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The Highwayman: A Longmire Story | Craig Johnson
The Highwayman: A Longmire Story | Craig Johnson
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Venture into the isolated, radio-silent depths of Wyoming's Wind River Canyon in The Highwayman: A Longmire Story, an atmospheric and chilling novella from New York Times bestselling author Craig Johnson.
Narrative Overview
In The Highwayman, Craig Johnson delivers a haunting and atmospheric novella that expands the universe of his New York Times bestselling Walt Longmire series. Set against the stark, imposing backdrop of Wyoming's Wind River Canyon—an area so remote that local troopers call it "no-man's-land" due to the total absence of radio communication—this story follows Wyoming highway patrolman Rosey Wayman into an unsettling mystery. Her routine transfer takes a terrifying turn when she begins receiving distress calls from a legendary Arapaho patrolman, Bobby Womack, who died in a fiery crash in the canyon nearly fifty years ago.
Drawn into this inexplicable situation, Sheriff Walt Longmire and his close friend Henry Standing Bear are forced to bridge the gap between the living and the spectral. As they peel back the layers of a cold case that refuses to stay buried, they find themselves pitted against a formidable and chilling local legend: The Highwayman. This compact, suspenseful narrative masterfully blends the classic investigative grit fans expect from the Longmire series with a touch of the supernatural, proving that even the dead sometimes demand justice.
Core Audience
- Fans of the Walt Longmire series looking to complete their collection of novellas and short stories.
- Readers who enjoy atmospheric Western mysteries with elements of suspense and regional folklore.
- Viewers of the Longmire television drama who appreciate the dynamic between Walt and Henry.
Author Biography
Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery series, the inspiration for the hit television drama Longmire. He has won numerous accolades, including the Spur Award and the Will Rogers Medallion, for his evocative portrayals of the American West. Johnson resides in Ucross, Wyoming, where the vast, rugged landscape continues to fuel his storytelling.
Product Specifications
| Full Title | The Highwayman: A Longmire Story |
|---|---|
| Author | Craig Johnson |
| Series | A Longmire Story (Novella) |
| Publisher & Imprint | Penguin Books (An imprint of Penguin Random House) |
| Publication Date | May 16, 2017 |
| Binding Format | Trade Paperback |
| Edition | Reprint / Trade Paperback Edition |
| Print Length | 208 Pages |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-13 | 9780735220904 |
| ISBN-10 | 0735220905 |
| Library of Congress (LCCN) | 2016429550 |
| Primary BISAC Genre | FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural |
| Product Dimensions | 5.06 x 0.57 x 7.00 inches |
| Item Weight | 6.4 oz (approx. 0.40 lbs) |
| Condition | Pre-Owned / Very Good |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a full-length standalone novel or a short novella?
This book functions specifically as a standalone novella within the New York Times bestselling Walt Longmire literary series. At just over 200 pages, it provides a tight, fast-paced, and self-contained mystery that can easily be read in a single sitting.
What is the main narrative hook and setting driving the plot?
The story is set in the majestic but dangerous landscape of Wyoming's Wind River Canyon—an isolated stretch of highway patrolmen refer to as "no-man's-land" due to a complete lack of radio communication. The mystery ignites when a young female highway patrol officer, Rosey Wayman, begins receiving terrifying, crackling "officer needs assistance" distress calls over her dead radio.
Does this specific Longmire story venture into the supernatural?
Yes, explicitly. The distress calls are mapped directly back to Bobby Womack, a legendary Arapaho highway patrolman who met a fiery, tragic death in that exact canyon nearly a half-century ago. The book is highly celebrated by fans for blending classic police procedural logic with haunting, atmospheric ghost-story elements.
Which prominent series regulars team up to solve this canyon mystery?
Sheriff Walt Longmire enters the canyon alongside his lifelong best friend, Henry Standing Bear. Together, the duo must combine local tribal folklore, historical archives, and old-school detective tracking skills to determine if the phantom radio broadcasts are an elaborate terrestrial hoax or a genuine message from the other side.
Where does this novella fall in the series, and can a beginner read it?
It was published between the full-length novels Dry Bones and An Obvious Fact. Because the central ghost-patrolman mystery is entirely self-contained and does not impact the main, multi-book family plotlines of the series, it serves as an exceptional, highly welcoming introduction for readers new to Craig Johnson's writing.
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