The Cold Dish: A Longmire Mystery

In Wyoming where the endless beauty of nature gives you the chance to let your spirit flow freely, things take time - and that is good. Craig Johnson uses that time to paint a wonderful picture of the setting and to introduce us to a cast of characters any reader would dream of. Although they say it's a mystery - and they're right - there is also so much more. It's a tale about the people, their stories and the magical countryside. True, other writers have written about this part of the world, but when Craig Johnson paints the story, you can feel the wind blow and even hear the snowflakes fall. Every detail that is mentioned helps you sense the atmosphere and lets you create your own picture in your head without ever being overdone. It is not one of those fast who-dun-it mysteries that keep you chasing after the clues. But that doesn't mean you'll lose your patience - the storyline is much too good for that. Sherif Walt Longmire of Absaroka County, together with his friend Henry Standing Bear and Deputy Victoria Moretti must solve the murder of Cody Pritchard, one of four high school boys who, a couple of years earlier had been convicted of brutally raping Melissa, a young Cheyenne girl. Walt never got over the horrible crime, but now it may be only him left standing between the other three boys and the bullets. It's fiction at its best and it also happens to be a tremendously well written mystery you wouldn't want to end. And when it does you're probably going to start all over right away. A strong tale with great characters you won't forget.

Coming from a small town myself, I was facinated by the characters in this book... I felt like I actually knew them by the last page and it left me wanting more...I want to know if Vic and her husband split and if there is some romance ahead for our hero and his foul-mouthed deputy...will Lucian continue to kick butt even at his ripe old retired age...will Henry Standing Bear continue to entertain us with more Indian Insight and Wisdom and will Ruby continue to keep Sheriff Longmire up on his manners and social ettiquette The twists and turns in this fast paced mystery had me change my "who done it" more than once and still didn't have it figured out in the end, which is exactly the kind of story challenge that I love. As others have said in their reviews, you actually feel the cold wind and the snow falling and I found myself looking out the window to see if it was actually happening or not. Having some Indian ancestry in my family, I thoroughly enjoyed the references to the folklore and lives of the reservation inhabitants and the mystique of the spirits in Chapter 12. Hurry up and get that next book written Craig...we're all out here waiting with anticipation!!!

This is a book I could read again and will. Not only because I can't wait for the second book to come out in order to be reunited with these richly drawn characters I have come to think of as friends, but because this is just a really good book. The Cold Dish is a true page-turner. Craig Johnson has skillfully written this thriller to keep you guessing until the very end. If you want to read a book with real characters, structure and an engaging and addicting plot, READ THIS BOOK -- you won't regret it.

I read a great many books and it is rare that I come across a book that gets under your skin, engrossing you, leaving you begging for more after you turn the last page. I felt like a lover had left me after I finished. I ached, understanding I could not pick up another book immediately. This is the best compliment possible, knowing that you did not want to leave this place, these characters that Mr. Johnson has created. This is not a mere mystery, and although it is a mystery, it contains so many magical qualities that send it soaring beyond the "airplane fodder" of so many mysteries. Chapter 12 alone is worth the price of this book. I cannot wait for more from this author.

This is an amazing book! I was fortunate enough to get hold of a pre-publication copy and found myself completely transported. As a matter of fact, I read it in one sitting. That this is a mystery is a given, but it is more than that. To me the truly outstanding feature of the book is its character quality. These people are real. Also, Mr. Johnson has pictured surroundings as authentic as the mixture of people who live in them. Of particular interest to me is the contrast and blending of Native American and European cultures. With his handling of character, setting, and plot, this is a book for everyone.