An Obvious Fact | Craig Johnson

An Obvious Fact: A Longmire Mystery

Extended Synopsis

In An Obvious Fact, the twelfth thrilling installment of Craig Johnson's bestselling contemporary Western series, Sheriff Walt Longmire is pulled outside his usual jurisdiction into a volatile situation surrounding America's first national monument, Devils Tower. In the midst of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally—the largest gathering of its kind in the world—a young biker is run off the road and left in critical condition. Walt and his lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear are called to the nearby town of Hulett, Wyoming, to assist with the investigation, but what initially looks like a routine vehicular accident quickly unravels into a dense web of institutional deception.

The regional investigation rapidly grows complicated as competing biker gangs clash over local territory, drawing the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Adding to the chaos is a military-grade assault vehicle gifted to the tiny local police force by a wealthy entrepreneur, alongside the sudden arrival of Lola, a real-life femme fatale and the historical namesake for Henry's '59 Thunderbird. As layers of corruption surface, Henry continuously channels the classic insights of Arthur Conan Doyle, reminding Walt that “there is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” Longmire must deploy his trademark grit to decipher hidden motives before the local powder keg detonates entirely.

Reader Targeting

• Devoted readers tracking the full chronological continuity, humor, and evolving character alliances of the Walt Longmire series.
• Enthusiasts of fast-paced, multi-jurisdictional police procedurals featuring motorcycle subcultures and federal law enforcement dynamics.
• Fans of crime fiction that seamlessly blends classic detective archetypes and Sherlockian literary references with authentic Western settings.

Accolades & Awards

• A celebrated entry in the multi-million copy New York Times bestselling franchise that inspired the hit television drama Longmire.

Author Biography

Craig Johnson is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery series. His western literature has captured multiple prestigious distinctions, including the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Will Rogers Medallion, and France's Prix du Roman Noir. Johnson lives in the rural community of Ucross, Wyoming, a town with a population of twenty-five residents, where the vast and rugged local environment serves as a continuous source of inspiration for his work.

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