Callan Wink introduces his reader to a pair of brothers, Thad and Hazen, in his novel Beartooth—forever indebted to each other yet unable to find their footing after the sudden death of their father. The pair live a hard existence, relying on the natural bounty of the Montana wilderness to make it. One day they are approached by an out-of-towner who proposes a bank heist where their financial woes would be solved.

Beartooth is a medium paced tale with moments of surprising prose set in the beauty of the American West. This is a bracing, masterful novel about survival, revenge, and the bond between brothers.

The beautifully descriptive writing puts you right in the middle of the wilds of Montana. I could smell the river, the wildlife, and was right there in the Cottonwoods in the Fall!

This book is a transcends you into the importance of brotherhood, the beauty of nature, and individuals who risk everything for each other.

Thank you so much to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved all the descriptions of nature, it really felt like I was there, and it made for a very atmospheric read.

Plot wise I felt it lacked a little, or maybe it's just more of a character study, I definitely liked Thad and the way he thought about his family, life, and towards the end, his future.

Perfect book for a winter's evening, in front of a fire.

Appreciation to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for access to this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Want to get lost in the Montana mountains? Enjoy a Wes Anderson-esque journey with two brothers who are lost in the wake of the death of their father and although ripe with survival skills, lack social skills. You'll feel the heat from the guts of a bear being processed in the woods, the fear of being in a national forest at night, and the dangerously slow passing of the seasons in a harsh climate.

Through the lens of the elder brother you get to know a unique family of characters who all are dealing with grief in their own way, but struggle to communicate. He takes on the duty of provider for his younger brother and you watch as it slowly takes a toll on not only his mental health, but physical body. As the brothers plot to provide for themselves and fulfill their basic needs, their plans fall apart, keeping you intrigued to see what else can possibly go wrong.

** spoiler alert ** Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Beartooth in exchange for review.

3.5 stars

After reading the synopsis I was so excited when I got approved for this book. I want to live off the grid in the forest I want a heist.

But to be honest the heist was over much faster than I anticipated or hoped for. Just over halfway and what felt like the main event was done with. It felt like the rest of the story mostly meandered. I liked the opening up of family and how Sacajawea became more understandable after explaining some background Thad hadn’t known. I love a good family drama. From the synopsis I thought Hazen would be more strange than he actually was. They were just normal brothers who sometimes bickered.

I finished this book being very confused. The writing was amazing and I really felt like I was there, and I’m not expecting a story all wrapped up with a bow on top however I just wish I knew more. Hazen where are you? What took place to lead to the choices you made? Thad what will you do now?

I guess it’s good in some ways it left me wondering because I have thought about this book for many days since finishing.

Another great book by Wink. I enjoyed his first novel, and this one was even better. A great story with vivid characters.

Callan Wink introduces his reader to a pair of brothers, Thad and Hazen, in his novel Beartooth—devoted to each other yet unable to find their feet after the death of their father. The pair live a hard-scrabble existence, relying on the natural bounty of the Montana wilderness to eek out a slightly-less-than-sufficient living logging and poaching.

Between a rapidly approaching winter, a roof that springs new leaks with every rainfall, and mounting medical bills the brothers are first offered, then ultimately pressed into a dangerous, high-stakes, high-value scheme. The heist moves their already sketchy poaching fully onto Yellowstone park land and into felony territory. The older and more level-headed Thad devises a plan that lays the best path for success. Between grizzlies and tipped-off park rangers, things don’t go as planned. The brothers are forced to improvise and ultimately set themselves at odds with a local, eccentric profiteer.

At this point in the novel the plot shifts in an unexpected way. The action slows, though the intrigue remains thick. Thad and Hazen’s lives begin to be shaped less by their grief and more by their changing roles and the appearance of their complicated mother. What begins as an action-filled thriller becomes a look into the bumpy, imperfect evolution of an unconventional family.

Beartooth was an enjoyable read and paced to prevent my setting it down. The timeline felt a little messy at times and if you require no loose ends, you may feel the story unfinished. However, Wink manages to bring his main character’s arcs to satisfying ends in ways unforeseen at the beginning of the novel.

Between a mesmerizing, wild setting, compelling action and complex characters, Beartooth is worth your time. Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for access to this advance digital copy.

