As the Crow Flies

A Walt Longmire Mystery, Book 8

By: Craig Johnson

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Craig Johnson has won multiple awards and earned starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews for his New York Times best-selling Walt Longmire mysteries. Embarking on his eighth adventure in As the Crow Flies, Sheriff Longmire is searching the Cheyenne Reservation for a site to host his daughter’s wedding, when he sees a woman fall to her death. Teaming up with beautiful tribal chief Lolo Long, Walt sets out to investigate the suspicious death.

©2012 Craig Johnson (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Best one yet!

I greatly enjoy this series. The writing is brought to life by George Guidall. His rendering of all the characters is perfect, especially the Sheriff. I’ve read several books in this series and this was the best one yet. I like the humor and the gentle human interaction that unfolds while solving a serious crime. The synthesis of tone, setting, plot, characters, and narration make this a five star novel!

one of the better longmire mysteries

great book. narration was off. sound kept fading in and out. the other longmire books didn't do that.

Sometimes One Must Follow the Crow

I recently finished listening to As the Crow Flies written by Craig Johnson and narrated by George Guidall.

This is book eight of the Walt Longmire series. I will do my best to avoid spoilers, however, this deep in a series it's hard to do. If spoilers are a concern for you I suggest skipping to the conclusion.

Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear are running into issues with the Cheyenne tribal council in regards to where to host his daughters wedding. It is suggested that while his original site might not be available a set of beautiful looking cliffs on the reservation might do.

Walt and the Bear head out to what appears to be a somewhat inaccessible location and are taking pictures at the base of the cliff when a Crow woman and her child plummet off the cliff. The woman dies, but thankfully her child survives. It's uncertain if she fell or was pushed though.

To complicate matters the wet behind the ears tribal police chief Lola seems intent on arresting Walt until she can figure out what's going on. He doesn't take it personally though. She basically seems to want to arrest everyone and might one day be able to if she can only figure out where the siren button in her truck is.

George Guidall, as usual, did a stellar job narrating another Walt Longmire mystery. I continue to impressed with the range of emotion he can pack into just a few words.

Conclusion: This is another excellent entry into the Walt Longmire series. As usual character development was at a premium, which is one of the reasons these stories are so great. Combine that with excellent narration and you have an amazing audiobook.

I love Walt and Henry and Craig and George!

Always a joy to hook up with these friends. I NEVER tire of their company!

George Guidall is great! wonderful characters!

I taught many students from native tribes at Albuquerque HS. With no understanding of the different customs and beliefs of native peoples, I often felt a lack of connection with many of the students. I wish I had read the Walt Longmire series before that teaching experience. Because I lived near many reservations and love the desert west, I feel a strong connection to these stories and the people in them. Learning about the many differences among the native peoples, I am hoping to overcome my "belacaana" shortcomings.

Fun listen.

I love 'em all! Especially on my second time through (the series) . I'm looking forward to new installment to the series, The Western Star!

Love

Sweet book. Beautiful development of characters and plot. Enjoyed this mystery journey Thank you for everything.

Low voltage cousin to Burke?

The setting and central character of C. Johnson's Longmire series invite comparison with James Lee Burke's recent books set in Montana. Both authors evoke landscape and local culture with deft brush strokes which contribute not only vivid visual images but also a sometimes haunting sense of milieu which actively drives the story. Both law officers are Vietnam era vets who have evolved into men who possess tremendous charisma rooted in a wisdom and gentleness born of tragedy, loss and recovery. Both are surrounded by an engaging cast of characters who become more interesting and "real" with each book. Both mine rich veins of mysticism at times in ways which challenge our comfortable assumptions about the limits of reality.

That said, there is something much more comfortable, approachable and less visceral (not to mention bloody) in Sheriff Longmire and his adventures. If you seek antagonists who are personifications of evil, you will be disappointed here. Johnson's plots rise most often from the everyday and the prosaic while Burke's almost celebrate the existence of a kind of intrusive malevolence beyond understanding. As a result, instead of the high voltage exhilaration derived from defeating Dave Robicheaux's typically diabolical adversaries, Walt Longmire leaves us with satisfaction at a job well done and a nagging awareness of how most evil springs from roots which are very familiar to all of us.

I love both series, but I was less taken by "Crow" than by the previous Longmire novels. The victim never quite mattered enough for me, and it seemed that the investigation took a back seat to the introduction and development of a new character (a very promising one). These books are always driven by character, but the balance seemed a trifle off this time to the point that the climax of the investigation left me wanting more. Still well worth the credit, however, and I have already downloaded the next book in the series.

Wow. What a great listen!

This was my favorite of the series since "Cold Dish." I don't know that any protagonist is better matched to a reader than Walt Longmire is to George Guidall in this series. I highly recommend the book. If you haven't started the series, start with "Cold Dish" and enjoy the ride!

As the Crow Flies

Another great book in a great series. George Guidall is of course the icing on the cake as a perfect narrator for this book.