Junkyard Dogs

April 5, 2010
Johnson's sixth mystery featuring Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire (after 2009's Dark Horse
) will remind readers that a big city isn't necessary for a compelling crime story and enduring hero. One blizzardy February day, Walt and his deputies—Victoria Moretti and Santiago Saizarbitoria—visit the Durant, Wyo., dump, owned by the Stewart family, to investigate a severed thumb found in a discarded cooler. There they discover that the Stewart family patriarch, George, was almost killed after someone dragged him behind a '68 Toronado. Walt winds up playing peacemaker between the cantankerous Stewarts, longtime Durant residents, and the owner of a new housing development bordering the junkyard. When a search of the dump unearths a surprising side business and two deaths follow, Walt realizes he has bigger problems on his hands. Series fans as well as newcomers will cheer the laconic Walt every step of the way. 8-city author tour.

Would this mystery, set in rural Wyoming, be as funny and beguiling without George Guidall's astute narration? I doubt it. Guidall is just a master at finding the subtleties and making the most of monosyllabic teenagers, a smart-mouthed deputy, or the long-suffering Sheriff Walt Longmire. A family-run junkyard is diverting enough; then add a modern-day land dispute, wily characters, and plenty of small-town gossip. We're grateful for a gifted and perceptive narrator who delivers these colorful locals, describes hilariously absurd situations, and still keeps the suspense intact. A fun series to follow--there are five others. Listeners who loved Guidall's readings of Tony Hillerman's stories will find some echoes here. R.F.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine