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The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1)
The Cold Dish - Walt Longmire, Bk 1
Author: Craig Johnson
There's a powerful, new voice coming from out of the American West and his name is Craig Johnson. In his debut novel Johnson brings to life the vast Wyoming landscape, its people, and a wonderful new character in Sheriff Walt Longmire. — The citizens of the Cowboy State boast a long and bloody history of dispensing rough justice but the last few ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780670033690
ISBN-10: 0670033693
Publication Date: 12/29/2004
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 23

4 stars, based on 23 ratings
Publisher: Viking Adult
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 8
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

texastech avatar reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 71 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
If you like mysteries out in the West (Wyoming in this case) then you will love this and his writing style. "The Cold Dish" is my top pick for the first novel Edgar Award, it's that good!" - Tony Hillerman
beachnbooks avatar reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 73 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I waited patiently for this book even though I had already picked up some of the follow on titles in this series. I wanted to start from the beginning and I wasn't let down after having waited. This book was better than I had hoped! The writing style, the story line, the dialogue, and the relationships were all just terrific. I know that everyones likes are different but you'll not be sorry if you invest time in reading this book and this author.
reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 330 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
As the title implies revenge is the theme of this book. When Cody Pritchard is found dead, Walt Longmire just knows that life is going to get complicated for his small town Sheriff's Department. Cody was a member of a gang of four that were arrested and tried for the sexual assault of a local Cheyenne woman - and when the men only received a light sentence the community was in an uproar, now that one of the golden four is dead, there are just too many suspects.

Sheriff Longmire initially suspects the Cheyenne community and with the help of his good friend, Henry Standing Bear, who also happens to be a suspect, the investigating begins. Now if only Walt can keep his professional distance maybe a reasonable conclusion can come about. But with the death of his wife 4 years before and a mourning process that just won't end, a new love interest, an unbelievable cast of characters, both in his own office and the community, Walt just might get to the bottom of this mess. That is if his bathroom shower curtain doesn't repeatedly try to wrap him up like a human burrito.

With a surprising ending and laugh out loud humor this is definitely a series worth continuing. And who knew, you can actually buy a helicopter out of the Neiman Marcus catalog.
Readnmachine avatar reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 1479 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
First of the Longmire series. Complex and well-written tale of a the murders of young men who had raped a girl but served only token sentences. Longmire is sometimes reminiscent of Robert B. Parker's Spenser, but Johnson lacks the rat-a-tat rhythm. The pace slows down about midway through the book, and the main chracter takes a noir-ish nosedive at the very end.
jjares avatar reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 3429 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a delicious new series that was recommended to me at a book reading site. This has some of the same attributes as the book we were discussing on that reading site: wit with a bit of sarcasm, snappy dialogue, interesting plot, and fascinating characters. This author gives gritty thumbnail sketches of new characters he introduces. Craig Johnson creates absolutely fascinating characters. I think most Americans are interested in Indians and have a curiosity about their current lives. Johnson gives the reader insight into the diverse way Indians live today.

Long-time sheriff of a Wyoming county, Walt Longmire is concerned about revenge being meted out to four men who were given suspended sentences for viciously raping a young Northern Cheyenne girl. His county is nestled right next to an Indian reservation. The case, though it happened two years ago, still bothers Longmire. It is obvious that Longmire thinks there was a serious miscarriage of justice against the young Cheyenne girl.

Now, two of the four men have been murdered. Why seek revenge so late after the crime? He needs to put the other two men in protective custody while he tries to find the perp. Before he can do that, the third man is wounded, and then disappears.

This is such an interesting story that weaves Indian culture with a modern Wyoming lawman theme. It is compelling on several levels; I hate to give too much information that might reduce other readers' enjoyment. Overall rating = 4.5 stars

Walt Longmire Mysteries
** 1. The Cold Dish (2004)
2. Death Without Company (2006)
3. Kindness Goes Unpunished (2007)
Read All 27 Book Reviews of "The Cold Dish Walt Longmire Bk 1"

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reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on
A enjoy the book
reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 628 more book reviews
Really enjoyed reading this Western mystery novel on which the Netflix series Longmire is based. Plenty of grit, and action, but very funny. Lots of bantering between friends and even some romantic nostalgia, and some insight into Native American culture.
reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 379 more book reviews
Good read. Characters are well developed and interesting.Having seen the series, I can even picture how they looked and they fit the characters well. Story of a murder and its solving by Walt.
reviewed The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, Bk 1) on + 3161 more book reviews
I didn't get very far in this book:

1. so slow slow slow
2. a murder happens but it seems to be put aside while Johnson just meanders on about 'nothing'! pages and pages of NOTHING
3. I liked the tv show but this book isn't even close to the characters we know on tv, I didn't like any of the characters in the book AT ALL!
4. not much style of writing in this, just a lot of nonsense that doesn't pertain to the main storyline of a murder and the murder seems to be on the back burner
5. Longmire seems to be a lazy fat man with not much ambition, the rest of the cast isn't much better.

I had all the other books on my wish list but have now removed them, don't want anymore after the disaster of this one, don't waste your money


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