Walt Longmire, a former football player at Southern Cal, enlisted in the Marines in 1964 and ended his career. Fast forward to the present day, where he is now the sheriff of fictional Absaroka County in Wyoming. Along with his deputy, they come across a hundred-pound Bob Simmons-model surfboard while exploring Longmire’s basement. Despite his size, Longmire reminisces about his surfing days and is prompted by his deputy to share a long and intriguing tale that becomes the center of Craig Johnson’s latest crime novel, “First Frost.”
As Longmire and his deputy dig deeper into the mysteries of Absaroka County, they encounter a town that is as unwelcoming as its name. Residents warn them to leave as soon as possible with some messages sounding like threats. Longmire becomes determined to get to the bottom of the secrets lurking in the town while also facing scrutiny for a fatal shooting from a previous novel, “The Longmire Defense.” He also finds himself the target of a wealthy and politically powerful family seeking vengeance.
Johnson skillfully weaves between two time periods in the novel while maintaining a brisk pace in both storylines. The older tale is filled with suspense involving murderous drug smugglers, a tyrannical former judge controlling Bone Valley, and a dark secret linked to historic incarceration camps for Japanese Americans during World War II in the area. The narrative of “First Frost” recalls the tension of films like “Bad Day at Black Rock,” where protagonists uncover unsettling truths in western towns.
Whether readers are new to the Longmire series or longtime fans, Johnson’s vividly crafted novel provides an engaging read by delving into Longmire’s backstory and introducing compelling mysteries that offer thrilling additions to his saga. Bruce DeSilva, acclaimed author of Mulligan crime novels praises this gripping crime thriller highlights character development’s depth in Longmire’s latest adventure.
