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Glacier Park Mystery #1
The Wild Inside
A haunting crime novel set in Glacier National Park about a man who finds himself at odds with the dark heart of the wild—and the even darker heart of human nature.
It was a clear night in Glacier National Park. Fourteen-year-old Ted Systead and his father were camping beneath the rugged peaks and starlit skies when something unimaginable happened: a grizzly bear attacked Ted’s father and dragged him to his death.
Now, twenty years later, as Special Agent for the Department of the Interior, Ted gets called back to investigate a crime that mirrors the horror of that night. Except this time, the victim was tied to a tree before the mauling. Ted teams up with one of the park officers—a man named Monty, whose pleasant exterior masks an all-too-vivid knowledge of the hazardous terrain surrounding them. Residents of the area turn out to be suspicious of outsiders and less than forthcoming. Their intimate connection to the wild forces them to confront nature, and their fellow man, with equal measures of reverence and ruthlessness.
As the case progresses with no clear answers, more than human life is at stake—including that of the majestic creature responsible for the attack. Ted’s search for the truth ends up leading him deeper into the wilderness than he ever imagined, on the trail of a killer, until he reaches a shocking and unexpected personal conclusion.
As intriguing and alluring as bestselling crime novels by C.J. Box, Louise Penny, and William Kent Krueger, as atmospheric and evocative as the nature writing of John Krakauer and Cheryl Strayed, The Wild Inside is a gripping debut novel about the perilous, unforgiving intersection between man and nature.
It was a clear night in Glacier National Park. Fourteen-year-old Ted Systead and his father were camping beneath the rugged peaks and starlit skies when something unimaginable happened: a grizzly bear attacked Ted’s father and dragged him to his death.
Now, twenty years later, as Special Agent for the Department of the Interior, Ted gets called back to investigate a crime that mirrors the horror of that night. Except this time, the victim was tied to a tree before the mauling. Ted teams up with one of the park officers—a man named Monty, whose pleasant exterior masks an all-too-vivid knowledge of the hazardous terrain surrounding them. Residents of the area turn out to be suspicious of outsiders and less than forthcoming. Their intimate connection to the wild forces them to confront nature, and their fellow man, with equal measures of reverence and ruthlessness.
As the case progresses with no clear answers, more than human life is at stake—including that of the majestic creature responsible for the attack. Ted’s search for the truth ends up leading him deeper into the wilderness than he ever imagined, on the trail of a killer, until he reaches a shocking and unexpected personal conclusion.
As intriguing and alluring as bestselling crime novels by C.J. Box, Louise Penny, and William Kent Krueger, as atmospheric and evocative as the nature writing of John Krakauer and Cheryl Strayed, The Wild Inside is a gripping debut novel about the perilous, unforgiving intersection between man and nature.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2015
734 people are currently reading
6491 people want to read
About the author
Christine Carbo
7 books539 followersChristine Carbo is the author of the Glacier Mystery novels, an ensemble series set in and around Glacier National Park, and a stand-alone psychological thriller, THE CONFESSION ARTIST. She is a recipient of the Women’s National Book Association Pinckley Prize, the Silver Falchion Award, the High Plains Book Award, and was a finalist for the Barry Award. She has an MA in English and linguistics and taught college-level courses for over a decade. She lives and writes in Montana where she draws inspiration from the wild beauty surrounding her. Find out more at ChristineCarbo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 757 reviews
March 28, 2016
Is anyone else suspicious about the number of reviews that include the phrase "debut novel" in the first sentence? I'm very surprised by the high number of good reviews for this book. It is not well written. The dialogue and characters are incredibly cliche and for a book about murder and bear maulings, it really drags. The book has a strong premise—an investigator returns to the national park where his father was mauled and killed by a grizzly bear to solve a similar murder—but it just completely falls down in execution. I felt like I was reading a very poor rendition of an episode of Justified (no disrespect to that show, it is far more nuanced and articulate than this book). The author spends a lot of time explaining the feelings and interior life of our main character with half-baked metaphors and stale sentiments, while also over-writing the action—i.e., instead of "he got in the car," she'll write "he headed down the driveway on his way to get in the car, then got in." Could have used a good strong edit.
June 16, 2015
The Wild Inside is an excellent debut novel with a unique and very sympathetic protagonist.
As a fourteen-year-old boy in the Fall of 1987, Ted Systead went camping with his father in Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana. While the two of them slept that night, a large grizzly bear attacked their tent, dragged Systead’s father away and mauled him to death. Fortunately, the bear did not return to attack Ted, but the boy, though physically safe, was very badly traumatized by the episode.
