Walt Longmire Books in Order books in order

Complete reading order for Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series featuring a Wyoming sheriff solving crimes in Absaroka County across 24 novels that inspired the hit Netflix series Longmire.

Walt Longmire Books in Order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Cold Dish 2004 Craig Johnson Buy
2 Death Without Company 2006 Craig Johnson Buy
3 Kindness Goes Unpunished 2007 Craig Johnson Buy
4 Another Man’s Moccasins 2008 Craig Johnson Buy
5 The Dark Horse 2009 Craig Johnson Buy
6 Junkyard Dogs 2010 Craig Johnson Buy
7 Hell Is Empty 2011 Craig Johnson Buy
8 As the Crow Flies 2012 Craig Johnson Buy
9 A Serpent’s Tooth 2013 Craig Johnson Buy
10 Any Other Name 2014 Craig Johnson Buy
11 Dry Bones 2015 Craig Johnson Buy
12 An Obvious Fact 2016 Craig Johnson Buy
13 The Western Star 2017 Craig Johnson Buy
14 Depth of Winter 2018 Craig Johnson Buy
15 Land of Wolves 2019 Craig Johnson Buy
16 Next to Last Stand 2020 Craig Johnson Buy
17 Daughter of the Morning Star 2022 Craig Johnson Buy
18 Hell and Back 2022 Craig Johnson Buy
19 The Longmire Defense 2023 Craig Johnson Buy
20 First Frost 2024 Craig Johnson Buy

About the Author

Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire series. A Wyoming resident, he brings authentic knowledge of the state’s culture, landscape, and contemporary issues to his literary mysteries that have won numerous awards and inspired a hit television series.

The Walt Longmire series follows a Wyoming sheriff navigating crime, politics, and personal challenges in the fictional Absaroka County. Created by Craig Johnson, the series blends mystery with Western themes across 24 novels that capture the spirit of the modern American West while delivering compelling character-driven stories.

Walt Longmire is the longtime sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming—a vast, sparsely populated region where he knows most residents personally. Haunted by the death of his wife and struggling with his role as sheriff in a changing West, Walt solves crimes with the help of his best friend Henry Standing Bear, his deputy Vic Moretti, and his deep knowledge of local culture and history.

What distinguishes the series is Johnson’s literary approach to crime fiction. His prose is rich, his characters complex, and his exploration of Western themes—Native American culture, land disputes, small-town politics—adds depth rarely found in genre fiction. The books tackle serious issues while maintaining the satisfying mystery elements readers expect.

The series spawned the television show “Longmire,” which ran for six seasons on A&E and Netflix, introducing the character to millions of viewers. While the show takes liberties with the source material, it helped cement Walt Longmire as one of modern fiction’s most recognizable lawmen.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Walt Longmire books are there?

There are currently 24 Walt Longmire novels, starting with The Cold Dish in 2004 and continuing through First Frost in 2024. Craig Johnson continues to write new books in the series.

Do the Longmire books need to be read in order?

While each book contains a standalone mystery, reading in order is recommended to follow character development and ongoing storylines, particularly Walt’s relationship with Vic and the evolution of his character across the series.

Is the Longmire book series like the TV show?

The Netflix series Longmire is based on the books but takes significant liberties with plots and character relationships. The books are darker, more literary, and more grounded in real Wyoming culture than the television adaptation.

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