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Walt Longmire #21
Return to Sender
The Sheriff of Absaroka confronts a cabal of devious outlaws who are hell bent on getting what they want, even though they have to bend and break the law. Walt is stretched to his physical limits to try to stop them, and has to answer the question of just how far he will go to stop these outlaws. Fans of the series will love seeing Walt put into this almost impossible situation, and new fans will fall for the venerable Sheriff as he ties to uphold the law and his own values in this high-stakes mystery from the master of the Western crime novel.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2025
861 people are currently reading
5340 people want to read
About the author
Craig Johnson
104 books4,998 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 515 reviews
June 13, 2025
Walt is up to his ears in trouble again. When is he not? It is amazing the hot mess he can get in without trying. He has been asked to go under cover to find a missing postal woman in a very remote area. Little does he know his adventures would include running into a cult, the missing woman’s simpleton significant other, imbeciles with large caliber guns and a trip down memory lane on an old Blue Bird bus.
There is also trouble on the home front by the new governor. He seems to think Walt’s retirement should coincide with “the Greatest Legal Mind”, better know as his daughter Punk, advancement in government status to Attorney General. Low blow!
If the reader is a Walt Longmire fan they will be in for a great read. To all my fellow GR friends … I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.
There is also trouble on the home front by the new governor. He seems to think Walt’s retirement should coincide with “the Greatest Legal Mind”, better know as his daughter Punk, advancement in government status to Attorney General. Low blow!
If the reader is a Walt Longmire fan they will be in for a great read. To all my fellow GR friends … I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.
January 25, 2026
Things we do for Family
Walt Longmire is taking a mail route as a favor to the brother of his deceased wife. As it so happens, it is the longest mail route in the country and mostly in the Red Dessert. The previous mail carrier for that route has disappeared in a place that everyone calls “weird”.
Walt has a great deal going on his life, but as always manages to get caught up in a case that keeps him from concentrating on important life issues.
I was a little disappointed that there was very little of Vic and Henry Standing Bear, but the story was a good one. Craig Johnson very rarely if ever disappoints. Five stars.
Walt Longmire is taking a mail route as a favor to the brother of his deceased wife. As it so happens, it is the longest mail route in the country and mostly in the Red Dessert. The previous mail carrier for that route has disappeared in a place that everyone calls “weird”.
Walt has a great deal going on his life, but as always manages to get caught up in a case that keeps him from concentrating on important life issues.
I was a little disappointed that there was very little of Vic and Henry Standing Bear, but the story was a good one. Craig Johnson very rarely if ever disappoints. Five stars.
May 30, 2025
The Continuing Adventures of Walt Longmire pick up with our intrepid sheriff going undercover to find a missing postal worker. Blair could be anywhere along her 300-mile route through Wyoming's Red Desert, and after a month missing, she's probably a dried husk by now. Still, it's kind of Walt's job.
Along the way he finds a loony cult, a la Heaven's Gate, camping in the desert. The more Walt gets to know the leader and his two goons, the sketchier the whole thing sounds. Well, that and... they expect UFOs to come scoop them up.
The best part of the whole book, naturally, is the climax, which involves a decrepit school bus full of gullible, elderly cultists escaping the bad guys. Walt acts as chauffeur, mechanic, gas pumper, security and stunt driver. Boy howdy!
Almost zero Henry Standing Bear. There's barely more Vic Moretti, but less is always more with her. Cady appeared in the first part of the novel, with her expecting to be appointed Attorney General for the state. Once that storyline wraps, she's out of the picture. No Lola - boo!
Until next year, when another novel is published. Happy trails!
Along the way he finds a loony cult, a la Heaven's Gate, camping in the desert. The more Walt gets to know the leader and his two goons, the sketchier the whole thing sounds. Well, that and... they expect UFOs to come scoop them up.
The best part of the whole book, naturally, is the climax, which involves a decrepit school bus full of gullible, elderly cultists escaping the bad guys. Walt acts as chauffeur, mechanic, gas pumper, security and stunt driver. Boy howdy!
Almost zero Henry Standing Bear. There's barely more Vic Moretti, but less is always more with her. Cady appeared in the first part of the novel, with her expecting to be appointed Attorney General for the state. Once that storyline wraps, she's out of the picture. No Lola - boo!
Until next year, when another novel is published. Happy trails!
June 5, 2025
I hate to say this again but this definitely is not going down as a favorite of mine. The series is stronger when Walt is surrounded by his "people" and while they make a brief appearance (and not one that moves the plot along,) it wasn't enough. Johnson keeps throwing Walt in situations where he has to use his "super human strength" that challenges my "suspended disbelief" and too much time is spent is the desert trying to get out of the desert. It also appears that Johnson's next book will pick up on a plot from a couple of books ago which is also frustrating--how am I supposed to remember that?
June 6, 2025
“Return to Sender” is the 21st book in the “Longmire” mystery series (not including novellas and short stories), continuing the crime fighting adventures of Walt Longmire, Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming; his daughter, Cady, the world’s greatest lawyer; his best friend, Henry Standing Bear; his loyal and outspoken deputy, Vic Moretti; his loyal and less outspoken deputy, and Dog, his faithful animal companion. Just in case you weren’t aware, this is one of the best law enforcement starting lineups in the mystery/crime fiction today.