4.5 stars
When hard times fall upon two brothers in rural Montana, they must put everything on the line in an effort to find a brighter future.

Beartooth is fast-paced and I couldn’t put it down. I was engaged and eager to see how all of the different situations would resolve. I would read a sequel in a heartbeat! Lastly, it is one of the most beautifully descriptive books I’ve ever read. It made me want to pack up everything I own and move to a remote patch of land.

“In the fall, the red and gold and copper of the streamside alders and cottonwoods and willows were reflected in the spawning colors of the brown trout. It was almost enough to instill some sort of faith in a creator, some sort of guiding hand, an artist with a limited palette.”

Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC of this book! I’m landing on a 4.75 star rating rounded up. Beartooth was basically everything I could have wanted in a gritty backcountry tale. The imagery in this book is absolutely stellar. Very atmospheric and visceral without being over the top. I felt like I was stomping around the damp leaves and twigs right alongside Thad and Hazen. In some ways, this book was really relaxing. There was a somber sort of energy throughout the story that was almost meditative. The quiet exploration of characters amidst the backdrop of a beautiful and brutal land was captivating and also quite realistic. I did feel pretty stressed for our boys at times! The looming financial situation combined with one of the more unique heist plots I’ve come across definitely drives the story forward. I’m excited to read more from Callan Wink.

This was my first ever ARC - thanks NetGalley, S&G, and Callan Wink! :)

I enjoyed this book so much. I've never spent any time out west, but I've never been transported to a place so vividly as I was while reading this - Wink's descriptive imagery is truly breathtaking. (I also never thought I would be so intrigued to read about the inner organs of a bear being cut away and pulled at by hand, but here we are.)

I loved the rawness of Thad and Hazen's sibling dynamic and appreciated the complexity of their stories respectively and together as brothers. I did think the ending conflict was a bit abrupt, and I selfishly wanted a better conclusion, but I can also accept that it was realistic and that we don't always get a satisfying answer to strange & traumatic things that happen in real life. That life just... goes on.

All in all it made me want to move out to the mountains and live off the grid in the tranquility of nature (minus the federal crimes and bear guts).

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6612995812

Beartooth is set in the American north-west focusing on two brothers who echo the past of the American frontier by surviving as much as they can with as little as possible. The nature and themes of individualism, civilisation vs wildness, and survival pack a contemporary punch in a longstanding theme of art focusing on the beauty of discovery (both land and the self).

We meet the protagonists Thad and Hazen when they are completing odd jobs to earn a living, namely collecting wood for locals and hunting. From the beginning there is a sense of tension and stress from Thad who is engulfed in worry about the world outside the expansive natural landscape, whereas Hazen worries only of the task at hand and appears less affected by external forces or the past. The two brothers in a last minute attempt to save their home and attempt to secure stability for themselves end up taking on a long and dangerous job from a questionable local.

This book is a fast paced glimpse into the importance of brotherhood, the beauty of nature, and individuals who risk everything for each other. The larger theme at hand deals with the mystery of a crime and disappearance but is brilliantly entwined with family bonds it is much more than a mystery novel alone.

This novel has the feel of, A River Runs Through It, and a similar narrative style to author James Lee Burke. The beauty and majesty of the Montana landscape is almost its own character. Brothers Thad and Harken have lived a hardscrabble life in the Absaroka wilderness and after their father's death it does not get easier. They rely mostly on themselves and earn a living the way their father did, clearing trees and selling wood. When their long absent mother appears, and the financial burdens become to much to bear, the brothers are faced with what become life or death decisions. ?The story is so much about discovering that what you know about your parent's life as a child is not the reality they experienced. Callan Wink does an excellent job of examining the difficult relationships with family, love, neighbors and nature.

A very well written story about two brothers, Thad and Hazen, living in Montana and the lengths they go to in order to survive. The descriptive details really made me want to visit Montana. It left me with a lot of questions about Hazen that I wanted answers to. Their brotherly ties and the complicated history with their mother added some intrigue.

Thank you so much to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A gritty crime noir about two brothers survival after the death of there father. When an offer is given to them to gather sheds for a lot of money a high risk adventure ensues.

Callan Wink is marvelous writer. If you are a fan of Peter Heller you really need to check this novel out. A+ writing.

