Baited

by Colleen O'Brien

It's 2004 the summer of Glacier National Park's grizzly bear DNA study. Trail crew worker Clancy Dyer dashes through the aspen to roust her buddy. She finds only his shredded tent and horrible smell. She alerts district ranger Mack Savage. As they work to find the missing man, they uncover a series of misdeeds and betrayals.

Told from multiple points of view representing Glacier's eclectic east side, Baited grapples with personal loss, the controversy surrounding grizzly bears and how to reconcile one's love and affection for a person who has committed a reprehensible act.

Genres: Mystery

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Colleen O’Brien is a Montana writer whose work has been published in the anthologies "A Mile in Her Boots: Women Who Work in the Wild," "Bright Bones: Contemporary Montana Writing," and "A View Inside Glacier National Park: 100 Years, 100 Stories." Her short stories and essays have appeared in Montana Quarterly, Flathead Living, The Missoulian, Whitefish Review, High Country News, Montana Outdoors, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Weddings, and on Timothy McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.

Baited is her debut novel. The manuscript was awarded the Michael K. Smith Fellowship at Porches Writing Retreat in Virginia. She is co-owner of several East Glacier, Montana businesses and lives with her family near Glacier Park.

Reviews

[MB Bertram · Rating 5 out of 5]

The phrase "Just one more chapter!" was created for this book. I could not put it down.

I was enthralled by the characters as soon as I started reading. I wanted to know everything about them - how they got to Glacier, their hopes, their dreams, their secrets. . .

O'Brien does an amazing job of making us care about these characters, even the ones we don't like very much. No one is truly good or truly bad. They're all complicated, like the people we all meet in everyday life.

Did I mention it's also a who done it? I love a good mystery. This one kept me guessing and hoping it wasn't one of the characters I had gotten to know and become fond of.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Colleen O'Brien's "Baited" was a fantastic read! Seriously, I picked this up and couldn't put it down. As someone who's lived and worked in Glacier National Park for over ten years and has seen firsthand the dramas created by a diverse crew living in close proximity, I can tell you this book offers a wonderful, authentic portrait of that experience.
I loved how the author crafted intricately intertwined relationships amongst these unique individuals. Each character, coming from different backgrounds, brings their own distinct motivations that drive them through the story. The complexities added by the varied cast enduring not only emotional and interpersonal challenges but also the formidable challenges of Glacier Park's environment—its tough terrain, unpredictable weather, dangerous river crossings, and pervasive wildlife—made this book incredibly engaging. Highly recommend!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this book during a recent trip to Glacier National Park while staying in East Glacier. The novel takes me back to those precious moments on the “quieter” side of Glacier during the shoulder season, when you have the chance to experience the raw beauty of the park and appreciate all that incredible place has to offer.

It’s the perfect read for those who love Glacier or plan to visit as well as for nature-enthusiasts and lovers of all things wild. The storytelling is vivid, and the plot is fast-paced and keeps you on your toes.

I count myself lucky for having found this novel and look forward to future reads from the author.

[Nate Schweber · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engrossing whodunnit with turns and switchbacks like a trail leading deep into Glacier National Park’s grizzly-filled backcountry. Baited is a mystery in which the only things more powerful and unpredictable than nature expressing itself via fire, flood, and apex predator are the emotions and motivations of a gritty collection of characters. “Glacier’s a powerful place,” a ranger cop comments, “…it culls the riffraff.” With prose sharp enough to make you feel the pine needles, Colleen O’Brien evokes what is so forebodingly captivating about one of Montana’s most dramatic landscapes. For lovers of the state’s literary forebearers, imagine Ivan Doig – if he wrote noir.

[Joann Flick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: the author is a friend and I live near the East Glacier Ranger Station.

Colleen creates a realistic set of circumstances and personalities that collide with the often brutal landscape and natural perils of Glacier National Park and develop into a twisted, tragic mess. I loved how she inserted a side note about the flora, fauna or geology of the park along the way. It’s a gripping tale that kept me awake way past my bedtime.

The book will make you want to visit Glacier National Park for its raw beauty. And, it will make you wary of the power of the place to consume the humans enchanted by it.

[Janet E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are great and a wonderful introduction into a landscape I know little about. The writing is wonderful. A definite cut above many of the authors I have read. There is a list of characters at the front which I really appreciate and a map of the territory she references throughout the book. I appreciated that because every time I read a book I have a note pad and write those things down because I easily get lost in which character is which. Maybe, I am the only one with that problem! The story is compelling and keeps you guessing.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun way to learn about glacier park and be entertained!!!!

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at Colleen’s shop when I was in East Glacier. Later she was kind enough to sign it for me. A wonderful woman. Baited is a fascinating read about Glacier and an exciting page turner. I highly recommend it!

[Maria Alana · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75 ⭐️ There will be 2 parts to this review…

Book roasting:
This whole book felt like I was in the first 10 pages!! TOO MANY CHARACTERS! Also not everything made sense and the mystery still isn’t fully solved! Is it supposed to be a cliffhanger? I DONT KNOW! The first 200 pages were even worse. Also the reveal didn’t feel like ANYTHING!

Book understanding:
Although I didn’t like this book it takes A LOT to sit down and right one! And to get it published too! There were parts I liked which is why I give it 1.75 stars. I love the parts about the Native Americans and would DEFINITELY read a book that’s more about them. Pllleeeeaassseee write about what life is like for natives (as much as you can as a white)! Overall, I know my book reviews are harsh but this book gets 5⭐️ for the fact that you WROTE A BOOK!

P.S. as a reference I gave Harry Potter 2 stars

EDIT: I know I was hating on this book but now I miss it! The Montana vibes are spot on and I’m craving a sequel!

[Cay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Great mystery with unique characters (not stereotypical/expected), I read it straight through to find out what happened and highly recommend it! A great summer read!

[Louise Wedley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, this book was a terrible disappointment. I thought it would be a fun read before going on vacation to Glacier National Park. The author tried to stretch a short story into a long one. I didn't like a single character in the book. The storyline had so much potential. but did not meet it. Weak characters and plot. I feel like the author hates Glacier, hates the people of Montana and hates National Parks and their staff. Or at least that was my reading of it ....

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just spent a couple of perfect summer days on my back porch completely immersed in this fast-paced backcountry thriller. I loved the way characters' back-stories were seamlessly woven into the plot. All the different subcultures living in and near National Parks (especially Glacier) are perfectly captured here. You can tell the author knows this setting intimately. I'm hoping for a sequel!

[Edie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cast of thousands that were difficult for me to keep track of. The author obviously loves Glacier National Park as there were many, many descriptions of the mountains, wildflowers and wildlife. Nice but didn't add to the story which would have moved along better if they had been cut back.

[Kathryn Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book when I was in Glacier National Park this fall. It is an amazing read! I was just somewhat disappointed in the ending of the book. Those who have read it will probably know what I am talking about. I wanted some closure (for sure) on one of the characters.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there a series here?
Looking forward to another one about Glacier.