Part of Walt Longmire, book 15
First published 2019
Sheriff Walt Longmire returns to Absaroka County, Wyoming, still recovering from his ordeal in Mexico. He discovers a dead shepherd who appears to have taken his own life, but the case grows complex when Longmire learns the man worked for the Extepares, a violent Basque ranching family with deep local roots. Strange tree carvings and Mallo Cup candy coupons begin appearing around town. Longmire recognizes these as messages from Virgil White Buffalo, his spiritual guide who warns him when children face danger. The sheriff's concerns prove justified when a young boy connected to the Extepare family arrives in town. Meanwhile, a rogue wolf terrorizes the Bighorn Mountains, and angry residents demand action. Longmire must navigate between the wolf hunt and his murder investigation, following clues that lead him toward disturbing truths about the shepherd's death and the boy's safety.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, spiritual-guide
Setting: Absaroka County, Wyoming, Bighorn Mountains
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Viking