Death Without Company by Craig Johnson

If Jen Forbus has her way, Craig Johnson would receive the recognition he deserves.  No one is a bigger fan than she is.  I'm glad, because she introduced me to his wonderful books.  And, she's right.  He's not as well-known as he should be.  I've only read the first two books in his Walt Longmire series, but they're beautifully written mysteries, with fascinating characters.  I loved Johnson's comment in this second book, Death Without Company.  "It's a character-driven piece."  It certainly is.  If you read mysteries for the characters, as I do, you should be reading Craig Johnson's books.

Walt Longmire has been the sheriff in Absaroka County, Wyoming for almost twenty-five years.  And, his day-to-day job consists of recruiting jurors for a jury pool, handling traffic accidents in the snow, and trying to hang on to competent deputies.  But, once in a while, he gets a case that is so complicated that his entire team, along with his friends, family, and even his dog, called Dog, become involved. 

Lucian Connally was the sheriff who hired Longmire, fresh from a stint as a military cop in Vietnam.  The two men might have different styles, but Walt still respects Lucian's opinion.  So, when Lucian insists that Mari Baroja, a fellow resident at the Durant Home for Assisted Living was murdered, Longmire is willing to look into it.  But, then Lucian shocks Walt by saying he was once married to Mari, until her Basquo father and uncles annulled the marriage.  Lucian's stories of Mari and her family drag Longmire's team into an investigation that immediately turns violent, as someone tries to kill everyone who knows the past history of Mari Baroja.  However, does anyone actually know the whole truth?

In the Walt Longmire series, Craig Johnson has created a cast of characters with depth and personality, beginning with Walt and his best friend, Henry Standing Bear.  But, every one of Johnson's characters are individuals who demand attention, from those who are a permanent part of his team, such as his deputy, Vic Moretti, and Ruby, who runs the office.  The newest deputy, Santiago Saizarbitoria, immediately fits in, with an enormous personality.  Unlike so many other authors, though, Johnson pays attention close attention to minor characters, who live on his pages. 

The investigation is the most important part of the story, as it should be in a police procedural, but these books are so much more.  Johnson has a way with a phrase.  Ruby keeps messages for Longmire on Post-it notes, and turns them over when he comes into the office.  He says he, "Picked up my life in Post-it form."  There's humor in these stories, and it can be very dry, as fits people who have lived difficult lives.  Death Without Company has an intriguing, complicated storyline with surprises, wonderful characters, and beautiful writing.  These mysteries are for anyone who misses Tony Hillerman, or wants to read outstanding crime novels set in the West.  And, Death Without Company is definitely for anyone who wants to read a "Character-driven piece."

Craig Johnson's website is http://www.craigallenjohnson.com/

Death Without Company by Craig Johnson.  Penguin Group (USA), ©2006. ISBN 9780670034673 (hardcover), 288p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library Book

The Spider's Web by Margaret Coel

Once a year, I get to take an imaginary trip to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming in Margaret Coel's superb mystery series.  The Spider's Web is the fifteenth book to feature Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden.  If you haven't read the series, you could pick it up here, but the story is so much richer if you've followed the relationship between the priest at the mission, and the Arapaho attorney.  Father John has been at St. Francis Mission for ten years.  In that ten years, he and Vicky have seen their share of murders that tore the community apart.  The latest one threatens the community, and the relationship between Vicky and Father John.

The atmosphere of this latest book is unsettled from the beginning when Roseanne Birdwoman is on her way to a party with two Arapaho men, outsiders who only appeared on the reservation a year earlier.  When the rowdy men stop at Ned Windsong's house, she hopes he'll join them, because Roseanne and Ned used to see each other, and, at one time, planned a future together.  But the two men find Ned dead in his house, with the white woman who claims to be his girlfriend, dead or unconscious.  It isn't long before suspicion on the "moccasin telegraph" points to that white woman, Marcy Morrison.

While Father John agrees to allow Marcy to stay at the mission, he also realizes she's a troubled young woman.  But, Vicky sees her differently.  She takes her on as a client, seeing her own failings as a mother when she looks at Marcy. 

Once again, Coel has stirred up the issues that arise in the Native American communities.  With this book, I found myself feeling sorry for the Elders.  They watch their young people leave the reservation, and return, troubled, and in trouble.  Along with Father John, they've seen too many of their young people murdered in recent years.  Ned Windsong is the latest victim, caught up in problems that returned with him to the Wind River Reservation.   And, those problems continue to spread.  The story started with an unsettled atmosphere, and, unlike previous novels in the series, The Spider's Web ends with a feeling of foreboding.   Let's hope the recent past doesn't come back to haunt Father John and Vicky.

Margaret Coel's website is http://www.margaretcoel.com/

The Spider's Web by Margaret Coel.  Berkley Prime Crime, ©2010. ISBN 9780425236604 (hardcover), 304p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library book

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Tess Gerritsen just stepped into our territory out here in the western U.S. with her latest Rizzoli & Isles thriller, Ice Cold. It's set in Wyoming, and deals with a cult, a subject we're all too familiar with in the west. Ice Cold is even more chilling because of the familiarity of the subject. Then, Gerritsen takes it one stop closer, and makes it personal, as Dr. Maura Isles becomes a victim.

Maura wasn't happy with her personal life when she attended a medical conference in Wyoming. So, it didn't take her long to agree to follow up the conference with a short vacation with an old college classmate and his friends. That impulsive trip into the mountains ended in tragedy when a snowstorm and an accident left them stranded in a deserted town. Why would food be left on the tables, cars in the garages? Although the isolated town of Kingdom Come provided shelter, it didn't provide comfort to the travelers. And, when an accident severely injures one of the group, and Maura's friend doesn't return when he goes for help, it's up to Maura to seek assistance, braving Wyoming's winter.

Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli didn't take the first hint of Maura's disappearance seriously. But, follow-up conversations and a trip to Wyoming lead to the announcement that Maura's body was found, burned beyond recognition. A grieving Jane is shocked at a second announcement that takes her back to Wyoming, into an investigation into the secrets behind Kingdom Come.

That summary won't spoil Ice Cold, since I don't want to ruin the book. There's nothing more revealing than the book jacket of the book relates. This latest Rizzoli & Isles thriller does exactly what a bestselling thriller should, makes the reader turn pages rapidly, worried about one character, hoping for a positive resolution. But, is there ever a positive resolution when cults and murder are involved? Ice Cold is the kind of intense, riveting story readers have grown to expect from Tess Gerritsen.

Note: TNT's new series, Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Maura Isles premiers tonight. Here's a clip about the show, http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision/?oid=56565&eref=sharethisUrl

And, Tess Gerritsen will be my guest blogger this Thursday, discussing libraries.

Tess Gerritsen's website is www.TessGerritsen.com

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen. Ballantine Books, ©2010. ISBN 9780345515483 (hardcover), 314p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Gerritsen's publicist send me the book in conjunction with her guest blog.