Incredible writing. This is my first book by Callan Wink and I really loved it, loved the atmosphere - gritty and moody - and the isolation of the two characters, Thad and Hazen, near the Great Canyon, trying to make ends meet after their father died. The book was labelled as a thriller and it doesn't seem accurate, it appears quite late in the book and while it is an important event, I will remember the book for the writing mostly.

Free ARC sent by Netgalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau publishing for early access to read this book that releases 2/11/2025.

Beartooth follows 2 outdoorsy brothers on an emotional journey as they try to make money to keep their family home. Thad is the main character who guides them and his brother, Hazen, isn’t all there but has a lot of heart. I really enjoyed the way this story was told and it really hit home in a lot of different ways. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys nature reads with a lot of emotions.

This is my first book by Callan Wink and after reading this one, I’m a big fan and am going to go read more of his books.

Beartooth is so beautifully written I kept stopping to appreciate a sentence or to reread a paragraph. It's a character driven novel delving deeply into the relationship between two brothers, grown men who have lived all their lives in a small cabin near the edge of Yellowstone National Park. Thad and Haven have only each other since the lingering death of their father left them drowning in medical debt and about to lose the only home they've ever known. They scrape by cutting and selling firewood, hauling it to the same neighbors their father sold to. And, like their father, even if an elderly woman can't pay, they keep bringing her wood to keep her from freezing in the harsh winters. When the old truck breaks down, the brothers are desperate enough to take on a dangerous and illegal trek into Yellowstone, a fast paced adventure I was never sure either would live through. Beartooth is full of twists, surprises and breathtakingly real moments.

A big thanks to Callan Wink and NetGalley for the ARC. For me this story was like a crown fire. The shared flame of story between the brothers quickly climbed into the tree tops and it was off and running. Wink's story telling is often compared to that of the late Jim Harrison and I think anyone who's spent time invested in the lives Harrison created on the page would have to agree. I'd also like to add another comparison to a writer all too familiar with writing and living in the west, Thomas McGuane. Like McGuane, every detail of Wink's storytelling and characters is believable. This is not the writing of an author who has learned about a subject but rather Beartooth is gripping storytelling that can only come from spending significant time in the environments that Thad and Hazen find themselves in. If you love true western writing, crime, adventure and characters big enough for the Big Sky, I have no doubt you'll love Beartooth. I can't wait for it to be released publicly so I can buy it and read it again.

I very much enjoyed this quick burning book. It was about a 6 hour, start to finish, kind of read. The story is propulsive without being improbable, compelling without being exploitative. There are elements of noir crime drama, family drama, and some beautiful outdoors writing. I thought of Jim Harrison several times. This is a book for people who like Harrison, love David Joy, and value original voices capable of creating characters about whom you care while being frustrated with their choices.

I see the importance of a book like this. Unfortunately the writing style was not for me. I think people that enjoy slow character development and literary style may like this.

The Beartooths are a mountain range near Yellowstone National Park. In this novel, two brothers, Thad and Hazen, live in the house their father built, just outside the park. They have neglected the house since their father passed away. Their mother left years ago, but suddenly shows up on their doorstep. Thad and Hazen make their living by cutting and selling firewood to locals. But, they never make enough to do repairs on the house. A local man recruits them in an unscrupulous way to trespass into the park and collect a lot of antler sheds for him to sell. He tells them they will make a lot of money. Hazen is interested, but Thad is not. Until the man makes Thad agree by unscrupulous means. It has life-altering consequences for both of them.

The novel addresses some important subjects. The bonds of family are tested. There are themes of revenge, betrayal, loyalty, love and loss, desperation, all in the breathtaking wilderness of Montana's mountains. The characters are well-developed and their personalities are unique. Each has motivations that the reader eventually understands.

To me, the ending was a bit ambiguous. It left some questions, but that is good in a way. It makes you think about it longer than if it was wrapped up neatly and stated openly. I think this was a masterfully written novel that brought in elements that drew my attention throughout. I loved the setting. The conflict between the brothers, and between Thad and his mother, were made realistic and believable. I enjoyed this novel and hope to read more from this writer.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This title is not something I would have picked for myself so I'm very grateful to my Radio 2 coordinator for sending this to me. The story is fast paced and interesting. I liked the characters although Hazen annoyed me at times. The nature scenes were vividly described and I felt I was up there in the Montana mountains with them. It was incredibly uncomfortable too and I don't think I would be able to live in a place like this. The characters were fully explored and grew. For such a short story it really packed a punch and it was a great reading experience.

Wow. This is one well-written story. I literally wanted to mark every other sentence as exceptional. This is typical: “He felt himself draining in some elemental way, hollowing day by day. He occasionally had the thought that it could go one of two ways. Either he’d empty until there was nothing left and a strong wind would blow him away, or he’d slowly fill back up, and what he’d been before would be replaced with something different altogether. He’d heard somewhere that every ten years the cells in your body are completely renewed. He felt that it was happening to him now in some sort of accelerated process that he wasn’t sure he’d survive.”

