The A&E cable TV show “Longmire” is a modern western based on the mystery novels written by Craig Johnson. It premiered to record TV ratings in the summer of 2012. It stars Robert Taylor as Sheriff 'Walt Longmire' & Lou Diamond Phillips as ‘Henry Standing Bear.’ It follows the sheriff of Absaroka County in the state of Wyoming which is near an Indian Reservation. A&E ordered 10 episodes of the mystery & after the show premiered. It became the highest rated drama in the history of the cable network. “Longmire” was eventually renewed for a second TV season 2013.
“The Cold Dish” novel was adapted to the TV episode called - “Unfinished Business.” According to the ‘Amazon’ website the synopsis of the book is right here - “When Cody Pritchard is found shot to death near the Cheyenne reservation everyone including deputy Victoria Moretti believes he died in an accident. But two years earlier - Cody was one of four high schoolers convicted of raping a young Native American girl. All were given suspended sentences and when another of the four turns up dead - it appears that someone is out for revenge. Sheriff Longmire feels tension in the air between the white population and the Native American community - and he's not pleased to think that his lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear might be directly involved in the murders.”
Names were changed from the book to the TV show. Melissa Little Bird is the Cheyenne girl born with fetal alcohol syndrome who was gang raped. One of the teen boys who raped her was blown apart by a vintage shotgun. The book goes into detail about that gun. Who is the best sharp shooter in Absaroka County? Who owns a gun like that? What does that gun have to do with Cheyenne tribal mythology? A fake eagle feather was found next to the murdered body. What kind of feather is it? Did a Cheyenne Indian make it? Every detail of the bullet is investigated too by Sheriff Longmire. It is a thorough inquiry.
Craig Johnson tells the reader his story in the first person of Walt Longmire. We get the full insight on everything through his eyes including the people in his life. Henry Standing Bear serves as his liaison to the Cheyenne Indian people. The humor coming from Walt is hilarious as he quotes pop culture, books & movies. What is missing from the TV show is the straight forward ‘swearing’ from Deputy Vic Moretti. She is very smart, but the first thoughts that roll off her tongue are 'swear' words. The interesting part is how far Walt delves into the Cheyenne myths & spirituality. He wants to believe them as Henry guides him to what is real & what isn’t? Walt balances the white world by respecting the Cheyenne culture as he figures out the mystery. A Great Book!
Below are the Walt Longmire books written by Craig Johnson.
- Cold Dish
- Death Without Company
- Kindness Goes Unpunished
- Another Man's Mocassins
- The Dark Horse
- Junkyard Dogs
- Hell Is Empty
- As the Crow Flies
- A Serpent's Tooth
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