOL and their interaction...I also have a Vietnam tomahawk by the way. I keep it clean, worked over with fine sand paper and repaint it black. It's handy and very well balanced. You can take that scene seriously.

All in all aside from a few glitches (view spoiler) This is a good read and can recommend it. Enjoy. ...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Harry rated it really liked it

Shelves: detective-mystery, western-detectives

Update:
Moves a bit slower and is less of a mystery than it is a tantalizing hunting party for the bad guy. Want to know more about Cady...but I'm sure that's coming.

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Craig Johnson has written nine novels in his Walt Longmire series. Formerly a police officer; he has also worked as a educator, cowboy and longshoreman. Awards include Tony Hillerman Award, Wyoming Historical Society Award, Wyoming Councl for the Arts Award, as well a ...more

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Aug 05, 2014 Karl rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-08-books-bought

This is an important book in the Longmire series. Perhaps you can call it the origins issue, the origins of a couple of the ongoing characters from the future books, not the T.V. series.

The origins of the deputy Double Tough, of where Santiago Saizarbitoria came from, and more importantly DOG! In fact Dog takes a big crap in Vic's office.

Find out why there is no door knob on the inside of Longmire's office. and other interesting nuances of the series.

In this book, a killing occurs in Lucian Con ...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Eric rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: craig-johnson, detective-mystery, audiobooks, western

As hard as this is to say, considering how much I lauded the first book, this one is even better. The book was tighter and more focused (with the notable exception of a romantic sub-plot that was dropped before it could get off the ground), and the mystery was more interesting -- and it gave us insight into Walt, Henry and Lucian's pasts. I cannot wait to start reading the third book in the series, Kindness Goes Unpunished, but am purposely staggering them so I don't run through the series too q ...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Steve rated it it was amazing

Maybe an even better book the second time around! This is the one where Sancho and Double Tough join up.

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Sep 23, 2018 Kelly ... rated it liked it

Shelves: mysteries

Although I enjoy the fact that the television series seems to be quite close to the series with characters who are quirky, loyal and strong, I also wish I had read the books first. Now I can only see those actors as the characters. I wish I was reading it with a fresh perspective.

The books are enjoyable because the characters are distinct and the setting is harsh, wild and vast.

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Aug 08, 2008 Jen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: male-author, mystery, favorites, police-fiction

Walt Longmire and gang return in the second book of Craig Johnson's Absaroka County series. DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY finds Walt investigating the death of Mari Baroja. Baroja's death appears to be of natural causes, but Lucien Connally insists that there is foul play in the death of his...wife? Walt begins investigating to find out that there is indeed foul play and a whole lot of money at stake; the question then becomes just how deep does this foul run?

When I finished THE COLD DISH, I recall hopi Walt Longmire and gang return in the second book of Craig Johnson's Absaroka County series. DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY finds Walt investigating the death of Mari Baroja. Baroja's death appears to be of natural causes, but Lucien Connally insists that there is foul play in the death of his...wife? Walt begins investigating to find out that there is indeed foul play and a whole lot of money at stake; the question then becomes just how deep does this foul run?

When I finished THE COLD DISH, I recall hoping Lucien would be back playing a more prominent role. It was as if Johnson heard my request. However, DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY was written before I read THE COLD DISH, please pay no attention the reviewer with a ridiculous sense of self-aggrandizement. Regardless, I was happy to see Lucien not only back, but at the center of all the hoopla. Johnson brings Lucien's back story out in grand fashion, which is only befitting a character as spectacular as the one-legged, former sheriff of Absaroka County.

Also in this installment, Johnson introduces a couple new characters; one of whom is Santiago Saizarbitoria, a.k.a. "Sancho." He's come to town to apply for the deputy's position with Walt and Vic. Also joining the tight-knit community is Lana Baroja, the young town baker and granddaughter of Mari Baroja. Craig Johnson truly has a gift with characters. I don't think stereotype is in his vocabulary. Instead he has extra helpings of "depth," "dimension," "dynamics," and of course "humor."

But as great as Johnson is with his characters, there's one element he's even better with - I guess it's technically related to character, but - Johnson knocks the ball out of the park with his relationships between characters. Lucien and Walt could be playing chess for the entire duration of the novel and you'd be glued to the book simply because the interaction between these two characters is so magnificent.

