by Craig Johnson is a western mystery novel that introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire of the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming. The story revolves around the murder of Cody Pritchard, a young man accused of raping a local Cheyenne girl, Melissa Little Bird. Two years after the incident, Cody's death is initially ruled as a hunting accident, but Longmire suspects foul play. As he investigates, he uncovers a web of revenge and justice, intertwined with Native American mysticism and cultural tensions. The novel explores themes of legal and vigilante justice, set against the backdrop of Wyoming's vast and rugged landscapes. It features rich character development, including the stoic Sheriff Walt Longmire, his foul-mouthed deputy Vic Moretti, and his best friend Henry Standing Bear.