Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 978-0-670-03157-3

Kindness Goes Unpunished is the third book in the Sheriff Walt Longmire series. When Henry Standing Bear needs to make a trip to Philadelphia, Sheriff Longmire tags along so he can visit his daughter Cady. On the night of their arrival, Cady, an up and coming lawyer, is involved in an unusual altercation before the Sheriff can see her and is hospitalized with a severe head injury. Knowing there is nothing he can do for his comatose daughter but give her time to recover, the Sheriff starts asking questions about the incident in which Cady was injured.

Helping the Sheriff throughout this ordeal is the family of Longmire’s Wyoming Deputy Vic Moretti. The foul-mouthed fireball was originally from Philadelphia where her father and brothers are police officers and her beautiful mother is like nothing you have ever seen. They take turns watching over Cady and giving the Sheriff and Henry the inside scoop on Philadelphia politics and crime so they can track down a mysterious letter writer who seems to know what led up to Cady’s injury.

This third book is different from Johnson’s previous two. It isn’t set in Wyoming and it isn’t as funny. That being said, Kindness Goes Unpunished is still good. Johnson’s description of the Sheriff coping with his worst nightmare – an injured child – is true to life and heartbreaking. And Johnson does find places to insert humor around the edges of this serious theme as the country mice make their way in the big city.

The Sheriff doesn’t have much contact with the folks back home in Wyoming in this book, but Henry is with him and is his usual magnificent self. Randy, loyal, spiritual, and insightful, we, too, wonder if Longmire isn’t really his sidekick. And when Vic shows up…

Favorite character? William White Eyes. Did I guess it? No. Will I read another? Absolutely. I love the humor in Johnson’s books, but the quality of his writing and characters come in close seconds and will keep me reading this fantastic series.

9780670031573

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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