An absorbing and fascinating look at two men living on the edge of poverty, Beartooth is a raw, poignant, and impactful story that I could not put down.

While this book includes aspects of living off-grid, and there’s also a wilderness heist aspect and a mystery at the end, it is more about how some people slip into poverty and struggle to remain afloat. Primarily, it’s about one man learning to live again after hitting rock bottom. It’s a later-in-life coming-of-age novel.

A lot of times novels like these - set in rougher areas and focused on men - either fail to include women at all or have them as reductive characters. Instead, this book includes two women who have a major impact on both men’s lives, but not as girlfriends or daughters. We learn almost as much about Thad’s mother, Sacagewea (yes, her name is explained), as we do him. I really appreciated that aspect.

Thad himself was an understandable and sympathetic character; you really felt for him and understood his struggle and why he made the choices he did. It's depressing at times yet overall hopeful.

It’s the writing in the novel that is so entrancing. It’s quite pared down in a sort of Hemingway-esque way. There’s a big focus on descriptions of landscapes and comparisons with the natural world to broaden out the characters. A lot of the story is just Thad and Hazen doing everyday stuff around their house, like cutting down trees and making repairs. Yet it’s this sort of pared-down life, the sheer necessity of how they live, which is entrancing with middle-class life being so full of just technology rammed down your throat. You can’t do anything without needing an app now, and it seems the world is designed to prevent you from detaching and just working with your hands. There’s something humble about Thad’s life as much as some aspects of it are awful. It’s the stark contrast between him being forced to live like he is versus choosing it that raises such poignant questions about how our society is evolving.

Overall, it’s a novel that made me think and feel and wonder, as well as being a terse and suspenseful story at times. It was excellent.

Beartooth
By Callan Wink

I found this book to be an enigma. It is a beautifully written tale of two brothers brought up in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana living a survivalist sort of lifestyle. Thad, being the eldest, has spent his life watching out for Hazin, his younger brother, who appears to be in need of a protector.

When Thad is severely injured as a result of one of their adventures gone south, their roles reverse. It is Hazin who gets a job, buys a car, and ultimately frees them from an evil presence by doing the unthinkable.

When Hazin makes good his escape, Thad realizes he has lost his brother for good and his is now totally and forever alone, with only himself to rely on for company.

The author ties in relics from the ancient past where the living was hard with the life his protagonist is living in the present. It is a way of life based solely on self-reliance – survival of the fittest. I am not sure what exactly the author wants the reader to glean from the story, but for a certain kind of reader, it will prove an interesting read.

Thanks to Netgalley and th publisher for this ARC.

An incredibly atmospheric novel, Beartooth was a book that felt almost thick to read, if that makes sense? I felt as if I was wadding through the woods and swamps myself reading about Thad and Hazen. Sensory wise, I've never read a book before that's felt so real. It reminded me of where I grew up in the backwoods of Oregon. There was so much life and nature buzzing throughout this novel, it really came alive. I loved the brothers and the slight mystery that always comes with a small town setting. A strong and powerful book about family, sense of self and connections to nature. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Beartooth #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! From the beginning I felt like I was full immersed in the woods with the characters. Watching the dynamic between the brothers develop was fascinating. It was an eye opening story of survival off grid. I found myself cringing at some of the decisions made and often had my hairs stand up on my arms.

Do you need a mental break from the polluted city or mundane life in suburbia? Want to go deep into the windswept plains and deep canyons of Yellowstone/Montana with two brooding salt-of-the-earth type brothers? Want your wilderness served with a side of a heist? This novel is for you!

While heist may imply a plot-based page-turner, I feel this is a much more quiet and understated book than you would guess. It deals with grief, the glorious and unforgiving side of untouched nature, a sometimes wrought brother-brother relationship, the crippling effects of addiction, and the crushing pressure and desperation of poverty.

The sensory aspects were unmatched. Someone on goodreads said they could smell this book, and that is absolutely accurate. I smelled many smells I have never wanted to smell during this read. 😆

The setting was amazing and I also really enjoyed spending time googling pictures of Yellowstone, including local mountain ranges and wildlife. (Quick side note: Callan Wink is an avid fisher. There are lure tying and fishing details that dedicated river fishers will appreciate!)

While a lot of the novel felt fairly bleak, I again appreciated the understated ending which gave both a hopeful and slightly dreamy vibe.

Don’t miss this release! It’ll be hitting the shelves next Tuesday!

The best heist novel I've read since Roger Hobbs' "Ghostman," and the best story of survival and revenge since Michael Punke's "The Revenant." Wink's prose is as propulsive and unstoppable as a bullet. If Joe Pickett and Nate Romanowski formed a book club, this would be their first assignment.

Tremendous writing with true heart and a beautiful sense of place. Lingers long after the read. Can’t wait for more.

