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Walt Longmire #12
An Obvious Fact
In the latest installment of the New York Times bestselling Longmire series—the basis for the hit drama Longmire, now on Netflix—Walt, Henry, and Vic discover much more than they bargained for when they are called in to investigate a hit-and-run accident near Devils Tower
In the midst of the largest motorcycle rally in the world, a young biker is run off the road and ends up in critical condition. When Sheriff Walt Longmire and his good friend Henry Standing Bear are called to Hulett, Wyoming—the nearest town to America's first national monument, Devils Tower—to investigate, things start getting complicated. As competing biker gangs; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; a military-grade vehicle donated to the tiny local police force by a
wealthy entrepreneur; and Lola, the real-life femme fatale and namesake for Henry's '59 Thunderbird (and, by extension, Walt's granddaughter) come into play, it rapidly becomes clear that there is more to get to the bottom of at this year's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally than a bike accident. After all, in the words of Arthur Conan Doyle, whose Adventures of Sherlock Holmes the Bear won't stop quoting, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."
In the midst of the largest motorcycle rally in the world, a young biker is run off the road and ends up in critical condition. When Sheriff Walt Longmire and his good friend Henry Standing Bear are called to Hulett, Wyoming—the nearest town to America's first national monument, Devils Tower—to investigate, things start getting complicated. As competing biker gangs; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; a military-grade vehicle donated to the tiny local police force by a
wealthy entrepreneur; and Lola, the real-life femme fatale and namesake for Henry's '59 Thunderbird (and, by extension, Walt's granddaughter) come into play, it rapidly becomes clear that there is more to get to the bottom of at this year's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally than a bike accident. After all, in the words of Arthur Conan Doyle, whose Adventures of Sherlock Holmes the Bear won't stop quoting, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."
317 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2016
1855 people are currently reading
3777 people want to read
About the author
Craig Johnson
102 books4,965 followersLibrarian 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 Horse (which received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, and was named one of Publisher's Weekly's best books of the year in 2009), Hell Is Empty, As The Crow Flies and A Serpent's Tooth. The Cold Dish and The Dark Horse were both Dilys Award finalists, and Death Without Company was named the Wyoming Historical Association's Book of the Year. Another Man's Moccasins received the Western Writers of America Spur Award for best novel of 2008 as well as the Mountains and Plains award for fiction book of the year.
Former police officer; has also worked as an educator, cowboy, and longshoreman.
AWARDS: Tony Hillerman Award for "Old Indian Trick"; fiction book of the year, Wyoming Historical Society, for Death Without Company, Wyoming Council for the Arts Award.
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 Horse (which received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, and was named one of Publisher's Weekly's best books of the year in 2009), Hell Is Empty, As The Crow Flies and A Serpent's Tooth. The Cold Dish and The Dark Horse were both Dilys Award finalists, and Death Without Company was named the Wyoming Historical Association's Book of the Year. Another Man's Moccasins received the Western Writers of America Spur Award for best novel of 2008 as well as the Mountains and Plains award for fiction book of the year.
Former police officer; has also worked as an educator, cowboy, and longshoreman.
AWARDS: Tony Hillerman Award for "Old Indian Trick"; fiction book of the year, Wyoming Historical Society, for Death Without Company, Wyoming Council for the Arts Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,074 reviews
December 29, 2020
A book clearly made for the small screen.
Featuring:
-Walt committing more misdemeanors than a Hells Angel at a rally
-Henry in multiple bar fights
-all the sheriffs aiding and abetting Walt with much grumbling
-a dangerous high speed chase
-sexy inscrutable women, either in a sexy, dangerous way, or in a crazy, dangerous way
-a random pocket of extreme hate crime
-a tank
-a super-cute 150 pound dog
-Walt insisting a woman he doesn’t know couldn’t be a bad person because she’s a woman
What more could a tv show want?
Oh, I know… dialogue, setting, character. Whatever. You’re supposed to fill in the details. Johnson doesn’t have time for that, so he substitutes by having Walt spout random facts about the origins of ‘Frick and Frack,’ that Sherlock Holmes actually uses abductive reasoning (don’t ask), and the Hollister Riot in ’47.
Honestly, the first four pages felt more sincere and emotional than the rest of the book. They included story background from Johnson’s history watching his dad restore a motorcycle, and a long list of thanks. I’m not saying it was bad, I’m just saying it couldn’t have been more television if it tried. Between Henry and Walt, there was B&E, moving a body, disturbing the scene of a crime, at least a couple of aggravated assaults, trespass with property damage, numerous concealed crimes, and those are only the ones they're the main party to–it’s just not the straight-laced cowboy of the start of the series. Oh, and don’t forget the anti-mine, anti-assault vehicle that mostly only Walt knows how to use, despite his inability to use a cell phone.
The plot was convoluted but interesting, involving dead bodies, motorcycle gangs and money, and while it didn’t keep me guessing, it didn’t mean some of the details weren’t interesting as they developed. So I’ll call it a good palate-cleanser and be even.
Featuring:
-Walt committing more misdemeanors than a Hells Angel at a rally
-Henry in multiple bar fights
-all the sheriffs aiding and abetting Walt with much grumbling
-a dangerous high speed chase
-sexy inscrutable women, either in a sexy, dangerous way, or in a crazy, dangerous way
-a random pocket of extreme hate crime
-a tank
-a super-cute 150 pound dog
-Walt insisting a woman he doesn’t know couldn’t be a bad person because she’s a woman
What more could a tv show want?
Oh, I know… dialogue, setting, character. Whatever. You’re supposed to fill in the details. Johnson doesn’t have time for that, so he substitutes by having Walt spout random facts about the origins of ‘Frick and Frack,’ that Sherlock Holmes actually uses abductive reasoning (don’t ask), and the Hollister Riot in ’47.
Honestly, the first four pages felt more sincere and emotional than the rest of the book. They included story background from Johnson’s history watching his dad restore a motorcycle, and a long list of thanks. I’m not saying it was bad, I’m just saying it couldn’t have been more television if it tried. Between Henry and Walt, there was B&E, moving a body, disturbing the scene of a crime, at least a couple of aggravated assaults, trespass with property damage, numerous concealed crimes, and those are only the ones they're the main party to–it’s just not the straight-laced cowboy of the start of the series. Oh, and don’t forget the anti-mine, anti-assault vehicle that mostly only Walt knows how to use, despite his inability to use a cell phone.
The plot was convoluted but interesting, involving dead bodies, motorcycle gangs and money, and while it didn’t keep me guessing, it didn’t mean some of the details weren’t interesting as they developed. So I’ll call it a good palate-cleanser and be even.
November 8, 2016
An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson is a Viking publication.
“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”
Sherlock Holmes
The Walk Longmire series by Craig Johnson is an auto add for me. I love, love, love these books!!
This twelfth installment has Walt and the Bear traveling over to Hulett, near the Devil’s Tower monument, right in the midst of the Sturgis rally to investigate a hit and run accident.
