Craig Johnson Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Craig Johnson's Longmire Series

For readers looking to dive into the dusty, grit-fueled world of Absaroka County, Wyoming, there is one definitive place to begin: The Cold Dish (2004). This debut novel introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire, his trusted Cheyenne friend Henry Standing Bear, and the sharp-tongued Deputy Victoria "Vic" Moretti. Because the series relies heavily on character development, evolving relationships, and long-running subplots, starting from the beginning is highly recommended.

While the Netflix adaptation Longmire captures the heart and setting of the books, the print universe has a distinct timeline, a deeper dive into Native American spirituality, and characters that develop differently. Starting at the beginning ensures you do not miss the emotional weight of Walt's journey from a grieving widower to a battle-hardened yet decent lawman.

The Two Recommended Reading Paths

Depending on how much time you want to spend in Wyoming, you can choose between two main reading orders:

Path A: The Complete Absaroka Experience (Recommended)

This path integrates all of Craig Johnson's full-length novels with his standalone novellas and short story collections in their natural publication sequence. This is the best way to read the series because the novellas, while self-contained, often fill in chronological gaps, reference events from preceding novels, or feature present-day framing devices that assume you know the characters' current situations.

Path B: The Fast-Track Novel Order

If you want to focus strictly on the primary mystery arcs and avoid side adventures, you can read only the 22 main novels. The novellas are not strictly mandatory to understand the plot of the main series, though they add significant depth to the characters and the lore of the region.

Why Chronological Order Can Be Tricky

Some readers prefer to read series in chronological order of story events, but for Craig Johnson's work, this creates several complications:

• Tooth and Claw (2024): This novella is set in December 1970, shortly after Walt and Henry returned from the Vietnam War. However, it is framed by a present-day conversation at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, where Walt and Henry visit Lucian Connally on New Year's Eve. Reading it first spoils their long-standing relationship and robs the story of its nostalgic impact.
• First Frost (2024): This novel alternates between the present day and a flashback to 1964, exploring Walt and Henry's post-college road trip and draft board encounter during the Vietnam War era.
• Spirit of Steamboat (2013): This Christmas novella flashes back to a dangerous rescue mission on Christmas Eve in 1988, shortly after Walt became sheriff. Like other novellas, it is framed by a present-day conversation.

Because of these framing devices and the emotional resonance of the backstories, it is much more satisfying to read these historical stories after you have already spent several books getting to know the characters in their modern-day lives.

The Complete Walt Longmire Reading Order

Here is the complete sequence of Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire works, showing where the novellas and short story collections fit between the main novels:

1. The Cold Dish (2004) – Novel #1. Introduces Walt Longmire, Henry Standing Bear, and Vic Moretti as they investigate a revenge murder.
2. Death Without Company (2006) – Novel #2. Walt investigates the poisoning of an elderly Basque woman, revealing dark historical secrets.
3. Kindness Goes Unpunished (2007) – Novel #3. Walt travels to Philadelphia, where his daughter Cady is assaulted.
4. Another Man's Moccasins (2008) – Novel #4. The murder of a Vietnamese woman links back to Walt's time as a military investigator in Vietnam.
5. The Dark Horse (2009) – Novel #5. Walt goes undercover in a neighboring county to determine if a woman really killed her husband.
6. Junkyard Dogs (2010) – Novel #6. A local family feud turns deadly at the county landfill.
7. Hell Is Empty (2011) – Novel #7. A high-stakes chase up a mountain in a blizzard as Walt pursues escaped killers.
8. Divorce Horse (2012) – Novella #7.5. A short, fun mystery centering on a high-stakes horse race and a runaway bride.
9. As the Crow Flies (2012) – Novel #8. Walt assists the new tribal police chief, Lolo Long, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
10. Christmas in Absaroka County (2012) – Short Stories #8.5. A collection of holiday stories featuring Walt and his companions.
11. Messenger (2013) – Novella #8.6. Walt and Henry are trapped by a swarm of deadly hornets while investigating an abandoned camp.
12. A Serpent's Tooth (2013) – Novel #9. Walt deals with a runaway polygamist teenager and a mysterious group setting up an illegal operation.
13. Spirit of Steamboat (2013) – Novella #9.1. A Christmas tale flashing back to 1988, where a retired Lucian Connally flies a B-25 bomber through a blizzard to save a girl.
14. Any Other Name (2014) – Novel #10. Walt is asked to investigate the suspicious suicide of a detective in a neighboring county.
15. Wait for Signs: Twelve Longmire Stories (2014) – Collection. Gathers twelve of Johnson's popular short stories, including "Divorce Horse" and "Messenger."
16. Dry Bones (2015) – Novel #11. The discovery of a complete T-Rex skeleton leads to a brutal murder and a custody battle over the dinosaur.
17. The Highwayman (2016) – Novella #11.5. Walt assists a highway patrol trooper hearing ghostly distress calls in the Wind River Canyon.
18. An Obvious Fact (2016) – Novel #12. Walt and Henry investigate a hit-and-run at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
19. The Western Star (2017) – Novel #13. A dual-timeline story looking at Walt's early days as a deputy on a train trip with other Wyoming sheriffs.
20. Depth of Winter (2018) – Novel #14. A high-stakes rescue mission across the border into Mexico to save Walt's kidnapped daughter.
21. Land of Wolves (2019) – Novel #15. Walt recovers from his injuries in Mexico while investigating the death of a lone wolf and a shepherd.
22. Next to Last Stand (2020) – Novel #16. The discovery of a box of cash at a veteran's home leads Walt to look into the mystery of Custer's Last Fight.
23. Daughter of the Morning Star (2021) – Novel #17. Walt investigates the disappearance of a young Native American basketball star.
24. Hell and Back (2022) – Novel #18. A surreal, dream-like story where an amnesiac Walt wanders a snowy landscape fighting for his soul.
25. The Longmire Defense (2023) – Novel #19. Walt uncovers secrets about his grandfather, Lloyd Longmire, and a cold case in the high country.
26. First Frost (2024) – Novel #20. Alternates between the present day and Walt and Henry's experiences in 1964 as they face their draft board.
27. Tooth and Claw (2024) – Novella #20.5. A survival adventure set in Alaska in 1970 where young Walt and Henry face a massive polar bear.
28. Return to Sender (2025) – Novel #21. Walt goes undercover as a mail carrier in the Red Desert to locate a missing postal worker.
29. The Brothers McKay (2026) – Novel #22. Walt investigates the murder of a widely disliked rancher, focusing on his four very different sons in Crazy Woman Canyon.

What to Know Before You Start

Craig Johnson's stories are known for their atmospheric writing, dry humor, and deep respect for the history and culture of the American West. The character of Walt Longmire was consciously created as a "counter-force" to the classic cynical, hard-boiled detective. Walt is a man of decency, patience, and community, who cares deeply about his jurisdiction and its people.

As you progress through the series, pay attention to the supernatural and spiritual elements that occasionally touch the plots. Johnson frequently weaves Cheyenne and Crow mythology into the books, usually through Walt's interactions with Virgil White Buffalo and Henry Standing Bear. These mystical undertones are a signature element of the series, distinguishing the books from standard police procedurals.