As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases Affiliate disclosure
Walt Longmire Books in Order
Below is the complete list of Walt Longmire books in order of publication, which is the recommended reading order for the series by Craig Johnson....
Read All the Walt Longmire Books in Order
Jump to a Series:
show
Read Walt Longmire Books in Publication Order
- The Cold Dish (2004)
Buy on Amazon - Death Without Company (2006)
Buy on Amazon - Kindness Goes Unpunished (2007)
Buy on Amazon - Another Man’s Moccasins (2008)
Buy on Amazon - The Dark Horse (2009)
Buy on Amazon - Junkyard Dogs (2010)
Buy on Amazon - Hell Is Empty (2011)
Buy on Amazon - Divorce Horse (2012)
Buy on Amazon - As the Crow Flies (2012)
Buy on Amazon - Messenger (2013)
Buy on Amazon - A Serpent’s Tooth (2013)
Buy on Amazon - Spirit of Steamboat (2013)
Buy on Amazon - Any Other Name (2014)
Buy on Amazon - Dry Bones (2015)
Buy on Amazon - The Highwayman (2016)
Buy on Amazon - An Obvious Fact (2016)
Buy on Amazon - The Western Star (2017)
Buy on Amazon - Depth of Winter (2018)
Buy on Amazon - Land of Wolves (2019)
Buy on Amazon - Next to Last Stand (2020)
Buy on Amazon - Daughter of the Morning Star (2022)
Buy on Amazon - Hell and Back (2022)
Buy on Amazon - The Longmire Defense (2023)
Buy on Amazon - First Frost (2024)
Buy on Amazon - Tooth and Claw (2024)
Buy on Amazon - Return to Sender (2025)
Buy on Amazon - The Brothers McKay (2026)
Buy on Amazon
Read Walt Longmire Short Stories/Novellas Books in Publication Order
- Christmas in Absaroka County (2012)
Buy on Amazon
Walt Longmire Series by Craig Johnson
The Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson is a long-running collection of modern Western crime novels centered on Walt Longmire, the thoughtful and often quietly humorous sheriff of fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming. Blending traditional detective fiction with the atmosphere of the American West, the series has earned a dedicated readership for its memorable characters, vivid landscapes, and stories that balance suspense with moments of reflection and dry humor.
The series begins with The Cold Dish (2004), which introduces readers to Sheriff Walt Longmire shortly after the death of his wife. The novel establishes the tone of the series immediately: a combination of small-town mystery, character-driven storytelling, and the rugged beauty of Wyoming’s open plains and mountains. The case at the center of the story involves the suspicious death of a young man connected to an earlier crime, forcing Longmire to confront tensions within the community while wrestling with his own grief.
Reading the Walt Longmire books in publication order allows the characters and relationships to develop naturally across the series. While each novel contains its own central mystery, the broader emotional arcs unfold gradually, revealing more about Longmire’s personal life, friendships, and sense of responsibility to the people he protects.
Walt Longmire himself stands apart from many fictional detectives. He is a Vietnam veteran, a dedicated lawman, and a deeply principled individual who often relies on patience, observation, and instinct rather than flashy investigative techniques. His quiet personality and dry wit make him both relatable and compelling as a protagonist.
A major part of the series’ appeal comes from the supporting cast. Among the most important characters is Henry Standing Bear, Longmire’s closest friend and confidant. Henry, a member of the Cheyenne Nation and the owner of a local bar known as the Red Pony, provides both wisdom and humor throughout the stories. Their friendship is one of the emotional anchors of the series.
Another central character is Victoria “Vic” Moretti, a tough and capable deputy who moved to Wyoming from Philadelphia. Vic’s sharp personality and loyalty to Longmire create a dynamic partnership that evolves across many books in the series.
Craig Johnson’s writing often reflects his deep connection to the landscapes and cultures of the American West. The setting of Absaroka County plays an essential role in the stories, with the wide plains, snow-covered mountains, and remote ranchlands becoming almost characters in their own right. The environment shapes both the crimes and the people involved in them, giving the series a strong sense of place.
The novels also explore relationships between local communities and Native American reservations, particularly the nearby Cheyenne reservation. Through these interactions, Johnson introduces themes involving cultural identity, history, and the complexities of modern life in the region.
One of the defining features of the Walt Longmire series is its balance between serious subject matter and understated humor. Longmire often narrates the stories with a reflective tone, and his observations about life, aging, and duty provide depth beyond the central mystery.
The popularity of the books eventually led to a television adaptation titled Longmire, which premiered in 2012. The show brought the characters to a wider audience and further increased interest in Johnson’s novels. While the television series follows its own storytelling path, it retains many of the central elements that made the books so successful.
As the series progresses, the mysteries grow more complex while continuing to explore Longmire’s personal journey. His relationships with Vic, Henry, and his daughter Cady evolve across the novels, adding emotional continuity to the series.
Following the Walt Longmire books in publication order highlights how Craig Johnson gradually built one of the most distinctive modern crime series—one that blends detective fiction with the spirit of the American West and the quiet determination of a sheriff who takes his responsibility to his community seriously.