As usual, I chuckled often at Walt and Henry’s banter, especially with Henry on a Sherlock Holmes kick, which has him quoting the famous detective at every turn.
But, the case they are trying to help with just keeps getting more and more curious… and a little personal, too, especially for Henry, as his beloved ’59 Thunderbird, the one he named ‘Lola’, gets an unexpected starring role, and the ATF sticks their noses into matters, as well.
This story is a slight departure, having a different backdrop, but our favorites are all present and accounted for- Henry, Walt, Vic, and dog, but a few characters must weigh in from afar, and others not at all, but we get to see another side of Henry, or at least a part of his past, which is most interesting.
“Leaping to conclusions before one has the facts is the mark of a true amateur.”
But, the atmosphere is mostly the same with the trademark humor, witty dialogue, and non-stop action, plus a unique cast of colorful characters that keeps Vic and Walt on their toes, and some pretty intense moments of suspense to cap things off.
Overall, this book is as well written as all the previous chapters, and is another vastly entertaining addition to his wildly popular series.
4 stars
“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”
Sherlock Holmes
The Walk Longmire series by Craig Johnson is an auto add for me. I love, love, love these books!!
This twelfth installment has Walt and the Bear traveling over to Hulett, near the Devil’s Tower monument, right in the midst of the Sturgis rally to investigate a hit and run accident.
As usual, I chuckled often at Walt and Henry’s banter, especially with Henry on a Sherlock Holmes kick, which has him quoting the famous detective at every turn.
But, the case they are trying to help with just keeps getting more and more curious… and a little personal, too, especially for Henry, as his beloved ’59 Thunderbird, the one he named ‘Lola’, gets an unexpected starring role, and the ATF sticks their noses into matters, as well.
This story is a slight departure, having a different backdrop, but our favorites are all present and accounted for- Henry, Walt, Vic, and dog, but a few characters must weigh in from afar, and others not at all, but we get to see another side of Henry, or at least a part of his past, which is most interesting.
“Leaping to conclusions before one has the facts is the mark of a true amateur.”
But, the atmosphere is mostly the same with the trademark humor, witty dialogue, and non-stop action, plus a unique cast of colorful characters that keeps Vic and Walt on their toes, and some pretty intense moments of suspense to cap things off.
Overall, this book is as well written as all the previous chapters, and is another vastly entertaining addition to his wildly popular series.
4 stars
August 14, 2017
4*
This the 12th book in the Longmire series and as always, Craig Johnson has delivered a well written mystery involving many of the recurring characters in the series. Walt Longmire gets a call from a friend, Campbell County Sheriff's Deputy Corbin Dougherty. Dougherty wants Walt to help him investigate a motorcycle accident that has left the motorcyclist in a coma and unlikely to ever recover. Walt is renowned throughout the state of Wyoming as one the best investigators the state has. He is the Sheriff of fictional Absaroka County.
As Walt starts to ask questions, he soon realizes that there are some major criminal activities going on.
Some of the characters:
Walt's friend, Henry Standing Bear, who came to participate in the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally.
Victoria Moretti, Walt's undersheriff.
Lola, an old girlfriend of Henry's. He named his car Lola. Walt's granddaughter is named Lola, after the car. Lola is the mother of the injured motorcyclist.
Robert Nance, local rich guy, and father of the witness who reported the motorcycle accident.
I liked the way the story went back and forth between humorous exchanges between the characters and the building mystery.
One quote: Henry Standing Bear "Not all fair maidens are worthy of rescue, Walt."
This was a library book.
This the 12th book in the Longmire series and as always, Craig Johnson has delivered a well written mystery involving many of the recurring characters in the series. Walt Longmire gets a call from a friend, Campbell County Sheriff's Deputy Corbin Dougherty. Dougherty wants Walt to help him investigate a motorcycle accident that has left the motorcyclist in a coma and unlikely to ever recover. Walt is renowned throughout the state of Wyoming as one the best investigators the state has. He is the Sheriff of fictional Absaroka County.
As Walt starts to ask questions, he soon realizes that there are some major criminal activities going on.
Some of the characters:
Walt's friend, Henry Standing Bear, who came to participate in the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally.
Victoria Moretti, Walt's undersheriff.
Lola, an old girlfriend of Henry's. He named his car Lola. Walt's granddaughter is named Lola, after the car. Lola is the mother of the injured motorcyclist.
Robert Nance, local rich guy, and father of the witness who reported the motorcycle accident.
I liked the way the story went back and forth between humorous exchanges between the characters and the building mystery.
One quote: Henry Standing Bear "Not all fair maidens are worthy of rescue, Walt."
This was a library book.
October 18, 2016
Craig Johnson's Longmire series has been a favorite of mine for awhile. I enjoyed this newest addition, but I don't think it's as good as others in the series. The usual crew and the humorous banter is there, but there's no American Indian mysticism and not much sense of place as in previous books. I miss that.
The story takes place in and around the motorcycle event in Sturgis, South Dakota, and particularly in Hulett, Wyoming. Walt and Henry are on vacation, but of course there is a crime for Walt to get involved in. Vic shows up eventually, out of the blue as a surprise. In serious situations, there was no tension and the dialogue remained humorous. Henry's old flame, Lola, for whom his car is named, was despicable, so what did Henry ever see in her? And the young man, Bodaway, remains lying in the hospital as far as I know. Unfortunately, this book feels like Johnson didn't put in much effort and just scratched the surface of what could have been a great story. I hope the next book he writes is better.
The story takes place in and around the motorcycle event in Sturgis, South Dakota, and particularly in Hulett, Wyoming. Walt and Henry are on vacation, but of course there is a crime for Walt to get involved in. Vic shows up eventually, out of the blue as a surprise. In serious situations, there was no tension and the dialogue remained humorous. Henry's old flame, Lola, for whom his car is named, was despicable, so what did Henry ever see in her? And the young man, Bodaway, remains lying in the hospital as far as I know. Unfortunately, this book feels like Johnson didn't put in much effort and just scratched the surface of what could have been a great story. I hope the next book he writes is better.
November 12, 2016
Reading a Craig Johnson mystery is so reassuring. At a time when we have reason to wonder whether our government is working for or against us, here Johnson comes to let us know that there are people of goodwill laying their lives on the line for us every day. The ATF makes an appearance in this novel, and Johnson is kinder to them than he often is to the FBI. The AFT role-play characters that wouldn’t be out of place on the stage, though the guns aren’t toy replicas, and the crowd is more like the mob.
There is so much information in a Craig Johnson novel, it is sometimes difficult to choose an element to emphasize: geology, geography, popular culture, Indian ways, and in this case … guns and motorcycle rallies. The setting is Hulett, Wyoming, next-door town to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally just across the state line in South Dakota. A very handsome motorcyclist of Cheyenne descent winds up hospitalized, and when Longmire and Henry Standing Bear investigate, they discover that Lola, an old flame of Henry’s, is mother to the boy. Paint from her car is on the wrecked motorcycle.
