This was a very captivating and creepy look into the history of these important places in the usa. National parks are under attack right now by the current registration, and this book proves how important all of these Wild Spaces are for not just American citizens, but for the history of the world and all the visitors that make the truck across countries and oceans to see the wondrous beauty that is here.

Although the histories are spooky and often tragic, this book was eye-opening and expanded on some of the stories I already knew about the national parks. Other stories brought brand new information and a new perspective to areas I was unaware of or had little information on. It was an enjoyable book and I'm very glad that I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook from Netgalley

This collection of stories was, well, an...interesting collection. The title leads one to believe there will be truly unusual accounts, perhaps some true crime and murder or aliens with a little Sasquatch possibly. And while there were a few along these lines, mostly it was random little occurrences, some of which have no determined ending. It was just a little frustrating. Then there were descriptions of the parks current day, such as hours and methods of entrance and routes to take.
I did learn some things and would recommend this for National Park enthusiasts for sure, but overall it was just a little lackluster for me.
The narrator did a good job but seemed maybe a little too enthusiastic in his reading tone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

More than 30 National Parks are covered here, and the book includes many memorable characters. A moountain man who was reported dead so many times that nobody believed it when he really did die. A giant sand dune on Lake Michigan swallows a boy playing with his friends (it has a happy ending), a young couple travelling through the rapids of Grand Canyon on a homemade boat. They almost made it. My favorite was Calamity Jane, a rough and tumble frontier woman who could on a man's identity when needed. Although she had about a dozen husbands, some of them even lagal, she insisted on being buried next to Wild Bill Hickock. My only regret in reading this was the number of parks I never visited as a young man growing up in the west.

You don’t usually expect UFOs, ancient civilizations, and mysterious vanishings to share shelf space with hiking guides and scenic photo books—but that’s exactly where Mysteries of the National Parks plants its flag. Mike Bezemek has put together a collection of 35 tales that turn some of America’s most iconic national parks into stage sets for strange phenomena, unsolved disappearances, and historical oddities that are still raising eyebrows today.

Some of the stories were brand new to me—obscure disappearances in overlooked corners of the park system, for instance—while others deepened my understanding of cases I thought I already knew. Bezemek doesn’t go full “X-Files” with the material, though. He lays out what’s known, what’s speculated, and what’s still baffling in a way that feels more curious than conspiratorial. His writing strikes that sweet spot between informative and engaging, and he’s clearly done his homework. If you’re into true crime, weird history, or the kind of mysteries that don’t need solving to be satisfying, there’s a lot here to chew on.

I also really enjoyed the way the book uses the parks themselves—not just as backdrops, but as characters with their own roles to play. From Yellowstone's bubbling geothermal eeriness to the vast, echoing void of the Grand Canyon, the settings add weight to the stories. Having visited a number of these parks myself—Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and several historic sites—reading about these mysteries made me see them through a new lens. Now I’m eyeing my next NPS passport stamp with a little more suspicion... and a lot more curiosity.

That said, it’s probably not a book you want to binge in one sitting. Somewhere around the two-thirds mark, the pacing starts to feel a bit repetitive—not because the stories themselves aren’t compelling, but because the structure is so consistent. It works better in smaller doses or if you’re cherry-picking based on where you’re heading next. Think of it less as a traditional book and more like a guidebook of goosebumps—something to flip through before a trip or on a quiet night when the woods outside your cabin start getting a little too quiet.

I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Dean Gallagher, and he does a solid job walking the tightrope between engaging and over-the-top. His delivery is clear and grounded, letting the creepy and uncanny elements speak for themselves. It’s a straight-shooting tone that suits Bezemek’s writing—enough polish to hold your attention, but no theatrical flourishes that would cheapen the stories.

Mysteries of the National Parks scratches a very specific itch—part travelogue, part campfire tale, part history lesson. It reminded me that sometimes the scariest thing in the woods isn’t a bear, but a story that doesn’t quite add up. If you’ve ever hiked through a remote trail and thought, “Something about this place feels... off,” you’ll feel right at home.

I thoroughly liked these novels and had fun and couldn't stop reading.
Well done, excellent narrator
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Mysteries of the National Parks by Mike Bezemek is a fascinating and eerie collection of 35 true tales that explore the darker, more mysterious side of America’s national parks. From baffling disappearances to strange sightings and unexplained phenomena, each story pulls you deeper into the wild unknown and leaves you questioning what really happens in the remote corners of these beloved landscapes. Narrated by Dean Gallagher, the audiobook adds a dramatic, immersive tone that makes the mysteries feel all the more chilling. It’s a must-read (or listen) for fans of true crime, the paranormal, or anyone who loves their nature with a side of the unexplainable. 🌲👻📚

A few tidbits of interesting information scattered throughout a decently interesting and informative guide to America's national park system. Ultimately presented too drily for my tastes. It took me far longer to listen to it than a book this size normally would, and I drifted off more than once.

