Craig Allen Johnson is an American author who writes mystery novels. He is best known for his Sheriff Walt Longmire series, which debuted in 2004 and has grown to include 22 novels, two novellas, and numerous short stories as of May 2026. The books are set in northern Wyoming, where the protagonist serves as sheriff of the fictional county of Absaroka. Several novels in the series have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. In 2012, Warner Horizon adapted the Longmire characters and Wyoming settings for a television series, bringing Johnson's work to a wider audience. Johnson resides at a ranch in Ucross, Wyoming, a small town with a population of 25, where he built his residence. Early in his career, Johnson promoted his novels by identifying himself as a former New York police officer. However, a 2009 New York Times profile revealed this characterization to be misleading.