Return to Sender is the 21st book in Craig Johnson’s “Longmire” mystery series, not counting multiple novellas and short stories. Each is a continuation of the adventures of Walt Longmire, Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. In this novel, Walt goes undercover to investigate the disappearance of Blair McGowan, who has the longest postal route, 307 miles, through rough country.
Walt takes over her route, searching for any clues she may have left behind. He discovers that she claims she was abducted by aliens and made a Hollywood documentary about her extraterrestrial experiences. His search for her takes him into the Red Desert to deal with a cult planning on their own escape into the stars. As always, Walt’s struggles against the bad guys lead him into a personal spiritual quest that maintains his mental and emotional gumption while his 6’5” frame performs what, to most, would be superhuman deeds. Walt is morally straight and something of a Luddite. He actually buys a cell phone—his first—but doesn’t know how to use it.
This series is superlative. I’ve read every one, and I always pre-order the next year’s installment.
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Return to Sender (Viking, May 27, 2025) is available through:
Your local independent bookseller | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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You can read my review of Johnson’s Tooth and Claw here.
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