As the Crow Flies - Walt Longmire, Bk 8
Author: Craig Johnson

Embarking on his eighth adventure, Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire has a more important matter on his mind than cowboys and criminals. His daughter, Cady, is getting married to the brother of his undersheriff, Victoria Moretti. Walt and old friend Henry Standing Bear are the de facto wedding planners and fear Cady’s wrath when the wedding locale arrangements go up in smoke two weeks before the big event.

The pair set out to find a new site for the nuptials on the Cheyenne Reservation, but their scouting expedition ends in horror as they witness a young Crow woman plummeting from Painted Warrior’s majestic cliffs. It’s not Walt’s turf, but the newly appointed tribal police chief and Iraqi war veteran, the beautiful Lolo Long, shanghais him into helping with the investigation. Walt is stretched thin as he mentors Lolo, attempts to catch the bad guys, and performs the role of father of the bride.

Another very good entry in the Longmire series. I have been reading these periodically and in no particular order ever since seeing the now-ended series on A&E and Netflix. I enjoyed the TV shows a lot and although the books have different story lines than the TV series, they are just as enjoyable and tend to really flesh out the characters.

In this one, Walt's daughter, Cady, is getting married to Vic's brother. Walt and his friend Henry Standing Bear are in charge of assuring a scenic location for the wedding on the Cheyenne reservation in Montana. When the primary location planned for the wedding seems to be out of reach, the two go to an alternate site and witness a young Indian woman and her baby falling from a cliff. The woman is killed but the baby manages to survive. So was this a suicide, an accident, or was she pushed? Walt gets involved in the investigation and is thrown together with the new police chief on the "Rez", a young woman named Lolo Long who is also a veteran and has her own issues. As the investigation proceeds, another death occurs and based on a taped conversation, a renegade Indian appears to be the prime suspect. But did he push the young woman and if so why?

I really enjoyed this outing from Johnson. Most of it takes place on the reservation and involves some very interesting characters from there including Standing Bear and Lolo who emerged as a very strong character. At one point, Walt even participates in a peyote experience with some very disturbing hallucinations. Johnson's backgrounds also add to the story including vintage trucks, casinos, western bars, and descriptions of the western landscape. I'll be looking forward to more in the series. And yes, Cady does get married against all odds!

Wishlist tag going to erishkigal in SLC, Utah.

Enjoy!

Thanks so much for tagging me and sending this I’m looking forward to reading it. I too watched the series, and though I’ve read just a couple of books thus far, I thoroughly enjoyed them as well.

Well, this most certainly didn’t take it to turn on mount TBR LOL
And while you expect I might be reading a lot while I’m home not working, I’ve only just now conned enough to be able to focus on a book. So this is the first book of my quarantine ... if we go on as long as expected, I anticipate making some headway into the vast numbers of books awaiting reading...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, the story, the characters. I did not know who done it 🤔
Having been fortunate enough to have been in a tipi meeting long ago, appreciated both the veracity and sensitivity with which it was presented.
At the end of the book, I fell in love with a line that is so appropriate for this time “That was probably our job here, to keep going and to do it with as much artistry and beauty as our hearts could bear.” To this I say, Aho!

Thanks again for this book, perryfran. I’m gathering a few books to take up with me to Huntsman today, I am just journaling now, so it will be easier to find later for release notes. (At that time I’ll delete this.)