Twenty years later, Ted Systead is still haunted by the events of that night. He now lives in Denver and works as a Special Agent for the Department of the Interior, investigating crimes that occur in the national park system. But when he’s assigned to lead a death investigation in Glacier National Park, he’s forced to confront not only a complex criminal case, but the personal demons he still harbors inside as well.
The victim of the crime is a low-life meth addict named Victor Lance. Lance was found duct-taped to a tree in the park and shot. While he was still alive and unable to defend himself, a grizzly bear found him and finished off the job that the killer had left undone.
The fact that the death was so horrific, that it occurred in Glacier, and that a grizzly was involved, all hit a bit too close to home for Systead, and at times seem to compromise his ability to function effectively. He’s also hampered by a lack of evidence, by uncooperative witnesses, and by a park supervisor who’s more concerned about avoiding bad publicity than he is in assisting the investigation. But Systead forges ahead, determined to see justice done, no matter the personal and other obstacles that confront him.
Carbo, who lives in Whitefish, Montana, obviously knows the park, the surrounding area and the people of the region very well. She’s at her best in describing the great scenic beauty of the park as well as the small and sometimes not-so-scenic communities that surround it. Many of the people of the area are loners, suspicious of outsiders, and are especially wary of federal authorities. Sad to say, there is an ongoing problem with meth and other drugs in northwestern Montana, and Carbo doesn’t shy away from showing us the toll that drug abuse is taking on these people and their communities. The end result is a gripping story that explores both the wilderness of the natural world and that of the human psyche. Readers will finish the book looking forward eagerly to Carbo’s next effort.
As a fourteen-year-old boy in the Fall of 1987, Ted Systead went camping with his father in Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana. While the two of them slept that night, a large grizzly bear attacked their tent, dragged Systead’s father away and mauled him to death. Fortunately, the bear did not return to attack Ted, but the boy, though physically safe, was very badly traumatized by the episode.
Twenty years later, Ted Systead is still haunted by the events of that night. He now lives in Denver and works as a Special Agent for the Department of the Interior, investigating crimes that occur in the national park system. But when he’s assigned to lead a death investigation in Glacier National Park, he’s forced to confront not only a complex criminal case, but the personal demons he still harbors inside as well.
The victim of the crime is a low-life meth addict named Victor Lance. Lance was found duct-taped to a tree in the park and shot. While he was still alive and unable to defend himself, a grizzly bear found him and finished off the job that the killer had left undone.
The fact that the death was so horrific, that it occurred in Glacier, and that a grizzly was involved, all hit a bit too close to home for Systead, and at times seem to compromise his ability to function effectively. He’s also hampered by a lack of evidence, by uncooperative witnesses, and by a park supervisor who’s more concerned about avoiding bad publicity than he is in assisting the investigation. But Systead forges ahead, determined to see justice done, no matter the personal and other obstacles that confront him.
Carbo, who lives in Whitefish, Montana, obviously knows the park, the surrounding area and the people of the region very well. She’s at her best in describing the great scenic beauty of the park as well as the small and sometimes not-so-scenic communities that surround it. Many of the people of the area are loners, suspicious of outsiders, and are especially wary of federal authorities. Sad to say, there is an ongoing problem with meth and other drugs in northwestern Montana, and Carbo doesn’t shy away from showing us the toll that drug abuse is taking on these people and their communities. The end result is a gripping story that explores both the wilderness of the natural world and that of the human psyche. Readers will finish the book looking forward eagerly to Carbo’s next effort.
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April 17, 2019The Hook I really should keep better notes. Maybe I really ought to give myself a break. I like my reading to be pleasurable and often spontaneous, so, it's ok that I don't know how I happened to pick this book, The Wild Inside but I'm glad I did.
If I had to guess, I think the cover probably attracted me. The wilderness setting, and the lone posture of the grizzly in the barren landscape have appeal. You can feel the cold and the sense of foreboding. It's also the first in a series by Christine Carbo. Perhaps that's what caught my eye.
If one of my GR friends recommended it all I can say is thank you.
The Line - ”We come into the world alone, unlike all who have gone before us; we leave it alone under circumstances peculiar to ourselves. ”
The Sinker - Meet Ted Systead, Special Agent for the Department of the Interior. He is called to Glacier National Park to investigate the death of a man duck-taped to a tree. Leaving someone to this fate would be bad enough but the gruesomeness of the crime is soon apparent. The man has been attacked by a grizzly and whether he was alive or dead, it remains to be determined. Certainly not a pretty sight to see. In itself, this death would be hard enough for anyone to stomach, but consider that when Ted was fourteen his father was killed by a grizzly in this same park while on a fishing outing with Ted. Ted managed to live to tell the tale but as would be expected, there is baggage.
