My childhood memories include watching my cousins ride in rodeos, hanging out in the animal barns at the fair, and riding horses with my sister. It's not surprising, then, that I felt right at home reading The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson. It has a realistic feel that I attribute to a combination of Johnson's background as a police officer in New York City and his more recent experience living in Wyoming.
The main character, Walt Longmire, has been a county sheriff for 24 years. Accustomed to handling drunken brawls and holiday lights, he initially pegs the death of Cody Pritchard as a hunting accident. However, it soon becomes apparent that Cody's death was no accident. Instead, it could be retribution for his role in a brutal crime. Walt must figure out who is behind it before the other three young men who were involved meet a similar end.
Like a small town, this book is full of interesting and interconnected people. Walt's deputy, Victoria Moretti, comes from a long line of cops in South Philly. Where Walt is Wyoming-bred, mild-mannered, and popular, Vic is a foul-mouthed newcomer who sometimes rubs people the wrong way. She's also very good enough at her job. So good that she'd be moving toward the top of the ladder if she'd stayed in Philadelphia, and Walt has her pegged to be his replacement when he retires in a couple of years--if he can figure out how to get people to vote for her. Walt's best friend since childhood is Henry Standing Bear, former special ops soldier and current owner of the Red Pony bar. A supporting cast of friends, neighbors, and law enforcement personnel round out the community.
The Cold Dish is the first book in the Walt Longmire series. The fifth installment, The Dark Horse, will be out in May, and Craig Johnson will speak and sign books at Bellevue Regional Library on Tuesday, June 16, at 7 pm.
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