Have Courage: Longmire Stories

Walt Longmire

by Craig Johnson

“Extraordinary. . . . The O. Henry-esque twists that conclude every story in this collection are intricately plotted and expertly written. Like assorted homemade Christmas cookies, each story is an entire and perfect treat.”
—Library Journal, starred review

A wintry collection of Longmire stories by the beloved author of the New York Times bestselling series

Walt Longmire, sheriff of Absaroka County, investigates a series of eccentric small-town crises in fifteen holiday-inspired stories. An old dog mysteriously escapes the animal shelter night after night. A deputy deploys an unexpected diversion during a hostage standoff. The baby Jesus vanishes from a nativity scene. And Walt faces one of his most challenging assignments caring for a 150-year-old sourdough starter, while apprehending a seven-year-old suspect with the diction of a 1930s gumshoe.

With a foreword by Longmire actor A Martinez, Have Courage is a gripping and open-hearted holiday collection—rich with the humor, humanity, and irresistible high jinks of Craig Johnson’s Absaroka County.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

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

Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the basis for the hit Netflix original series Longmire. He is the recipient of the Western Writers of America’s spur awards and the Owen Wister Award, the Will Rogers Medallion and Lariat Award, the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association’s Reading the West Book Award for fiction, as well as the Bouchercon 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. His novella Spirit of Steamboat was the first One Book Wyoming selection. He lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population 26.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Thomas]

4.5 stars rounded down for 12 short stories in the Longmire series. Craig Johnson sent out these stories to his followers as a Christmas gift. All 12 are set during the Xmas season. Each story is laced with humor and humanity. I recommend them to Longmire fans and fans of short stories.
Walt Longmire, Sheriff of fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming, deals with complicated, sometimes humorous, and sometimes unexpected situations. Some examples: the Sourdough starter story, where Walt is reluctantly entrusted with a jar of sourdough starter, because Ruby, his dispatcher is going on a cruise. While caring for this precious jar, he is called to the scene of a seven year old thief stealing groceries.
All of these stories have a satisfactory ending.
Thank You Viking Penguin for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#HaveCourage #NetGalley

Pub Date Nov 3 2026

[Homerun2]

I have enjoyed all the Sheriff Walt Longmire mysteries, but I also think Johnson has a deft touch with short stories, which is a different skill set. His stories are well done and thoughtful, sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant. This selection has some of each. And Johnson works in some truly arcane and impressive facts about not only crime but all kinds of esoteric subjects.

The standout story for me features his deputy Double Tough and his glass eyeball -- and I'm saying no more but it's unforgettable and laugh out loud funny. His old mentor Lucian appears frequently, and his staff are around for these mostly holiday themed reminisces. The stories are the perfect length and each is enjoyable in a slightly different way. Long live Sheriff Walt. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elmira]

Thank you to NetGalley, Craig Johnson, and Viking for allowing me to read a free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a collection of short stories whose events occur around Christmastime in Walt Longmire's Absaroka County, Wyoming. For the first story, we go all the way back in time to when Walt was a newly recruited trainee deputy in his first week on the job under (a youngish) Lucien Conolly. Each of the stories contains Craig Johnson's trademark optimistic outlook and deeply thoughtful characters. It is a pleasure to spend time in Walt's world in these pages!

[Plunkemus Prime]

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review

The Longmire television show ended almost a decade ago. The show lives on with many new watchers discovering in yearly--but what do you do if you are still wanting a new fix for Longmire? Well, you read the books. The Cold Dish came out in 2004 and that started it all for the 28 book series. There have been novels and novellas; however, there have been yearly short stories.

Author Craig Johnson is famous for his tales and his short stories vary in length, but they all still captivate the reader. Each year he puts out a new Christmas story sent via email to his subscribers. Many anticipate this yearly story like a small child waiting for Santa Claus.

These are lighter fare on the mystery side and *most* aren't dark. Each of them fills in time yearly of small mysteries or nutty police calls which happen every Christmas Eve. Absaroka County is a lot more different than the hustle and bustle of big city policing. When Walt isn't doing his usual murder solving in the novels, he is figuring out how to handle drunks fighting inflatable tube men or dealing with 7 year old burglars with a taste for old detective books (All on Christmas Eve).

