Spirit of Steamboat

A Walt Longmire Story

De: Craig Johnson

Narrado por: George Guidall

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

wonderful little book

What did you love best about Spirit of Steamboat?

Steamboat is an extremely well written little book about my favorite characters. It adds to the readers' knowledge of a couple of them, but more importantly it emphasizes the humanity of them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spirit of Steamboat?

Watching Walt hang halfway out of the underside of an airplane (and I do mean watching, because Johnson has a talent for showing the reader the story rather than telling him/her about it) was hair raising. I mean, we knew he would survive -- after all, the action in this book takes place decades before the books in the series, but that doesn't impact the drama in the slightest.

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

The narrator is fabulous and has become the voice of Walt Longmire for me. When Guidall reads a book, I always give it a second look, but in the Longmire books, he is inspired.

Any additional comments?

This book is especially important to me because I love the ongoing series, but it would be a good stand-alone, also, for those who need an introduction to Walt's world. For an investment of just over 3 hours, the reader gets a good taste of Johnson's amazing writing and Guidall's gifted narration. Top notch.

Ernest K Gann Lives On

What did you like best about this story?

If you enjoyed the Ernest K Gann books you will enjoy and appreciate this novelette. All the great characters and aspects of the Longmire series on an adventure involving great skill, earned in the past, on an aircraft that should be in a museum.

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

Either of the 2 sheriffs

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

30 Seconds over Denver

Any additional comments?

Craig Johnson spins these yarns so incredibly well. Longmire is right up there with Robert Parkers "Spenser" series for pure adventure and camaraderie.

Fasten your seat belt and prepare for takeoff!

If you could sum up Spirit of Steamboat in three words, what would they be?

A wild ride!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Walter Longmire, whose courage, ingenuity and affability wins every time.

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Oh, this is the 9th Longmire books I've read.. I'm addicted. George Guidall IS Walter Longmire.

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

All of the above: this book can raise your blood pressure with anxiety (or fear? Ask Lucien),
you will laugh out loud, and melt in tears.

Any additional comments?

I love this series!

Walt Longmire Christmas short story

a departure from the usual Walt & Henry struggles A GREAT story. The best yet

Nice Christmas read!

Great story, lots of white knuckle suspense. As always George Guidall is the perfect reader.

Great short story.

If you could sum up Spirit of Steamboat in three words, what would they be?

Sheriffs save lives

What did you like best about this story?

I liked that we got more insight on Walt's relationship with his wife.

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

George Guidall is one of my favorite narrators. I have listened to books just because he was narrating.

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

Life hanging by a storm.

Best Book

This is one of my all time favorite books and definitely one of the best Christmas books.

A holiday staple

Just as A Christmas Carol is Longmire’s traditional read around December 25th, Spirit of Steamboat is my source for holiday inspiration. I read it the week of Christmas, usually while baking Christmas cookies, or on a long walk with my dogs. It is so well conceived, crafted and narrated that I think it is one of—if not THE—best by Craig Johnson. Short but so sweet, it delivers a wallop of the compassionate humanity we need in this era of #ME FIRST. I will continue to read it every Christmas, and if I ever have grandchildren, they’ll have this slim volume in their coat pockets. Move over Charles Dickens, Craig Johnson is moving in.

Quite possibly the best in the Longmire series

Also a great flying story. I know I’ll be reading this one again and again

Great story

A short story that you will remember for a long time after you read it, I highly recommend it.