Novel tells of survival in the American West
By Katie Urban
‘The start of a new year always sends me looking back at the books that have stayed with me, and this time I wanted to highlight one of my absolute favorites from 2025: Beartooth, by Callan Wink. I’m not entirely sure how it first landed on my radar, but I’ve been especially drawn to novels set in Montana, likely because I have family in Big Sky Country. The publisher’s description of this one hooked me instantly.
The premise: The novel opens with brothers Thad and Hazen, who live off the grid in a remote stretch of Montana mountains near Yellowstone National Park. They’re drowning in debt from their late father’s medical bills and barely scraping by through logging, fishing, and the occasional risky—and very illegal—work of poaching black bears out of season for their hides, claws, skulls, and highly valuable gallbladders. Thad, the older brother, shoulders the burdens of adult responsibility— everything from hospital debts to the looming tax lien on the cabin their grandfather built. Hazen, the more instinct-driven of the two, is deeply attuned to the rhythms of the natural world. When a mysterious outsider offers them a lucrative but dangerous job, the brothers agree to attempt a heist. They agree to smuggle elk antlers out of Yellowstone National Park, a federal crime.
The verdict: I saw the New York Times’ Book Review headline for their review of this novel, and I couldn’t agree more: “Skip ‘Yellowstone’ for This Rawer Version of the West.” “Beartooth” stayed with me long after I finished reading. The novel is explicitly fast-paced from the get-go, which is likely why I found it so thrilling and devoured it so quickly. There’s one scene that’s so absorbing and gripping, I had to reread it a few times. I could feel the character’s pain, almost physically, which is a testament to Wink’s talent. This is a masterfully crafted story about survival, revenge, and the bond between brothers, all set against the stark, stunning beauty of the American West. I highly recommend this one!
Fun Fact: The author, Callan Wink, is a fishing guide on the Yellowstone River in Livingston, Montana. My husband and father were lucky enough to get to fish with him this past summer, and they still talk about what an incredible experience it was. If you ever find yourself in Big Sky Country in need of a top-tier fishing guide, he’s your guy.
And here’s another unexpected tidbit I learned from the novel: a bear’s gallbladder can sell for roughly $1,500 on the black market. It’s not a fact I ever expected to know…and one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Category: Entertainment
