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Five favorite...
Western sheriffs
from Leslie C., Monroeville PA
A collection of sheriffs, cops and Indian characters, mostly in the West
I would recommend the entire series beginning with The Cold Dish. Not only are Craig's stories interesting, his use of language gives you a strong sense of his characters. The main character is Walt Longmire, Sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Walt is joined by lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear - a very quiet, philosophical man; beautiful and mouthy Deputy Victoria Morretti, formerly of the Philadelphia police; and a group of recurring or one-time folks who are sometimes tragic and often humorous.
This series takes place mostly in New Mexico, and although Kevin Kerney is not a sheriff, he is an ex-Chief of Detectives in Santa Fe, then Deputy Chief of the New Mexico State Police, and finally Police Chief of Santa Fe before he retires. Through excellent use of language, Michael mixes into his stories the US military, a long distance romance, and Kerney's passion for horse ranching. I think his female character is one of the best written by a male author. Another wonderful series.
Although Jim Chee, a Navajo policeman, is the primary character in the first few books, Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn soon takes over. Again, not a sheriff, but definitely the man in charge. Tony introduced me to the Navajo Nation which includes portions of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. He brought to life another way of thinking, of viewing the world around us, of living. How does a cop solve a crime when he can't enter the building where a murder was committed because it might inhabit the ghost of the dead person? How do you interrogate someone when you cannot look into their eyes - something simply not done by Indians. This series is not only wonderful, it is an education in the Navajo culture.
My only female author in this genre writes about my only female sheriff. Joanna Brady of Cochise County, Arizona, begins this series as a widowed mother (of a 9-year-old) who has inherited her husband's position. Now she is running for office on her own while she is still learning the job which her father also held when she was growing up. This is another series that has great stories as well as wonderful language and a group of interesting recurring characters.
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