And each of these men would give his life for the other. As a reader I want to be a part of all that, so Johnson rolls out the red carpet and invites you in. It's hard not to feel like you're riding in Walt's truck, sitting at the counter in the Bee, or observing a hot game of chess in Room 32 at the Durant Home for Assisted Living.

As with THE COLD DISH, the setting also becomes a prominent character in DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY. Mother Nature can be beautiful and devastating, but she's still a major character; Johnson depicts Nature's relationships with the human characters as vividly and grand as with any other. Johnson does for Wyoming what Burke does for Louisiana.

My heart raced; I shivered with cold; and I didn't notice any of it until after it was already happening. The plot of DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY has a great mystery, but the even greater mystery is how anyone could read it and not simply drift away into Johnson's beloved Wyoming and Walt's beloved Absaroka. The poetry of Johnson's prose envelope's the reader, blocking the rest of the world out. And when the reader turns that last page, and Johnson releases him/her, a small part of that world goes along in their head until the reader can return once again.

I think it goes without saying that DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY receives my highest recommendation. Another astounding effort by Craig Johnson. ...more

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May 19, 2010 Maddy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2007-reads, tops

RATING: 4.75

"A life without friends means death without company." – Basque proverb

At one time, Lucian Connally was sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. His type of black-and-white justice is now part of the past. Having lost a leg along the way, he's now a resident of an assisted living community. When one of the other residents, Mari Baroja, is murdered, the current sheriff, Walt Longmire, uncovers a surprising link between the two. Mari was a member of the Basque community; when she wed Lucian RATING: 4.75

"A life without friends means death without company." – Basque proverb

At one time, Lucian Connally was sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. His type of black-and-white justice is now part of the past. Having lost a leg along the way, he's now a resident of an assisted living community. When one of the other residents, Mari Baroja, is murdered, the current sheriff, Walt Longmire, uncovers a surprising link between the two. Mari was a member of the Basque community; when she wed Lucian over 50 years earlier, her family had the marriage annulled within 3 hours. Eventually, she ended up with another Basque man, Charlie Nurburn, who abused her terribly. The flames never died down between Mari and Lucian; even now, he's ready to strap on his prosthesis and engage in battle at the local equivalent of the OK Corral.

All at once there's a crime wave in the community. Another woman is killed and several other people attacked. In addition to the investigation of Mari's murder and these other crimes, the sheriff's department has the everyday business of the community to take care of. Each member of the group is a wonderful character. There's Deputy Victoria Moretti who has a potty mouth and attitude to spare; Ruby, the dispatcher, who patiently teaches Walt to communicate professionally over the air, and a new guy who has joined the department on a trial basis. Santaigo Saizabitoria ("Sancho") contributes to the team immediately. He's got the kind of personality that makes people like him; he speaks several languages, which proves invaluable; and he's willing to work his butt off. In addition to this stellar group, there's Walt's best friend, Henry Standing Bear, and his visiting daughter, Cady, who is a force in her own right.

I really loved this book. Johnson's basic writing style is spare, but at times, particularly when describing the setting or the Native American traditions and legends, he waxes poetic. Throughout the book, there's an undercurrent of humor, the kind that is woven in naturally and makes you smile rather than laugh out loud. On the other hand, he can write an action scene that has you gasping for breath. The plot was nicely complex and fairly resolved. As you can tell from the previous paragraph, the characters are a wonderful bunch, each with their own quirks and positive qualities.

...more

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Aug 24, 2014 haley rated it did not like it

Shelves: so-very-disappointing, meh, mystery, summer-of-2015-reading

Actual rating: 1.5 stars
Last summer, I read the first book in this series (The Cold Dish) and really liked it. So, I was really disappointed with Death Without Company. In fact, Death Without Company is the first book I have actually disliked in a long time.

I did a lot of skim reading. I was bored. Reading this felt like a chore. It took me a year to read it. And that's not a good sign. At the end of it all, I just didn't care. I found that the mystery wasn't interesting enough to me.

Another th ...more

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Oct 12, 2016 Jacqueline J rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, mystery-thriller

Another strong Longmire mystery. I totally enjoy the characters as portrayed here even though they are very different from the TV show portrayals. I really enjoy the humor that Walt shows here.