The ancient battle of the sexes plays out against a backdrop of big stakes, drugs, guns, money. Our perspective is realigned several times as readers struggle to trust anyone in this setting of bikers, races with life-defying odds, secret airports, and glamorous women over fifty years of age who are still dropping the jaws of young, reckless men. The title is explained in the first pages as Henry Standing Bear carries with him a three-volume set of The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes: “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”
One of the compelling features of Craig Johnson’s novels are that things like MRAPs have a certain kind of logic in one-road midwest border towns. We know the federal government has “retired” some of their military vehicles to towns willing to put up some rationale and some cash, but finding one in Hulett can be a goldmine to an inventive fiction writer. I appreciate Johnson’s sense of humor about these things, giving the vehicle a starring role, but once he mentioned it in the beginning we knew he was going to have to use it before the end.
There is little evidence of the supernatural in this novel, unless one counts the outstanding story-within-a-story about the skeet shoot starring none other than Walt’s foul-mouthed undersheriff Vic, who returned to Wyoming from her failed search for the murderer of her cop brother in Philadelphia. Walt’s daughter in Denver calls a couple of times with news of Walt’s granddaughter, Lola, and with answers to puzzles. Cady is so familiar now to readers of the series that she no longer needs to be identified by name.
Johnson’s series is so easy-going and inventive that it is easy to forget how difficult it is to construct a story where readers are stumped all the way to the end. And all the while we are ambling through some gorgeous country, getting a taste of local habits, and specialities like dinner plate-sized pancakes. For me, the best might be that I discovered the name of a geologic formation that my parents had visited way back before I was born when they travelled across country in an early Ford. Last year I found some photographs tucked away from their early days and knew that place, Devil’s Tower, must be something special, rising as it does 1,267 feet from the plain in northeast Wyoming, the site of America’s first national monument.
Many thanks to a kind friend who sent me a signed first edition of this fine novel. I am so glad I had a copy to pick me up after an emotionally-draining week getting battered at the ballot box. Many of the folks who reside in Walt Longmire’s neck of the woods voted for our new president-elect. It is my everlasting hope that those residents are more like the good guys in Johnson’s novels than the bad ones. A Sherlock Holmes quote seems suitable, since Henry scatters them throughout this episode. “Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.” Let’s hope they know what they were doing this election.
There is so much information in a Craig Johnson novel, it is sometimes difficult to choose an element to emphasize: geology, geography, popular culture, Indian ways, and in this case … guns and motorcycle rallies. The setting is Hulett, Wyoming, next-door town to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally just across the state line in South Dakota. A very handsome motorcyclist of Cheyenne descent winds up hospitalized, and when Longmire and Henry Standing Bear investigate, they discover that Lola, an old flame of Henry’s, is mother to the boy. Paint from her car is on the wrecked motorcycle.
The ancient battle of the sexes plays out against a backdrop of big stakes, drugs, guns, money. Our perspective is realigned several times as readers struggle to trust anyone in this setting of bikers, races with life-defying odds, secret airports, and glamorous women over fifty years of age who are still dropping the jaws of young, reckless men. The title is explained in the first pages as Henry Standing Bear carries with him a three-volume set of The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes: “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”
One of the compelling features of Craig Johnson’s novels are that things like MRAPs have a certain kind of logic in one-road midwest border towns. We know the federal government has “retired” some of their military vehicles to towns willing to put up some rationale and some cash, but finding one in Hulett can be a goldmine to an inventive fiction writer. I appreciate Johnson’s sense of humor about these things, giving the vehicle a starring role, but once he mentioned it in the beginning we knew he was going to have to use it before the end.
There is little evidence of the supernatural in this novel, unless one counts the outstanding story-within-a-story about the skeet shoot starring none other than Walt’s foul-mouthed undersheriff Vic, who returned to Wyoming from her failed search for the murderer of her cop brother in Philadelphia. Walt’s daughter in Denver calls a couple of times with news of Walt’s granddaughter, Lola, and with answers to puzzles. Cady is so familiar now to readers of the series that she no longer needs to be identified by name.
Johnson’s series is so easy-going and inventive that it is easy to forget how difficult it is to construct a story where readers are stumped all the way to the end. And all the while we are ambling through some gorgeous country, getting a taste of local habits, and specialities like dinner plate-sized pancakes. For me, the best might be that I discovered the name of a geologic formation that my parents had visited way back before I was born when they travelled across country in an early Ford. Last year I found some photographs tucked away from their early days and knew that place, Devil’s Tower, must be something special, rising as it does 1,267 feet from the plain in northeast Wyoming, the site of America’s first national monument.
Many thanks to a kind friend who sent me a signed first edition of this fine novel. I am so glad I had a copy to pick me up after an emotionally-draining week getting battered at the ballot box. Many of the folks who reside in Walt Longmire’s neck of the woods voted for our new president-elect. It is my everlasting hope that those residents are more like the good guys in Johnson’s novels than the bad ones. A Sherlock Holmes quote seems suitable, since Henry scatters them throughout this episode. “Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.” Let’s hope they know what they were doing this election.
July 22, 2025
Another very good entry in the Longmire series. I have been reading these off and on for the past several years since seeing and enjoying the excellent Longmire TV series. This is number 12 in the series and one I had not read even though I've now read all of the previous novels and a few after this one. This one has Walt along with Henry and Vic investigating a hit and run involving a young motorcycle rider near Devil's Tower National Monument in Northeast Wyoming. The accident was near the town of Hulett, Wyoming, where they are in the midst of part of the biggest yearly motorcycle rally in the country taking place in nearby Sturgis, South Dakota. The story involves biker gangs, an undercover agent from the ATF, possible gun and/or drug trafficking, and someone from Henry's past, the legendary Lola, who is the namesake for Henry's 59 Thunderbird, and by extension, Walt's granddaughter who was named after the Thunderbird. As Walt, Henry, and Vic investigate, it becomes more and more clear that the hit and run may be more than a tragic accident. Is the young motorcyclist involved in drug trafficking or something even more serious? Why are the Feds looking closely at the accident and the possible reasons for it? How is Lola involved in all this and will she get back together with Henry?
I really enjoyed this one and consider it one of the highlights in the Longmire series. It included a lot of humor in telling the story as Walt, Henry, and Vic try to solve the mystery of who and why the young biker was run off the road. And did the biker have a special relationship with Henry? Henry also has some fun in this novel; he participates and wins a motorcycle hill climb and for the trip he brought along Walt's copy of the Annotated Sherlock Holmes which he is constantly quoting from. And Vic rents a souped up Dodge Charger that she uses to run away from the local Highway Patrol going upwards of 150 mph and she also manages to participate and win the Hulett skeet contest. Really some good stuff in this one and I'll be looking forward to reading the next in the series and the others I have missed.
