Depth of Winter, book 14 of the 21 “Longmire Mysteries” series by Craig Johnson, is a contemporary thriller that takes place in Mexico.

Walter Longmire, the 6’5″ Absaroka County, Wyoming Sheriff, is on a mission to free his daughter, Cady, from her kidnapper, Tomas Bidarte, head of one of the most vicious drug cartels in Mexico. Walt sets out alone, but manages to get valuable help along the way, including a legless, hunchback, blind seer, and Isidro, a silent (but not by choice) Indian.

Walt and Isidro’s destination is one of the remotest parts of the northern Mexican desert, Estante del Diablo, a raw, lawless land where no horse or car can travel. It’s a dangerous place where strangers are not welcomed. Walt and his companion walk in the 110-degree desert heat and eventually arrive at a village of desperate desperadoes. Even if he is able to find his daughter, the odds are slim of them getting out alive. It is Walt Longmire’s worst nightmare.

This was a fun book to read. I loved the Longmire television series and held that TV image of Walt Longmire while reading the book. Craig Johnson is an expert in creating wild, desperate situations while keeping his main character’s sense of humor intact with droll, often self-deprecating comments. The novel is often violent—I wouldn’t recommend it to the faint of heart. It was a nice change-of-pace for me and I admire the author’s vision of modern-day outlaws.