“There are horrible people who, instead of solving a problem, tangle it up and make it harder to solve for anyone who wants to deal with it. Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.” -- Friedrich Nietzsche

“In the end, there is no absence of irony: the integrity of what is sacred to Native Americans will be determined by the government that has been responsible for doing everything in its power to destroy Native American cultures.” -- Winona LaDuke

Even after more than two centuries, the Native Americans still get short shrift. And once again, in this newest installment of the Walt Longmire saga, the Cheyenne suffer again. The Absaroka County tribe has much to celebrate when the bones of probably largest and most intact T. Rex skeleton ever found is discovered on Danny Lone Elk's ranch. Well, until Danny is found murdered, his body being consumed by snapping turtles in a pond on his property. Thus begins a scene as familiar as those known through history, as Danny’s family, the Cheyenne, the High Plains Dinosaur Museum, and of course the all-knowing (Pft…) feds all jump in to claim the skeleton designated as “Jen”.

I have to admit – I am a long-time Longmire fan. Walt is, well, I would call him a broken man. The death of his wife pretty much destroyed his life, turning him to alcohol binges and isolation. He is deeply flawed, but still brilliant. Surrounded by his friends and colleagues, undersheriff Victoria "Vic" Moretti who has her own issues, and his best friend from the way back times of elementary school onward, Henry Standing Bear, Walt and company are once more up to their proverbial necks in bureaucracy and diplomacy, pompous FBI agents, pretentious politicians and other members of the creepier classes of politicized scum. And then, of course, reporters, the lowest possible class of stupidity.

Saizarbitoria and Double Tough return, and Walt’s daughter returns as well, with his first grandchild, Lola, whose namesake is Henry's Baltic-blue 1959 Thunderbird convertible. All this is good, very very good – until tragedy hits. Tragedy that could destroy this most intelligent and fragile lawman I have loved for so very long. Yep. I cried.

This whole series is amazingly well done, this one especially. With bits of humour, deep pain, engaging characters and a remarkable storyline, Johnson once more delivers an amazing story. I can’t recommend the series highly enough. Be ready to sit down, strap in, and go for an incredible ride.

I received this book from Penguin Publishing in return for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own. The best thing is? George Guidall reads the Audible edition – and I have it on my purchase list. Mr. Guidall is one of my favorite narrators!