Spirit of Steamboat

A Walt Longmire Story

By: Craig Johnson

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

A holiday tale from the best-selling author of the Walt Longmire mystery series, the inspiration for A&E's hit show, Longmire.

"It' s a question of what you have to do, what you have to live with if you don't." Sheriff Walt Longmire is reading A Christmas Carol in his office on December 24th when he's interrupted by the ghost of Christmas past: a young woman with a hairline scar across her forehead and more than a few questions about Walt' s predecessor, Lucian Connally. Walt doesn' t recognize the mystery woman, but she seems to know him and claims to have something she must return to Connally.

With his daughter, Cady, and his undersheriff Vic Moretti in Philadelphia for the holidays, Walt is at loose ends, and despite the woman' s reticence to reveal her identity, he agrees to help her. At the Durant Home for Assisted Living Lucian Connally is several tumblers into his Pappy Van Winkle' s and swears he's never clapped eyes on the woman before. Disappointed, she whispers " Steamboat" and begins a story that takes them all back to Christmas Eve 1988, when three people died in a terrible crash and a young girl had the slimmest chance of survival...back to a record-breaking blizzard, to Walt' s first year as sheriff, with a young daughter at home and a wife praying for his safety...back to a whiskey-soaked World War II vet ready to fly a decommissioned plane and risk it all to save a life.

©2013 Craig Johnson (P)2013 Recorded Books

Even the mechanical details were suspenseful

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if I knew that she/he was okay with a small (fictionalized) slice of military history, blended with the risky, urgent improvisational solutions that rural western living often demands. Some people connect suspense with urban settings, period.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lucian Connally, if I spelled the name right. That character reminds me of a combination of my late uncle and one of my dad's late best friends: all rough, loud, wonderfully vulgar, fearless, non-apologetic, un-politically correct, completely at home in the physical and/or natural worlds, and great guys both.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For one thing, he undoubtedly reads the story first, to decide who's going to sound how. This saves me making those decisions. His voice is four-dimensional: his range of pitch, age, accents, his expressiveness. He even does believable women.

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

I got choked up. Laughed many times. The laughter is typical for me with the Longmire series.

Any additional comments?

I work with my hands. Lost patience with TV many years ago. Listening is better. I like building the visual in my own head, just the way I want it, and to be free to do the work I do. Audio books are much like everything good about Radio.

Amazing!

I love the Walt Longmire stories. this is my second of the books and I can't wait to read them all! A must read for any age!

A real sleeper

The TV series does nothing for these books. I liked it, but thought it a bit campy. The more I hear by Craig Johnson, the more I appreciate a great author, and the pairing with George Guidall as narrator is just excellent! There are not many really great pairings of writer and narrator but this is a great pairing.
As to this title, Spirit of Steamboat, it is a great story. Not too long but not one you want to put down.

Great holiday read for Longmire fans!

Craig Johnson's books are like rich desserts I indulge in, in between other books because I'm trying to make the Longmire series last as long as I can. It's that good!

Excellent! This is one of my favorite listens.

The narrator takes me into the story as if I was there experiencing the turbulence , low temperatures, and emotions. I enjoyed the trip😊.

A wonderful Holiday tale

I will listen to this book at Christmas time every year. A heartwarming story of togetherness , humanity, bravery and forgiveness set in a thrilling Winter adventure with Walt Longmire, Lucien and crew on an impossible mission.

best author

I read about 2 books a month. I listen to 4.
I have admired the writing style of many. so when I say Craig Johnson is the Best author I have ever read, I mean it! His characters come to life.. Truly alive!
George Guidall has got to be the best reader alive!

great story

great story
well told, riveting, will listen to it again and again a favorite for sure

Great Christmas Longmire

I appreciate when we get stories from Walt's past and this was an excellent one with Lucians background as well.

Spectacular

Even by this series usual standards, this story is absolutely spectacular. Everything you want from a Longmire tale and then some. Wow. Just WOW.