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Aug 25, 2017 Steven Z. rated it really liked it

Craig Johnson’s sequel to his successful THE COLD DISH which introduced Absaroka County Sheriff Walter Longmire is entitled DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY. Many of the same characters reappear including retired Sheriff Lucian Connally, who resides at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, Longmire’s constant foil, Victoria (Vic) Moretti, Henry Standing Bear, Longmire’s closest friend since childhood and owner of the Red Pony Bar, as well as Ruby, the person who is really in charge of Longmire’s office, and Craig Johnson’s sequel to his successful THE COLD DISH which introduced Absaroka County Sheriff Walter Longmire is entitled DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY. Many of the same characters reappear including retired Sheriff Lucian Connally, who resides at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, Longmire’s constant foil, Victoria (Vic) Moretti, Henry Standing Bear, Longmire’s closest friend since childhood and owner of the Red Pony Bar, as well as Ruby, the person who is really in charge of Longmire’s office, and Cady, Longmire’s daughter who was an attorney in Philadelphia. Johnson introduces a few new characters, the most important of which are newly hired deputy Santiago Saizarbitoria, and “dog,” Longmire’s new companion that he never got around to giving a name.

The current Longmire episode begins with the seemingly routine death of Mari Baroja at the Durant Home for Assisted Living. A seemingly normal occurrence at the facility turns out to be a possible investigation as it appears that Lucian was once married to Baroja for three hours over fifty years ago. It seemed the two ran off to get married at a young age when Baroja’s Basque father and uncles had the marriage annulled. The first part of the book is dominated by the question, what was Lucian hiding, and why?

Johnson’s empathy for the historical plight of Native-Americans seems to drip off of each page. His constant references to their treatment by the US government and life on the “rez” (reservation) is present in character dialogue and background descriptions providing the reader with an accurate picture of Native-American life. Johnson is a very nuanced and descriptive writer as he is able to set a scene and comfortably places the reader among the characters, i.e., Lucian’s ruminations of his past life.

The first third of the book is spent reacquainting old reader or acquainting new readers with the main characters and how they interact, and the dynamics of the Baroja’s family, particularly when it emerges that they control a great deal of methane production on the Four Brothers Ranch which they own - production that is worth millions. All the evidence points to Mari’s death as one of natural causes, until a lab report that she had been poisoned by naphthalene, an ingredient in moth balls. It turns out that Mari was susceptible to this poison and Lucian’s insistence that she did not die of natural causes finally rings true. Further evidence of foul play is obvious when Mari’s doctor, the Holocaust survivor Isaac Brumfield is involved in a car accident and is almost killed. Further, Mari’s granddaughter Lana is attacked in her bakery, but survives. It turns out that Mari was worth millions and had changed her will fourteen times, the last being a few days before she died, and it appears that the case may also rest on a missing can of Metamucil.

From this point on Longmire is in full investigative mode. He relies on Standing Bear and Vic, his deputy to gather information and evidence concerning family members as it appears they have the most to gain. He also uses his daughter’s legal expertise as she arrives in the midst of events to celebrate Christmas. In so doing we learn a great deal of the history of how dysfunctional the Baroja family was, especially once the will is read and it appears the largest portion of Mari’s wealth went to her granddaughter Lana, and her twin daughters Kay and Carol receiving substantially less.

Johnson’s current effort, along with the television series “Longmire” are superb entertainment. They reflect the avarice of human nature, excellent plot development, and twisted and surprising endings. I recommend the entire series, both video and the printed word and look forward to KINDNESS GOES UNPUNISHED, the next installment in the Longmire saga.
...more

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May 30, 2018 Jeff Dickison rated it really liked it

The second entry into the Longmire series is not quite as good as the first book, but is still better than average. The mystery is not quite as good, although there is more action. He does get two new deputies who look interesting. I think I am going to like this series.

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Jul 22, 2013 Eric_W rated it it was amazing

Shelves: police-procedural

The publisher's blurb compares Craig Johnson to Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr, and Robert B. Parker. I have no idea what they must have been smoking when they wrote that. I have read some from each and Johnson is better. His use of language is far superior and evocative, not to mention the undercurrent of humor. Walt Longmire is someone you would really like to know; Spenser? Not me.

This is the second of the Longmire series, the third I have read. Probably not necessary to read them in order, but I h The publisher's blurb compares Craig Johnson to Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr, and Robert B. Parker. I have no idea what they must have been smoking when they wrote that. I have read some from each and Johnson is better. His use of language is far superior and evocative, not to mention the undercurrent of humor. Walt Longmire is someone you would really like to know; Spenser? Not me.