When “Return to Sender” starts, we find our hero, Walt Longmire, being roped into investigating the disappearance of a postal worker by his late wife’s cousin who just happens to be the Postal Inspector for the State of Wyoming. Blair McGowan is not just any postal worker. She has the longest postal route in the country, covering 307 miles and including the Red Desert, which contains the largest living dune system in the entire United States. Talking about looking for a needle in hay stack…
Walt’s up for the challenge, going undercover as a mail carrier taking over her route and searching for any kind of trail she might have left behind. Along with his trusty partner, Dog, Walt has his work cut out for him as his undercover operation gets off on the wrong foot. Several of them. His trainer isn’t buying his story. Blair’s boyfriend wants to fight Walt and put him in his place. Walt even finds himself arrested before he can let the local sheriff know that he’s working on a case. Oh, and did I mention that Walt actually has bought himself a cellphone, an outdated flip phone that he has no idea how to use…
Then things only get stranger. Walt discovers that Blair’s background includes being an actress in Hollywood as well as going on a ride thousands of light years away with aliens in their space ship. Her stability may be in question as Vic warns Walt that he better not get himself killed and return home safely or she will finish the job herself.
At the same time, Walt is facing family and personal issues. Maxim Sidorov, the Soviet hitman who tried to kill Walt a couple of books back is wanting to talk to him while on ankle arrest. Walt senses that it probably involves Ruth One Heart, who has gone missing, and he fears Sidorov may be involved. In addition, Walt’s daughter, Cady, the greatest legal mind in her dad’s view, is being considered for an appointment by the governor. Not just any appointment. This one would be attorney general for the state. However, the governor thinks that Walt’s notoriety and history as sheriff would cause problems for her and be a conflict of interest that might bite him in the backside. The governor’s way to resolve the issue to have Walt willingly retire, which Walt isn’t exactly excited about unless it’s his own choice. And he’s pretty sure that Cady wouldn’t like it one bit either…
Between dealing with his future and that of his daughter’s, Walt finds himself in unexpected and immediate danger when his search for Blair takes him deep into the Red (hot, hot, hot) Desert, and facing off against a woman who doesn’t want to be found, but is in serious danger dealing with an otherworldly cult hellbent on being ready for their own space trip, and several ruthless killers who have no issues with killing a sheriff who gets in their way. And did I mention Walt’s stubbornness and inability to walk away from doing what he thinks is right. Even if it gets him killed…
Let me start my comments with some good news. This was a very enjoyable book, with Craig Johnson capturing some of the best essence of Walt’s character and who he is. His trying to figure out how to use a cell phone is a worthy exploration of how he struggles with technology provided several humorous moments of joy for me. Johnson demonstrates his trademark way of turning Walt’s fight against the bad guys into a personal heroic journey (or type of vision quest) that keeps his actions focused on doing what is right while his inner physical drive refuses to let him give up. This book reveals Walt at his strongest, smartest, most creative, and enduring strengths. At the same time, it exemplifies his sarcastic, inability to adapt to modern technology, and unwillingness to network or work well with others. Walt will never be one who will play well in the sandbox. That is his charm and his biggest weakness. Maybe that’s why Dog seems to be his best partner, and let me note that Dog doesn’t always listen and obey Walt either.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book was the the structure and storytelling. Craig Johnson masterfully weaves a wining and entertaining story that made me stay up too late on a work night because I was completely immersed in Walt’s world and couldn’t pull myself away. To be honest, I enjoyed this one more than I have several of the previous five or six books. This one really reminded more of the early books, the first eight or nine that were some of the strongest storylines in the series. I felt more of Walt’s edginess and personality shine with that special spark that I felt was missing for a while.
Also, even though the other characters – Vic, Cady, Henry, and Lucian – played smaller roles than I would have liked, they were used smartly and each one shined like the awesome personalities they are. There is nothing forced, and each character is so true to who they are and who we love so much.
As much as was frustrated by how Johnson focused primarily on Walt’s investigation of the missing postal worker; choosing only to sprinkle more clues throughout regarding the missing Ruth One Heart and Cady’s potential appointment as the state’s AG. Johnson is craftly slow-playing these storylines, letting them simmer slowly in this one, so he can bring them to a rapid bowl and climax in future books. I would be lying if I don’t admit how frustrating this is, having to wait another year until the next book is published, but I also tip my hat to him for masterfully playing these storylines out so well over multiple books. Part of me hates to admit it, but I almost wouldn’t want it any other way.
For me personally, “Return to Sender” is another prime example of Johnson’s winning style and rhythm that draws in the reader and makes locations in Wyoming a home away from home. The flow reflects a confident author who knows his characters and how he wants to chart their growth and development through the conflicts of the plotting. Scenes transition smoothly from one to another as the story develops and the tension builds to a winning emotional payoff in the end.
Overall, “Return to Sender” reminds me of why I fell in love with this series to begin with in the early books when Walt was still a work in progress and brings surprises each time out. It delivered a strongly conceived mystery, character development, and compelling settings, that culminated together in a great climactic reading experience that was worthy of my staying up way past my work night bedtime.