This is a very descriptive story, not only does the park and its surroundings jump off the page, allowing you to experience the wilderness to its fullest, there are also very well drawn, interesting character studies of the major players to get to know and care about. And the grizzly, so much a part of the story, cannot be forgotten.
Though the book was a bit long, I did enjoy every minute of it. It made me want to grab my hat and explore the great outdoors even if I'd prefer a warmer clime. Not for the squeamish; be warned it can be brutal at times.
Bring on book two.
If I had to guess, I think the cover probably attracted me. The wilderness setting, and the lone posture of the grizzly in the barren landscape have appeal. You can feel the cold and the sense of foreboding. It's also the first in a series by Christine Carbo. Perhaps that's what caught my eye.
If one of my GR friends recommended it all I can say is thank you.
The Line - ”We come into the world alone, unlike all who have gone before us; we leave it alone under circumstances peculiar to ourselves. ”
The Sinker - Meet Ted Systead, Special Agent for the Department of the Interior. He is called to Glacier National Park to investigate the death of a man duck-taped to a tree. Leaving someone to this fate would be bad enough but the gruesomeness of the crime is soon apparent. The man has been attacked by a grizzly and whether he was alive or dead, it remains to be determined. Certainly not a pretty sight to see. In itself, this death would be hard enough for anyone to stomach, but consider that when Ted was fourteen his father was killed by a grizzly in this same park while on a fishing outing with Ted. Ted managed to live to tell the tale but as would be expected, there is baggage.
This is a very descriptive story, not only does the park and its surroundings jump off the page, allowing you to experience the wilderness to its fullest, there are also very well drawn, interesting character studies of the major players to get to know and care about. And the grizzly, so much a part of the story, cannot be forgotten.
Though the book was a bit long, I did enjoy every minute of it. It made me want to grab my hat and explore the great outdoors even if I'd prefer a warmer clime. Not for the squeamish; be warned it can be brutal at times.
Bring on book two.
November 4, 2015
This book seemed to check all the boxes for me: nature, wildlife, national parks, and mysteries. There aren't enough books in that genre for me.
I'll let others summarize the plotline. It held my interest because of its multi-layered dynamics. Everyone had a heavy backstory. It makes one think of the immense weight we carry within from the impact of earlier life situations. We never quite broker the opportunity to set it all down.
Christine Carbo has really done her research from all aspects. I did find the number of characters to be a bit off-putting. Carbo's story is splayed out like an outstretched hand never giving away any of its secrets until the end. That's why I didn't have the feel for a "suspense" novel. There didn't seem to be the build-up that was expected except for the character of Ted. It was more of a study of human nature and untangling it from its grip on all situations within.
It is my hope that Carbo will follow the character of Ted in her next offering. It would make a great series with an abundance of story opportunities as wide as Glacier National Park.
I'll let others summarize the plotline. It held my interest because of its multi-layered dynamics. Everyone had a heavy backstory. It makes one think of the immense weight we carry within from the impact of earlier life situations. We never quite broker the opportunity to set it all down.
Christine Carbo has really done her research from all aspects. I did find the number of characters to be a bit off-putting. Carbo's story is splayed out like an outstretched hand never giving away any of its secrets until the end. That's why I didn't have the feel for a "suspense" novel. There didn't seem to be the build-up that was expected except for the character of Ted. It was more of a study of human nature and untangling it from its grip on all situations within.
It is my hope that Carbo will follow the character of Ted in her next offering. It would make a great series with an abundance of story opportunities as wide as Glacier National Park.
January 3, 2023
Chunks of a man are found tied to a tree after an apparent bear had dinner. Was the man eaten alive? Can they decipher the chunks? Was the mauling intentional? Did the bear tie the man to the tree? Will they arrest the bear?
The investigator looking into the meaty situation had a run-in with a grizzly (of course he did) when he was camping with his father as a child. The father ended up in the same shape as the dude tied to the tree. Meat is meat. Are all bears bad?
Anxiety ensues for our investigator.
The Wild Inside is an average mystery/police procedural set in the Glacier National Park of Montana.
I just want the bear to be happy.
The investigator looking into the meaty situation had a run-in with a grizzly (of course he did) when he was camping with his father as a child. The father ended up in the same shape as the dude tied to the tree. Meat is meat. Are all bears bad?
