Hell Is Empty

A Walt Longmire Mystery

By: Craig Johnson

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Spur Award-winner Craig Johnson has garnered critical acclaim for his Walt Longmire mysteries. In this riveting seventh entry, Wyoming’s Absaroka County sheriff, Walt Longmire, is pushed beyond his limits.

When three hardened convicts escape FBI custody in a mountain blizzard, an armed psychopath leads them up Big Horn Mountain. As Longmire struggles to track their treacherous ascent, he’ll need all the help he can get from the tribal spirits of the towering summit.

Listen to all of Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire mysteries.

©2011 Craig Johnson (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

A really enjoyable series

Would you listen to Hell Is Empty again? Why?

Yes I would. I like the descriptive picture drawn by the author's narrative. I'm familiar with that neck of the woods and I enjoy his take on it.

What did you like best about this story?

It held my attention. You were a ways into it before the villain's identity became apparent.

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

He creates identifiable voices for the characters so you don't have to wonder who's speaking.
He has a pleasant sounding voice and an enjoyable cadence to his reading.
I believe I remember his voice on some James Lee Burke and Tony Hillerman books.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No...too much to do.

Any additional comments?

It's a good combination of author and narrator. Thank you for a job well done guys.

Hooked on Craig Johnson

What did you love best about Hell Is Empty?

This was less about Longmire's family and his work team, and instead heavier on the interior side of the sheriff and that mystic string connection to the unseen universe around him. He is as tenacious and stubborn as ever, driven by that right on target moral compass.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This book was exhausting. Walt goes through so much and Craig Johnson drags you through each painful step by each painful step with him. I honestly believed that the author was finally going to kill this guy off. Or wait was it the other guy? Or was it the bad guy? Can you say Russian Roulette played with a high mountain storm and fire and cliffs and mystic confusion? Well, you get the idea.

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?

I've not heard any of his other character work, so this question doesn't apply to me.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I'm hopeful that the next book will have a bit of lightness and more of Walt's trademark humor with his daughter's wedding. But let's face it guys, this guy's life is on the line so often that he's simply going to implode eventually, ie-give Walt a break Craig Johnson!

Any additional comments?

I really did miss the ensemble character list.

Longmire - Solo Duty

Walt chases a van of escaped murders and convicts in this man vs nature novel. A different twist on the Walt Longmire mystery series.

left me looking forward to more of Henry Standing Bear and Vic.

A strong mysterious adventure

One of the things that has always kept me fascinated with the Longmire stories is the way Craig Johnson weaves Indian spirituality into them. In this story, the spirituality takes center stage as this book explores not only life and death but also the living and the dead. It explores the whys of what we do and the things we should be doing instead. In all, the story starts as an adventure and ends as something much, much deeper.

I think a series such as Longmire can only have a single story like this. I feel that it is an important part of the series, but it can only be told once. As much of a departure as this is, I feel that Craig Johnson is brave and talented in telling it.

I've actually already been through all the Longmire books (up through The Western Star), and I'm going through some select ones as I work in my workshop. And I think this may be my favorite in an already excellent series.

Great story!

This is a good one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great story, setting, characters, and narration.

A cold day in Hell...

As with all the other Walt Longmire stories by Craig Johnson, I enjoyed this one as well. This story is different than previous Longmire stories though, and not what I expected. It is more about Longmire determined to get the bad guy no matter what it takes, and less about him joking with his buddy the Cheyenne nation (Henry Standing Bear), and getting bailed out by his close friend in times of need. I've enjoyed past stories that illustrate the interaction between Longmire and his potty-mouthed deputy, his help in the Sheriff's department, and his down-home interaction with the odd assortment of people in his county, but this story heads in a different direction and rather quickly.

Craig Johnson introduces a dose of Indian supernatural experiences that was probably what it would take to bring down an unrelenting psycho killer that is not only dangerous, but creative in his attempts to stop Longmire. Although there is a sprinkling of some humorous discussions among the various characters, this book is about a more focused man - Walt Longmire, that is doing his job above and beyond the call of duty. I kept finding myself saying Walt, wait for the back-up help you need, but no, Longmire wasn't waiting for anyone. He was a man on a mission and would not stop no matter what threats he encountered.

The story seemed short, but then again, I like hearing George Guidall not only narrate the story, but an excellent narrator that brings Walt Longmire to life. The story traverses a different direction than most of the Longmire stories, but I liked it none the less and hope that Craig Johnson has another story ready for me to download soon.

Another great visit with Walt

Would you consider the audio edition of Hell Is Empty to be better than the print version?

George Guidall does such an excellent job of narrating that sometimes I wonder if reading the printed word would bring the same nuances.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This particular book centered very much on Walt and his journey up Cloud Peak. As others have mentioned, I missed the conversation with the other usual characters but they were on the periphery.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Hell isn't always hot.

Any additional comments?

This book was nearly 13-14 chapters of possible bodily peril and because of the tenseness of the situation I found myself alternating between shutting it off to give my heart a break and not wanting to shut it off at all. Walt is up against 2 adversaries - a murderer and the very mountain he has to track the man on. I didn't think I was going to like this but it has a deepness to it that I truly appreciated. Even with the perilous situations, Walt's humor does come through and that is the charm of the character.

Great series

Great characters great action great writing great series. As with all Longmire books. I could not wish for more.

Great Listen

If you could sum up Hell Is Empty in three words, what would they be?

Entertaining, great visualization

Who was your favorite character and why?

The sheriff, of course.

Any additional comments?

I always enjoy reading and listening to Craig Johnson's Longmire stories.

As usual. another great story

i enjoy the walt longmire stories very much. Always a bit of mystery, a little prose, a bit of history, respect for culture, friendship and family. A pleasant change from most of the fiction out there!