I really enjoyed this one and consider it one of the highlights in the Longmire series. It included a lot of humor in telling the story as Walt, Henry, and Vic try to solve the mystery of who and why the young biker was run off the road. And did the biker have a special relationship with Henry? Henry also has some fun in this novel; he participates and wins a motorcycle hill climb and for the trip he brought along Walt's copy of the Annotated Sherlock Holmes which he is constantly quoting from. And Vic rents a souped up Dodge Charger that she uses to run away from the local Highway Patrol going upwards of 150 mph and she also manages to participate and win the Hulett skeet contest. Really some good stuff in this one and I'll be looking forward to reading the next in the series and the others I have missed.
November 5, 2019
Well read Sheriff Walter Longmire and his sidekick, Henry Standing Bear (who is toting and quoting the complete volumes of Sherlock Holmes), are called to investigate a motorcycle accident during the famous Sturgis motorcycle rally.
This is the best yet of the Walt Longmire series that I have listened to. Henry meets up with an old lover, Walt chases down ne’er-do-wells with a military grade vehicle, Henry wins a motorcycle climbing contest, Undersheriff Victoria Morelli shoots skeet right out from under everyone else, and Leonard Skynyrd make a guest appearance.
A smart and highly entertaining mystery.
This is the best yet of the Walt Longmire series that I have listened to. Henry meets up with an old lover, Walt chases down ne’er-do-wells with a military grade vehicle, Henry wins a motorcycle climbing contest, Undersheriff Victoria Morelli shoots skeet right out from under everyone else, and Leonard Skynyrd make a guest appearance.
A smart and highly entertaining mystery.
September 10, 2016
If I had to list my favorite ongoing book series would Longmire definitely be on it! I discovered the series a couple of years ago and read all the books that had been published until I ran out of Longmire books and then I had to start waiting for new ones to be written. The agony!
An Obvious Fact is book 12 in the series and while it's good I still think the last really great book was book 9, A Serpent's Tooth. Not that the books after A Serpent's Tooth has been bad, it's just that, despite how much I adore the characters in this series the stories has not always been so fantastic that I found the one in A Serpent's Tooth to be. I had high hopes that this book would prove to be really good since the last book ended with the murder of a close family member to Walt Longmire. But, the story in this book instead was about a young man run off the road and the appearance of the original Lola, the person that Henry's '59 Thunderbird is named after and in some extension Walt's granddaughter. Of course, the murder was mentioned since it has affected many of the characters in this book, but that about it.
Nevertheless, despite not loving the story 100% was it quite enjoyable reading the book thanks to Walt, Vic, and Henry and of course Dog! Henry spent the book quoting Arthur Conan Doyle to Walt's annoyance, and Vic shows what a badass shooter she really is. And, Walt, as always got in trouble, well Walt, Vic, and Henry got in trouble. So, I can't say that I did not enjoy reading the book since I loved many parts of the book. It was just the "case" was not that interesting and the big bad was not a total surprise. And, Lola, well she was a real bitch and if I was Cady would I have renamed my child and definitely not called my car Lola again!
I want to thank Viking Books for proving me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
An Obvious Fact is book 12 in the series and while it's good I still think the last really great book was book 9, A Serpent's Tooth. Not that the books after A Serpent's Tooth has been bad, it's just that, despite how much I adore the characters in this series the stories has not always been so fantastic that I found the one in A Serpent's Tooth to be. I had high hopes that this book would prove to be really good since the last book ended with the murder of a close family member to Walt Longmire. But, the story in this book instead was about a young man run off the road and the appearance of the original Lola, the person that Henry's '59 Thunderbird is named after and in some extension Walt's granddaughter. Of course, the murder was mentioned since it has affected many of the characters in this book, but that about it.
Nevertheless, despite not loving the story 100% was it quite enjoyable reading the book thanks to Walt, Vic, and Henry and of course Dog! Henry spent the book quoting Arthur Conan Doyle to Walt's annoyance, and Vic shows what a badass shooter she really is. And, Walt, as always got in trouble, well Walt, Vic, and Henry got in trouble. So, I can't say that I did not enjoy reading the book since I loved many parts of the book. It was just the "case" was not that interesting and the big bad was not a total surprise. And, Lola, well she was a real bitch and if I was Cady would I have renamed my child and definitely not called my car Lola again!
I want to thank Viking Books for proving me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
August 19, 2016
A narrator at the begging of the by gone television era series of “The Naked City “recounts the line: "There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.", Well I guess the same thing cannot be said of Walt Longmire’s Absaroka County, Wyoming.
The noble Sheriff packs up his dog “Dog” and his best friend Henry Standing Bear, a couple of motor cycles and heads on vacation to the annually held motorcycle get together in Sturgis, South Dakota Where Henry, AKA “The Cheyenne Nation” , can enter a motorcycle uphill racing competition. Sturgis is a small town in western South Dakota with a year-round population of less than 7,000 people. Yet every year more than a hundred thousand bikers descend on that tiny town to drink, race, and have fun.
Another reason for the visit is Longmire has been asked to help look into a suspicious hit and run injuring a young man near a small town near the cycling events. And here we have the meat of this novel. Both Walt and Henry fall deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole created by this incident.
“An Obvious Fact”, is the latest installment of this continuing series (officially number 12), has Henry quoting some Sherlock Holmes, and Longmire’s love interest, Victoria Morettli , engages in some fancy competitive skeet shooting.
Craig Johnson infuses a layer of humor into the proceedings of this adventure in the “New West”, which is much appreciated, and if I had any reservations regarding this book, it would be the need to introduce a “Super Villon” into the narrative, as this degrades the general impact of the series as a whole and turns the participants into contrived super hero’s battling for the safety of humanity, turning Longmire into a pseudo James Bond type character.
Overall I enjoyed the book.
This is a paperback ARC of an Advanced Uncorrected Proof.
The noble Sheriff packs up his dog “Dog” and his best friend Henry Standing Bear, a couple of motor cycles and heads on vacation to the annually held motorcycle get together in Sturgis, South Dakota Where Henry, AKA “The Cheyenne Nation” , can enter a motorcycle uphill racing competition. Sturgis is a small town in western South Dakota with a year-round population of less than 7,000 people. Yet every year more than a hundred thousand bikers descend on that tiny town to drink, race, and have fun.
Another reason for the visit is Longmire has been asked to help look into a suspicious hit and run injuring a young man near a small town near the cycling events. And here we have the meat of this novel. Both Walt and Henry fall deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole created by this incident.
“An Obvious Fact”, is the latest installment of this continuing series (officially number 12), has Henry quoting some Sherlock Holmes, and Longmire’s love interest, Victoria Morettli , engages in some fancy competitive skeet shooting.
Craig Johnson infuses a layer of humor into the proceedings of this adventure in the “New West”, which is much appreciated, and if I had any reservations regarding this book, it would be the need to introduce a “Super Villon” into the narrative, as this degrades the general impact of the series as a whole and turns the participants into contrived super hero’s battling for the safety of humanity, turning Longmire into a pseudo James Bond type character.
Overall I enjoyed the book.
This is a paperback ARC of an Advanced Uncorrected Proof.