This book turned out way better than I was expecting.
It was a slow start and I wasn’t really liking the characters too much. I think about half way through it speeded up and I was more interested in what was going to happen. There’s a few things I might have wanted to know more about. I guess any good book leaves you wanting more.

BEARTOOTH-CALLAN WINK-Publishing February 11th, 2025 by Spiegel & Grau.

Two brother live on the edge of Yellowstone National Park where they struggling to keep the debt collectors away. Their father, recently passed away, left them with a lot of debt, and no way to pay it off. With not many options, an out of town man offers the brothers a chance to make a lot of money. This offer changes the brother forever.

❤️I loved this book. The characters and writing were gritty, vulnerable, and scrappy. Wink’s descriptions of the park and the river made me feel like I was there. I felt like I was on a raft. Wink lives in Montana and is an avid fly fisherman. The adage write what you know fits here. Descriptions were spot on.

Survival. Brothers. Grit. Montana.

Dialogue is also witty and quick, and never bloated. And it left me with some questions, that I’m still thinking about. Maybe that was the point.

This was my first book I’ve read of his and I will be checking out his other two books.

This comes out FEBRUARY 11th, 2025. Deadly book.

#books #bookstagram #booksaredeadly #booksbooksbooks #callanwink #beartooth #fiction #netgalley #bookreviews #upcomingbooks
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It is a hardscrabble life for two brothers living off the land in a cabin built and rebuilt by their dad and Grandfather. Their mother abandoned them as kids, so Dad raised them in this Yellowstone solitude with his own survivor instincts. With their father’s death, Thad and Hazen are left with each other and a mountain of debt. Thad, the older one, has always dominated Hazen. He believes that Hazen acts first and maybe thinks later. Hazen wants more freedom and responsibility to make his own decisions and possibly mistakes. Then the Scot, a seemingly wealthy and scheming businessman enters their life with a shady proposition and ill intent, the relationship between the brothers fractures further.

This is a beautifully written book about family relationships in a stunningly wild setting. The brothers seem to want to support each other and control each other. Add to this an act of violence that unravels what the reader may think. Vibes from this book will be appreciated by Peter Heller fans, as well as those who enjoyed the film “A River Runs Through It.” Images, story and characters linger long after the last page is read. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

In an aging, timber house hand-built into the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains, two brothers are struggling to keep up with their debts. They live off the grid, on the fringe of Yellowstone, surviving off the wild after the death of their father. Thad, the elder, is more capable of engaging with things like the truck registration, or the medical bills they can’t afford from their father’s fatal illness, or the tax lien on the cabin their grandfather built, while Hazen is . . . different.

This a very descriptive novel with the scenery and wildlife described perfectly. The relationship between the brothers too is characterised brilliantly. I just found the progress painfully slow which made reading it difficult at times. The writing is excellent but the ending feels unfinished. It definitely a slow burn.

Dope literary fiction. The book’s summary describes it as “fast paced” which I would say it’s absolutely not. It’s more a story where one can immerse themselves in this world that is completely foreign to me. Wink excels with the setting and the vivid imagery makes it incredibly easy to “see” the book.

In Beartooth we follow two brothers, Thad and Hazen, whose existence has revolved around their childhood home. The home was built by their grandfather and they know no life outside of this. They were mostly homeschooled by their father and while they have a decent knowledge of school subjects, their survival knowledge is where they feel most comfortable. Struggling with medical bills the brothers take on a risky job in Yellowstone for a not so good dude.

This is listed as mystery/thriller and I really feel like that’s a disservice to this book. In our day and age people mostly read thrillers for the twists and this isn’t a twisty book. It’s a straightforward story with little action. The story really shines in its portrayals of a dysfunctional family. It’s impossible to not feel empathy for nearly every character (ok, maybe not the Scot). Thad and Hazen are “easy” to empathize with, but Sacagawea and Naomi found places in my heart as well. It’s a hard life out in the backcountry and no one is really spared throughout the tale.

Again, if you’re going into this to be flabbergasted by plot twists you didn’t see coming !!! this isn’t going to scratch that itch. It’s almost more of a character study in this wild setting that Wink clearly knows like the back of his hand. It does have strong coming of age vibes, but the focus isn’t on a teenager. Moreso we get to see two brothers who slowly come into their own skin while gradually drifting from each other’s orbits. Solid read for anyone who appreciates literary fiction. Definitely recommend.

A really great horror story from a writer with such a distinctive voice. One of the must reads of 2025 in this genre. I fully recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Spiegal and Grau, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just love books that take place in the outdoors and wilderness stories. When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it. It follows two brothers who live on the outskirts of Yellowstone Park in Montana. They are living alone after their father passed away. They have a lot of hospital bills from their father as well as a tax lien on the house. The brothers are very different. Thad is more responsible, planning and taking care of the bills. Hazen is more attuned to nature and is a bit "different." Being forced with the bills and tax lien, they get involved with a strange local guy called the Scot, who approaches them with a job of illegally poaching elk antlers. The money would help so they take on the job. The story then evolves from there. The brothers going on this adventure and ultimately the relationship between the brothers.