Anxiety ensues for our investigator.
The Wild Inside is an average mystery/police procedural set in the Glacier National Park of Montana.
I just want the bear to be happy.
September 20, 2016
A special agent is sent to the area in Montana, where he grew up as a boy, to solve a murder mystery set in the woods of Glacier National Park. The key players either don't remember him or are unaware of a tragedy he suffered there as a boy. He must find a killer while trying to deal with his old demons, who are again rearing their ugly heads. For me Christine Carbo's caliber of writing is somewhere below C. J. Box but way above Nevada Barr, parts of the story felt like fill. Many suspects kept me guessing but R.C. Bray's narrative was the hero.
March 22, 2017
I love the writing for this atmospheric mystery set in Glacier Natl Park. The pace seems realistic in that things don't happen quickly and require painstaking detective work, false leads, interviewing and follow-up. So, it's not a thriller page-turner, but I was lulled in by the characters,especially the introspective detective, and enchanted by the lonely,empty feel of the wilderness of Montana in the off season.
August 6, 2019
Wow! A brilliant debut novel!
I don't ordinarily use the description for a book in writing my reviews but this is such an original story line and setting that I can't describe it any better than the books given introduction. So I'll start with that.
A haunting crime novel set in Glacier National Park about a man who finds himself at odds with the dark heart of the wild—and the even darker heart of human nature.
It was a clear night in Glacier National Park. Fourteen-year-old Ted Systead and his father were camping beneath the rugged peaks and starlit skies when something unimaginable happened: a grizzly bear attacked Ted’s father and dragged him to his death.
Now, twenty years later, as Special Agent for the Department of the Interior, Ted gets called back to investigate a crime that mirrors the horror of that night. Except this time, the victim was tied to a tree before the mauling. Ted teams up with one of the park officers—a man named Monty, whose pleasant exterior masks an all-too-vivid knowledge of the hazardous terrain surrounding them. Residents of the area turn out to be suspicious of outsiders and less than forthcoming. Their intimate connection to the wild forces them to confront nature, and their fellow man, with equal measures of reverence and ruthlessness.
As the case progresses with no clear answers, more than human life is at stake—including that of the majestic creature responsible for the attack. Ted’s search for the truth ends up leading him deeper into the wilderness than he ever imagined, on the trail of a killer, until he reaches a shocking and unexpected personal conclusion.
As intriguing and alluring as bestselling crime novels by C.J. Box, Louise Penny, and William Kent Krueger, as atmospheric and evocative as the nature writing of John Krakauer and Cheryl Strayed, The Wild Inside is a gripping debut novel about the perilous, unforgiving intersection between man and nature.
Well, that about sums it up.
Christine Carbo has written a brilliant, spellbinding, and chilling debut that left me completely breathless and awestruck!
I love Glacier National Park's police officer Monty Harris! I've already started Mortal Fall, the second book in this series!
Highly recommended!
I don't ordinarily use the description for a book in writing my reviews but this is such an original story line and setting that I can't describe it any better than the books given introduction. So I'll start with that.
A haunting crime novel set in Glacier National Park about a man who finds himself at odds with the dark heart of the wild—and the even darker heart of human nature.
It was a clear night in Glacier National Park. Fourteen-year-old Ted Systead and his father were camping beneath the rugged peaks and starlit skies when something unimaginable happened: a grizzly bear attacked Ted’s father and dragged him to his death.
Now, twenty years later, as Special Agent for the Department of the Interior, Ted gets called back to investigate a crime that mirrors the horror of that night. Except this time, the victim was tied to a tree before the mauling. Ted teams up with one of the park officers—a man named Monty, whose pleasant exterior masks an all-too-vivid knowledge of the hazardous terrain surrounding them. Residents of the area turn out to be suspicious of outsiders and less than forthcoming. Their intimate connection to the wild forces them to confront nature, and their fellow man, with equal measures of reverence and ruthlessness.
As the case progresses with no clear answers, more than human life is at stake—including that of the majestic creature responsible for the attack. Ted’s search for the truth ends up leading him deeper into the wilderness than he ever imagined, on the trail of a killer, until he reaches a shocking and unexpected personal conclusion.
As intriguing and alluring as bestselling crime novels by C.J. Box, Louise Penny, and William Kent Krueger, as atmospheric and evocative as the nature writing of John Krakauer and Cheryl Strayed, The Wild Inside is a gripping debut novel about the perilous, unforgiving intersection between man and nature.
Well, that about sums it up.
