In What Order Should I Read The Longmire Novels By Craig Johnson

After binging the TV show, I'm finally diving into the original Walt Longmire mystery book series. Is there a chronological reading order list or should I just start with 'The Cold Dish'? Also, do any books jump around in timeline?
2026-07-31 01:27:24
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8 Answers

NoahPage
NoahPage
Frequent Answerer Librarian
I love the tactile feel of the older paperback editions. I collected them in order from used bookstores, which felt like a treasure hunt. Seeing the covers lined up on my shelf in sequence is satisfying. The order is printed on the back of many later editions, which helped. If you're a physical book person, that's another reason to follow the list—it makes your collection look right.
2026-08-01 19:16:17
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KadenRice
KadenRice
Twist Chaser Data Analyst
Someone on Goodreads made a spreadsheet with the internal chronological order, including all the short stories. It was fascinating but overkill for a casual reader. The publication order already respects the timeline Johnson intended, with only minor dips into the past. The only book that's a true prequel is 'The Highwayman', which is a standalone novella about an old case. You can read that anytime after you're familiar with Walt and Henry. Otherwise, trust the author's release schedule.
2026-08-02 11:14:21
3
ChloeWebb
ChloeWebb
Longtime Reader Nurse
The TV show mixed up elements from different books, so if you're coming from the show, throw that timeline out the window. Book order is its own thing. For instance, certain characters who die early on in the show are alive much longer in the books, and vice versa. To avoid confusion, treat them as separate entities and start the literary journey with 'The Cold Dish'. The books have a drier, more philosophical humor, and the mysteries are often more grounded.
2026-08-03 06:56:23
3
KiraBaker
KiraBaker
Responder Firefighter
The character development is slow and steady across the series. Walt's grief over his wife, Martha, his relationship with his deputy Vic Moretti, his friendship with Henry—these arcs have payoffs that resonate more if you've been along for the whole ride. That's why I'm a purist about order. Start with 'The Cold Dish'. It's a bit slower and more contemplative than some later books, but it sets the tone perfectly. The landscape is bleak and beautiful, and Walt's voice is uniquely weary and witty. You need that foundation.
2026-08-04 05:09:46
4
NaomiByrd
NaomiByrd
Library Roamer Photographer
Library websites often have the series listed in order if you search for 'Craig Johnson Longmire series'. That's how I built my list. I saved it as a screenshot. It's: 1. The Cold Dish, 2. Death Without Company, 3. Kindness Goes Unpunished, 4. Another Man's Moccasins, 5. The Dark Horse, 6. Junkyard Dogs, 7. Hell Is Empty, 8. As the Crow Flies, 9. A Serpent's Tooth, 10. Any Other Name, 11. Dry Bones, 12. The Highwayman, 13. An Obvious Fact, 14. The Western Star, 15. Land of Wolves, 16. Daughter of the Morning Star, 17. The Longmire Defense. Easy.
2026-08-04 13:30:38
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Related Questions

How do you read the Longmire mystery novels in chronological order?

3 Answers2026-07-31 15:47:53
I look at it like a jigsaw puzzle. You can start with the edge pieces (the main novels in order) to build the frame, then fill in the middle with the short stories and prequels. Or you can dump all the pieces out and try to sort them by color (chronology). The first method is easier and still gives you the full picture. The second is for puzzle enthusiasts with a lot of space.

What is the correct Longmire mystery reading order by publication?

3 Answers2026-07-31 16:39:01
I made the mistake of starting with 'Any Other Name' because it was on sale. While the mystery itself was engaging, I felt like I was at a party where everyone knew each other's inside jokes except me. The dynamic between Walt and Vic was especially confusing; their banter had a history I wasn't privy to. I spent more time trying to decipher their past than focusing on the current plot. I eventually backtracked, and reading the earlier books made that later one so much more rewarding on a second pass. The emotional stakes are just higher when you have the full context.

What is the complete Longmire book series in order to read

4 Answers2026-07-31 22:59:18
The mysteries are good, but the real draw is Walt's moral compass. It's tested in different ways in each book, and the consequences sometimes ripple into later stories. A decision in 'Death Without Company' might be referenced in 'Junkyard Dogs'. That continuity rewards the ordered read.

How does the Longmire book series order differ from the TV show

7 Answers2026-07-31 08:53:35
I think the most successful changes the show made were the ones that served the ensemble. Giving Vic, Henry, Ferg, and Ruby more to do, more backstory, more interplay, made for better television. A strict first-person adaptation would have left them as shadows. By breaking out of Walt's head, the show enriched the world, even if it took liberties with the source material. The book series order is a solo journey with companions. The TV series order is a group adventure. Which you prefer depends on whether you want to live inside Walt's mind or hang out with all of them in the Absaroka County Sheriff's Department.

What is the complete Longmire mystery series in order?

7 Answers2026-07-31 12:14:54
Oh, the Western Star' is a weird one structurally—half the book is a flashback to Walt's early days on a train. Reading it in order is crucial because that flashback directly informs his mindset and decisions in the present-day storyline. If you hadn't read the previous books, the emotional resonance of that past story would be completely lost. That's a good example of why order matters beyond simple plot chronology. Johnson increasingly uses past events and memories to inform present actions. The series becomes a dialogue between Walt's past and present. Without the foundation of knowing who he is 'now' (in the series' timeline), those flashbacks are just isolated short stories. With the foundation, they're devastating layers of character development. Start from book one to build that foundation.

Where do the Longmire short story collections fit in the book order

5 Answers2026-07-31 20:43:30
Wait, are we talking about the short stories that were later included in 'The Highway Kind' and other multi-author anthologies? Those are super scattered. Unless you're a completist, I wouldn't worry about them at all. The only must-have collection is 'Wait for Signs.' The rest are for the hardcore fans who want every single word Johnson has written about Walt. For 99% of readers, sticking to the core novels and that one collection is the perfect, uncomplicated Longmire experience. Don't let the internet make you feel like you have to hunt down every obscure publication.

Where do the Longmire mystery novellas fit in the series order?

6 Answers2026-07-31 16:40:21
I'm just here for the discussion. I've only seen the TV show, to be honest. The books are on my endless 'to-read' list. How faithful is the adaptation, generally?

Which Longmire book comes first in the mystery series order?

6 Answers2026-07-31 03:23:13
Considering the TV show diverged so much, I think it's even more important for show fans to start with 'The Cold Dish'. It's like getting the original blueprint. You'll see which characters were combined or changed for TV, which plotlines were original, and how the book version of Walt is different (and, many argue, better). It's a fascinating compare-and-contrast experience, but only if you begin with the source material's true beginning.

Which Longmire book comes first and how does the series progress

7 Answers2026-07-31 06:40:00
I love threads like this. Makes me want to go back and re-read 'The Cold Dish' tonight. Remembering that opening scene with the deer and the snow... chills. It's all there from page one.
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