I loved the language, and it was so descriptive that I felt like I was in the cottonwoods and Yellowstone Park. When I was reading this book, I kept thinking about When the Crawdads Sing because that book was very descriptive and is my favorite book. Beartooth is a close second favorite. I have never read Callan Wink's books, but I think I will check them out.

I highly recommend this book. Publication date is 02/11/2025.

Can a book be given more than five stars?
This will be a best seller. I saw in the author’s bio he’s a Wallace Stegner Fellow. I see why he was invited into the highly selective fellowship!

Well written story with well developed characters and a plot line that moves along leaving the reader unsure what’s ahead… that’s a good thing!
Beautiful writing! Beautiful writing… the author has a lovely way of expressing a thought or a small action in nature and very naturally, comfortably using lovely analogous elements or unique words that express a feeling so aptly. Here’s an example:
“ There were cutthroat rising in the slow pool in front of him. He watched their dark shapes torpedo up from the bottom to gulp the small cream colored caddis that were doing their skittering death dance over the surface “.

The author had this uncanny ability to move comfortably from the start of one situation to its end, skipping details that connected the two elements but smoothly bringing the reader along from one status of a situation to a place a bit down the road … smoothly, comfortably but in a unique writing style. So unique it’s hard to describe.
Just read the book !

How evocative! Loved everything about this book. Even the title…. derived from the ( fictitious) Beartooth area where the story takes place.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher Spiegel and Grau for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts

4.5/5 ⭐️

Beartooth by Callan Wink is an immensely immersive story about two brothers going to great and dangerous lengths to maintain their way of life. This book immediately drew me in by the cover art and if I’m honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the story within. Wink’s writing style is incredible, and every few pages had quotes that I was simply blown away by. I felt like I was transported to the wilderness of Yellowstone while reading it, each one of my senses satisfied by the imagery. As a place near to my heart I was extremely pleased with that. If you go into this expecting an extremely suspenseful survival thriller you may be disappointed, as most of the tense moments were quickly moved past and the conclusion to the story was pretty abrupt. Personally, this is not a gripe I had simply due to the wonderful and evocative writing style Wink possesses in this novel. I feel that the quotes within, the characters and their relationships to each other, the setting and overall story will be one that sticks with me. I highly recommend checking this one out as soon as it releases in February!

A huge thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for this ARC e-copy of Beartooth by Callan Wink.

Two brothers, financially devastated by the death of their father and soon to lose everything they own, take on a risky heist job within the bounds of Yellowstone National Park, setting forth a sequence of events that change their lives forever.

I simply cannot believe that this is a debut novel. The writing is expert, the characterization outstanding, the scenery exquisite. Reading this novel feels like taking warm honey on your tongue. With echoes of iconic novels, namely John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” “Beartooth” reads more like a classic than modern literature.

I can’t recommend this book enough. “Beartooth” is perfect for folks looking for a relatively quick and thought-provoking realistic read. Callan Wink is a promising talent who I hope will write more in the future.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - EXCELLENT

CW: gore, animal death, death in the family, drug addiction, frequent vomit

Read this in under 24 hours it was so good. I've liked Callan Wink's short stories and his book August, but this is his best so far. Less coming of age and more outdoor thriller a la Peter Heller, the plot of the story takes off right from the beginning and has some great nature descriptions, foreshadowing, and excellent pacing. Very excited to read future books of his.

Reviewed on Goodreads and Storygraph.

Callan Wink's "Beartooth" is a compelling collection of stories that paints a vivid picture of life in rural America. From the very first page, Wink's ability to craft richly detailed settings and complex characters draws readers into the heart of each narrative.

One of the standout features of "Beartooth" is Wink’s masterful use of language. His prose is both poetic and precise, capturing the essence of small-town life and the rugged beauty of the American West. Each story feels like a snapshot of a larger world, and Wink's attention to detail makes these worlds come alive.

The characters in "Beartooth" are beautifully flawed and deeply human. Wink has a knack for exploring the intricacies of relationships, whether it be between family members, lovers, or strangers. The emotional depth of these stories often leaves a lingering impact, provoking thought long after the last page is turned.

Overall, "Beartooth" is a strong offering from Callan Wink, showcasing his ability to capture the raw and rugged nature of American life. It's a collection worth savoring, earning a solid four-star rating for its evocative writing and memorable characters.

Two brothers, struggling to make ends meet after the death of their father, go on a poaching expedition that will change their lives forever.