Anyone who has followed my reviews, even for a short time, is likely to have noticed that I enjoy short stories, I enjoy a good Western tale now and again, and I find that I do enjoy a good mystery. One of the few authors who fits into all three of these categories is Craig Johnson with his Walt Longmire series. It’s not the classic Western style, set in the 1800’s, but the setting in Wyoming and the cowboy-like attitude of Sheriff Longmire definitely give off the western vibe.
Have Courage is a collection of short Longmire stories, most of them set around the Christmas season. And while the stories are considerably shorter than the usual Longmire novel, Johnson doesn’t skimp on the things that make these books work. We get Walt, Henry Standing Bear, Vic, Lucian, Ruby, the Ferg, Dog and the rest of the familiar characters, along with the humor, mystery, violence and occasional strangeness that we’ve come to expect. Seriously … could anything be stranger than our central figures in “Angel Shot With a Twist”?
What I particularly enjoyed about these stories is how much Longmire they manage to pack into such a small space. Each story gives us a little mystery or problem for Walt to deal with, but we also get the character development and quirky situations that make the longer books so much fun. Some of the stories reach back into Walt’s earlier days, while others show us the sheriff we know today. Together, they give us little snapshots of Absaroka County and the people who live there. If I ever decide to reread the entire series (although unlikely because there are always new books I want to read, it is a possibility) I would want to read these stories between the novels in their appropriate place and time-frame. I think we can see Walt’s growth or maturity a little here. But honestly, Walt is Walt – he hasn’t changed a whole lot.
Johnson also manages to remind us that not every Longmire story needs to involve a major murder, drug cartel or international conspiracy. Sometimes a small-town problem is enough—and Walt has a way of turning even the seemingly ordinary into something worth reading.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s a particularly good choice for Longmire fans who want a quick visit to Absaroka County without committing to a full-length novel. The stories may be short, but they still feel like authentic Longmire adventures. There truly isn’t a bad story in the bunch – but if you enjoy Johnson’s writing, particularly the Longmire series, you’d expect it to be so. And because they’re all good, I can’t say that I have a favorite, either. “Angel Shot With a Twist” and “Eleven/Twenty-Nine” stand out to me – not for being better or worse, but for character, surprises, twists, and illumination.
This collection includes:
Introduction
“Warms You Twice”
“The Perfect A”
“Known Associate”
“Land of the Blind”
“Eleven/Twenty-Nine”
“The Percentages”
“Away, In a Manger”
“Who’s Your Daddy?”
“Musical Charis”
“Recidivism”
“Starter’s End”
“Scents of the Season”
“Angel Shot With A Twist”
This is coming out just in time to make a great Christmas/holiday gift for a Longmire fan or to introduce someone new to Walt, Absaroka County and all its characters.
Looking for a good book? Have Courage by Craig Johnson is a fun collection of short Walt Longmire stories that gives fans everything they enjoy about the series in smaller, more easily digestible pieces.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
4-1/2 stars
* * * * * *
Have Courage: Longmire Stories
author: Craig Johnson
publisher: Viking
ISBN: 9798217379484
hardcover, 256 pages
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