Hardcover, 336 pages
Publisher: Viking Adult (May 28, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0670020877
ISBN-13: 978-0670020874
$24.95, U.S.
$31.00, Canada
Reviewed by Larry W. Chavis
When Wade Barsad’s burned corpse is found with six .22 slugs in his skull, few people around Absalom in Campbell County, Wyoming are surprised and none sad. Barsad and his money had created trouble for almost everyone around. Few have any doubts about his killer, though – his wife, Mary, is found in a stupor, rifle in hand, and confesses to the killing, four times. The story goes ’round that Wade’s locking her horses in the barn and burning them to death gave her a final push over the edge.
Brought to nearby Absaroka County for safekeeping in the custody of Sheriff Walt Longmire, Mary, though dazed and uncommunicative, doesn’t seem guilty to Longmire. Though all the reports back up the airtight case against Mrs. Barsad, Walt decides to take a look for himself, with the tacit blessing of the Campbell County sheriff. So begins the latest in the Walt Longmire saga, one which has him and Dog in an unusual, and not so successful, undercover role.
All the good things about the Walt Longmire series – Johnson’s careful attention to character, the you-are-here presentation of the Wyoming setting – are present in this book, though the role of some is diminished a bit. Henry Standing Bear, for example, is present, but the relationship between Longmire and “The Cheyenne Nation” isn’t as prominent as in earlier books. Undersheriff Victoria “Vic” Moretti, being groomed by Walt to be his eventual replacement as sheriff (and other, less official duties) holds a central place, as usual forcing Walt to consider and deal with things he might wish to postpone. For regular readers of the series, it is good to be back in their company.
The story is told differently, though, in that Johnson uses a double, converging time line to tell the story, beginning in the present, then switching back and forth between “now” and a time ten days earlier. The effect is to put the reader immediately into the action, while filling in the back story in the switches. It may take some getting used to, but doesn’t, in my opinion, detract from the story.
The conclusion is classic Longmire, and will not disappoint. The Dark Horse is the latest in one of the best mystery series going. Don’t miss it.
Copyright ©2009 Larry W. Chavis
#1 by Patty at June 9th, 2009
I agree with every word you wrote - Walt Longmire and his supporting cast are such great fun to read and if you haven’t listened to the books read by George Guidall you are missing a treat, George quickly becomes Walt and forever after you will hear his voice as you read the books.
#2 by Larry at June 9th, 2009
I’ll have to try that, Patty. Thanks for mentioning the audio version.
#3 by gary furrow at March 31st, 2010
I discovered this series last year and quickly bought every one of them from Amazon’s marketplace. I am eagerly awaiting the new one out this summer. I have already ordered it from Amazon.