Christine Carbo has written a brilliant, spellbinding, and chilling debut that left me completely breathless and awestruck!
I love Glacier National Park's police officer Monty Harris! I've already started Mortal Fall, the second book in this series!
Highly recommended!
February 9, 2019
3ish stars, sort of. It’s not really the “why would you even” quality of a 2-star. But I’m waffly about the 3 stars.
It’s a not-quite kind of book.
Slow, and that’s not automatically bad. But this was the kind of slow that left me waiting for a solid hook that never came.
There’s a protagonist who isn’t exactly flat or predictable, but he never felt unique or dimensional enough to carry me out of the work of reading and away into a story world.
I appreciated realism in the plot, and accepted the gritty dregs of human functioning aspect, but eventually found that depressing.
The writing features regular, minor bleed-through of first-timer mis-steps, over-tells, and signs of a not-quite-developed ear. Not awful at all, but it adds more distraction to the work of trying to get into the story.
Didn’t hate it, but it didn’t quite work for me. It’s the kind of read I’ll likely forget a short while after I finish this sentence and distract myself with something to counter the depressive flavor of the story.
But there’s potential here, and I wouldn’t refuse to look at the author again.
It’s a not-quite kind of book.
Slow, and that’s not automatically bad. But this was the kind of slow that left me waiting for a solid hook that never came.
There’s a protagonist who isn’t exactly flat or predictable, but he never felt unique or dimensional enough to carry me out of the work of reading and away into a story world.
I appreciated realism in the plot, and accepted the gritty dregs of human functioning aspect, but eventually found that depressing.
The writing features regular, minor bleed-through of first-timer mis-steps, over-tells, and signs of a not-quite-developed ear. Not awful at all, but it adds more distraction to the work of trying to get into the story.
Didn’t hate it, but it didn’t quite work for me. It’s the kind of read I’ll likely forget a short while after I finish this sentence and distract myself with something to counter the depressive flavor of the story.
But there’s potential here, and I wouldn’t refuse to look at the author again.
September 23, 2024
The main character, was a homicide investigator with a very dark past. I got a bit tired of the rehashing of him going over in his mind about how his father was mauled by a bear and he is investigating in the same park a homicide involving a bear attack. I know what happened was dreadful but the chip on Ted's shoulder gets tedious.
May 23, 2016
Please don't waste your precious time on this book. I'm honestly not sure how it has received so many good reviews. I thought it poorly written and there were several spelling and grammar errors. The characters were not well developed and everything about them was cliché. The author used way too many adjectives to describe every single thing, including the mundane. Around chapter 8 I couldn't stand it anymore so I skipped several chapters ahead to find out the ending. Surprisingly, I found that I hadn't missed much. As soon as I found "who did it" I stopped reading the book and deleted it from my Kindle. Good riddance.
dnf-lost-interest
January 26, 2016Nothing wrong with this book- I'm just not into detective-type crime novels. Too many books, too little time to read something that doesn't captivate you.
If you like crime novels, check this one out though. Complex male lead with a tragic history that is coming back to haunt him in his current case. Kinda wish I liked this genre more!
If you like crime novels, check this one out though. Complex male lead with a tragic history that is coming back to haunt him in his current case. Kinda wish I liked this genre more!
April 4, 2015
This is a great debut novel. I will be watching this author! A more fleshed out review closer to release date. But if you enjoy thrillers in wild/natural settings, then this book is for you.
February 16, 2019
Wasn’t sure what to expect based on the ratings, but I loved this novel! It was a page turner from the beginning and filled with action. I highly recommend it.
June 16, 2015
This was definitely a great debut novel. I really couldn't believe that it was a debut. The main character talked about cases in the past that he had handled and I seriously thought it was a sequel to a series.
The writing is awesome with a lot of emotion from Ted coming to light. Especially as he was a forest ranger working in forests where there are Grizzlies. This is certainly true dependent on the fact his father was killed by one.
I thought the story was pretty good for the most part but there were several times when the author kept letting us into his head that I think slowed down the pace too much. The ending where Ted worked things out in his mind I thought was a weird way to end a mystery book, but it actually worked for me.
This was a gruesome crime and there were several instances of gut wrenching crimes that the victim committed, so be prepared for that. I'm talking cruelty to animals, so beware of that. It wasn't enough to have me wrenching, but it did make me dislike the victim even more.
This was a very well written book with great character development and a suspect who you will never guess did it.
Thanks Atria and Net Galley for this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I truly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.
