Western mystery series features a tale of revenge

Published 10:17 am Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Cold Dish, by Craig Johnson. © 2005, Penguin Books. Trade paperback, 354 pages. Retail: $15

I dont usually review books more than a couple of years old, as I like to get people interested in new books. Mystery writer Craig Johnsons first Longmire series book was lent to me in anticipation of Johnsons visit to Pendleton last Sunday for a book signing event. I?havent had more fun reading a book in a long time.

The Cold Dish is the first in a series of 10 mystery novels featuring Sheriff Walter Longmire. Not only is the book well-written, its the right combination of witty, smart and exciting to keep the pages turning. Longmire is the kind of tender-yet-tough lawmaker that endears him to just about everyone, and his staff at the Absaroka (Wyoming) County Sheriffs Office is by turns cynical, critical and disparaging, but always fiercely loyal.

Walts longtime best friend, Henry Standing Bear, walks a fine line between enabling Walts shortcomings and encouraging him to rise above them. Henry is instrumental in guiding Walt through the delicate interactions with local Cheyenne from his home reservation near the county seat of Durant.

The Cold Dish is a book about revenge for a girl who was badly mistreated, and whose family had to watch her abusers walk away with little punishment; and for the one who would use the travesty as an excuse to attempt to right the wrongs of the past.

I?have to admit, I was tempted to take the lazy way out and watch the?series on Netflix first, but Ive found almost to a fault that TV?and movies leave out so much detail that Im inevitably disappointed. And while the A&E Channels pilot episode of the series was good (I did watch it after I?read the book), my suspicions were justified.