Ticket 2 Ride

The latest in the Sheriff Walt Longmire mystery book series. Return to Sender (2025, Viking) is the 21st book in Craig Johnson’s series.

After rewatching the Longmire television series recently, it’s no wonder that Robert Taylor’s voice narrates the book in my head. He will always be Walt Longmire, even though the book and TV versions of Walt have some major differences. No matter, I was anxious to dig into another Longmire Mystery.

Walt is asked by the USPS to look into the disappearance of a rural mail carrier, even though the route is not in his county, and he has no jurisdiction. Going undercover as the mail carrier’s replacement in her 307 mile route, Walt bites off more than he can chew. As a convincing mail carrier, Walt is not very good, he’s too much a sheriff, as most people don’t quite buy his role.

Walt finds the mail carrier, who doesn’t want to be found, then she turns up dead. As Walt pulls loose strings, the mystery unravels. Things are not as they seem and that is catnip to an investigator like Walt.

In Johnson’s books, Walt often operates alone, in unfamiliar territory, facing climatic challenges, is visited by spirits or hallucinations, and damn near faces death. That formula holds here.

The story is intriguing, as Walt discovers a cult-like group that is somehow involved with the mail carrier’s disappearance and apparently, other crimes. Walt faces down any threat, courageously, and with dedication, even sometimes foolishly. I wouldn’t mind if Walt displayed his faults more regularly, bowing to human weakness like the rest of us. Carrying on foot, two injured bad men (who he shot) in the desert, with no water and unsure of his direction, is stretching his All-American virtues a bit.

The conclusion to the story takes up about a third of the book. The last 100 pages are exhaustive to read. If I was Johnson’s editor, I would have shortened that section, it’s too long. Instead, I would have beefed up Walt’s personal life, which gets only minor consideration. Cady is being considered as the state’s next Attorney General. Walt is considering retirement. And he’s engaged to Vic! Tell me more!

If you make it through the book, you’ll have achieved something, and like Walt fans, you’ll be ready for the next adventure.