The writing is awesome with a lot of emotion from Ted coming to light. Especially as he was a forest ranger working in forests where there are Grizzlies. This is certainly true dependent on the fact his father was killed by one.
I thought the story was pretty good for the most part but there were several times when the author kept letting us into his head that I think slowed down the pace too much. The ending where Ted worked things out in his mind I thought was a weird way to end a mystery book, but it actually worked for me.
This was a gruesome crime and there were several instances of gut wrenching crimes that the victim committed, so be prepared for that. I'm talking cruelty to animals, so beware of that. It wasn't enough to have me wrenching, but it did make me dislike the victim even more.
This was a very well written book with great character development and a suspect who you will never guess did it.
Thanks Atria and Net Galley for this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I truly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.
July 10, 2015
The comparison to two authors I love, Louise Penny and William Kent Krueger, is an apt one. This is not a mystery that is action-packed or filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense, but, instead, it’s a thoughtful one filled with gorgeous descriptions of Glacier National Park. The insight and musings on the nature of the human condition gave the story a depth often missing in police procedurals. The title could be seen as a clever play on words, as the author has much to say about the unpredictable wildness of nature, animals, and of man.
Ted, an agent for the Department of the Interior, is sent to investigate the death of a man tied to a tree and mauled by a grizzly bear in Glacier National Park. Complicating matters, when Ted was 14 he and his father were camping in Glacier when his father was dragged from his tent and killed by a grizzly. The event has haunted Ted ever since, and this investigation forces Ted to deal with the horror of that night, as well as his grief.
There are enough twists and turns to keep things moving along and the resolution was a surprise. I hope this terrific debut novel is the start of a series featuring Ted Systead!
Ted, an agent for the Department of the Interior, is sent to investigate the death of a man tied to a tree and mauled by a grizzly bear in Glacier National Park. Complicating matters, when Ted was 14 he and his father were camping in Glacier when his father was dragged from his tent and killed by a grizzly. The event has haunted Ted ever since, and this investigation forces Ted to deal with the horror of that night, as well as his grief.
There are enough twists and turns to keep things moving along and the resolution was a surprise. I hope this terrific debut novel is the start of a series featuring Ted Systead!
January 24, 2016
My review of "The Wild Inside" by Christine Carbo is on my blog at http://weneedmoreshelves.com/review-t....
January 1, 2020
Just what I needed to read during the holidays, an escape to Glacier National Park with an excellent guide. There’s a grisly murder involving a grizzly bear, during which the bear ingests some evidence. Ted Systead, who is called in to investigate, had grown up in the area and also lost his father to a Grizzly attack when he was a teen. The latest victim is not exactly an upstanding citizen and there are several people who are potential suspects, but few clues. Ted’s investigation circles around the victim’s relatives, former girlfriends, and his drug dealers,but seems to be going nowhere as everyone waits for the caged bear to do his business and the park administration leans on him for some results while trying to spin the event into nothing more than a friendly park blip. Meanwhile, Ted has to deal with his bear memories and bear fears and it brings out a pile of anxiety and regret. Much here about the lives, habits, and habitat of Grizzly bears, all woven into a human story in the dramatic and sometimes humble environs of the park.
February 17, 2025
I enjoyed this book for the dark chilling atmosphere, rich inner dialogue, and beautiful natural setting of Glacier National Park. It still took me longer to finish than I'd have liked, which now occurs to me as a funny similarity to the detective’s slow pace in actually solving the case. (which was not just due to my sluggish reading of it since his slow solving pace was also observed by others in the book)
The only thing that could have made this book awesome was if the leading character was a woman instead. The book was written by one and some of the character’s observations just seemed to me at times that it could easily have been from a woman’s perspective. I wonder why the author chose to make the character a man? Was it just easier?
The only thing that could have made this book awesome was if the leading character was a woman instead. The book was written by one and some of the character’s observations just seemed to me at times that it could easily have been from a woman’s perspective. I wonder why the author chose to make the character a man? Was it just easier?
October 27, 2017
Ted Systead is a detective working for the Department of the Interior. His agency is called into to aid the national park rangers and local police when homicide occurs in a park. His current case takes him back to Glacier National Park, a place he both loves and fears. As a young teenager he and his father went camping. Ted was traumatized when his father is mauled to death during the night by a grizzly bear. His investigation into another grizzly involved death brings his deepest fears to the surface, threatening his objectivity. The plot was compelling, and the attention to setting details created a vivid picture of the park. I liked the complexity of the main character, and the development of the relationship between Ted and his temporary partner. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
October 27, 2016
Lordy. Again, everyone "grabs" their food and beer, the writing is confusing, the protagonist twirls a quarter between his fingers while driving, and his childhood trauma regarding a grizzly bear attack peters out, rather than being resolved. Lots of fascinating discussion of bear poop and anal plugs, if that's your thing.
