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The Longmire Defense: A Longmire Mystery | Craig Johnson
The Longmire Defense: A Longmire Mystery | Craig Johnson
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Uncover a gripping legacy of family secrets and mid-century corruption in The Longmire Defense, the nineteenth thrilling installment of Craig Johnson's acclaimed Walt Longmire mystery series.
Narrative Overview
In The Longmire Defense, the nineteenth installment of Craig Johnson's acclaimed mystery series, Sheriff Walt Longmire confronts a cold case that penetrates the protective veneer of his own family history. What starts as a routine search-and-rescue mission alongside his faithful companion, Dog, in Wyoming's rugged Bighorn Mountains shifts focus when Walt pauses at a remote rock outcropping. The location triggers a memory of his father recounting the first time he witnessed a human death—the late-1940s shooting of state accountant Bill Sutherland. The historic investigation hit an immediate standstill because none of the individuals present at the isolated elk camp possessed a rifle matching the fatal caliber.
The decades-old mystery reopens unexpectedly when Dog discovers the long-lost, missing weapon hidden in the wilderness landscape. Plunged headfirst into the investigation, the sheriff of Absaroka County uncovers intricate ties linking the homicide to a heavily guarded, illicit state mineral fund—a treasury certain powerful interests will commit murder to keep permanently concealed. As a fair-minded detective dedicated to systemic transparency, Walt finds his personal ethics tested to their limits. His relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a devastating detail: the rifle in question originally belonged to his own infamous and uncompromising grandfather, Lloyd Longmire.
Core Audience
- Dedicated readers tracking the multi-book continuity and ancestral lineage of the Walt Longmire franchise.
- Enthusiasts of procedural crime thrillers that skillfully intertwine mid-century historical cold cases with modern frontier law enforcement.
- Fans of character-driven mysteries exploring complex multi-generational family secrets, public corruption, and ethical gray areas.
Accolades & Awards
- A prominent addition to the internationally bestselling contemporary Western series that inspired the multi-season television drama.
- Official winner of the prestigious Western Writers of America Spur Award for best contemporary Western fiction.
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 he continues to craft his globally celebrated frontier procedurals.
Product Specifications
| Full Title | The Longmire Defense: A Longmire Mystery |
|---|---|
| Author | Craig Johnson |
| Series | Walt Longmire Mysteries, Vol. 19 |
| Publisher & Imprint | Viking (An imprint of Penguin Publishing Group) |
| Publication Date | September 5, 2023 |
| Binding Format | Hardcover (First Edition with Dust Jacket) |
| Edition | First Edition |
| Print Length | 368 Pages |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-13 | 9780593297315 |
| ISBN-10 | 0593297318 |
| Library of Congress (LCCN) | 2023006036 |
| Primary BISAC Genre | FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural |
| Product Dimensions | 6.25 x 1.2 x 9.28 inches |
| Item Weight | 19.6 oz (approx. 1.22 lbs) |
| Condition | Pre-Owned / Very Good |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this novel fall in the chronological order of the Longmire series?
This book is the nineteenth full-length installment in Craig Johnson's bestselling Walt Longmire series. It continues the modern-day timeline of the Absaroka County Sheriff immediately following the events of his previous 2022 novel, Hell and Back.
Did this specific installment win any major literary awards?
Yes. The novel received immense critical acclaim from Western literature organizations and officially won the prestigious Western Writers of America Spur Award for best contemporary Western fiction.
What is the main narrative hook and cold case mystery featured in the book?
While responding to a search-and-rescue emergency in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains, Walt and his canine companion, Dog, discover a historic rifle hidden in a rock outcrop. This weapon maps directly back to a cold case from 1948: the unexplained shooting of a state accountant named Bill Sutherland at an elk hunting camp.
How does the investigation impact Walt Longmire on a personal level?
The case tests Walt's strict ethical boundaries because the rediscovered murder weapon belonged to his own grandfather, Lloyd Longmire. As Walt digs into his family history, he uncovers deep family secrets and unearths an illicit multi-billion-dollar mineral trust fund that prominent entities will kill to keep hidden.
Who are the central supporting characters assisting Walt in this novel?
Alongside his iconic companion Dog, the plot features regular series staples assisting with the investigation, including his trusted friend Henry Standing Bear. The narrative also features historical insights into the older generation, linking Henry's lineage back to the original 1948 hunting guide, Clarence Standing Bear.
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