Now I am left in a state of withdrawal until next year when Walt’s next adventure is expected to be published. My withdrawals are already kicking in… Ugh…
When “Return to Sender” starts, we find our hero, Walt Longmire, being roped into investigating the disappearance of a postal worker by his late wife’s cousin who just happens to be the Postal Inspector for the State of Wyoming. Blair McGowan is not just any postal worker. She has the longest postal route in the country, covering 307 miles and including the Red Desert, which contains the largest living dune system in the entire United States. Talking about looking for a needle in hay stack…
Walt’s up for the challenge, going undercover as a mail carrier taking over her route and searching for any kind of trail she might have left behind. Along with his trusty partner, Dog, Walt has his work cut out for him as his undercover operation gets off on the wrong foot. Several of them. His trainer isn’t buying his story. Blair’s boyfriend wants to fight Walt and put him in his place. Walt even finds himself arrested before he can let the local sheriff know that he’s working on a case. Oh, and did I mention that Walt actually has bought himself a cellphone, an outdated flip phone that he has no idea how to use…
Then things only get stranger. Walt discovers that Blair’s background includes being an actress in Hollywood as well as going on a ride thousands of light years away with aliens in their space ship. Her stability may be in question as Vic warns Walt that he better not get himself killed and return home safely or she will finish the job herself.
At the same time, Walt is facing family and personal issues. Maxim Sidorov, the Soviet hitman who tried to kill Walt a couple of books back is wanting to talk to him while on ankle arrest. Walt senses that it probably involves Ruth One Heart, who has gone missing, and he fears Sidorov may be involved. In addition, Walt’s daughter, Cady, the greatest legal mind in her dad’s view, is being considered for an appointment by the governor. Not just any appointment. This one would be attorney general for the state. However, the governor thinks that Walt’s notoriety and history as sheriff would cause problems for her and be a conflict of interest that might bite him in the backside. The governor’s way to resolve the issue to have Walt willingly retire, which Walt isn’t exactly excited about unless it’s his own choice. And he’s pretty sure that Cady wouldn’t like it one bit either…
Between dealing with his future and that of his daughter’s, Walt finds himself in unexpected and immediate danger when his search for Blair takes him deep into the Red (hot, hot, hot) Desert, and facing off against a woman who doesn’t want to be found, but is in serious danger dealing with an otherworldly cult hellbent on being ready for their own space trip, and several ruthless killers who have no issues with killing a sheriff who gets in their way. And did I mention Walt’s stubbornness and inability to walk away from doing what he thinks is right. Even if it gets him killed…
Let me start my comments with some good news. This was a very enjoyable book, with Craig Johnson capturing some of the best essence of Walt’s character and who he is. His trying to figure out how to use a cell phone is a worthy exploration of how he struggles with technology provided several humorous moments of joy for me. Johnson demonstrates his trademark way of turning Walt’s fight against the bad guys into a personal heroic journey (or type of vision quest) that keeps his actions focused on doing what is right while his inner physical drive refuses to let him give up. This book reveals Walt at his strongest, smartest, most creative, and enduring strengths. At the same time, it exemplifies his sarcastic, inability to adapt to modern technology, and unwillingness to network or work well with others. Walt will never be one who will play well in the sandbox. That is his charm and his biggest weakness. Maybe that’s why Dog seems to be his best partner, and let me note that Dog doesn’t always listen and obey Walt either.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book was the the structure and storytelling. Craig Johnson masterfully weaves a wining and entertaining story that made me stay up too late on a work night because I was completely immersed in Walt’s world and couldn’t pull myself away. To be honest, I enjoyed this one more than I have several of the previous five or six books. This one really reminded more of the early books, the first eight or nine that were some of the strongest storylines in the series. I felt more of Walt’s edginess and personality shine with that special spark that I felt was missing for a while.
Also, even though the other characters – Vic, Cady, Henry, and Lucian – played smaller roles than I would have liked, they were used smartly and each one shined like the awesome personalities they are. There is nothing forced, and each character is so true to who they are and who we love so much.
As much as was frustrated by how Johnson focused primarily on Walt’s investigation of the missing postal worker; choosing only to sprinkle more clues throughout regarding the missing Ruth One Heart and Cady’s potential appointment as the state’s AG. Johnson is craftly slow-playing these storylines, letting them simmer slowly in this one, so he can bring them to a rapid bowl and climax in future books. I would be lying if I don’t admit how frustrating this is, having to wait another year until the next book is published, but I also tip my hat to him for masterfully playing these storylines out so well over multiple books. Part of me hates to admit it, but I almost wouldn’t want it any other way.
For me personally, “Return to Sender” is another prime example of Johnson’s winning style and rhythm that draws in the reader and makes locations in Wyoming a home away from home. The flow reflects a confident author who knows his characters and how he wants to chart their growth and development through the conflicts of the plotting. Scenes transition smoothly from one to another as the story develops and the tension builds to a winning emotional payoff in the end.
Overall, “Return to Sender” reminds me of why I fell in love with this series to begin with in the early books when Walt was still a work in progress and brings surprises each time out. It delivered a strongly conceived mystery, character development, and compelling settings, that culminated together in a great climactic reading experience that was worthy of my staying up way past my work night bedtime.