Beartooth tells the story of two brothers, Thad and Hazen, living in the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains just outside of Yellowstone National Park. Thad is solid and capable, the voice of reason and the handler of real-world issues like finances and taxes. Hazen is younger and impulsive, less concerned with limitations and more in tune with the natural world. Desperate for money after their father dies, the brothers become involved with a shady figure and undertake an illegal enterprise. Things don’t go as planned and the brothers come face to face with the law and mortality. It’s a rough-and-tumble story about the coming-of-age of two men who approach life very differently, and it kept me compulsively turning the pages.

I have to address the ending because readers will likely find it abrupt, as I did. Not all questions are answered…not everything wrapped up nicely. I was slightly disappointed. Not with the unanswered questions, I can deal with that, but with the fact that I could have happily read 200 more pages about these two characters and their often funny encounters with nature and their fellow man. As I have said, the writing is extraordinary. Callan Wink is brilliant and deserves to be widely-read.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A riveting story of two brothers desperate to save the family home. Set with the magnificent Yellowstone national park in the background, Thad and Hazen are two simple guys (simple meaning they don't live a luxurious life) just barely getting along. When Thad realizes that the family home is in jeopardy due to an unpaid tax bill, he and Hazen decide to do what must be done to get the bill paid.  This is one of the greatest most unusual heist stories that I have ever read. The unconditional love of brothers shines brightly. Very fast paced. An epic adventure.

5 stars

Beartooth by Callan Wink is a gripping tale of survival and brotherhood, set against the raw and rugged backdrop of the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains on the edge of Yellowstone. In a timber house hand-built by their grandfather, two brothers, Thad and Hazen, are struggling to stay afloat after their father's death, weighed down by debt and isolation. Living off the land, far from society, they face mounting pressures—from unpaid medical bills to a looming tax lien on their home.

Thad, the more pragmatic of the two, takes charge of these burdens, while Hazen is more at one with the wilderness, guided by instinct rather than practicality. The brothers' already precarious existence is pushed to the brink when a shadowy outsider presents them with a dangerous proposition that promises money but comes with profound consequences.

Wink’s writing is evocative, vividly bringing to life the grandeur of the American West and capturing the brothers’ struggles in an unforgiving world. The tension between survival and morality pulses through the pages, and the bond between the two brothers, though fraught, is deeply compelling. There are moments of unexpected poignancy that balance the hard-edged narrative, making this book as emotionally resonant as it is fast-paced.

Fans of Cormac McCarthy and Donald Ray Pollock will find much to appreciate in Beartooth. It’s a masterful exploration of desperation, revenge, and the unbreakable ties of family. The vivid scene setting and the development of both plot and characters kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Highly recommended for those drawn to gritty, atmospheric tales of survival.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview,

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Callan Wink’s “Beartooth” is a masterful exploration of survival, brotherhood, and the rugged beauty of the American West. This novel, set against the majestic yet unforgiving backdrop of Yellowstone National Park, weaves a tale that is both thrilling and deeply poignant.

The story follows two brothers, Jack and Sam, who are struggling to make ends meet in their remote home in the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains. Desperation drives them to agree to a dangerous heist, setting off a chain of events that tests their bond and their will to survive. Wink’s depiction of the setting is breathtaking, capturing the grandeur and peril of the wilderness.

Jack and Sam are compelling protagonists whose relationship forms the heart of the novel. Jack, the older brother, is pragmatic and protective, while Sam is more impulsive and idealistic. Their dynamic is both touching and fraught with tension, reflecting the complexities of sibling relationships. 

 “Beartooth” delves into themes of survival, loyalty, and the moral ambiguities of desperate actions. The novel examines the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved ones and the sacrifices they are willing to make. 

Wink’s writing is lyrical and precise, with a keen eye for detail that brings the landscape and characters to life. His prose is evocative, capturing the raw beauty of the wilderness and the emotional intensity of the brothers’ journey. 

“Beartooth” is a powerful and evocative novel that combines the thrill of a heist gone wrong with a profound exploration of brotherhood and survival. Callan Wink has crafted a story that is both gripping and deeply moving, with characters that resonate long after the final page. This novel is a must-read for fans of literary thrillers and anyone captivated by the rugged beauty of the American West

Callan Wink’s Beartooth is a captivating, immersive novel that pulls readers into a rugged wilderness setting. Though I’m an urban person with little connection to survivalist experiences, I found myself completely absorbed in the story's world. Set in Yellowstone country, the novel follows two brothers, Thad and Hazen, who are left to fend for themselves after their mother, Sacajawea, abandoned them, and their father recently passed away.

These brothers, though deeply connected, are opposites in temperament. Thad is pragmatic, organized, and carries their father’s disciplined work ethic. Hazen, by contrast, is more laid-back, living in the moment and rarely considering the consequences of his actions. Their dynamic, as they navigate dangerous circumstances, is at the heart of the book. The plot kicks into motion when a shady Scotsman offers them an illegal job smuggling elk antlers from Yellowstone. It’s risky—if caught, they could face heavy fines and jail time—but with their situation growing desperate, they agree.

