# Craig Johnson

> A West Virginia native who made Wyoming his home and setting, he created Sheriff Walt Longmire of fictional Absaroka County, whose cases became the A&E and Netflix series *Longmire*.

- Novelist · Walt Longmire mysteries
- Known for: The Walt Longmire mysteries, which began with *The Cold Dish* in 2004 and are the basis for the television series *Longmire*.[3][1] By 2026 he had written 22 Longmire novels, three novellas and a story collection.[6]
- Last updated: 2026-11-14
- Editorial review: approved 2026-11-15
- Web page: https://authorbackstories.com/authors/craig-johnson/
- Reading list (PDF): https://authorbackstories.com/authors/craig-johnson/reading-list.pdf

## Featured book: Newest book

*The Brothers McKay* (2026). The twenty-second Longmire novel, published by Viking on May 26, 2026.[4] After a disliked rancher is found murdered following a family meeting, Walt investigates his four sons, until a second body and a wildfire complicate the case.[4]

## At a glance

- Grew up: Huntington, West Virginia[1]
- Education: Marshall University[1]
- Best known for: Sheriff Walt Longmire, 22 novels since 2004[6][3]
- Translations: The Longmire books have been translated into 14 languages[1]
- Major award: Spur Award for Best Western Short Novel, 2009, for *Another Man's Moccasins*[1]
- Major award: Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Contributions to Western Literature, 2025[2]
- Major award: Bouchercon Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025[3]

## Craig Johnson's Backstory

### Early life

Craig Allen Johnson grew up in Huntington, West Virginia, and attended Marshall University.[1] He met his wife in the Philadelphia area while doing graduate work there.[7]

### Walt Longmire

Johnson set his fiction in northern Wyoming, in fictional Absaroka County, with Buffalo, Wyoming, as the real-life model for its county seat.[1] The first Longmire novel, *The Cold Dish*, was published in 2004.[3] It introduced Walt Longmire, sheriff of Absaroka County for twenty-five years, his friend Henry Standing Bear and his deputy Victoria Moretti, in a case involving the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.[3]

Johnson told Wyoming Public Media that he writes the books in layers so that readers with different tastes can each find something in them, and that he varies the settings to keep the stories believable: the third book is set largely in Philadelphia, and the fourth, *Another Man's Moccasins*, mostly in 1968 during Walt's time as a Marine investigator in Vietnam.[7] That fourth novel won the 2009 Spur Award for Best Western Short Novel from the Western Writers of America.[1]

### Television

A&E premiered *Longmire*, adapted by Warner Horizon from the books, on June 3, 2012; its premiere drew 4.1 million viewers, the most for an original series premiere in the network's history.[1] Johnson has said he first doubted that a show about a Wyoming sheriff would work.[7] After A&E cancelled the series following its third season, Netflix produced seasons four through six.[1]

### Later work

Alongside the novels Johnson has written three Longmire novellas and a collection of twelve stories, *Wait for Signs*.[6][1] The novella *Spirit of Steamboat* was the first One Book Wyoming selection.[2] The books have been translated into 14 languages and regularly appear on the New York Times bestseller list.[1][6]

He received the Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Contributions to Western Literature in 2025, and his publisher lists a Bouchercon 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award among his honors.[2][3] The twenty-second Longmire novel, *The Brothers McKay*, was published in May 2026.[4]

## Fun facts

- Johnson says the word he uses for Walt Longmire is "decent."[7]
- He set the third Longmire novel, *Kindness Goes Unpunished*, largely in Philadelphia, to vary the settings and keep the stories believable.[7]
- *Another Man's Moccasins* is set mostly in 1968, during the Tet Offensive, when the young Walt was a Marine investigator in Vietnam.[7]
- *First Frost* goes back to 1964 and follows Walt and his friend Henry Standing Bear on a Route 66 road trip after college.[7]
- Johnson has said he at first doubted a television show about a sheriff in Wyoming would work.[7]
- During Longmire Days, Buffalo, Wyoming, the model for the books' county seat, briefly turns into the fictional town of Durant.[6][1]
- Robert Taylor, who played Walt for six seasons, comes back to Longmire Days every year.[6]

## Books

In order of first publication; each series is kept together in reading order.

Titles and first publication years from Wikipedia's bibliography, checked against Penguin Random House's series listing for the first and newest novels.[1][3][4]

