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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Not always can a novelist keep a series true to form but Sheriff Longmire is a colorful & thoughtful character who has great friends and family. The beauty of the natural setting and the compassion for all he interacts with endears the sheriff. As the Crow Flies was a hopeful and entertaining whodunit
A much less compelling mystery than the previous novels, with a fairly weak conclusion. I also felt like the frequent references to the new Cheyenne Chief of Police's beauty was a tad unnecessary. I still enjoyed it, I do love this series after all, but it's certainly the weakest book in the series (so far, and hopefully it stays that way)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.5 The first half of this book did not hold my interest. I lost track of how many times, I stopped reading this book and then pick it up again.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Longmire started this year, I didn’t realize it was a book series. For some reason this isn’t on any of my book clubs since I would have picked it up long before. After doing my residency on Pine Ridge, I have an interest in mysteries with a reservation connection. This book has something the show rather lacks: a sense of humor. Walt and Henry Standing Bear have dry wit in spades. This is the 8th book in the series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing much.
In fact it introduces a new character, Louise ‘Lolo’ Long, ex-Iraqi vet and new rez chief of police. She’s a bit too hard core in the beginning but her story is the counterpoint to the main mystery which is one Walt shouldn’t be investigating. He and Henry were out on the rez looking for a place for his daughter, Cady, to get married at now that her wedding hall was usurped (why she wants to do this on the rez is one of the things I am missing coming in so late in the series). As they were checking out an outdoor locale, they see a young woman plunge over a cliff. She doesn’t survive but her infant son does.
Audrey lived with her good for nothing husband, Clarence Last Bull and there is every reason to suspect him. Walt has no authority on the reservation but both the chief, and Lolo want him to help, especially since he has ties to the FBI and can talk them into not taking away Lolo’s first real case. As the investigation continues, someone is out to either frighten Walt off or kill him, which ever comes first. Worse, his daughter and her soon to be mother in law are in town and not at all pleased to learn the wedding plans are a hot mess.
I liked this a lot. Henry and Walt have great buddy chemistry. Once Lolo settled down, she was a good character. So many on the Cheyenne in this and the rez life reminded me so much of my time with the Lakota (though neither group might appreciate that comparison). I’m definitely looking for more of this from the library.
In fact it introduces a new character, Louise ‘Lolo’ Long, ex-Iraqi vet and new rez chief of police. She’s a bit too hard core in the beginning but her story is the counterpoint to the main mystery which is one Walt shouldn’t be investigating. He and Henry were out on the rez looking for a place for his daughter, Cady, to get married at now that her wedding hall was usurped (why she wants to do this on the rez is one of the things I am missing coming in so late in the series). As they were checking out an outdoor locale, they see a young woman plunge over a cliff. She doesn’t survive but her infant son does.
Audrey lived with her good for nothing husband, Clarence Last Bull and there is every reason to suspect him. Walt has no authority on the reservation but both the chief, and Lolo want him to help, especially since he has ties to the FBI and can talk them into not taking away Lolo’s first real case. As the investigation continues, someone is out to either frighten Walt off or kill him, which ever comes first. Worse, his daughter and her soon to be mother in law are in town and not at all pleased to learn the wedding plans are a hot mess.
I liked this a lot. Henry and Walt have great buddy chemistry. Once Lolo settled down, she was a good character. So many on the Cheyenne in this and the rez life reminded me so much of my time with the Lakota (though neither group might appreciate that comparison). I’m definitely looking for more of this from the library.
After sagging a little in the middle this series has roared back in the right direction these latest 3 books. After the harrowing events of HELL IS EMPTY it was nice to see Walt doing what he does best, just riding around chasing clues and bad guys. The wedding details are going up in smoke, so Walt and Henry ride out to a cliff named Painted Warrior to check it out as an alternate wedding site. While there taking pictures of the spot Walt and Henry see a young woman go over the cliff and fall to her death. While the two hero's check on the woman, Dog discovers the her baby boy who managed to survive the fall. Dog camps out in the hospital with the baby, while Walt tangles with the new chief of police on the rez, Lolo Long. Miss Lolo is a poor imitation of my favorite potty mouthed cop Victoria, an Iraq war vet with no law enforcement experience she stumbles around making things worse before Walt finally brings her up short. Lolo asks Walt for his help and experience especially when the FBI threaten to step in and all over her. Walt agrees to follow the threads of this mystery, and with Henry at his side they ride all over the Rez chasing down the details of this young woman's short life.
Several of my favorite early characters returned for this adventure, and it was really nice to have a lot of Henry and his great dialog. Thankfully the tangles with Lolo of the bad temper are kept to a minimum, as she comes off like an inept Vic, only more of a jerk. Lonnie Little Bird's reappearance was another welcome one, the story of how he became chief was my first laugh out loud moment in the book. The sidebar dealing with Cady's wedding was nicely sprinkled in and broke up the main story without taking my attention totally away. The all star cast at the wedding was also a nice touch, though I hope there is more on that and the wild party at the reception coming soon.
To know and love these characters I would highly recommend reading the series in order, starting with The Cold Dish.
Several of my favorite early characters returned for this adventure, and it was really nice to have a lot of Henry and his great dialog. Thankfully the tangles with Lolo of the bad temper are kept to a minimum, as she comes off like an inept Vic, only more of a jerk. Lonnie Little Bird's reappearance was another welcome one, the story of how he became chief was my first laugh out loud moment in the book. The sidebar dealing with Cady's wedding was nicely sprinkled in and broke up the main story without taking my attention totally away. The all star cast at the wedding was also a nice touch, though I hope there is more on that and the wild party at the reception coming soon.
To know and love these characters I would highly recommend reading the series in order, starting with The Cold Dish.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced