Mystery Books that Take Place in Wyoming…
Here are some Wyoming facts:
The capital and the largest city is Cheyenne.
State motto is “Equal Rights”.
State nickname is the Equality State.
State flower is the Indian Paintbrush.
State bird is the Western Meadowlark.
Wyoming got its name from the Munsee word which means “at the big river flat”.
Mystery authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site who feature Wyoming locations/settings in their books:
Sarah Andrews: Em Hansen Mystery Series – Em Hansen is a forensic geologist in Wyoming. (not Cozy)
Margaret Coel: Wind River Mystery Series – Father John O’Malley is a Jesuit priest and Vicky Holden is an Arapaho lawyer on an Arapaho reservation in Wyoming. (not Cozy)
Marne Davis Kellogg: Lilly Bennett Mystery Series – Lilly is a private detective in Roundup, Wyoming.
judith yates tor says
Other authors with similar setting…
C.J. Box …my fave
Keith McCafferty…Montana
Rich Curtin …Moab, Utah
Margeret Mishumata….Colorado
All of the above write a mystery series with some version of law enforcement as main sleuth. C.J. Box gets better with every book.
Love his Joe Pickett and falconer friend Nate.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, I’ll have to check those out some time!
rod rushton says
One of the best novels I’ve ever read is set in Montana.
The Last Good Kiss
James Crumley
He also has other superb novels.
Tari Hann says
I happened to run across another mystery series set in Wyoming, Angie & Bernie by K.L. Kovar if you want to add it too. 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tari, thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to check that one out.
Terry A Adams says
Isn’t one of the early Nero Wolfe books set in Wyoming? Or is it another western state? I totally forget what made Wolfe bestir himself to travel, but it’s the book in which Archie meets Lily Rowan for the first time. I don’t think it would be that hard to track down using the Internet, I just don’t have time today!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Terry, thanks for the recommendation! I’m not sure if it’s the one you’re thinking of, but I know Rex Stout wrote a book called Mountain Cat set in Wyoming. It wasn’t a Nero Wolfe entry though.
Marie says
I love Margaret Coel’s books.
LoisM says
Not a cozy mystery, but C.J. Box Joe Pickett series is also set in Wyoming. Great series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lois, thanks for the recommendation!
Sandra Topping says
Craig Johnson, Longmire mystery series (not cozy). Exceptionally good writing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sandra, thanks, I’ll have to check those authors out!
Karen Emanuelson says
Craig Johnson’s “Walt Longmire” series are awesome & were made into a TV show “Longmire” Had the pleasure of meeting Craig Johnson in person a couple weeks ago. He lives in a TINY town in WY.
Dolores B says
I’ve read most of Margaret Coel’s Wind River Mysteries. If you are interested in Indian culture, you will learn a lot as attorney Vickie Holden works on the reservation to help her people.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dolores, thanks for the recommendation.
Lin says
C J Box, Craig Johnson should also be on the list. Craig’s steamboat story should not be missed.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lin, while those are no doubt great stories, neither really fits the “Cozy” mold to by my understanding. (I have not read either at this point – but so many people are recommending them that I might try them out!)
Karen Emanuelson says
What about CJ Box? No, not cozies, but certainly famous WY author writing mysteries set in his state. And what about Craig Johnson’s Longmire mysteries (and there was even a TV series)? Again, not cozy, but legit WY author writing kick-butt mysteries set in WY.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, thanks for the suggestion! I might try those authors out – I don’t just read Cozies, after all.
Pam says
I cast another vote for C.J. Box! Probably not a cozy, but an excellent writer that I enjoy very much. You did include one author on your original list that you stated “not a cozy”, so maybe add C.J. Box?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pam, I’ll consider it – I’ll have to take a look at his books first!
robin in oregon says
Stout’s Death of a Dude takes place in Montana. Nero actually leaves the Brownstone to go help Archie solve a murder at the ranch owned by Lily Rowan. Lily Rowan is introduced in Some Buried Ceasar, but that takes place in New York. (Love Rex Stout. Just finished rereading League of Frightened Men yesterday)!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, thanks for the suggestion – that does sound like it might fit another suggestion that was made earlier regarding Nero Wolfe…