Now I am left in a state of withdrawal until next year when Walt’s next adventure is expected to be published. My withdrawals are already kicking in… Ugh…
June 1, 2025
sheriff Walt Longmire is back for his next adventure concerning a missing mail woman and some religious cult in the dessert. Hé and dog are doing a favor to a family member of his dead wife Martha.
A little Victoria Moretti Walts apperent betrothed, a little Cheyenne Nation and a wee bit of Walts daughter. But mostly sheriff Longmire and his faithfull dog.
Another great installment in the Longmire tales, just curious when we get a romantic installment where Walt and Vic finally tie the knot. Perhaps that is not Johnsons specialty writing the romantic stuff.
He does however write great morality tales and this one is no exception.
After Tooth and Nail the 2nd Longmire book I read this year.
A little Victoria Moretti Walts apperent betrothed, a little Cheyenne Nation and a wee bit of Walts daughter. But mostly sheriff Longmire and his faithfull dog.
Another great installment in the Longmire tales, just curious when we get a romantic installment where Walt and Vic finally tie the knot. Perhaps that is not Johnsons specialty writing the romantic stuff.
He does however write great morality tales and this one is no exception.
After Tooth and Nail the 2nd Longmire book I read this year.
June 10, 2025
Is someone going postal in the desert? Walt is asked if he can find out. Return to Sender by Craig Johnson is another fantastic tale about the quirky Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire. Don't you worry we will also get some appearances by Bear, Vic and the greatest legal mind. Dog is also there of course. I really liked this story and it is as always filled with great dialogue. I could listen to Walt for hours. The main thing is that the postal worker on the longest route is missing and Walt will take her place and try to find out what has happened. It doesn't go according to plan but did anyone really think that it would? I mean, it's Walt. I do recommend this book and all the ones that came before.
March 25, 2025
3.75 stars
Sheriff Walt Longmire is back. He must be in his 70s by now, but is still dispensing his own brand of stubborn justice. Retirement crosses his mind occasionally, but he's not quite ready.
He leaves Absaroka County to do a favor for his late wife's cousin, who's a Colorado postal official. He has asked Walt to look into the disappearance of a female letter carrier in the wilds of Wyoming on a desolate route. No one has seen or heard from her since although they found her vehicle.
Walt sets out to see what he can uncover and things gets screwy from the start. Somehow, the missing person got involved in a fringe alien abduction tv show years ago. And part of her current postal route takes in an area where a religious cult is allegedly in place, or are they just garden variety scammers taking advantage of lonely elderly people?
This adventure is vintage Longmire, sometimes hilarious, sometimes philosophical, sometimes casually brutal, but always entertaining despite the absence of Walt's usual comrades. There are various unfinished plot threads that may be followed up in the next books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sheriff Walt Longmire is back. He must be in his 70s by now, but is still dispensing his own brand of stubborn justice. Retirement crosses his mind occasionally, but he's not quite ready.
He leaves Absaroka County to do a favor for his late wife's cousin, who's a Colorado postal official. He has asked Walt to look into the disappearance of a female letter carrier in the wilds of Wyoming on a desolate route. No one has seen or heard from her since although they found her vehicle.
Walt sets out to see what he can uncover and things gets screwy from the start. Somehow, the missing person got involved in a fringe alien abduction tv show years ago. And part of her current postal route takes in an area where a religious cult is allegedly in place, or are they just garden variety scammers taking advantage of lonely elderly people?
This adventure is vintage Longmire, sometimes hilarious, sometimes philosophical, sometimes casually brutal, but always entertaining despite the absence of Walt's usual comrades. There are various unfinished plot threads that may be followed up in the next books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 3, 2025
Please send him home
I have had enough of Sheriff Longmire every where else but Abasaroca County. Please send him home to sheriff where he belongs.
I have had enough of Sheriff Longmire every where else but Abasaroca County. Please send him home to sheriff where he belongs.
June 19, 2025
Not one of the best Longmire books but still very good. Vic, Cady and Standing Bear basically are only cameos as Longmire helps out in a neighboring county.
A mail person is missing, having disappeared from the longest mail route in the country. No worries, Walt and Dog are on the job.
A mail person is missing, having disappeared from the longest mail route in the country. No worries, Walt and Dog are on the job.
July 12, 2025
2.5 stars
Walt goes 'undercover' to investigate the disappearance of Blair McGowan, a mail carrier with the longest route in Wyoming (307 miles). Could there be a link to the cult living in the midst of the great Red Desert where Walt and Dog pretty much go it alone here, and the story moves slowly until the last few chapters
Walt is still contemplating retirement, the Governor is considering Cady for Attorney General, and there are hints about the fate of Ruth One Heart (The Longmire Defense)--hopefully, reasons to look forward to the next installment.
Walt goes 'undercover' to investigate the disappearance of Blair McGowan, a mail carrier with the longest route in Wyoming (307 miles). Could there be a link to the cult living in the midst of the great Red Desert where Walt and Dog pretty much go it alone here, and the story moves slowly until the last few chapters
Walt is still contemplating retirement, the Governor is considering Cady for Attorney General, and there are hints about the fate of Ruth One Heart (The Longmire Defense)--hopefully, reasons to look forward to the next installment.