Want to read
June 10, 2015This is just the book for me, I love Glacier, have camped there several times...and... met with grizzly bears during hikes... scary.
But Glacier is just a beautiful, wild park.
But Glacier is just a beautiful, wild park.
June 30, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to "The Wild Inside", the 1st book in Christine Carbo's Glacier Mystery series.
May 4, 2024
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. As far as I know, I did not receive an unedited copy so I was astounded by the amount of typos in this book. Missing quotation marks, quoted narrative, Lou was once referred to as Victor, LaMatto became LaMotto towards the end of the book, "could care less" was used frequently instead of "couldn't care less", etc. I was also disgusted by the animal cruelty in this book. I would never have entered the contest had I known because I'm one of those weird people that can't stand animal cruelty in a book/movie. I admit the book being about a grizzly bear mauling did make me wonder if there would be animal cruelty but the description of the book referring to the bear as a "majestic creature" made me think it was safe. Well it was as far as the bear was concerned, however there were multiple cases of dog abuse and one mention of kitten abuse that I did not expect. So be warned if that bothers you.
In my opinion too much time was spent describing the light in the sky and explaining that this lake was to the north and this one is to the south and this is to the east, etc, etc. I was so sick of hearing about it. I do think the author did a really good job with the characters. They felt distinct from each other and were well fleshed out. They really came to life. One of the biggest problems I had with this book was how despicable the murder victim was. He was such an atrocious human being that I didn't care who killed him, I was just glad someone did. I'd rather whoever did it be given a medal than a jail sentence.
All in all, I think the author has potential. She just, for my tastes anyway, needs to focus less on the scenery and more on the plot and characters. A new editor is recommended as well so you're not constantly distracted by typos. I doubt I will read anything else by this author but I wish her luck in the future.
In my opinion too much time was spent describing the light in the sky and explaining that this lake was to the north and this one is to the south and this is to the east, etc, etc. I was so sick of hearing about it. I do think the author did a really good job with the characters. They felt distinct from each other and were well fleshed out. They really came to life. One of the biggest problems I had with this book was how despicable the murder victim was. He was such an atrocious human being that I didn't care who killed him, I was just glad someone did. I'd rather whoever did it be given a medal than a jail sentence.
All in all, I think the author has potential. She just, for my tastes anyway, needs to focus less on the scenery and more on the plot and characters. A new editor is recommended as well so you're not constantly distracted by typos. I doubt I will read anything else by this author but I wish her luck in the future.
May 5, 2018
"A haunting crime novel set in Glacier National Park about a man who finds himself at odds with the dark heart of the wild - and the even darker heart of human nature." These words from the book's synopsis had me hooked. When Ted Systead was 14 he was camping in Glacier Park with his father when a grizzly bear dragged his father from the tent and to his death. This horrific tragedy left an indelible mark on Ted.
Twenty years later he is a homicide detective with the Department of the Interior which has jurisdiction over some matters in national parks - who knew? He is based in Denver but covers the whole north west region. He is sent back to Glacier Park to investigate the death of a man by mauling (trigger alert for Ted eh)? Only this one is a homicide as the man was tightly taped to a tree. It's a jurisdictional mess but they manage to kind of work together. This whole bear thing has got Ted very uncomfortable though.
It was a good story and beautifully written but it just didn't grab me. The pace was very slow and the aforementioned jurisdictional issues took up too many pages (yawn, I just didn't care about that). I also found Ted's character to be too morose and bad tempered for my liking, this guy's glass was never half full. The victim was by all accounts a scumbag, universally disliked, so the potential suspect pool was huge and the investigation dragged on while Ted grumped around. It was a bit of a downer really. In a way I'm sorry I didn't like it more but there you have it.
Twenty years later he is a homicide detective with the Department of the Interior which has jurisdiction over some matters in national parks - who knew? He is based in Denver but covers the whole north west region. He is sent back to Glacier Park to investigate the death of a man by mauling (trigger alert for Ted eh)? Only this one is a homicide as the man was tightly taped to a tree. It's a jurisdictional mess but they manage to kind of work together. This whole bear thing has got Ted very uncomfortable though.