November 7, 2019
A fantastic series! I loved this book from beginning to end. Craig Johnson regales us with his humor and quotes from Sherlock Holmes. Sheriff Walt Longmire with his best friend, Henry Standing Bear, and Dog travel to Hulett, Wyoming for a huge motorcycle rally. Henry is racing in a dirt bike competition to prove that he still has the skills to win, which he last he did in 1974. Walt is helping with the investigation of a motorcycle rider, Bodaway Torres, who was run off the road, and ends up entangled with biker gangs, the ATF, Peqod (a behemoth military vehicle), The Lola (Henry's ex), guns, and a cast of characters and vehicles. Not to to be outdone, Undersheriff Vic Moretti, joins in with her driving, shooting, and commenting skills. As in his preface quoting Arthur Conan Doyle, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact."
September 22, 2023
When you have Henry Standing Bear, Walt and Vic together in one novel, how can you not give it a 5 star? The rapid fire of dialog between the three gives the humor of the late, great Robin Williams a run for the money. And to top it all off we get introduced to the infamous Lola, the etiology of Henry;s misery and the left behind soul that Henry’s car was named after. Oh … did I forget to tell what a great plot Johnson created? Put all the above in a melting pot of action and the result will be a novel very worthy of reading.
August 25, 2016
Craig Johnson is so consistent with these books that he makes it really hard to write about them. I've struggled with this one for weeks -- how can I say something I haven't before? I'm not sure I can, but I guess I can start with what makes this one different from the rest.
For starters, Henry's borrowed Walt's set of Sherlock Holmes (without his knowledge or consent, but who cares) and spends the novel quoting Holmes at inopportune times to his buddy. I laughed every time. Walt didn't find it that amusing -- and paid him back by talking about what a silly and reckless endeavor riding motorcycles is -- much less racing/jumping/etc. He had plenty of opportunity to make these kind of remarks as the two of them were in Hulett, WY for the world's largest motorcycle rally, where Henry is attempting to recapture a victory of his younger days.
Walt's been brought in to help with the investigation of a motorcycle crash, the small local police force is stretched beyond itself due to the rally and really can't take it on. It seems pretty cut and dry on the surface -- just a bad break and a bit of careless driving. But every time Walt looks at another piece of evidence, he finds more reasons to doubt the obvious facts.
We learn a lot about Henry in this book -- but he's not really in it all that much (at least less than he's been in others, lately). And while he's not really at odds with Walt, you really can't say that he's on his old friend's side throughout (nor is he really acting all that rationally).
Vic comes back to Wyoming, and injects her flair into the investigation and Walt's life. She also continues to be the embodiment of many men's dreams between her looks, brains, language, driving and shooting. I'm not going to say if she's my Platonic ideal, I will say that for a totally unrealistic character, she's a whole lotta fun.
The Whodunit was pretty easy, the Whydunit was trickier (and the Accessories to the Who were more difficult, but not hard). But, hey, we don't read these books for the puzzle -- we do it to watch Walt figure things out and to spend time with our friends from the Equality State (and the nations within it). In the end, this is just what you expect out of a Walt Longmire novel -- some laughs, a nice little puzzle, a little fisticuffs, maybe a little gunplay (not necessarily a shoot-out). Well-paced, well-told, all in a day's work for Johnson.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Viking via First to Read in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
For starters, Henry's borrowed Walt's set of Sherlock Holmes (without his knowledge or consent, but who cares) and spends the novel quoting Holmes at inopportune times to his buddy. I laughed every time. Walt didn't find it that amusing -- and paid him back by talking about what a silly and reckless endeavor riding motorcycles is -- much less racing/jumping/etc. He had plenty of opportunity to make these kind of remarks as the two of them were in Hulett, WY for the world's largest motorcycle rally, where Henry is attempting to recapture a victory of his younger days.
Walt's been brought in to help with the investigation of a motorcycle crash, the small local police force is stretched beyond itself due to the rally and really can't take it on. It seems pretty cut and dry on the surface -- just a bad break and a bit of careless driving. But every time Walt looks at another piece of evidence, he finds more reasons to doubt the obvious facts.
We learn a lot about Henry in this book -- but he's not really in it all that much (at least less than he's been in others, lately). And while he's not really at odds with Walt, you really can't say that he's on his old friend's side throughout (nor is he really acting all that rationally).
Vic comes back to Wyoming, and injects her flair into the investigation and Walt's life. She also continues to be the embodiment of many men's dreams between her looks, brains, language, driving and shooting. I'm not going to say if she's my Platonic ideal, I will say that for a totally unrealistic character, she's a whole lotta fun.
The Whodunit was pretty easy, the Whydunit was trickier (and the Accessories to the Who were more difficult, but not hard). But, hey, we don't read these books for the puzzle -- we do it to watch Walt figure things out and to spend time with our friends from the Equality State (and the nations within it). In the end, this is just what you expect out of a Walt Longmire novel -- some laughs, a nice little puzzle, a little fisticuffs, maybe a little gunplay (not necessarily a shoot-out). Well-paced, well-told, all in a day's work for Johnson.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Viking via First to Read in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
January 28, 2023
I don't know if this is better than previous books in the series, or I'm just liking it more and more (or both), but this one was my favorite so far. It had lots of everything I love about this series - the humor, lots of Henry Standingbear and Vic, and the general humanity of Walt Longmire. Even the title is enticing, which is from a Sherlock Holmes quote: “there is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”.
This one also includes a character we've heard about in many previous books - Lola, the original inspiration for Henry's car that Walt hates and Walt's grandaughter that he doesn't hate.
This one also includes a character we've heard about in many previous books - Lola, the original inspiration for Henry's car that Walt hates and Walt's grandaughter that he doesn't hate.
October 6, 2023
Craig Johnson’s 12th episode of the Walt Longmire series is another winner. Absaroka County, WY, sheriff Longmire, his best friend Henry Standing Bear, and undersheriff Vic Moretti are in eastern Wyoming near Devils Tower to help a police colleague investigate a motorcycle accident. But it’s August and their investigation is complicated by the yearly motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, with several hundred thousand attendees. Longmire has to figure out how a biker gang, including a former flame of Henry’s named Lola, may be involved in the alleged accident and other illicit activities.
July 26, 2018
It’s my first Sheriff Walt Longmire book, though it’s the 12th in the series. I don’t recall the last time a literary hero found himself staring down the wrong end of a gun so many times. And he was completely nonchalant about it every time.
The mystery is around a motorcycle gang, one of whom appears to have been run off the road in a murder attempt. It was a fun read, with lots of action and humor. Sheriff Longmire is long in the tooth, illustrated aptly by his consternation with mobile phones, and his comparison of a woman to the lovely Carol Merrill. Walt’s rapport with his supporting characters Vic and Henry is enjoyable.
3.8 stars
The mystery is around a motorcycle gang, one of whom appears to have been run off the road in a murder attempt. It was a fun read, with lots of action and humor. Sheriff Longmire is long in the tooth, illustrated aptly by his consternation with mobile phones, and his comparison of a woman to the lovely Carol Merrill. Walt’s rapport with his supporting characters Vic and Henry is enjoyable.