August 25, 2025
As usual another very good Longmire book. This one, however, focuses totally on Walt and his adventure. There are only Cameos by Vic, his daughter, Standing Bear, and the rest of the usual cast of characters who I missed.
May 12, 2025
Walt saves the day.
May 30, 2025
not the best story in the series - but still a great series
November 30, 2025
How is Walt not dead at this point. The fact that I feel like he’s been in imminent danger since he was a kid at this point is literally INSANITY! In this iteration Walt goes up against a cult and as always the most bad ass person you’ve ever read about. Craig Johnson never fails to
Deliver and always keeps me wanting more! I read this one instead of audiobook this time (would love to hear George Guidell on this one) but got through it because I didn’t want to put it down! Also, what happened to Benny? Is he still stuck chained in the desert? Hahaha
Deliver and always keeps me wanting more! I read this one instead of audiobook this time (would love to hear George Guidell on this one) but got through it because I didn’t want to put it down! Also, what happened to Benny? Is he still stuck chained in the desert? Hahaha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2025
"You'd be surprised what I am capable of when properly motivated."
June 26, 2025
Walt is asked to look into the disappearance of Blair, the mail carrier with the longest route in Wyoming--over 300 miles. He finds a creepy cult in the desert along the route which may or may not know something. Did they kidnap Blair? Does this cult have any other purpose besides taking people's money? It's pretty bad as cults go, run by grifters killing old people and even deciding to sacrifice a baby, which Walt fortunately prevents. Even though I'm a big fan of the Longmire books and always enjoy revisiting the characters (unfortunately most of them don’t play much of a role here) this one was a real effort for me to finish. It's considerably darker than previous books, and I got really tired of reading about the monsters running the cult.
March 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Craig Johnson, and Viking Publishing for allowing me to read a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.
This series just keeps getting better! I loved everything about this book. The characters were complex and interesting. The situations were engaging and thought provoking. The descriptions of the scenery and action were so graphic and beautiful I felt like I was watching a movie inside my head. The situations that arise in the course of the book bring the reader to consider the moral issues of responsibility for one's fellow human. The combination of moral food for thought and the beautiful prose made this more than just an action novel, hence my five star review. LOVED IT!
This series just keeps getting better! I loved everything about this book. The characters were complex and interesting. The situations were engaging and thought provoking. The descriptions of the scenery and action were so graphic and beautiful I felt like I was watching a movie inside my head. The situations that arise in the course of the book bring the reader to consider the moral issues of responsibility for one's fellow human. The combination of moral food for thought and the beautiful prose made this more than just an action novel, hence my five star review. LOVED IT!
September 20, 2025
Longmire leaves Absaroka County, and travels to Sweetwater County with its
Red Desert
in search of a rural US mail carrier who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Twenty-first book in the series.
Red Desert of Wyoming, The Boars Tusk, one of the crime scenes.
My dead tree edition was 381 pages. The original US copyright was 2025.
Craig Johnson is an American mystery and thriller novelist. He has more than 20-books published in his Longmire series. I’ve read most of the Longmire novels and many of the short stories by the author. The previous being The Longmire Defense (Walt Longmire, #19) (my review).
Its strongly recommended that the previous books in the series be read before this one, particularly The Longmire Defense (Walt Longmire, #19). The backstory for this series is now long and deep.
I found myself in a peculiar circumstance with this book-- I was reading two Longmire books at once. I was currently ear-reading First Frost (Walt Longmire, #20), when I had a target of opportunity to eye-read this in hardback over the last summer holiday. Capere librum!
I personally like it better, when The Sheriff stays at home in the mythical, Absaroka County. One of the others aspects of the series that I also greatly enjoy is the Native American mysticism that enters into some of the series’ books. Unfortunately, this book includes neither of these. Also, Henry Standing Bear, a fave character of mine, only plays a small part in the story. Retired Sheriff Lucian Connally also makes an appearance too, but his inclusion is likewise minor.
This story was a Walt Longmire and Dog story. He provides the sole POV for all of its main plot line. There was a secondary plot involving Longmire's daughter’s job involving him in Wyoming politics. And, there was a tertiary plotline involving Ruth One Heart, a character from The Longmire Defense. Both these subordinate plotlines are Johnston setting up for Walt Longmire, #22. In-general, recent (like the last 10-books), have been spinning-out longer-term series plotlines involving Longmire’s: PTSD, his relationships with his daughter (Cady) and his Undersheriff Victoria Moretti (Vic), and his future retirement as Absaroka County’s sheriff. Johnson continues to dress-up and walk these corpses around in this book. Although, at least he’s now engaged to Vic, which puts that one on the back burner.
In this story, Longmire gets asked by his dead wife’s cousin, a US postal service Inspector, to look in to the disappearance of a kooky, but much loved, rural postal carrier. She is a woman of a certain age, greatly influenced by her past involvement in marijuana, macramé and microbuses. She disappeared after finishing her long, rout through the Red Desert and hasn’t been seen since. While kooky, she’s always been completely reliable. Sweetwater County isn’t paying enough attention to the case for Walt's ex-relation. Walt investigates in his stoic, and laconic manner. The book contains the traditional amount of western history, cowboy law enforcement, and western cultural exposition.