If you love Longmire, you'll love this set of 15 short stories. The same goes for people who maybe are looking for an entry point to the Longmire books or even those just wanting a cozy humor filled set of Christmas style mysteries.

I can't wait for the first snow---because it will probably make me want to read it again.

[Terry Ballard]

Craig Johnson has been giving us novels for decades about a football star and Vietnam vet Walter Longmore, who eventually settled down as County sheriff in a fictional but well grounded northern Wyoming county. He has deservedly picked up an enthusiastic fan base - people who tune in to his happenings on the internet. One year he gave his fans a Christmas surprise of a new Longmire short stpry set in the holidays and this became a tradition. For the second time, he has collected these into a book. Each story starts on Christmas Eve, when the sheriff is anticipating a warm celebration and good company, but each time, a crisis appears out of nowhere that will not keep until the 26th. Each story is resolved in the nick of time, and many of them shed light on the off stage character who was his deceased wife. Any Longmire book feels like revisiting an old friend and this one is certainly no exception.

[Kathleen]

HAVE COURAGE, written by Craig Johnson, contains a collection of short stories set in Absaroka County at holiday time. The stories include characters from Walt Longmire’s world. Walt is the sheriff of Absaroka County in Wyoming.

It is fun to visit with Walt Longmire and people who work with him. You don’t need to read Craig Johnson’s novels to appreciate these stories, but it makes the reading experience even more enjoyable if you have read the books. The insights into Walt’s character related in the “Introduction” are appreciated. Most of the stories hold my attention. There are times when I am quite touched, almost to tears. This book is a wonderful Christmas gift. Thank you, Viking Penguin and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of HAVE COURAGE.

[Mike Stafford]

You don't need courage to enjoy the legendary Longmire stories by Craig Johnson. Any Longmire tale (long or short) is a rewarding experience. This terrific book collects those classic Christmas morning tales Johnson has gifted readers over the years. If you haven't read them before, you're in for a treat. If you have read before, you're in for a treat. If there's someone who hasn't discovered the Longmire stories yet, this would be a great introduction for them. Plus, there's a fantastic forward by A Martinez that fully captures the spirit of Walt Longmire. This is a collection of favorites you'll enjoy in one sitting.

[Mike Lyons]

Another great set of thirteen short Longmire stories from Craig Johnson. The collected stories give the reader a look into some of back stories of various characters in the Longmire universe - fleshing them out and providing insight into their motivations and history. I especially like the stories "Warms You Twice" and "Recidivism " for illuminating Walt's and Lucian"s relationship. The story "Land Of The Blind" shows just how tough Double Touch really is and the the story "Away In A Manger" deepen our understanding of the Basque members of Absaroka County. The remaining nine stories are also great. Recommended.

[Becky Abbott]

Have Courage by Craig Johnson is a compilation of short stories set around the holidays. Covering Walt Longmire's escapades with the Absaroka Sheriff's Department over many years, it is a fun book to read. From the dog who gets out of the shelter each night and ends up at the Assisted Living place to the perils of trying to keep a 150 year old sourdough starter alive, it covers a good bit of time and place. This is a very good book especially it one likes short stories.

[J Kromrie]

Thanks to Viking Penguin and Netgalley for this eARC.

Craig Johnson’s Have Courage is a reminder that the Longmire series has always been more than crime fiction. It’s a landscape of character, memory, humor, and moral grit—and this collection distills those qualities into short, potent doses. Each story feels like a window into Walt’s internal weather: sometimes clear, sometimes storm‑heavy, always honest.

I loved it!

[Abibliofob]

Walt Longmire has been a favorite of mine for many years now and although I get these stories in the christmas mail it is still great to have them collected in book form. Craig Johnson is a master storyteller for sure. Here we have a wonderful collection of christmas stories through time in Absaroka county with all the characters we love. I thank Viking and Edelweiss for letting me read this advance copy.

[Tracy Hinson]

I love all of Craig Johnson books. I never thought id like short stories. Not disappointed in these short stories by Craig Johnson. I’ll be reading more short stories. They give me a break when I’m in a slump.

[Barb]

review to come