3.8 stars
September 26, 2025
Fahrerflucht
Henry Standing Bear und Walt Longmire fahren nach Hulett, wo Henry am alljährlichen Motorradrennen teilnehmen will. Es ist überhaupt eines der größten Motorradtreffen. Sie geraten dabei in einen Fall von Fahrerflucht. Ein junger Mann, der mit seinem Motorrad unterwegs war, wurde von der Straße gedrängt und einfach liegen gelassen. Nun befindet er sich im Krankenhaus und seine Prognose ist mehr als ungewiss. Seine Mutter Lola, nach der Henrys Thunderbird benannt ist, bittet Walt nach dem Täter zu suchen. Henry ist allerdings nicht begeistert davon. Lola wiederzusehen. Natürlich kann Longmire es nicht lassen, zu ermitteln und so geraten die Freunde in eine größere Sache.
In seinem zwölften Fall kann Sheriff Walt Longmire relativ unbelastet ermitteln und sich in die Tücken der Handynutzung einarbeiten. Sein Freund Henry bekommt es mit den Bikern zu tun. Er will dieses Rennen gewinnen wie vor Jahren schon mal. Und Lola schleicht sich in seine Gedanken allerdings eher nagend. Walt kann das erst nicht verstehen, später schon. Trotzdem tut ihm ihr Sohn leid. Es scheint unsicher, ob der junge Mann jemals wieder aufwachen wird. Derweil muss das Mobiltelefon des Verletzten untersucht werden und irgendwie geht es in Longmires Besitz über.
Auf Sheriff Walt Longmire und Henry Standing Bear ist Verlass. Sogar wenn sie quasi Hilfssheriffs in einem fremden County sind. Gleichzeitig erfährt man etwas über Henrys Vergangenheit. Man glaubte es kaum, dass es die Namensvetterin von Henrys Auto wirklich gibt. Und die Dame hat es in sich. Mal wieder stolpert Walt von einer Sache zur nächsten und der Fall wird immer größer. Das ist sehr spannend und in seinen humorvollen Parts sehr vergnüglich zu lesen. Natürlich gibt es ein paar ganz erstaunliche Begegnungen mit Bikern und anderen Persönlichkeiten, die zu überraschenden Erkenntnissen führen. Die Auflösung des Falles ist vielleicht etwas unspektakulär, aber der Weg dorthin ist einfach toll.
Henry Standing Bear und Walt Longmire fahren nach Hulett, wo Henry am alljährlichen Motorradrennen teilnehmen will. Es ist überhaupt eines der größten Motorradtreffen. Sie geraten dabei in einen Fall von Fahrerflucht. Ein junger Mann, der mit seinem Motorrad unterwegs war, wurde von der Straße gedrängt und einfach liegen gelassen. Nun befindet er sich im Krankenhaus und seine Prognose ist mehr als ungewiss. Seine Mutter Lola, nach der Henrys Thunderbird benannt ist, bittet Walt nach dem Täter zu suchen. Henry ist allerdings nicht begeistert davon. Lola wiederzusehen. Natürlich kann Longmire es nicht lassen, zu ermitteln und so geraten die Freunde in eine größere Sache.
In seinem zwölften Fall kann Sheriff Walt Longmire relativ unbelastet ermitteln und sich in die Tücken der Handynutzung einarbeiten. Sein Freund Henry bekommt es mit den Bikern zu tun. Er will dieses Rennen gewinnen wie vor Jahren schon mal. Und Lola schleicht sich in seine Gedanken allerdings eher nagend. Walt kann das erst nicht verstehen, später schon. Trotzdem tut ihm ihr Sohn leid. Es scheint unsicher, ob der junge Mann jemals wieder aufwachen wird. Derweil muss das Mobiltelefon des Verletzten untersucht werden und irgendwie geht es in Longmires Besitz über.
Auf Sheriff Walt Longmire und Henry Standing Bear ist Verlass. Sogar wenn sie quasi Hilfssheriffs in einem fremden County sind. Gleichzeitig erfährt man etwas über Henrys Vergangenheit. Man glaubte es kaum, dass es die Namensvetterin von Henrys Auto wirklich gibt. Und die Dame hat es in sich. Mal wieder stolpert Walt von einer Sache zur nächsten und der Fall wird immer größer. Das ist sehr spannend und in seinen humorvollen Parts sehr vergnüglich zu lesen. Natürlich gibt es ein paar ganz erstaunliche Begegnungen mit Bikern und anderen Persönlichkeiten, die zu überraschenden Erkenntnissen führen. Die Auflösung des Falles ist vielleicht etwas unspektakulär, aber der Weg dorthin ist einfach toll.
September 18, 2016
This is painful to admit but, as much as I adore Craig Johnson’s Longmire series, this latest book is my least favorite. Other reviewers noticed something not quite right with An Obvious Fact but were unable to put it into words. I can sum it up in one sentence: it’s lacking in Johnson’s usual spiritual context. Whether a byproduct of Native American mysticism or Walt’s love for his nearest and dearest, there is always some common spiritual element that propels the story forward. An Obvious Fact is lacking this spirit and it ruins the story for us diehards who have come to expect a deeper and more complex Walt.
Set during the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, the story is crowded with weird characters wearing Viking helmets, drinking themselves stupid, getting arrested, starting barfights, showing off their choppers or flexing their testosterone. Henry and Walt are there so that Henry can relive the glory days of his youth when he set records on his motorbike. We meet Lola, the namesake of Henry’s car and Walt’s granddaughter. And there is a mystery (or two) that is not really a mystery (or two).
First off, I don’t recall Henry riding a motorcycle in the previous books; he had Lola and Rez Dog. So this last hurrah is a bit of a head scratcher. Second, why would Johnson name a beloved car and beloved granddaughter after such an unbelievably unpleasant character?? Lola is grating, obnoxious, totally lacking in morals and sense of humor, and is downright not nice. And the mystery that is not a mystery? The title is borrowed from a quote by Arthur Conan Doyle (Henry is on a Sherlock Holmes kick) that there is “nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” Right there, the entire book is revealed: everyone and everything you suspect will be true. Usually there is some twist that throws me and all my deductive reasoning is for naught. But not this one. Kind of ticks me off.
There are a few touching phone calls between Walt and the newly widowed Cady; the investigation into Michael’s murder is still ongoing. I learned the colorful names of some cool bars and I now know the humble origin of the Sturgis motorbike extravaganza. And not only can Vic drift like a pro, but she’s also pretty badass with the weaponry; she kept me happy, she always does. However, I found a major chunk of the book to be strangely insensitive and less noble than I expected concerning a hit-and-run victim. It was quite surprising. It would have made for a good soul-searching for one of the characters. Instead, the resolve leaves the reader with a bitter taste. And Walt wasn’t his deeply philosophical self, solving mysteries and saving lives. He still got in a few zingers when talking with the The Cheyenne Nation, but he was different this time. Maybe a peyote dream or a hypothermic hallucination would have helped (that’s for the diehards out there).
