Where does Night of the Grizzlies rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It’s in the middle of the pack, largely because so many of my audiobooks are excellent.
What other book might you compare Night of the Grizzlies to and why?
Part Heart of the Sea/Moby Dick, part True Crime, the book both capitalizes on the fear we have of the unpredictability of powerful animals around humans and on the mystery of how a crime unfolded. It’s written by a True Crime author and read by Kavin Pierce who has narrated a lot of True Crime audiobooks.
Which character – as performed by Kevin Pierce – was your favorite?
I’d say and of the National Park Rangers were my favorite.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
When it comes to Kevin Pierce and True Crime, I always want to listen all the way through. This is very similar. And it helps that Jack Olsen is one of my favorite True Crime authors.
Any additional comments?
Applying his approach to storytelling and True Crime to the events of 1967, Jack Olsen does a thorough exploration of the events, people, and atmosphere that were responsible for and led up to the Night of the Grizzlies. Witnesses to strange bear behavior, unwise incentives created by tourists and concession operators, and the Park Service’s casual enforcement of good practices are all reviewed and tied together to create some understanding of how things came to a tragic, horrible climax one night in Glacier National Park. It’s the kind of complete approach I’ve appreciated in Olsen’s other work, and Pierce lends a voice that is both pleasant and gives a sense of authority to the work. His emotions are always appropriate and never over-done.