“First Frost” is the 20th novel in Craig Johnson’s “Longmire” series.
The novel is written with a dual timeline. One is during the present day, with Walt Longmire (the fictional sheriff of Absaroka County in Wyoming), being questioned by a judge about a murder that took place in the previous book of series called “The Longmire Defense.” It is not necessary to read “The Longmire Defense” to enjoy “First Frost.” In “The Longmire Defense,” Walt had to shoot a man in self-defense, but the victim’s family has a lot of political power and wants Walt charged with murder. Walt handles this problem calmly, just like he does in all of his predicaments and adventures.
The other timeline takes place in 1964 after Walt and his best friend, Henry Standing Bear of the Cheyenne Nation have graduated from the University of Southern California where they played four years of football. Walt and Henry enlist in the military expecting to be sent to Vietnam. Both think they may have some input to their assignments during the war by volunteering. Their plan is to drive across the country to their different assigned training facilities. Soon after entering Arizona, Walt’s pick-up truck runs off the road, stranding them in Arizona. They walk to the nearest town called Bone Valley. The town is just as uninviting as the name. They are told repeatedly to leave town, but the part for Walt’s truck will take a few days to arrive. Something is definitely wrong in this town, and the future sheriff is persistent in solving the mystery.
The story from 1964 is the most suspenseful of the two timelines. It involves drug smugglers, a former judge who rules the town and a secret involving Japanese-Americans being held in an incarceration camp.
Craig Johnson does a wonderful job of weaving an intriguing story. He switches effortlessly between the two timelines. His descriptions of Wyoming, California and Arizona are captivating. His dialog is delightful, full of subtle humor. I continue to be amazed by his vocabulary. I have read all the Walt Longmire novels and my favorites are the ones that depict Walt and Henry in their youth. This brings more depth to their characters. It also demonstrates how long they have been friends and it gives background information about the pair. Craig Johnson also includes a cast of likable characters like his attorney daughter Cady, Ruby, the secretary of the sheriff’s office, Victoria Moretti, his undersheriff and Lucian Connolly, the previous sheriff of Absaroka County.
“Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery novels, which are the basis for Longmire, the hit Netflix original drama. The books have won multiple awards: Le Prix du Polar Nouvel Observateur / Bibliobs, the Wyoming Historical Association’s Book of the Year, Le Prix 813, two time Western Writers of America Spur Award winner, the Mountains & Plains Book of the Year, the SNCF Prix de Polar, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, The Watson Award, Library Journal’s Best Mystery of the Year, the Rocky, and the Will Rogers Award for Fiction. Spirit of Steamboat was selected by the Wyoming State Library as the inaugural One Book Wyoming. Johnson lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population 26.” (www.craigallenjohnson.com)
Cathy Lay Mayor grew up in Cullman and graduated from Cullman High School in 1976. She says when she writes book reviews, she tries to remember what Mrs. Gilbert taught her in 11th-grade English. She lived in Dothan for more than 30 years and is married with three adult children and six grandchildren. She retired to Panama City, but still calls Alabama home.
