The Cold Dish Audiobook By Craig Johnson cover art

The Cold Dish

A Walt Longmire Mystery

Preview
Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Cold Dish

By: Craig Johnson
Narrated by: George Guidall
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Introducing Wyoming's Sheriff Walt Longmire in this riveting novel from the New York Times best-selling author of Dry Bones, the first in the Longmire series, the basis for the hit Netflix original series Longmire.

Fans of Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr, and Robert B. Parker will love this outstanding first novel, in which New York Times best-selling author Craig Johnson introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming's Absaroka County. Johnson draws on his deep attachment to the American West to produce a literary mystery of stunning authenticity, full of memorable characters. After 25 years as sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire's hopes of finishing out his tenure in peace are dashed when Cody Pritchard is found dead near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Two years earlier, Cody has been one of four high school boys given suspended sentences for raping a local Cheyenne girl. Somebody, it would seem, is seeking vengeance, and Longmire might be the only thing standing between the three remaining boys and a Sharps .45-70 rifle.

With lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and a cast of characters both tragic and humorous enough to fill in the vast emptiness of the high plains, Walt Longmire attempts to see that revenge, a dish best served cold, is never served at all.

Listen to all of Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire mysteries.©2004 Craig Johnson (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC
Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense United States Westerns World Literature Revenge Witty Old West Exciting Wild West Modern Western
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup

Critic reviews

"A strong sense of place, a credible plot, and deft dialogue lift Johnson's good-humored debut novel." (Publishers Weekly)
"Johnson, who lives in Ucross, Wyoming, knows the Western landscape well, and creates stunning and violent scenes of the Rocky Mountains." (Bookmarks)
"We in the West have a major new talent on our hands." (The Denver Post)

Featured Article: The Best Western Audiobooks for Your Inner Outlaw


The now classic Western genre has shaped modern literature, film, and other forms of entertainment. Whether your story is taking you to space or to the wide-open plains of Utah, it’s likely pulling on the tropes and themes of a traditional Western. Our favorite audiobooks don’t just encompass old classics though—we’ve gathered a full breadth of work so that all fans of the genre can find everything from family-friendly listens to gritty adventure tales.

What listeners say about The Cold Dish

Highly rated for:

Rich Descriptions Memorable Characters Likable Protagonist Engaging Mystery Immersive Western Setting
Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11,763
  • 4 Stars
    4,108
  • 3 Stars
    1,126
  • 2 Stars
    276
  • 1 Stars
    206
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11,980
  • 4 Stars
    2,482
  • 3 Stars
    576
  • 2 Stars
    154
  • 1 Stars
    129
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10,287
  • 4 Stars
    3,583
  • 3 Stars
    1,005
  • 2 Stars
    237
  • 1 Stars
    167

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love the tv series, and the book much better

The tv series is great. I held off listening to the first book in this series because I didn't want the tv series to be ruined for me. Amazingly, I see how I can enjoy both - even the slight differences. What is most surprising about the book are the interesting touches of references to other books, languages, music, architecture, and a broad range of cultural influences. It was unexpected and made this book very interesting.

The narrator is perfect for this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love hanging out with Sheriff Walt

Another listener said it best: simply, I love hanging out with Sheriff Walt, Henry Standing Bear, Vic Moretti, and all the other characters in Absaroka County.

The story line is really good, and George Guidall IS Sheriff Walt; his voice and candence lend a persona to Walt that I don't think any other narrator could. The dry, humor (love it!) and laid back character interactions are flawless, and brought to life as flawlessly by Guidall. I hope he narrates all these books. I can't wait to find out what happens next, but I'm sad that this story is ending! And I can't wait to add the others to my library.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

One Man Story

Drag at first, slow start. Too may people to keep up with. Good story and enjoyed it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Walt and company make this tale

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story and setting are both great. The characters are compelling and interesting. Truly a great listen.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

The performance was outstanding. The characters are brought to life in the narration. Listening rather than reading this book makes it special.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long for that, but it was awfully hard to turn off.

Any additional comments?

For those familiar with Wyoming, or those that love the outdoors, this is a must listen. The characters and the setting make this a great choice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

"Can't wait for the next book."

My husband and I enjoyed this book so much, and the narrator is outstanding.The humor is great, and the characters are very well developed.We can't wait to meet up with "Walt" in the next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not something I would have found on my own.....

Recommended by my sister, who first learned about Craig Johnson's books from the Longmire television series. However, being the book people we are, we had to read the books first. The Cold Dish was a delightful introduction to a wonderful series. The plots are interesting, but the outstanding aspect of the books are the interesting, well-drawn and compelling characters. Suggestion: Read them in order if possible. Continuity does add to the appeal.
The narration was at first unusual to me, as I listen to a lot of classic English literature with properly British narrators. But George Guidall grew on me very quickly and suits the tone and location of the books. He also is not distracting when he reads women's voices, which is tough to pull off.
Highly recommended. I listened to the entire series in a couple of weeks and can't wait for the next.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Story!

I purchased this book after watching the first season of Longmire on TV. I know that television sometimes takes artistic license with a story but this book was very different from the show. That is a good thing as it is more entertaining and interesting. The character development is excellent and the story flows easily. Walt Longmire should have been born one hundred years earlier as should the Bear. The story takes a lot of turns and the ending will surprise you. I will be purchasing more titles from Mr. Johnson and I'm sure they will be as good as The Cold Dish.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

first read by Mr Guidall is a start to artistry

later books develop a great tone worth hearing him create and by the 6th book there's an interview discussion

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lots of humor, lessons on friendship and loyalty

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Excellent first book for Craig Johnson "Longmire" fans. we meet the sheriff of Absoroka County WY, and learn of his life, friends, enemies, and crime on and off the reservation

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

His husky voice, dry deliver, and convincing emotional content

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting

I liked the premise and the voice. It was an interesting story with a creative setting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!