Wink’s writing powerfully conveys the vastness and danger of the natural world, both externally and in the brothers’ internal struggles. The novel’s raw and visceral quality makes it hard to put down, keeping readers hooked as they follow Thad and Hazen’s perilous journey.

In short, Beartooth is a compelling, unforgettable story of survival and brotherhood. Wink skillfully blends adventure with emotional depth, making this a five-star read.

I’d never heard of Callan Wink before reading Beartooth and was drawn to this purely because of its description. I’m so happy I decided to give it a shot, because wow. As a lifelong hiker and camper, I love reading books that largely take place in nature, and bonus if it involves isolation and survival (see - Lauren Groff’s The Vaster Wilds, one of my favorites). Add in a thrilling heist, beautiful prose, and a complex sibling relationship, and I was hooked!

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced e-copy for review.

Thad and Hazen are two brothers living in remote Montana, somewhere near Yellowstone National Park. Their father has recently died and, unlike his careful and meticulous care of their home, the brothers have let things go. The roof is leaking, the outside needs painting, and they are very behind in their real estate taxes. They make a meager living selling firewood to residents and wealthy second home owners in their area.

Thad almost always takes the lead and is the initiator and planner. Hazen follows along and the reader is left to wonder if he is somewhat cognitively impaired or on the autism spectrum. Their father was a man of conscience and hard work, attitudes he attempted to instill in his sons. However, they both grapple with ethical and moral issues, especially Thad. His endeavors become shady and he often asks himself what his father would have thought about what he is doing.

Into the picture comes Sacajawea, their absent mother, who one day appears in their yard hanging her wash on a clothesline and parking her RV near their home. Sacajawea is somewhat like a hippie with wanderlust. She left the brothers when they were very young and only very occasionally reappeared for short periods. It appears now that she plans to stay. Thad won't acknowledge her but Hazen seems intrigued by her arrival.

There is also the mysterious Scot, a large and tall man, with a mystery about him. The brothers often sell him wood and are intrigued by his silent adult daughter who sits in the front of the car and occasionally plays the bagpipes for them. The Scot may not really be Scottish, and there is something about him that worries Thad. Thad likes to have his 22 pistol on him when he deals with the Scot who is said to have killed a young man who was robbing him.

Callan Wink writes beautifully and his descriptions of the land's beauty, brutality, and mysteries are carefully employed in the narrative. His characterizations are detailed and descriptive. I felt like I was in Thad's head as he grappled with his angst and conscience. This book was so good that, upon finishing, I ordered a copy of Mr. Wink's book of short stories.

I thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for granting me the privilege of reading and reviewing this early review copy.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC, but sadly this book didn't clique with me.
I couldn't care for the brother's relationship (the good and the bad) and the horror aspect of it fell flat to me.
I was never truly engaged with anything, really. And that's a bummer, because I really liked the plot. :(
I'm sure other horror readers will enjoy this book much more than I did.

An exhilarating, myth-making blend of adventure, family dynamics, introspection, and heist action. Packed with fascinating characters and deeply resonant generational glimpses both backward and forward in time.

After their father’s passing, two brothers resort to dire methods in order to simply get by. Living in a fatigued cabin located on the outskirts of Yellowstone, neither Thad nor his brother, Haven, hold steady employment; earning money the best way they know how: providing other local residence with firewood for their winter stockpile, and the illegal hunting of animals that provide goods that go for a high price on the black market. However, when they receive a notice that they are behind on property taxes and may lose the property that has been in their family for multiple generations, they result to desperate and dangerous measures to keep their home and the memories they have there.

This is a fast-paced story that will hook readers who enjoy the outdoors…or who like the idea of the outdoors. It is a tale of survival that feels so real that it will have you planning your next trip to Montana in hopes of bumping into one of these brothers. NetGalley and Spiegel and Grau for the advanced digital copy, but I will definitely need a physical copy to annotate and keep close at hand. It will make an especially wonderful companion on future camping trips.

Such a quick and gripping read that I plan on rereading whenever I feel stuck in a societal rut and need a mental escape to the great outdoors of the west. I have already added Wink’s backlist titles to my TBR in hopes that they can provide that same sort of escapism.

Hmmm

I’m going to settle on a 3.5, I just don’t feel like I was the right audience for this book but can very much appreciate it.

If you love nature and the elements this book really excels at awakening all the senses. The writing is very vivid sometimes even stomach turning, but it felt honest.

While the two brothers were juxtaposed against one another I really got into the dichotomy this offered.

A book for those looking for something gritty and authentic with a good dose of cinematic plot.

This book will pull in the reluctant reader and keep them on the edge of their seat. The strong bond of brothers was evident throughout the story. A few swear words and drinking were included but made the story more realistic.