Reminiscent of the writing of Ron Rash, Jim Harrison. A brutal, powerful, short novel. Effectively the tale of two brothers, Thad and Hazen, whose lives are changed after they enter into an illicit agreement with The Scot. This is a tale of the bond of brothers, surviving off the land, and the choices that both lead to. Minor characters, such as Sacajawea, the boys' mother, also come to life. Wink can really write and every sentence is a revelation. Highly recommended.

Callan Wink (2024). Beartooth—A novel. Spiegel & Grau. 9781954118027.

Prepublication copy provided by NetGalley.

The author has created an engaging exploration of relationships and the tensions that affect perceptions and eventual acceptance of one’s place within a family. As a reader, I expected to see examples of the influence of Cormac McCarthy and Donald Ray Pollock, as promised by the publisher. Especially in the first third of the book, themes found in rural noir-oriented novels, with echoes of early James Lee Burke, hovered near the surface of the text. Then the middle third, which followed the brothers on a journey to harvest elk antlers, veered towards potential disaster for one of the brothers. The final segments focused more closely on that brother’s recovery, both physically and emotionally, from serious injuries, ultimately offering a much more positive note than one might have imagined given earlier events. Wink has created a short novel that will appeal to many readers, including those who prefer a story that rises above stereotypes. I was particularly impressed by the emergence of the mother’s voice and influence in the closing pages of the book, an unexpected element that enriched the reading experience.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Beartooth is a stunning and powerful novel that captures the essence of the American West and the unbreakable bond between brothers. Set against the rugged wilderness of Yellowstone National Park, the story follows Thad and Hazen as they navigate life after their father's death and confront the weight of responsibility and morality. Callan Wink's evocative prose brings the natural world to life, immersing readers in the sensory experience of the backwoods. The brothers' complex and flawed characters are the heart of the novel, their struggles and growth resonating with readers long after the final page. Beartooth is a masterful exploration of family, identity, and the inextricable connection between humans and nature. Its atmospheric writing and deeply moving narrative make it a must-read for fans of literary fiction and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted story that captures the spirit of the American pastoral.

This was such a beautiful, powerful novel. The two brothers, Thad and Hazen, feel almost as complex and elemental as their surroundings, the rugged wilderness of Yellowstone National Park. As the brothers navigate life after the death of their father they are forced to come to terms with the weight of responsibility and establish their own moral identity.

DNF - There is so much to appreciate with this story, I was ultimately just not the right reader. I know many readers will adore this story & rightfully so; my reason for DNF was because I knew I wasn't the ideal reader. I will be recommending this book to others whom I know will be able to dive into the rustic atmosphere & the tumultous relationship of the brothers & the law.

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.

This was another book that I was fortunate enough to be given an Advance Review Copy by the author, Callan Wink, their publisher (Spiegel & Grau), and the fine folks at NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a story about two adult brothers living, in financial dire straits, on the borders of Yellowstone (in the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains) in Montana. - who make a near faustian bargain with a they are approached by a shadowy out-of-towner with a proposition (and agree to attempt a heist of natural resources from Yellowstone, a federal crime) - as they struggle with reeling financial expenses that are the result of the medical bills they can’t afford from their father’s fatal illness and the tax lien on the cabin their grandfather built. Despite being a novel about adult men this feels like a coming-of-age story in a lot of ways.

Beartooth is a fast-paced tale with moments of surprising poignancy set in the grandeur of the American West. Evoking the timeless voices of American pastoral storytelling, this is a bracing, masterful novel about survival, revenge, and the bond between brothers.

While this novel is probably one of the most sensory books I’ve ever read. I came out of this in total awe with how well the serene, and often dangerous, nature was described. There are points in the book that I found the author may have been over descriptive (particularly when he was describing the life of their mother, Sacawajea, that may not have been as necessary to the story - this may only be one reader's opinion).

Overall, I would give this book a solid four stars on a five-star scale because of the the excellent characters that pull me so deep into this story. The characters are so deeply complex and interesting, realistic, and flawed in wonderful ways. Critics of this book might say that it is too slow paced, or that not enough happens, but I think that the author did an excellent job of fully exploring each of these characters as they grew.

As with most of my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents worth.