Anyway, I don’t want to criticize an author I absolutely adore and respect so this is a really hard review to write. But, An Obvious Fact is not his best work. I will still preorder his books months in advance, and see him every time he comes to town, and I will see this series to the end because I absolutely love these characters and Craig Johnson. We'll just give this one a Mulligan and move on.
Set during the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, the story is crowded with weird characters wearing Viking helmets, drinking themselves stupid, getting arrested, starting barfights, showing off their choppers or flexing their testosterone. Henry and Walt are there so that Henry can relive the glory days of his youth when he set records on his motorbike. We meet Lola, the namesake of Henry’s car and Walt’s granddaughter. And there is a mystery (or two) that is not really a mystery (or two).
First off, I don’t recall Henry riding a motorcycle in the previous books; he had Lola and Rez Dog. So this last hurrah is a bit of a head scratcher. Second, why would Johnson name a beloved car and beloved granddaughter after such an unbelievably unpleasant character?? Lola is grating, obnoxious, totally lacking in morals and sense of humor, and is downright not nice. And the mystery that is not a mystery? The title is borrowed from a quote by Arthur Conan Doyle (Henry is on a Sherlock Holmes kick) that there is “nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” Right there, the entire book is revealed: everyone and everything you suspect will be true. Usually there is some twist that throws me and all my deductive reasoning is for naught. But not this one. Kind of ticks me off.
There are a few touching phone calls between Walt and the newly widowed Cady; the investigation into Michael’s murder is still ongoing. I learned the colorful names of some cool bars and I now know the humble origin of the Sturgis motorbike extravaganza. And not only can Vic drift like a pro, but she’s also pretty badass with the weaponry; she kept me happy, she always does. However, I found a major chunk of the book to be strangely insensitive and less noble than I expected concerning a hit-and-run victim. It was quite surprising. It would have made for a good soul-searching for one of the characters. Instead, the resolve leaves the reader with a bitter taste. And Walt wasn’t his deeply philosophical self, solving mysteries and saving lives. He still got in a few zingers when talking with the The Cheyenne Nation, but he was different this time. Maybe a peyote dream or a hypothermic hallucination would have helped (that’s for the diehards out there).
Anyway, I don’t want to criticize an author I absolutely adore and respect so this is a really hard review to write. But, An Obvious Fact is not his best work. I will still preorder his books months in advance, and see him every time he comes to town, and I will see this series to the end because I absolutely love these characters and Craig Johnson. We'll just give this one a Mulligan and move on.
March 21, 2024
See my review on Audible - listened to this installment
March 7, 2023
An Obvious Fact may be the twelfth entry in the Walt Longmire series, but it is only my second encounter with Mr. Johnson's very successful character and series. I enjoyed this one more than my first go-round, and will definitely be reading more. As an aside, and thanks to my fellow GReaders, I have also begun watching the TV series of the same name (I know, I'm way behind the times), and have enjoyed the first two episodes.
As for plots, this one was both entertaining and well constructed, with a focus on polymer based guns such as the ubiquitous Glock, and an illegal but potentially very lucrative enterprise to put a new, more sophisticated version of the polymer material into the production of weapons that would be invisible to x-ray scanners. What kept it from being too dry and stereotypical, however, was the clever blend of place (a small town in WY called Hulett) and the well known Sturgis motorcycle rally that brought a wide array of bikers and assorted colorful characters into the town for one week in the summer.
An apparent motorcycle accident left a member of one of the gangs in the ICU, but Walt is unconvinced that this was a simple accident. He and Henry, along with his under-sheriff, Vic, begin investigating only to discover that there is much more to this situation than meets the eye. Along the way, Walt will get to meet Lola, the infamous woman for whom Henry named his prized Thunderbird as well as Walt's granddaughter. There is plenty of tension between she and Henry, as well as among ATF undercover agents, local law enforcement and biker gangs. Altogether, it makes for an interesting and often humorous mix. I enjoyed the banter between Walt, Henry, and especially, Vic. She's a pistol, and I hope to see much more of her in future books. In fact, there were several times when the dialogue reminded me of something I'd read in a Spenser novel, or perhaps an Elvis Cole story, which is to say, something of which I wholly approve.
4.5 stars rounded up for the fun and charming ride along with all three of the main characters from Absaroka county.
As for plots, this one was both entertaining and well constructed, with a focus on polymer based guns such as the ubiquitous Glock, and an illegal but potentially very lucrative enterprise to put a new, more sophisticated version of the polymer material into the production of weapons that would be invisible to x-ray scanners. What kept it from being too dry and stereotypical, however, was the clever blend of place (a small town in WY called Hulett) and the well known Sturgis motorcycle rally that brought a wide array of bikers and assorted colorful characters into the town for one week in the summer.
An apparent motorcycle accident left a member of one of the gangs in the ICU, but Walt is unconvinced that this was a simple accident. He and Henry, along with his under-sheriff, Vic, begin investigating only to discover that there is much more to this situation than meets the eye. Along the way, Walt will get to meet Lola, the infamous woman for whom Henry named his prized Thunderbird as well as Walt's granddaughter. There is plenty of tension between she and Henry, as well as among ATF undercover agents, local law enforcement and biker gangs. Altogether, it makes for an interesting and often humorous mix. I enjoyed the banter between Walt, Henry, and especially, Vic. She's a pistol, and I hope to see much more of her in future books. In fact, there were several times when the dialogue reminded me of something I'd read in a Spenser novel, or perhaps an Elvis Cole story, which is to say, something of which I wholly approve.
4.5 stars rounded up for the fun and charming ride along with all three of the main characters from Absaroka county.
September 17, 2016
I took a break from my other reading to check out the new Longmire. No regrets. More than a four star, this is better than Craig Johnson's recent efforts. I will try to write a complete review soon, but here are some of the basics:
- Walt has a basic mystery to solve
- Henry is with him and we learn much more about his past
- Vic is back, and less of a caricature than recently
- The setting with Devil's Tower and the annual Sturgis biker festival is new
- The mysticism is dialed back substantially
- The bad guys are interesting
- And, Johnson weaves some nice humor into his story
Boy howdy
- Walt has a basic mystery to solve
- Henry is with him and we learn much more about his past
- Vic is back, and less of a caricature than recently
- The setting with Devil's Tower and the annual Sturgis biker festival is new
- The mysticism is dialed back substantially
- The bad guys are interesting
- And, Johnson weaves some nice humor into his story
Boy howdy
July 31, 2016
This time Walt Longmire and his friend, Henry Standing Bear find themselves in the middle of a motorcycle rally as they investigate an accident of a young biker with possible ties to arms dealers. They find more than they bargained for as the deeper they dig, the farther down they go into a conspiracy with long reaching arms and all in the shadow of Devil's Tower.
You can't go wrong with Walt Longmire and I highly recommend his new book.
You can't go wrong with Walt Longmire and I highly recommend his new book.
March 15, 2017
Latest in the Longmire series which runs a different story arc from that on the Netflix series. Walt and Henry find themselves in Sturgis at the time of the annual biker convention, out of their usual neighborhood. Great backstory and satisfying mystery.