Of note, there was more than has been recently usual of Longmire’s folksy humor. Walt gets a cell phone for this investigation, contrary to his aversion towards them. That was funny. However, there was NO usage of his signature “Boy Howdy". Still, there was more than enough of his cowboy dialog to chuckle over.
A problem I have with Longmire leaving Absaroka County, is that he’s always greeted in a “Hail fellow, well met” manner by his fellow regional sheriffs. Frankly, anybody who knows that Walt Longmire is in their patch should worry. It means that lots of folks are likely going to start dying. He’s also going to make their Sheriff’s department look like they’re inept, in comparison to his heroics.
This book was very backend loaded. Not a lot happens until near the end, then it gets frantic. Oddly, with the story rushing to a conclusion, Johnson indulges in some weird exposition on school bus maintenance and repair. Johnson did alright with when the bodies started dropping, although it was torturously convoluted. Longmire just couldn’t shoot a few scum buckets, who would leave the world a better place as the dead. He also spent a lot of internal monolog on the tortured decision. Also, Longmire indulges in a Summation, mislabeled as an Epilog. It’s used to tie-up the loose storylines that didn’t fit in the last few pages. Better pacing would have avoided having to tell the audience what happened to the kooky mailwoman who disappeared from the ending.
This was the 21st Longmire book. Johnson has been grinding-out one book per year for 21-years. Backstory of this series is normally an enormous drag on it. It consumes tens of pages per book. It’s a serious burden on the series' readers. This particular book was heavily invested in straightening out the backstory from The Longmire Defense (#19) and continuing it. I thought this secondary aspect of the story was well done. However, only a diehard reader of the series, jumping from foot-to-foot for #22 would be able to fully appreciate it.
In summary, Longmire stories are pop-corn reads. In this one. The sub-plots of the story were well done and will be of great interest to long-term readers of the series. The missing mailwoman aspect of the story was good, but suffered pacing issues.
Please note that I only very rarely give serial fiction greater than a three star rating.
This series has been going for 21-years and has more than twenty books, not counting the short stories wedged-in between the novels. Fortunately, I've not been reading it for that long. However, I’m wondering when Johnson is going to draw the series to a close? Will it be Longmire’s retirement as Absaroka County sheriff? That’s only been threatening for 5-6 books now? I’m betting on a bang-up series ending with a combined wedding and retirement party in #25 published in 2030?
Red Desert of Wyoming, The Boars Tusk, one of the crime scenes.
My dead tree edition was 381 pages. The original US copyright was 2025.
Craig Johnson is an American mystery and thriller novelist. He has more than 20-books published in his Longmire series. I’ve read most of the Longmire novels and many of the short stories by the author. The previous being The Longmire Defense (Walt Longmire, #19) (my review).
Its strongly recommended that the previous books in the series be read before this one, particularly The Longmire Defense (Walt Longmire, #19). The backstory for this series is now long and deep.
I found myself in a peculiar circumstance with this book-- I was reading two Longmire books at once. I was currently ear-reading First Frost (Walt Longmire, #20), when I had a target of opportunity to eye-read this in hardback over the last summer holiday. Capere librum!
I personally like it better, when The Sheriff stays at home in the mythical, Absaroka County. One of the others aspects of the series that I also greatly enjoy is the Native American mysticism that enters into some of the series’ books. Unfortunately, this book includes neither of these. Also, Henry Standing Bear, a fave character of mine, only plays a small part in the story. Retired Sheriff Lucian Connally also makes an appearance too, but his inclusion is likewise minor.
This story was a Walt Longmire and Dog story. He provides the sole POV for all of its main plot line. There was a secondary plot involving Longmire's daughter’s job involving him in Wyoming politics. And, there was a tertiary plotline involving Ruth One Heart, a character from The Longmire Defense. Both these subordinate plotlines are Johnston setting up for Walt Longmire, #22. In-general, recent (like the last 10-books), have been spinning-out longer-term series plotlines involving Longmire’s: PTSD, his relationships with his daughter (Cady) and his Undersheriff Victoria Moretti (Vic), and his future retirement as Absaroka County’s sheriff. Johnson continues to dress-up and walk these corpses around in this book. Although, at least he’s now engaged to Vic, which puts that one on the back burner.
In this story, Longmire gets asked by his dead wife’s cousin, a US postal service Inspector, to look in to the disappearance of a kooky, but much loved, rural postal carrier. She is a woman of a certain age, greatly influenced by her past involvement in marijuana, macramé and microbuses. She disappeared after finishing her long, rout through the Red Desert and hasn’t been seen since. While kooky, she’s always been completely reliable. Sweetwater County isn’t paying enough attention to the case for Walt's ex-relation. Walt investigates in his stoic, and laconic manner. The book contains the traditional amount of western history, cowboy law enforcement, and western cultural exposition.
Of note, there was more than has been recently usual of Longmire’s folksy humor. Walt gets a cell phone for this investigation, contrary to his aversion towards them. That was funny. However, there was NO usage of his signature “Boy Howdy". Still, there was more than enough of his cowboy dialog to chuckle over.
