The Cold Dish

A Walt Longmire Mystery

By: Craig Johnson

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Introducing Wyoming's Sheriff Walt Longmire in this riveting novel from the New York Times best-selling author of Dry Bones, the first in the Longmire series, the basis for the hit Netflix original series Longmire.

Fans of Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr, and Robert B. Parker will love this outstanding first novel, in which New York Times best-selling author Craig Johnson introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming's Absaroka County. Johnson draws on his deep attachment to the American West to produce a literary mystery of stunning authenticity, full of memorable characters. After 25 years as sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire's hopes of finishing out his tenure in peace are dashed when Cody Pritchard is found dead near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Two years earlier, Cody has been one of four high school boys given suspended sentences for raping a local Cheyenne girl. Somebody, it would seem, is seeking vengeance, and Longmire might be the only thing standing between the three remaining boys and a Sharps .45-70 rifle.

With lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and a cast of characters both tragic and humorous enough to fill in the vast emptiness of the high plains, Walt Longmire attempts to see that revenge, a dish best served cold, is never served at all.

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

©2004 Craig Johnson (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"A strong sense of place, a credible plot, and deft dialogue lift Johnson's good-humored debut novel." (Publishers Weekly)
"Johnson, who lives in Ucross, Wyoming, knows the Western landscape well, and creates stunning and violent scenes of the Rocky Mountains." (Bookmarks)
"We in the West have a major new talent on our hands." (The Denver Post)

George Guidall IS Walt Longmire

Where does The Cold Dish rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Cold Dish is at the top. I listened to George Guidall narrate the book and then decided to buy the book to see if appraisal of the book is in any way affected because of Guidall's outstanding narration.

Craig Johnson reads just as well as George Guidall narrates, and vice versa.

Only several titles later did I realize why Guidall had a familiar voice - I have a number of his titles, including Basque History of the World.

As well as Guidall narrated the other 450-plus titles as he has done, there is no character, no subject, for whom he is better suited than Walt Longmire.

What did you like best about this story?

He had such a realistic feel to the story and each of the characters sounds exactly like somebody I know.

I love the Clearmont-Buffalo Wyoming area and, even more so, the Bighorn Mountains and the region from Cody to Thermopolis to Greybull andback through Powell - my favorite area of the planet.


Should note that Colonial Radio also has a series, Powder River, set in the area (fictional town whose name is same as the real town but at a time the town didn't exist) and I listen to it on SiriusXM when it runs on Fridays and have bought the first five seasons through audible/amazon.

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

Guidall sounds like my grandfather when I was too young to be a grandfather - makes me feel like I'm listening to my grandfather tell me of an adventurous period in his life.

As I said, Guidall sounds like he IS Walt Longmire.

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

Good old boy Wyoming sheriff gets the job done without flamboyance.

Any additional comments?

I waited to post this until I had read all eight titles offered by Audible. Please, get more soon before I have to be committed - I'm addicted to this series far more than I ever was hooked on the Sacketts by Louis L'Amour.

Gotta get another Longmire book. Gotta have. Please...

Great listen

The television show brought me to the book series. Thoroughly enjoyed this listen. Immediately purchased next in the series. Recommended

Great book... Now on to read more of the series.

Bought the book because it was the first in a series and I could give a new writer a try.

So glad I did. Now to read more of the series.

The best team of writer and narrator.

Amazing reading to an amazing book. My third time through the series in the last 5 years and it continues to just be outstanding.

I enjoyed everything about this book.

No one could have narrated this story as well as George Guidall did. He gave the character depth along with humor. Great story and performance!

won't leave you cold or hungry

great story and even better narrator! it's pretty gritty but I like the humor. and longmire might be handsome and funny but I think I'm in love with the bear... he's even funnier and an unbeatable friend.

Best read in a very long time!

So well written! With barbs of humor… sprinkled throughout and perfectly timed. I loved every character… so much of this novel’s brilliance was highlighted by the narration. It’s among the best I have heard! Every sentiment comes through the audio voice. The readers voice fits the first person like a glove. Sucks me right in.

Good Series

I’ve read almost all of this series. My only complaint is one I’m finding with multiple series on Audible, that large passages seem to repeated, as though there is a lot of copy and paste going on. I still enjoy the Longmire series.

Great Story

Longmire is a great example of creating community, characters, etc . A world you can escape to and characters you can enjoy knowing

Fabulous narration and full of surprises!

This was my first audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story was compelling and held my attention the entire time. The narrator does a wonderful job distinguishing between characters. Wonderful book!