January 16, 2019
Another good entry into the Walt Longmire series. In this one, Walt, Standing Bear, and Vic go to the Sturgis motorcycle rally, only they spend most of their time in Hulett. They quickly become enmeshed in an illegal gun crime spree. We finally learn why Standing Bear's car and Walt's granddaughter are named Lola. Highly recommended to Longmire fans.
September 18, 2020
Given that crimes were committed, this was a lighthearted entry in the series, following on the previous few books that had gone quite dark. None of the good guys get shot or otherwise injured beyond bruised knuckles. Walt's endearing quirks are on display on every page.
I'm glad I took a break from this series, as it feels refreshed upon return.
More to go.
I'm glad I took a break from this series, as it feels refreshed upon return.
More to go.
September 25, 2016
***1/2 This is Craig Johnson's most recent Walt Longmire novel set on the Wyoming and South Dakota border during the biker rally at Sturgis week. Henry & Walt come to town driving Lola with Henry's bikes in tow. The two soon run into one of Henry's old flames, Lola who ask for their assistance in finding out who tried killing her son who's in ICU from a motorcycle accident. Henry gets to hill race his bike, Vic shows up in a rented Dodge Challenger, which Walt has many names for including Orange Blossam Special. Walt, Vic & Hear end up working with other local officials and their PEQOUD, and ATF agents in solving an unrelated crime. Is the attempted murderer of Lola's son An Obvious Fact? You'll need to read to find out.
September 15, 2020
I always enjoy returning to a series I love and spending time with those characters. It’s almost as if the plot doesn’t matter as much as the time spent reading it. I say “almost” because if the plot sucked then that might well turn me off to said series.
Fortunately, the chance of that happening in a Walt Longmire novel is extremely low. This particular novel is another winner, combining a good (and unique) mystery with our recurring characters as well as some new screwballs. The plot involves Walt and Henry traveling over to Hulett, near the Devil’s Tower monument, right in the middle of the huge Sturgis motorcycle rally to investigate a hit and run accident. Of course, that is just the tip of the iceberg to get things off and rolling and what an enjoyable ride it was.
I’m looking forward to many more in this series. As long as Craig Johnson writes them, I’ll be reading them.
Fortunately, the chance of that happening in a Walt Longmire novel is extremely low. This particular novel is another winner, combining a good (and unique) mystery with our recurring characters as well as some new screwballs. The plot involves Walt and Henry traveling over to Hulett, near the Devil’s Tower monument, right in the middle of the huge Sturgis motorcycle rally to investigate a hit and run accident. Of course, that is just the tip of the iceberg to get things off and rolling and what an enjoyable ride it was.
I’m looking forward to many more in this series. As long as Craig Johnson writes them, I’ll be reading them.
August 27, 2016
After reading An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson, I now have two favorite mystery series – the Walt Longmire books and the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box. Interestingly enough, they both take place in Wyoming. I had seen the Walt Longmire books at my local mystery store for years and had never gotten around to starting them. Recently I received this ARC from First to Read right around the time that I learned “Longmire” was a series on Netflix. My husband and I have been binge watching “Longmire” (which is fantastic), and I finally began the book series, starting with book 12. I absolutely loved it! Now I need to go back and read books 1-11. Walt Longmire is the perfect protagonist, and Vic and Henry are fabulous sidekicks.
Walt Longmire is the Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Walt, along with Vic and Henry, are called to nearby Hulett County, home to Devils Tower, to investigate a motorcycle accident occurring during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. While it initially appears to be one of many accidents occurring during Sturgis, Walt quickly discovers that there are greater forces at work as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrives, rival biker gangs stir up trouble, and an underground Nazi extremist group is uncovered. As the story unfolds, Walt, Vic and Henry strive to solve the increasingly puzzling mystery of the “accident” and its underlying causes.
This mystery was particularly appealingly to me because we visited Devils Tower several years back during the Sturgis Rally (the timing was unintentional). It was a fascinating time to be there, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it through Craig Johnson’s eyes. I highly recommend this mystery and cannot wait for the next one. Thanks to Penguin’s First to Read for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Walt Longmire is the Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Walt, along with Vic and Henry, are called to nearby Hulett County, home to Devils Tower, to investigate a motorcycle accident occurring during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. While it initially appears to be one of many accidents occurring during Sturgis, Walt quickly discovers that there are greater forces at work as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrives, rival biker gangs stir up trouble, and an underground Nazi extremist group is uncovered. As the story unfolds, Walt, Vic and Henry strive to solve the increasingly puzzling mystery of the “accident” and its underlying causes.
This mystery was particularly appealingly to me because we visited Devils Tower several years back during the Sturgis Rally (the timing was unintentional). It was a fascinating time to be there, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it through Craig Johnson’s eyes. I highly recommend this mystery and cannot wait for the next one. Thanks to Penguin’s First to Read for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2022
I know I say this on every Walt Longmire book review but, the books are better than the tv show, and I loved the tv show. The books are also so much funnier than the tv show. This was the best installment of the book series, in my humble opinion, which is the only one that counts in this book review😊
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the ways that the tv show did not follow the book stories. Unfortunately, I believe, the decision to do this was a poor one. While the tv show was a wonderful series, it could have been sooo much better had they not strayed so far from some of the book stories.
Anyway, I still love them both with a very strong preference to the books. While the tv show is long gone (except for the reruns), I feel so fortunate that I get to look forward to reading about Walt Longmire and his clan of misfits for years to come through Johnson's continuation of the book series.
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the ways that the tv show did not follow the book stories. Unfortunately, I believe, the decision to do this was a poor one. While the tv show was a wonderful series, it could have been sooo much better had they not strayed so far from some of the book stories.
Anyway, I still love them both with a very strong preference to the books. While the tv show is long gone (except for the reruns), I feel so fortunate that I get to look forward to reading about Walt Longmire and his clan of misfits for years to come through Johnson's continuation of the book series.
October 17, 2016
I don't know what it is about Wyoming "law enforcement", but it is a compelling backdrop for two of my favorite authors and series: Craig Johnson's "Walt Longmire and C.J. Box's "Joe Pickett"...good stuff!!!...While I've enjoyed the TV series, book Walt is SO much more entertaining than A&E/Netflix TV Walt...book Walt's & Henry's humor and lightness carry the novels to a much higher plane...in this one, Walt & Henry become involved in an ATF investigation in the middle of a Sturgis-like motorcycle rally by Devil's Tower, WY....We meet the original Lola, the human one, adding another possible layer to future stories...GREAT READ, as always!
April 12, 2017
This has become, and continues to be, my favorite book series. The author's ability to construct new and interesting plot-lines for the protagonist and supporting cast after a dozen books and a few short stories is endlessly impressive to me. This one, in particular, focused on a bike rally in nearby Sturgis, and the weekend bikers and motorcycle gangs an event like that brings. Compelling reading, as always. I eagerly await the next entry, The Western Star, which is due out later this year.
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