Episode #15 in the Walt Longmire series.
(warning: I've reviewed them all here. Safe to assume that if I keep coming back, I must be a fan)
In Depth of Winter (#14), Walt took a helluva beating when rescuing his kidnapped daughter, Cady, from the home-base of a Mexican drug cartel. He's back in body, but not in spirit. Scars are slowly healing, but being the modern day embodiment of the stoic loner of the old west, he grits his teeth and deals silently with continuing physical and emotional pains.
He and a couple WY Game officials are investigating the remains of a sheep found near the camp of a seasonal herd shepherded by a Chilean hired to watch over them in the high pastures during the summer. Predators abound in the mountains, but some evidence suggests a wolf. Unusual because the closest wolf population is in far away Yellowstone, according to a representative of the Wolf Conservancy situated in the Rocky Mountains.
The obvious question is where is the shepherd? A search of the area finds his wagon near a treeline where the shepherd has been hung from a tree limb. There is evidence that some critter has been gnawing at feet of the deceased. The sheep takes a back seat to the death of a human.
Walt has a couple fronts to address. One is the potential public panic about their new 'wolf problem.' This is a problem that an elected sheriff isn't responsible for. That's the purview of the state's Game authority. But for some reason, the citizens think it's up to Walt, meaning that hunters are coming out of the boonies wanted to be contracted to kill the wolf. The other front is the death of the shepherd. Murder or suicide? Got to settle that first.
What he really needs to settle is his post traumatic stress from Mexico. Blackouts. Unexplained outbursts. Uncharacteristic behaviors toward his staff and the public. If this continues, it may affect his ability to serve as sheriff. Something he rarely has time to consider, retirement, becomes an ongoing internal debate. At least Dog is still there to keep him on course.
Based on the contents of the shepherd's wagon, the guy was pretty well-read, especially revolutionary literature. It's possible he took the job to avoid authorities in South America. The shepherd also had a bit of a relationship with the lady from the Wolf Conservancy. And the shepherd's US employer (a 3rd generation Basque expat), his family and his in-laws have all have had some run-ins with Walt. They've also perturbed the Conservancy lady as well. A more complex puzzle that takes Walt well beyond simply trying to decide if this was or wasn't a suicide.
Full disclosure: Craig Johnson is firmly entrenched in my power rotation. I will read everything he puts out and have no doubt that I will like any Longmire story. Period. 'Nuff said. Yep.
The Netflix series 'Longmire' (6 seasons of binge-worthy quality) is based on the Johnson's characters. Normally, any TV show or movie that comes from published books never do the book(s) any justice. But in this case, I say the TV series is pretty dang close (Come on now. 6 seasons for a total of 65-70 episodes? They must've been getting it right. Fans of the show are fans of the books and vice versa. That rarely happens). When asked, I say that the TV series is perhaps the best casting of fictional characters - Walt Longmire in particular. My suggestion is to watch some (all?) of the Netflix series. Get Walt, Vic, Ruby, the Ferg, Henry Standing Bear, Lucian, and Cady firmly entrenched in your mind's eye. As you read the books, you'll see the characters and story played out in your mind using friends from the TV series. Makes for some first rate, entertaining, and satisfying reading of stories dreamed up by an experience storyteller who consistently delivers the goods.
East Coast Don
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