It's Christmas Eve and Sheriff Walt Longmire is enjoying his annual re-read of A Christmas Carol when a woman walks into his office. She's no ghost but she is from his past, from another Christmas Eve, when she and Walt experienced a miracle. It involves a blizzard, a WWII bomber and the half-drunk crusty former-sheriff of Absaroka county, Lucian Connally.

I love the Longmire series and I had no idea this novella was out there until I saw it in the post-holiday markdown bin at my local used bookstore. It was short read, something a little different from the normal, which must have been fun for Mr. Johnson to write. Just so you know, there's no Henry or Vic or Cady in this story - so if you read Longmire for them this one might not appeal. I enjoyed spending more time with Lucian. ( )

Well, this one was different, which is just what I wanted. I wasn't sure I'd like it that much, even after listening to it for a while (audiobook narration was excellent, as usual). It wasn't your usual Walt Longmire story of him doing his sherriffing, although that in itself is not really unusual.

This was a Christmas story, although Christmas didn't really play a big role, but the spirit of the book is probably a good one for Christmas. Still, I enjoyed it and it's only August. But I expect Christmas ads to hit soon.

The main story takes place many years back. Walt's wife, Martha, is alive, and his mentor, Lucian Connally, plays a starring role. He stole the show. I think this would make a great video with the right cast. Lucian has so much personality along with his humor that it would probably work.

The story is mostly about an emergency plane trip to save a dying child, in an ancient plane flying through a severe winter storm to Denver, with the child, the child's mother, an old doctor, a young female copilot, Walt and Lucian. The plane has no pressurization or heat, leaky hydraulics and gas, no modern radar or other conveniences, and doors that needed to be banged tight with a rubber mallet.

The child almost dies, the plane doesn't has enough gas to get to Denver but if they land sooner, there will be no way to save the child, and Lucian never seems to worry. Lots of suspense, but no shooting or other crimes. Just what I needed after reading the brutal Allen Eskens' book The Guise of Another. ( )

I binge-watched the Longmire series a while back and enjoyed it even when it became a bit soap opera-y. I'd heard the books were far better so I started with this novella. I'm a sucker for holiday-themed books although there is only a suggestion of Christmas in this really. A hint of Dickensian Christmas Carol morality. I listened to it as a recorded book. Yes! Well-written and plotted, it's a story about a harrowing plane ride to rescue a car-accident victim--they have to fly her to Denver in a blizzard in a WWII plane that's been sitting idle in a hangar for years. But Walt knows one person who can fly it-- crusty old, one-legged Lucian. The tension is steady as problems arise and the fuel tank level drops.
I really enjoyed it.
Will be on the lookout for more recorded Longmire. ( )

A short read/listen. Well done novella. I learned some stuff about Steamboat the rodeo horse and that led me to do some research which is always a plus. I loved the glimpse of Lucien as a younger man. ( )

3.5 stars. I liked it, but it's not my favorite of the Longmire series. ( )