A problem I have with Longmire leaving Absaroka County, is that he’s always greeted in a “Hail fellow, well met” manner by his fellow regional sheriffs. Frankly, anybody who knows that Walt Longmire is in their patch should worry. It means that lots of folks are likely going to start dying. He’s also going to make their Sheriff’s department look like they’re inept, in comparison to his heroics.
This book was very backend loaded. Not a lot happens until near the end, then it gets frantic. Oddly, with the story rushing to a conclusion, Johnson indulges in some weird exposition on school bus maintenance and repair. Johnson did alright with when the bodies started dropping, although it was torturously convoluted. Longmire just couldn’t shoot a few scum buckets, who would leave the world a better place as the dead. He also spent a lot of internal monolog on the tortured decision. Also, Longmire indulges in a Summation, mislabeled as an Epilog. It’s used to tie-up the loose storylines that didn’t fit in the last few pages. Better pacing would have avoided having to tell the audience what happened to the kooky mailwoman who disappeared from the ending.
This was the 21st Longmire book. Johnson has been grinding-out one book per year for 21-years. Backstory of this series is normally an enormous drag on it. It consumes tens of pages per book. It’s a serious burden on the series' readers. This particular book was heavily invested in straightening out the backstory from The Longmire Defense (#19) and continuing it. I thought this secondary aspect of the story was well done. However, only a diehard reader of the series, jumping from foot-to-foot for #22 would be able to fully appreciate it.
In summary, Longmire stories are pop-corn reads. In this one. The sub-plots of the story were well done and will be of great interest to long-term readers of the series. The missing mailwoman aspect of the story was good, but suffered pacing issues.
Please note that I only very rarely give serial fiction greater than a three star rating.
This series has been going for 21-years and has more than twenty books, not counting the short stories wedged-in between the novels. Fortunately, I've not been reading it for that long. However, I’m wondering when Johnson is going to draw the series to a close? Will it be Longmire’s retirement as Absaroka County sheriff? That’s only been threatening for 5-6 books now? I’m betting on a bang-up series ending with a combined wedding and retirement party in #25 published in 2030?
July 23, 2025
This story introduces Walt Longmire to a cell phone. He has been asked to find a mail carrier whose route takes her through the driest, most inhospitable section of Wyoming - the Red Desert. There he has many hot, dry adventures, especially when he encounters a cult called "The Red Gate". He must use all his strength and skills to get through this one. A good read with all of Longmire's values and personality intact! Even the cell phone comes in handy.
May 31, 2025
The worst Longmiee ever
Don't waste your time. Absurd plot, ridiculous premise, terrible waste of the usual characters, implausible ending. I've read all the others, but this is the last one. The author has more in common with the Carruthers character than he might wish. And, btw, where were Cady, Henry, and Vic at the end?
Please, no more books. This will leave a bad taste in the mouth of any reader of the series.
Don't waste your time. Absurd plot, ridiculous premise, terrible waste of the usual characters, implausible ending. I've read all the others, but this is the last one. The author has more in common with the Carruthers character than he might wish. And, btw, where were Cady, Henry, and Vic at the end?
Please, no more books. This will leave a bad taste in the mouth of any reader of the series.
June 4, 2025
Longmire is becoming annoying. He makes one bone-headed decision after another. I can hardly count the number of times serial murderers point a gun at him and yet never pull the trigger. Dumber still, this unbelievable sheriff keeps giving up his sidearm. I'm sorry I wasted the credit.
August 9, 2025
Probably more like 3 1/2 stars. Not in my favorite top ten of the Longmire series: kind of a drawn out storyline, interspersed with a few ongoing subplots. The best part was the Red Desert setting, taking the sheriff into a new part of Wyoming.
June 24, 2025
Where in Wyoming is Mail Carrier Blair McGowen? What happened to her & is she alive? Which is what Mike Thurman, Postal Inspector wants to know and elicits his brother-in-law Walt Longmire the "world's worst undercover agent" to solve the mystery, locate her whereabouts & get her to safety. Longmire goes undercover but his true identity is quickly revealed with a bit of humorous observations from himself, others, and a fan he meets along the way of his adventures. He locates Blair among a religious group in the Red Desert and she brushes him off and tells him to go away.
Longmire contemplates closing his investigation. He found her and she appeared to be in good health and sound mind. Later found dead. The Coroner declared she died for dehydration and a snake bite. But Walt Longmire pays attention to the details and determined the body clothed in Blair's attire is not Blair. He is also bothered by thoughts that this religious group appears to be a cult
with undertones that something nefarious possibly murder and financial crimes is being perpetrated on the cult followers.
Longmire and his stalwart companion, Dog put themselves forward into a very dangerous situation.
One of events I really enjoyed was Dog had his moment as a hero as he fought off a pack of coyotes to save an abandoned baby. Longmire has multiple encounters with the cult leaders despite being outnumbered and outgunned. Or is he? He's armed with his trusty gun and the Cheyenne Rifle of the Dead whom Henry Standing Bear and Lonnie Little Bird believe is haunted. He also calls upon the Crow Shaman Virgil White Buffalo for help. Does the shaman or spirits come to Longmire's aid by helping him to trust himself, make crucial striking blows against his foes with one in million blows or shots. Readers can decide for themselves. Yet at the same time, Longmire shows compassion to even the non-deserving when he lugs injured foes across the desert to save their lives. How is he going to be able to rescue Blair and about 40 followers? Read this novel to find out!
