First Frost

A Walt Longmire Mystery, Book 20

By: Craig Johnson

Narrated by: George Guidall

Following the events of The Longmire Defense, we return to find Walt and our familiar cast of characters from Abaroska county tasked with solving a crime even more challenging than the last.

Walt Longmire returns in this twentieth installment of the award-winning and bestselling series that has been a hit on both the page and the screen. Set in the unsoiled countryside of Wyoming, Sheriff Walt Longmire has to navigate his own increasingly complicated personal life with the ever-changing and often violent underworld that encroaches on what was once referred to as the Old West. This time, he is up against a sinister plot that could hurt the people closest to him and forever change the way he sees his beloved Wyoming.

©2024 Craig Johnson (P)2024 Recorded Books

A bit disjointed

Frankly, this book is rough. I almost gave up on it twice, but George's typically excellent reading kept me going when the story staggered. The two plots are barely interwoven and have little or nothing to do with one another. And while the history involved in the 'flashback' sections (most of the book) is interesting...the story really isn't. it serves no purpose in the grand scheme of Walt's life except to demonstrate yet again his nigh-supernatural ability to absorb physical damage and keep going, just with less tension than usual (since you know beyond a doubt that neither Walt nor Henry are in permanent danger).

So...overall, meh. Not bad, but not particularly good either. At least it sets the hook for the next book.

Classic

Really fun to get to know young Walt and Bear. Neither have changed a bit in 50 years. Thanks for sharing these books make my day.

I seriously love ❤ bein' back in Absaroka County and Walt Longmire!

It's so great to be able to hoof it back to Absaroka County. And I seriously love bein' here! I find it hard to believe that this is the twentieth book as, a) I don't usually stick with the series that long and b) It feels like I've really just begun. I guess books/time flies when you're having such reading fun because it seems like yesterday I watched the last season Netflix. But what's this? Books! Yay! I love ❤ Walt Longmire, Henry Standing Bear, and Vic... and yes of course Craig Johnson!
In this book Craig Johnson tells us two stories. Walt Longmire is on trial and he's not ever going to be afraid to do his job, while also remembering the days leading up to the beginning of his military stint. As he and Henry Standing Bear suffer a flat in Bone Valley a town that doesn't take kindly to strangers... oh boy howdy they don't like strangers!
Thanks again Craig Johnson for writing such a great story! And thank you George Guidall for your awesome voice performance!

Here's a quote that tickled me:

"You are morose enough without us dragging Dostoevfsky across the country along with us."

Always the characters

I have read or listened to all of the Longmire books. Some I have enjoyed more than others. This one while not one of my favorites was still engaging. Would definitely recommend it to Craig Johnson fans.

Guidall's choppy reading!

I feel like puncturing out my eardrums so I don't have to listen to him pause reading in the middle of a sentence to breathe.

long time fan

This slip back look at Walt and Henry leaving California college for a drive across the lower USA states to report to their military training facilities is an odd mix. In many ways it is like a chess game stuck in intrigue with the heavy slog of a long running check and checkmate heading for a tie. It is unique, fun, interesting, but inevitably, the games miraculously continues to the end.

Craig Johnson is the master of interesting story lines weaved to great satisfaction. It's just this one takes longer than most to get there. And there is the giggling feeling that the time lines, like Michael Connolly's works, get confused between Vietnam and the necessity to drag things into Iraq. For Walt that includes the haunting of WW2. One shouldn't look to closely at real history lest one think Walt just might be as old as me.

Classic Walt

Opening in one of my favorite locations on the California coast, this dual timeline Longmire classic is an enjoyable way to address loose ends from a previous book and set the stage for books to come while building our knowledge of Walt’s past.

Outstanding author, outstanding performance

This story is about Longmire’s early years. He was an exemplary character even then. It’s is both heart wrenching and humorous. A truly good read. You won’t want to miss this.

Getting weird

Excellent historical details. Characters, however, have become caricatures of “bad guys” and settings like the ghost town just don’t track.

The inpredictability of the story lines.

Walt Longmier always makes me smile. All is well that ends well. So far each book always leads me to the next