It was a good story and beautifully written but it just didn't grab me. The pace was very slow and the aforementioned jurisdictional issues took up too many pages (yawn, I just didn't care about that). I also found Ted's character to be too morose and bad tempered for my liking, this guy's glass was never half full. The victim was by all accounts a scumbag, universally disliked, so the potential suspect pool was huge and the investigation dragged on while Ted grumped around. It was a bit of a downer really. In a way I'm sorry I didn't like it more but there you have it.
August 11, 2015
Yeah, not bad. Not as suspenseful as it purports to be, but a fairly chewy story of a guy who as a teenager had his father eaten by a grizzly right beside him, and now investigates a curious instance of murder by bear mauling while also trying to come to terms with his issues.
It's not very polished and there are some issues with characterisation: stock melodrama villain who almost twirls his mustache, all the guys doing some macho thing vying for position beginning with literally sizing each other up (maybe this is meant to be some parallel to what bears do but it just seems amateurish here), and rather a lot of reliance on descriptions of haircuts and clothing, and as this is rural Montana there is frankly not much difference between them all. Also there are long-winded explanations of police procedure and national park bureaucracy which contribute little... BUT the nature writing is fresh and lovely, the story is adequately gripping and the community characterisation (as opposed to individuals) is convincing. I learned some things about hibernation too. Worth a couple of hours if you fancy the setting.
It's not very polished and there are some issues with characterisation: stock melodrama villain who almost twirls his mustache, all the guys doing some macho thing vying for position beginning with literally sizing each other up (maybe this is meant to be some parallel to what bears do but it just seems amateurish here), and rather a lot of reliance on descriptions of haircuts and clothing, and as this is rural Montana there is frankly not much difference between them all. Also there are long-winded explanations of police procedure and national park bureaucracy which contribute little... BUT the nature writing is fresh and lovely, the story is adequately gripping and the community characterisation (as opposed to individuals) is convincing. I learned some things about hibernation too. Worth a couple of hours if you fancy the setting.
August 28, 2016
This is big book in every way: the characters, including the imperfect main character with his childhood trauma; the place; the plot. It is more of a psychological thriller, as opposed to a murder mystery, pushing the envelope of the genre quite a bit.
At the center of this novel is a nonverbal being, a bear who never does anything that the reader sees directly, yet he is the most memorable character: wild, complete unto himself, amoral, "neutral". Yet the story of this bear is nothing without the other bear, an emotional density arising from that 'relationship', as well as from the detective's fear.
The evil seems mythical, though arguably the meth dealers are the ultimate evil. The unrelenting abuse of the black Labs, quintessential lovely family dogs, is hard to stomach, as they are not wild being as the bears are; 'wild versus tame' is an important theme.
At the center of this novel is a nonverbal being, a bear who never does anything that the reader sees directly, yet he is the most memorable character: wild, complete unto himself, amoral, "neutral". Yet the story of this bear is nothing without the other bear, an emotional density arising from that 'relationship', as well as from the detective's fear.
The evil seems mythical, though arguably the meth dealers are the ultimate evil. The unrelenting abuse of the black Labs, quintessential lovely family dogs, is hard to stomach, as they are not wild being as the bears are; 'wild versus tame' is an important theme.
July 13, 2019
Loved the setting of Glacier National Park, my all time favorite national park. I have even done most of the hike to the approximate site of Ted's bete noire memories, so I kept reading to the end. Unfortunately, the pacing was excruciating and the payoff for hanging in there was minimal. Furthermore, the psychological gymnastics of protagonist, Ted Systead, special agent for the Department of the Interior's National Park Service AND his annoying quarter rolling habit made for an off-putting personality, who was difficult to empathize with or care about. If he is in future novels by Christine Carbo, please let him show some personal growth. He needs more therapy.
August 20, 2018
What drew me to this book is the setting: Glacier National Park in Montana. The story circles around a murder/bear mauling and Special Agent for the Department of the Interior, Ted Systead, is sent to investigate. Ted is dealing with some demons of his own which makes the attack and the setting important.
I liked the development of the story, although it dragged in some parts. I stuck with the book and ultimately felt like the ending tied things up neatly.
I will continue in the series and see what I think.
I liked the development of the story, although it dragged in some parts. I stuck with the book and ultimately felt like the ending tied things up neatly.
I will continue in the series and see what I think.
February 13, 2016
I liked this book. It is the debut novel of this author. That was impressive because she didn't pull at any of my pet peeves. This was an evenly paced story that moved along. The MC was very personable and had a great back story. He was creatively thought out. The ending was tied up neatly, if that is a must for you. So overall, 3 stars. I will keep a look out for this author in the future.
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