This is the second of the Longmire series, the third I have read. Probably not necessary to read them in order, but I have decided to do so except for the one I already read out-of-order. Lucien, Walt's predecessor and mentor in the Sheriff's office, has told Walt he needs to have an autopsy performed on Mari, his fellow resident at the assisted living home. Turns out he had been married to her for three days way back when. The investigation goes back many years and involves Basque culture (did you know that 27% of Basques have O-neg blood type -- as I do, coincidentally -- a normally rare type that is valued as it's the universal donor type. I'm rather proud that I am up to 8 gallons now of donated blood.)

Walt's department is such an interesting mix of personalities and stereotype-busters: he has a degree in English lit and quotes Shakespeare; Vic is an ex-homicide detective from Philadelphia with very colorful language. Santiago, the newest addition, is of Basque heritage - Absaroka County has a high percentage of Basques-- who is a linguist. Walt's best friend is Henry Standing Bear who speaks several dialects of Cheyenne (the relationship between the reservation and non-Indians is a recurring theme.)

Absaroka County is a mythical county supposedly about the size of Vermont (9200 sq miles similar to the real Femont county, the seat of which is Lander, population 7,800) and the least populated in Wyoming (unlike Fremont County). There is a real Absaroka mountain range along the border of Wyoming and Montana. For those of you who think it might be unrealistic to have such a small department for such a large territory, consider this. I was talking to Donald Harstad, a former deputy sheriff of Clayton County, Iowa who, incidentally, writes a terrific series of stories. Clayton County covers about 728 square miles in NE Iowa. (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... said that at any given time at night in Clayton County, the department could field only two deputies for a dispersed population of about 18,000. That means to get to the site of an accident at the far end of the county requires some very high speed driving over very hilly roads. It's a very scary thought.

As one who has lived in large cities (Paris, Philadelphia, etc.) but also remote farming areas (the closest grocery store was 25 miles and the closest neighbor where I live now is 3/4 of a mile) I think those who grew up only in cities have little concept of the distances in places like Wyoming where the population is not quite 6 people per square mile. That being said, Harstad provides a better feeling than Johnson of the large distances that must be covered. BTW, I could find no reference to any real Cheyenne Indian reservation in Wyoming. There is an Arapaho and Shoshone reservation in west central Wyoming, but the closest Cheyenne reservation is in South Dakota.

Johnson is very good. I intend to read all of them. But read Harstad, too. ...more

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Jun 06, 2014 Cheeky Cher rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobook, mystery-thriller, literally_made_me_lol

2.5 stars - It was alright, an average book.

Well that was disappointing. After a stellar start to the series, this sequel fell flat for me. There was more action (yawn), less deduction, and the plot was not nearly as engaging as the last book. Vic and Henry's characters are still dependable with delivering snarky quips though, which was greatly appreciated.

---------------------------
Favorite Quote: A life without friends means death without company. (A Basque proverb).

First Sentence: They used ...more

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May 29, 2011 Sheila Beaumont rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, mysteries-suspense-thrillers

Second in the series, and every bit as good as the wonderful first book, with fine writing, a well-crafted plot, great dialogue, a vivid Wyoming winter setting, and most of the same entertaining characters as before. And in this one we meet more characters, including two new deputies. I'm looking forward to the third book, so I'm glad our local library has the whole series on hand!

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Nov 06, 2014 Mauoijenn ~ *Mouthy Jenn* ~ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-rc, save-a-horse-ride-a-cowboy, fiction-who-dunit, book-then-tv, longmire-walt-wy

I just love the characters Walt & Vic.
Another excellent book in the series.

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Jul 01, 2017 Pat Camalliere rated it really liked it

This is the first Longmeier I have read. It was good, but I hoped for just a little better. Definitely on my list of casual, relaxing reading. As the TV series, the solution to the crime is unexpected, the characters are familiar to me and compelling. I like the character of Longmeier even better in the written version. This was #2 in the series, and deals with the death of an elderly woman in a nursing home who was once married to Longmeier’s predecessor as sheriff. A very satisfying read that ...more

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Aug 04, 2014 Carol rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, series

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 ...more

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About Craig Johnson

Craig Johnson

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Craig Johnson an American novelist, short story writer, and playwright. . He lives in Ucross, near Sheridan, Wyoming, population 25.

Johnson has written twelve novels featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire: The Cold Dish, Death Without Company, Kindness Goes Unpunished, Another Man's Moccasins, Junkyard Dogs, The Dark ...more