My Goodreads review: Death Without Company

[ankh_hpl]

Death Without Company by Craig Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


(Disclaimer: I am a Wyoming native, & have relatives in that part of Wyoming where this series is set. Those with fewer ties to or less interest in Wyoming might find this novel more of a four-star read -- though I doubt it. The quality is just too high.)

Craig Johnson's second "Longmire" mystery -- which appears to take place soon after the ending of his first, The Cold Dish -- is a bleak, beautiful thing. Combining the classic motive of a disputed inheritance with very modern Western details (the coal methane boom, the regional curse of methamphetamine addiction), this novel delivers a complex & addictive reading experience.

In addition to the Cheyenne people (well represented by Walt's friend Henry Standing Bear), this novel involves both the Crow and the Basque cultures. Even for those raised in the West, it's likely to offer new insights.

Readers new to this series, however, should definitely begin with The Cold Dish. The Longmire novels are heavily character-driven, and these characters grow & change. Though Johnson is careful to provide some background for new readers, I can't imagine that the reading experience would be as rich without having the "full story."



View all my reviews