Though I've read a few novels in the 'Sheriff Walt Longmire' series, I hadn't read the first book until now. In this initial story, Walt investigates what appear to be revenge killings.
*****
Sheriff Walt Longmire of Absaroka County, Wyoming lives in the unfinished log cabin he'd been building for his wife Martha, who died four years ago. Walt's home is barely furnished, with shower curtains for bathroom doors, and an air of neglect and disrepair.
Walt's beloved daughter Cady is a lawyer in Philadelphia, and stays in touch with her dad by phone.
Walt's favorite pastime is sitting in his near empty house, drinking Rainier beer and watching static on his television, which has no cable or satellite dish.
Walt's best friend, a Cheyenne Indian called Henry Standing Bear, owns a bar named 'The Red Pony' and sometimes assists Walt with investigations.
Henry deplores Walt's living conditions, and encourages Walt to fix up his house and start dating. So Henry is pleased when Walt shows interest in an artist/real estate mogul called Vonnie Hayes, who recently moved back to the area.
As the story opens, a body is reported on Bureau of Land Management acreage, and Walt - thinking it's probably a sheep - sends Deputy Sheriff Victoria (Vic) Moretti to take a look.
Vic finds the body of a young man named Cody Pritchard, who was shot in the back from a distance. Walt speculates about a hunting accident, but it turns out to be murder. The authorities determine that Cody was shot with an antique rifle of the kind the Cheyenne imbue with mystical properties.
Walt recalls that several years ago, homicide victim Cody Pritchard and three of his high school buddies - Bryan Keller, Jacob Esper, and George Esper - brutally raped a young Indian girl called Melissa Little Bird. Melissa suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome and was severely traumatized.
The rapists were convicted, but Judge Vern Selby 'didn't want to ruin their lives' and the boys were set free after a brief stint in juvie.
Walt thinks revenge might be a possible motive for Cody's homicide, and the feeling in reinforced when Jacob Esper is found dead shortly afterwards. Walt wants to round up the two other rapists - to put them in protective custody - but this is easier said than done.
Meanwhile Walt and his team try to catch the perp before more deaths occur. Because the murder weapon seems to be associated with Indian lore, Walt goes to the Cheyenne reservation to interview Melissa's people, who are furious about the girl's assault and the light punishment received by the rapists.
There's plenty of action before the case is solved, with hunts through lakes, mountains, and forests - and more people are injured. The story also includes a touch of magical realism, with Indian spirits helping Walt when he needs assistance.
A slate of characters help round out the story, including: Vic Moretti - a very capable woman, who Walt hopes will become the first woman sheriff in Wyoming; Ruby - Walt's tart-tongued dispatcher; Jim 'Ferg' Ferguson - Walt's part-time deputy; Lucian Connally - the retired former sheriff, who still gives Walt a hand on occasion; Turk - Lucian's hot-headed nephew, who thinks he should be the next sheriff; and more.
I enjoyed the book, which is a fine introduction to the series.
I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by George Guidall, who does an excellent job.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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