Craig Johnson, a master storyteller weaves a clever tale to articulate this nail biting adventure.
The author also threads in an introduction to some new nemesis's for Longmire including the Regis family and the newly elected governor who would like nothing better than for Longmire to retire. The governor hints that it might sway his decision for appointing Longmire's daughter, Punk as the new Attorney General. And then there is an old foe Mr. Sidarov who offers to help Longmire deal with the Regis family as it serves his own interests as well.
Mr. Johnson also introduces the disappearance of Longmire's aunt, Ruth One Heart which I am sure
this mystery will unfold in a future novel.
True, this story, has very little of Vic and Henry Standing Bear, but I am sure they will have more significant parts to pay in future stories.
I highly recommend this book to Longmire fans. If you're new to the Longmire series, I'd recommend reading the earlier novels before reading this one for a richer experience.
Longmire contemplates closing his investigation. He found her and she appeared to be in good health and sound mind. Later found dead. The Coroner declared she died for dehydration and a snake bite. But Walt Longmire pays attention to the details and determined the body clothed in Blair's attire is not Blair. He is also bothered by thoughts that this religious group appears to be a cult
with undertones that something nefarious possibly murder and financial crimes is being perpetrated on the cult followers.
Longmire and his stalwart companion, Dog put themselves forward into a very dangerous situation.
One of events I really enjoyed was Dog had his moment as a hero as he fought off a pack of coyotes to save an abandoned baby. Longmire has multiple encounters with the cult leaders despite being outnumbered and outgunned. Or is he? He's armed with his trusty gun and the Cheyenne Rifle of the Dead whom Henry Standing Bear and Lonnie Little Bird believe is haunted. He also calls upon the Crow Shaman Virgil White Buffalo for help. Does the shaman or spirits come to Longmire's aid by helping him to trust himself, make crucial striking blows against his foes with one in million blows or shots. Readers can decide for themselves. Yet at the same time, Longmire shows compassion to even the non-deserving when he lugs injured foes across the desert to save their lives. How is he going to be able to rescue Blair and about 40 followers? Read this novel to find out!
Craig Johnson, a master storyteller weaves a clever tale to articulate this nail biting adventure.
The author also threads in an introduction to some new nemesis's for Longmire including the Regis family and the newly elected governor who would like nothing better than for Longmire to retire. The governor hints that it might sway his decision for appointing Longmire's daughter, Punk as the new Attorney General. And then there is an old foe Mr. Sidarov who offers to help Longmire deal with the Regis family as it serves his own interests as well.
Mr. Johnson also introduces the disappearance of Longmire's aunt, Ruth One Heart which I am sure
this mystery will unfold in a future novel.
True, this story, has very little of Vic and Henry Standing Bear, but I am sure they will have more significant parts to pay in future stories.
I highly recommend this book to Longmire fans. If you're new to the Longmire series, I'd recommend reading the earlier novels before reading this one for a richer experience.
June 6, 2025
Who knew there was a desert in Wyoming and that it was serviced by one mail carrier?
June 28, 2025
This was a classic Walt book. The side characters that we know and love didn't make many appearances but in a way, that was nice. It was just some quality time with our favorite anyway, WALT!!
July 3, 2025
Typical Walt Longmire story
Cult
Family, friends and swindlers
The Wild West of Wyoming.
Fast paced, good read.
Cult
Family, friends and swindlers
The Wild West of Wyoming.
Fast paced, good read.
January 14, 2026
“Return to Sender”, the 21st installment of the Walt Longmire series, is classic Craig Johnson. This is a great relief as some recent Longmire books have been hit and miss, occasionally subjecting readers to several corny plots including forays into the realm of supernatural Native American evil spirits; reoccurring gun fights with an annoying narco-supervillain that just won’t die; and even implausibly time traveling while visiting a ghost town! Fortunately, “Return to Sender” has left all that silliness apparently wadded up in the trash bin, happily returning to what Longmire fans love most: good old-fashion crime detection by our favorite sheriff in a cowboy hat accompanied by his trusty dog, aptly named Dog. This novel educates us about the longest mail route in America and treats us to Wyoming’s hauntingly beautiful Red Desert. Sure, Walt finds himself up against a creepy religious cult, but it’s nothing he can’t handle with his gun shooting skills and his pithy literary quotes and references. The only thing missing in “Return to Sender” is scenes with Henry Standing Bear. But hopefully The Cheyenne Nation will return in installment 22.
June 5, 2025
After meeting Craig Johnson last month and actually getting to eat dinner with him, I have determined that he is Walt Longmire. What a genuinely nice guy and an amazingly talented author. There is no one out there like this humble, kind-hearted man who is full of hilarious stories. Long live Craig Johnson.....AKA Walt Longmire!
January 14, 2026
Sheriff Walt Longmire begins a search for a missing rural postal carrier who handles the longest postal route in the US. the territory covers 300+ mile route in a desert area of rural Wyoming. Author Johnson deftly provides a mix drama, geographic detail, with a mix of western humor. An enjoyable read.
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