Kindness Goes Unpunished: A Walt Longmire Mystery

by: Craig Johnson

Published by: Penguin

Reviewed by Patricia E. Reid

Walt Longmire, Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming travels to Philadelphia with his friend, Henry Standing Bear to visit his daughter Cady. Walt, Henry and Walt’s dog, called Dog, are traveling in Henry’s pride and joy, a 1959 Thunderbird convertible that he calls Lola. Walt, Henry and Dog, arrive in Philadelphia. Henry has received an invitation to lecture at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and display his Mennonite photograph collection. Walt is looking forward to visiting his daughter and meeting her new boyfriend Devon Conliffe.

On arriving in Philadelphia Walt contacts his daughter and she says she can’t see him until later that evening. The next time Walt hears anything about his daughter she is in the hospital and in serious condition. Later at the hospital Walt finally is able to learn
a few details about the accident. It seems Cady was in front of the Franklin Institute and the security guard stated to the police officer that there was an altercation between Cady and an unknown male in his mid-thirties. The assailant beat on the door of the institute asking for help and then disappeared.

Walt spends his time between time at the hospital and trying to get to the bottom of what really happened to his daughter–and learn who is responsible. Lena Moretti, mother of Victoria Moretti, one of Walt’s officers is on hand to help out in any way she can.

An example of the book’s humor can be found in the opening chapter that takes place in Wyoming just prior to Walt and Henry leaving for the trip. Walt is in a classroom reading a fairy tale to children in kindergarten who don’t hesitate to state their opinion on a little bit of everything, including Walt’s abilities as Sheriff and secrets their parents would not want known.

Kindness Goes Unpunished is a good mystery and a lot of fun with a Wyoming Sheriff and his Indian friend on the loose in Philadelphia.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

Author’s Web site: http://www.CraigAllenJohnson.com