Narrated by George Guidall
Viking / Recorded Books
Published May 27, 2025
Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
Craig Johnson has allowed Walt Longmire to age over the course of this series, and in Return to Sender (#21 in the Longmire series) age plays an important factor. Over the past few books, Longmire has been stepping away from his day-to-day job as Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, as his second-in-command, assumed successor, and romantic partner Victoria Moretti takes on more of that work. This has allowed him the time to conduct more personal investigative work.
This latest in the series finds Walt searching for a missing postal worker in the vast open spaces of the Red Desert in Wyoming. The investigation starts out as a personal favor for his deceased wife’s brother, the postal inspector for the area, and becomes even more personal as he gets to know the characters involved. The book is filled with bizarre and kooky characters, including a dangerous cult with a focus on UFOs, the ex-hippie postal worker, a frequently drunk and combative biker, a group of elderly followers of the cult, and many more. What it is not filled with are Walt’s usual supporting characters, his family and law enforcement team. This may be a disappointment for those who follow the series, but it does make the book very accessible for those who want to jump straight into this book. The narrator, George Guidall (one of my favorite readers), voices Walt and other characters extremely well. There is a cadence to Walt’s ruminations and conversations that is very unique and appropriate for a seventy-ish Western sheriff, and which brings his character to life.
The remote Wyoming setting is extremely well written and quite accurate. I used to live in the area and reading this book felt like returning home in some ways. The exceedingly long postal route that the missing woman worked runs through areas that I have explored. I’ve experienced driving on very sketchy Wyoming roads with dangerous drop offs and being in remote areas where no help is available if any is needed. The writing about the setting brought back the feeling of adventure (and fear) that often is attached to driving off highways in the West.
Johnson writes with more humor in this book than is usual for the series, and I found myself laughing out loud at times. Guidall’s narration helps convey Longmire’s variety of dry humor. Although the book is driven by a plot that sometimes verges on the absurd, the straight forward delivery keeps the reader engaged through events that challenge belief. As always, Johnson peppers Longmire’s dialog with bits of history and literary information. This time around, this is accomplished as much through didactic moments with Dog as the audience as it is sprinkled throughout conversations with people.
The book’s action comes together in a satisfying resolution, although there are some loose ends that will undoubtedly fuel future books. Walt’s retirement looms, as it has in previous books, other personal issues are ongoing, and a thread from a previous book is briefly picked up, leading me to believe it may reoccur as a focus in the future. I’m looking forward to the twenty-second offering in the series.