Publication Day Review: Have Courage: Longmire Stories by Craig Johnson

Have Courage: Longmire Stories by Craig Johnson collects a number of the holiday stories that he wrote over recent years and g away as free reads in his newsletter. The second of such books, following in the tradition of Wait for Signs: Twelve Longmire Stories, (a great read if you have not read it) includes the all-new short story, “Angel Shot with a Twist.”

 

After the introduction by A. Martinez, Jacob Nighthorse, the book opens with “Warms You Twice.” Set on Christmas Eve of December 1972, Walt Longmire is a new and relatively untested Deputy. Sheriff Lucian Connelly decides it is time for Deputy Longmire and he to go out on their first call out together and warns him not to do anything stupid. The cantankerous Sheriff is taking him to see  Willis Dietz who has troubles of his own.

 

Also set in 1972 and a few months earlier, “The Perfect A,” comes next. Walt Longmire was hired days earlier and is pretty much alone when the call comes in at the Absaroka County Sheriff’s Department. Doctor Bloomfield wants to go check on one of his patients, Salvatore Ibarra, up at his mountain camp. He’d been in town earlier and that visit concerned the good doctor. So much so he wants somebody to go check on Mr. Ibarra, a sheep herder, at his camp in the mountains. Doctor Bloomfield wants to go too and to do it now during an ice storm.

 

Sheriff Longmire always heads out alone, for a day or two around Christmas. He doesn’t explain himself. In “Known Associate” we find out why he does what he does. Of course, he does it for good reason and it is nobody’s business at the office but his.

 

One never wants a hostage situation. Especially at Christmas. It’s Christmas Eve in “Land Of The Blind” and that is what is happening out at the Congregational Baptist Church out at the edge of the county. The deputy known as “Double Tough” and Sheriff Longmire head over in an attempt to end things peacefully. Easier said than done.

 

What got Eddie in jail and a lot more is explained in “Elven/Twenty-Nine.” It is also a tale of grace and redemption as are many of the stories in this read.

 

The Sheriff of Campbell County, Sandy Sandburg, and Sheriff Walt Longmire are on the hunt for a murder suspect, Mike Embersoll. That hunt has led them to the Crow Butte Mine. “The Percentages” takes readers on the hunt for Mike Embersoll who is a heavy equipment operator at that mine. Going to a working mine is dangerous enough before you throw in a possible murder suspect that can operate heavy equipment.

 

For the third year in a row, somebody has stolen the baby Jesus from the church nativity scene. Deputy Santiago Saizarbitoria has been working the case from the start. He is taking the latest theft very hard in “Away, In A Manger.” Soon, Sheriff Longmire arrives at Saint Matthias to assist with the latest investigation.

 

It is Christmas Day in Powder Junction, Wyoming, and there is quite the commotion at the unofficial local trailer park. The Kropky brothers are all large men. They are all currently in mutual and destructive combat with household goods sailing out into the yard around the trailers. In “Who’s your Daddy”  familial history has suddenly come to light and the news has not been universally well received.

 

Barrett Long is the part-time dispatcher. He wants to tag along as Longmire and his dog head out on Christmas Day for a domestic dispute. The call is to the Murdochs’ place and one the good Sheriff have visited many times before. So, after they talk a bit, Longmire decides to let his future deputy come along. In so doing, he gives  the man a glimpse of the job in “Musical Chairs.”

 

It has happened again at the “Durant Home for Assisted Living” and it needs to stop. In “Recidivism” the former Sheriff and current resident, Lucian Connelly, is of little help. Can not really tell you more without blowing up the tale, so I won’t.

 

“Starter’s End” is next where Ruby, the dispatcher, has entrusted Longmire with a jar of sourdough starter. The stuff dates back over 150 years has come down through Ruby’s family. In the here and now of the story, Ruby, as a member of the Methodist Ladies Baking League was supposed to hand it out to various ladies of the league. But, she has to go out of town and has turned it over to Sheriff Walt Longmire for feeding and monitoring. He, in turn, has to deliver the jar of stuff to Barbara Graff, at a precise time. He is on a schedule with the stuff while he is also supposed to doing his duties as Absaroka County Sheriff with nearly everybody in the department gone. Boy, howdy.

 

Barbara Graff makes a repeat appearance in the next story, “Scents Of The Season.” She was hosting a Christmas Eve holiday party and everything was fine. That was until a skunk got inside her place and all the guests fled outside. With it being a holiday resources are limited, so Longmire and Undersheriff Victoria Moretti have to deal with it and more.

 

“Angel Shot with a Twist” is the all-new tale that concludes this short story collection. Bernadette Ochoa needs help this New Year’s Eve. She’s been well known to local law enforcement for many decades now. She has been drinking at the only bar for miles around that will let her in their establishment, the Chicken Shack Bar. Now the seventy-two-year-old woman is a hostage and needs help.

 

Have Courage: Longmire Stories by Craig Johnson is a highly entertaining short story collection. Filled with many historical nuggets and true facts, characters that are like family, and the idea that in the end things work out, the read is a good one. Well worth your time, Have Courage: Longmire Stories by Craig Johnson is perfect for this and all holiday seasons.

 

Make sure you check out Lesa Holstine's review as well. 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://link.amazon/B0aElo6si

 

 

My digital ARC came from the publisher, Viking, through NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2026