- **Walt Longmire** (series, 22 books, 2004–2026). Numbered as Penguin Random House numbers the novels; the novellas and the story collection are listed separately by year.[3][4]
  - 2004: Book 1, *The Cold Dish* (Novel). ISBN 9780143036425. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780143036425) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780143036425)
  - 2006: Book 2, *Death Without Company* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Death%20Without%20Company%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2007: Book 3, *Kindness Goes Unpunished* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Kindness%20Goes%20Unpunished%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2008: Book 4, *Another Man's Moccasins* (Novel). Won the 2009 Spur Award for Best Western Short Novel.[1] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Another%20Man's%20Moccasins%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2009: Book 5, *The Dark Horse* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Dark%20Horse%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2010: Book 6, *Junkyard Dogs* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Junkyard%20Dogs%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2011: Book 7, *Hell Is Empty* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Hell%20Is%20Empty%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2012: Book 8, *As the Crow Flies* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=As%20the%20Crow%20Flies%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2013: Book 9, *A Serpent's Tooth* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=A%20Serpent's%20Tooth%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2014: Book 10, *Any Other Name* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Any%20Other%20Name%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2015: Book 11, *Dry Bones* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Dry%20Bones%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2016: Book 12, *An Obvious Fact* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=An%20Obvious%20Fact%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2017: Book 13, *The Western Star* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Western%20Star%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2018: Book 14, *Depth of Winter* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Depth%20of%20Winter%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2019: Book 15, *Land of Wolves* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Land%20of%20Wolves%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2020: Book 16, *Next to Last Stand* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Next%20to%20Last%20Stand%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2021: Book 17, *Daughter of the Morning Star* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Daughter%20of%20the%20Morning%20Star%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2022: Book 18, *Hell and Back* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Hell%20and%20Back%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2023: Book 19, *The Longmire Defense* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Longmire%20Defense%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2024: Book 20, *First Frost* (Novel). Set mostly in 1964, before Walt became sheriff.[7] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=First%20Frost%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2025: Book 21, *Return to Sender* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Return%20to%20Sender%20Craig%20Johnson)
  - 2026: Book 22, *The Brothers McKay* (Novel). ISBN 9780593830734. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780593830734) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780593830734)
- 2013: *Spirit of Steamboat* (Novella). A Longmire novella; the first One Book Wyoming selection.[2] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Spirit%20of%20Steamboat%20Craig%20Johnson)
- 2014: *Wait for Signs* (Story collection). Twelve Longmire stories.[1] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Wait%20for%20Signs%20Craig%20Johnson)
- 2016: *The Highwayman* (Novella). A Longmire novella.[1] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Highwayman%20Craig%20Johnson)
- 2024: *Tooth and Claw* (Novella). A Longmire novella.[1] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Tooth%20and%20Claw%20Craig%20Johnson)

## Latest news

- July 18–19, 2026: Johnson joined a "Two Walts" panel with fans at Longmire Days in Buffalo, Wyoming, the festival inspired by the books and the television series.[6]
- May 26, 2026: Viking published *The Brothers McKay*, the twenty-second Longmire novel.[4]

## Adaptations and other media

### Television

- *Longmire* (2012–2017). A drama from Warner Horizon, filmed in New Mexico, that premiered on A&E on June 3, 2012; after A&E cancelled it following its third season, Netflix made seasons four through six.[1] Robert Taylor played Walt for all six seasons.[6]

### Other projects

- *Longmire Days* (Annual). A yearly fan festival in Buffalo, Wyoming, the real town behind the series' setting, with panels and appearances by Johnson and cast members of the television series.[6][1]

## Timeline

- 2004: Publishes *The Cold Dish*, the first Walt Longmire novel.[3][1]
- 2009: *Another Man's Moccasins* wins the Spur Award for Best Western Short Novel.[1]
- June 3, 2012: *Longmire* premieres on A&E, with the highest-rated premiere of an original series in the network's history.[1]
- 2013: Publishes the novella *Spirit of Steamboat*, later the first One Book Wyoming selection.[1][2]
- 2025: Receives the Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Contributions to Western Literature.[2]
- May 26, 2026: Publishes *The Brothers McKay*, the twenty-second Longmire novel.[4]

## What's next

Penguin Random House lists *The Brothers McKay* as book 22 of 23 in the series.[4] Books of Brilliance reports that the twenty-third, *A Soft White Damn*, is listed by Viking for May 2027; Johnson has described it as a manhunt thriller.[9]

## Sources

1. [Craig Johnson (author)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Johnson_(author)). Wikipedia. (reference)
2. [Media kit](https://craigallenjohnson.com/media-kit.htm). Craig Johnson (official site). (primary record)
3. [The Cold Dish](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/294682/the-cold-dish-by-craig-johnson/9780143036425/). Penguin Random House. (primary record)
4. [The Brothers McKay](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746285/the-brothers-mckay-by-craig-johnson/9780593830741). Penguin Random House. (primary record)
5. [The Brothers McKay: A Longmire Mystery (hardcover)](https://massivebookshop.com/products/9780593830734). Massive Bookshop. (website)
6. [Fans Still Pack Buffalo For Longmire Days, Even 9 Years After Last TV Episode](https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/07/20/fans-still-pack-buffalo-for-longmire-days-even-9-years-after-last-tv-episode/). Cowboy State Daily. (news)
7. [Longmire series author Craig Johnson talks about its development and its future](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/open-spaces/2024-03-01/longmire-series-author-craig-johnson-talks-about-its-development-and-its-future). Wyoming Public Media. (news)
8. [Walt Longmire is Back in Craig Johnson's New Novel 'The Brothers McKay'](https://therealbookspy.com/2026/01/06/walt-longmire-is-back-in-craig-johnsons-new-novel-the-brothers-mckay/). The Real Book Spy. (news)
9. [A Soft White Damn release date (Longmire book 23)](https://booksofbrilliance.com/2026/11/03/a-soft-white-damn-release-date-longmire-book-23/). Books of Brilliance. (website)