This is a collection of short stories from Johnson featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire and his assorted cronies from Absaroka County, Wyoming. I've been a fan of the Longmire books ever since seeing the great TV series on A&E and Netflix several years ago. This collection was full of pathos, humor, and a few mysteries and it helps to fill in some of the gaps in Longmire's saga dating back to when his wife Martha died. The stories include some very off-beat situations such as Walt being mistaken for the messiah on the first day of the new millennium; a con-artist trying to sell Walt a Bible purported to have been purchased by Walt's wife before she died (very reminiscent of the movie Paper Moon); an older woman using fire to abolish the drinking habits of some of the locals; Walt playing the ghost of Christmas Present in a production of A Christmas Carol; and my favorite, Walt and Bear lowering Vic into a campground outhouse to rescue a great-horned owl.
I would heartily recommend all of these stories and feel that they're a great addition to the Longmire saga. I have read most of the novels but still need to read a few of the later ones. I'll definitely look forward to them.
I would heartily recommend all of these stories and feel that they're a great addition to the Longmire saga. I have read most of the novels but still need to read a few of the later ones. I'll definitely look forward to them.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
From the Acknowledgements: After I was fortunate enough to win the Cowboys & Indians Tony Hillerman Award with "Old Indian Trick," the first short story in this collection and the first short story I had ever written, I got the bright idea that I'd send it to the folks who subscribed to my newsletter as a free gift for the holidays.
Author Craig Johnson just didn't know what he was getting himself into. The following November fans starting asking him about that year's Christmas Eve story, and thus began a tradition. Each Christmas Eve, those fans who've signed up at Johnson's website are treated to a short story-- another little glimpse into the life of beloved character Sheriff Walt Longmire. It didn't take long for folks to start asking about print editions of these stories, and Wait for Signs is the first collection.
Having read each tale-- except for the brand-new "Petunia, Bandit Queen of the Bighorns"-- in my Christmas Eve emails, I looked forward to having a copy sitting on my Craig Johnson shelf in my personal library. With an introduction by Lou Diamond Phillips who portrays Henry Standing Bear on the hit television series Longmire, this volume contains gems, including "Divorce Horse" and "Messenger" which have only been available as digital editions. These stories are filled with humor, with the characters so many fans have grown to love like family, and with glimpses into Walt's present and past.
Wait for Signs is the perfect introduction for new readers who have yet to travel to Absaroka County, Wyoming, and it's perfect for fans. As soon as I got my copy, I had to sit down and start reading because I quite simply needed a Walt Fix. Yes, I'd read them before, but there's no better pick-me-up than to laugh at the sly wit in "Old Indian Trick," to revisit the Port-A-Potty in "Messenger," to meet the woman who believes Walt is a deity in "Ministerial Aide," or to laugh at the pork rind-addicted crooks in "High Holidays."
I'd better warn you: if you're a first-time Craig Johnson reader when you pick up Wait for Signs, don't be surprised if you immediately begin a fevered quest to get your hands on all books Walt Longmire. Craig Johnson's writing is more addictive than those Lays potato chips we used to hear about all the time.
Author Craig Johnson just didn't know what he was getting himself into. The following November fans starting asking him about that year's Christmas Eve story, and thus began a tradition. Each Christmas Eve, those fans who've signed up at Johnson's website are treated to a short story-- another little glimpse into the life of beloved character Sheriff Walt Longmire. It didn't take long for folks to start asking about print editions of these stories, and Wait for Signs is the first collection.
Having read each tale-- except for the brand-new "Petunia, Bandit Queen of the Bighorns"-- in my Christmas Eve emails, I looked forward to having a copy sitting on my Craig Johnson shelf in my personal library. With an introduction by Lou Diamond Phillips who portrays Henry Standing Bear on the hit television series Longmire, this volume contains gems, including "Divorce Horse" and "Messenger" which have only been available as digital editions. These stories are filled with humor, with the characters so many fans have grown to love like family, and with glimpses into Walt's present and past.
Wait for Signs is the perfect introduction for new readers who have yet to travel to Absaroka County, Wyoming, and it's perfect for fans. As soon as I got my copy, I had to sit down and start reading because I quite simply needed a Walt Fix. Yes, I'd read them before, but there's no better pick-me-up than to laugh at the sly wit in "Old Indian Trick," to revisit the Port-A-Potty in "Messenger," to meet the woman who believes Walt is a deity in "Ministerial Aide," or to laugh at the pork rind-addicted crooks in "High Holidays."
I'd better warn you: if you're a first-time Craig Johnson reader when you pick up Wait for Signs, don't be surprised if you immediately begin a fevered quest to get your hands on all books Walt Longmire. Craig Johnson's writing is more addictive than those Lays potato chips we used to hear about all the time.
Well written and riveting as always. These stories helped to fill in some gaps and to flesh-out the characters I have come to love and admire.Craig Johnson should keep writing and publishing these gems to enhance the larger WYOMING world of Sheriff Walt Longmire and his rag-tag bunch of deputies and cohorts.As with most good mysteries, the obvious is sometimes overlooked and the case was solved really before it began.
Fun set of stories with Walt Longmire; all good with the trademark mix of humor and seriousness that Johnson does so well. I am not a particular fan of the short story format but these are great to read.
Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
Craig Johnson has been incredibly generous at Christmastime to his long-time readers; he has provided them with a short story about the residents of Absaroka County, typically holiday-themed, every December since I first discovered the man's writing around 7 years ago.
Craig and his editors / publishers / whoever else has gathered these stories up, along with a brand-new tale (and an introduction from actor Lou Diamond Phillips) and published them under the anthology title "Wait For Signs: 12 Longmire Stories". Each of these short stories features Walt Longmire, along with other beloved characters from his universe BUT without the murder(s) that are a staple of his full-length series. (Hey, they HAVE to do that if they want to call them a "murder mystery", after all!)
I'd seen a few of these tales already courtesy of the aforementioned emails it was nice to reread "Old Indian Trick" once again. Most, however, were new to me (although I'm sure I have a few waiting in my "to be read" email folder). ALL were thought provoking, often humorous (picture Walt, Henry, and Vic attempting to perform an animal rescue from a porta-potty after just succeeding in luring a momma bear and her cubs away from the facility) and all were excellent.
This is a Must-Read.
RATING: 5 stars
Craig and his editors / publishers / whoever else has gathered these stories up, along with a brand-new tale (and an introduction from actor Lou Diamond Phillips) and published them under the anthology title "Wait For Signs: 12 Longmire Stories". Each of these short stories features Walt Longmire, along with other beloved characters from his universe BUT without the murder(s) that are a staple of his full-length series. (Hey, they HAVE to do that if they want to call them a "murder mystery", after all!)
I'd seen a few of these tales already courtesy of the aforementioned emails it was nice to reread "Old Indian Trick" once again. Most, however, were new to me (although I'm sure I have a few waiting in my "to be read" email folder). ALL were thought provoking, often humorous (picture Walt, Henry, and Vic attempting to perform an animal rescue from a porta-potty after just succeeding in luring a momma bear and her cubs away from the facility) and all were excellent.
This is a Must-Read.
RATING: 5 stars
