Sheriff Walt Longmire will never refuse a favor, especially when the request comes from a family member. When his late wife’s cousin asks him to look into the disappearance of letter carrier Blair McGowan, Walt takes a temporary leave from his jurisdiction to go undercover as a mailman. He has his work cut out for him, as Blair has a postal route spanning 300+ miles in a sparsely populated area of Wyoming encompassing the Red Desert. In addition to Blair being a self-professed hippie and rebel, she claims to be a UFO abductee.

Walt’s undercover identity doesn’t hold for long as he has some unfriendly encounters with Blair’s ex-boyfriend, Benny Schweppe, along with a member of a cult that makes their headquarters in and around the desert. The cult believes that the apocalypse is imminent and has a diehard following of more than a few dozen souls, including Blair. It isn't long before Blair pays Walt a visit, informing him that she doesn't want to be found and for him to let things lie.

"Craig Johnson revives the Longmire narrative in dynamite fashion, with a story and an assembled cast of individuals that are full of surprises and entertain to the very end."

The current case isn’t the only hiccup in Walt’s life. His daughter Cady’s appointment as Attorney General appears to be a slam dunk, until he is informed by the Governor that he will sign off on it only if Walt retires as Sheriff of Absaroka County. Walt would do anything for Cady, but he knows she would be livid if he sacrificed his career for her. In addition, a thug with whom he had a previous run-in contacts him with information about a missing relative of Walt’s. He wants to know his kin’s whereabouts but is skeptical about the source.

Things get even weirder when Walt is informed that Blair’s body has been located. Despite the case appearing to be closed, he has more questions than unambiguous answers. Walt believes that the cult Blair was involved in has more secrets beyond its doomsday expressions, and he will search every dune in the Red Desert to find them. He may have his beloved dog with him, but a loyal companion and a firearm may not be enough to take down a charismatic leader with followers and firepower.

RETURN TO SENDER continues the interesting and enjoyable story of Sheriff Walt Longmire and the fascinating cases he works. Walt is a veteran law enforcement officer with a wry sense of humor, an unbending loyalty to family and friends, and a righteous devotion to seeing justice done. His latest investigation delves into the shadowy world of cults and the illusions that they propagate. However, the appeal of the novel comes not merely from the missing persons case but from Walt’s absorbing character arc.

Author Craig Johnson revives the Longmire narrative in dynamite fashion, with a story and an assembled cast of individuals that are full of surprises and entertain to the very end.