The cold dish (original 2004; edition 2005)

I found the narration style to be somewhat confusing, and had trouble keeping track of the dialogue. Not sure if I'll be reading any more of these. ( )

Read for Bookclub
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating (not part of overall rating): 3.50

First thought when finished: What a great beginning to this series. I am so glad that I picked it up!

What I Loved: Walt and Harry (his best friend) were two characters that I absolutely fell in love with while reading The Cold Dish. Vic was a close third in my favorite character category. It isn't often in a mystery that I love and connect to the characters as much as the case. I did love the case and I didn't guess who the perp was until almost 3/4 of the way through. Even then it was just a guess but it was fun figuring it out right along with Walt!

What I Liked: I liked how the main case was woven with a past case. I really liked the visiting of the Res and all of characters based there.

Final thought: The Cold Dish served up both a great case and a wonderful cast of characters. I will be continuing this series.

Audio specific review: George Guidall is a fantastic narrator but it took awhile for me to warm up to him being Walt Longmire. After I got used to him doing the voice it was fantastic. The pacing of the reading was perfect and added to the enjoyment of the story.

Set in a small Wyoming town this book hits all the right notes, the sheriff who shares his life with friends but avoids other close relationships, the astounding details of the mountains and small town life in Wyoming and the almost painful mix of friendship and racial tension between the sheriff and his best friend, a Native American. The mystery is compelling as is the storytelling of the author. Highly recommended. ( )

4.5 stars

My blog post about this book is at this link. ( )

I have come to this series bass-ackwards.

My husband and I had begun watching the TV show and were really enjoying it. I've been trying to get him out of his sci-fi rut (both on TV and in literature), so when I asked if he'd be interested in READING one of the Longmire books he said, "Yep."

Cold Dish came home to him, and every week watching the series became a challenge, because he'd keep saying things that suggested that, as good as the show is, the book was even better.

He was right.

It's easy to see where the TV show draws inspiration from the books, but the writers for that show have made enough changes in characters, and relationships, and basic premise and plotlines that it is entirely possible to be a big fan of both the show and the books.

This first in the series is far richer than anything achieved on screen, though. The storyline involves a series of what appear to be revenge killings. Young men who had received judicial slaps on the wrist for the sexual assault of a mentally challenged young Native American girl are being picked off one by one, and there is no shortage of suspects.

If you watch the TV series, this plotline is familiar -- but I assure you, nothing you found great about that episode will ruin the book.

Both my husband and I are looking forward to continuing to work our way through this entire series. ( )