A suspicious death at the Durant Home for Assisted Living draws Sheriff Walt Longmire into a case that goes back fifty years and involves the Basque community. Mari Baroja was found dead in her room at the home and the previous sheriff and present inmate at the home, Lucian Connally, insisted it was not a natural death although it seemed to be by all appearances. Sheriff Longmire decided to further investigate when he received the shocking news that Lucian declared Mari had been his wife many years ago.

Lucian insisted that someone had murdered his long ago wife. Longmire started looking into her past and found much more than he expected. Deep secrets from the past brought death and distrust to a fragmented family. The deeper Longmire got into the past and how it affected the present, the more he found his own life in danger. As the bodies began to pile up, Sheriff Longmire and Henry Standing Bear traveled to Basque country deep in the southern area of the county, and put their own lives on the line to find the truth.

Death Without Company is the second in the Walt Longmire series written by Craig Johnson. In this second book, a regular cast of characters keep readers grounded while new characters who are involved in the mystery bring freshness to the story. Reading a series of books such as this is often like checking in with the town people to see how everyone is doing. It also allows readers to get emotionally involved in the main character’s life.

Johnson has not only created a memorable lead, but his supporting characters add much to the story. He takes his time setting out the storyline and uses his characters to move the tale along. Readers learn to care for the fine people of Absaroka County.

Johnson's writing style is easy going, detailed, and fascinating. He is able to draw readers into the story while also giving them a strong sense of place; the weather, the history of the area, the interaction with one another, and the regular townspeople who come in and out of the story and help keep it anchored.

I am very much looking forward to the next installment of this addictive series. If you are interested in purchasing any of the Walt Longmire Mystery series, the books can be found on Amazon.com.