Perhaps more useful and engaging to someone actively planning trips to the locations.

I can see the vision of this book, and it was still delightful as is; however, I do think this book could have either been double the size or focused on half the mysteries. There is so much history at each site or park that was talked about, it is difficult to pack everything into just one chapter, especially if multiple sites or stories are discussed. I do very much appreciate that when the author is discussing each park or site, they include safety and etiquette information. The author has a passion for the subject matter, which I think is what matters, as the reader can always search out more information about the mysteries or places that intrigue them.

I know a book is really interesting when I can't stop bringing it up in conversation. I did not know most of the stories in this book, so I found myself looking up more information and talking to friends about what I found. And such a variety of stories! There were stories from a long time ago and recent stories, and even information about the different kinds of museums you can find. This is exactly what I was looking for when I asked to read this. Thanks to NetGalley, I got to listen to the audiobook, and the narrator was excellent, making all the details feel accessible to me.

I enjoyed this one, don't get me wrong, however I was expecting more "Deep cuts", a lot of the information provided in this audiobook I already knew or had heard of it briefly. Overall, I enjoyed the book and think its worth the listen especially on a road trip

Overall I enjoyed this listen 'cause I love learning the oddities of National Parks. I'm a big National Park documentaries and visiting them; but the way this audiobook was set up was a bit scattered. There would be chat about each park but then it would switch to what to expect when you visited the park and back to the story. I think if the "what to expect" was thrown in after the stories it would have been a better listen.
I am assuming having the physical or e-book would be a lot more enjoyable.

I was looking forward to listening to his book, but after getting through eight chapters and realizing I had no idea what was going on, I skipped around and listened to the stories from my favorite parks. My biggest take away was there was too much “fluff” added to the stories, I didn’t see the need for the history or background of each park.

Outdoor expert and writer Mike Bezemek takes a look at the America’s national parks and some of the wildest and most mysterious stories to spawn from them, ranging from UFOs and bodies to disappearances and weird laws. Accompanying these wild stories around many of the parks, Bezemek also offers guidance on how to visit the areas featured in the stories & best practices as a visitor.
As a big fan of our national parks, I loved learning some of these hidden mysteries but also struggled with some of the stories sounding more like crazy conspiracy theories rather than genuine mysteries and the unexplained.
Thank you to RBMedia for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mysteries of the National Parks shines in its ability to transport readers to diverse locales. Each chapter of the book focuses on a different mystery which can feel somewhat disjointed, but that is just the nature of this type of book. While the tales are intriguing, i found the depth of analysis on certain topics lacking, wanting more comprehensive explorations of the mysteries presented. Overall, Mysteries of the National Parks is a captivating read for those interested in the hidden stories of America's natural wonders. Its blend of history, mystery, and travelogue makes it a unique addition to the genre, though readers seeking in-depth investigations might find it falls short

Mysteries of the National Parks is a witty, interesting non-fiction book full of useful and useless information about the national parks of the USA—especially all the strange things that have happened there. Readers get plenty of fun facts about odd phenomena, some paranormal, others in the true-crime genre. There are mysterious creatures, villains and bandits, strange natural phenomena, and missing people cases. Each chapter covers a new case, and we also get useful facts about the national park where the mystery occurred.

I loved listening to this audiobook and recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries, fun facts, and nature descriptions. The narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job reading the text. He reads with enthusiasm and engagement, making it a pleasant listening experience.

Narrated by Dean Gallagher
Presented by Tantor Audio

What a mixed bag this was!

Part true mystery, part guide book, this examines mysteries related to American national parks and discusses how travellers can experience the related areas of said parks themselves.

For me - an Australian - I wasn't at all interested in the guide book stuff, but I was quite fascinated by some of the mysteries. SOME. I found myself paying rapt attention when the book covered the disappearance of the couple who went rafting through the Grand Canyon and disappeared without a trace, but tuned out a lot of the 'mystery of the tall trees' segment. Some of the mysteries were quite curious (disappearance of the cave dwellers), others rather dull and pointless (a random old gun find). They were all mixed up in the book, so it was usually a safe bet that a dull story would be followed by one more fascinating. I'm grateful for that, because it did mean that the book didn't really drag despite its less interesting cases.

It is quite thorough for the tourists in the way it explains tracks and trails to follow, and local information such as parking and tours that will help accomplish any trekking goals. So people using it as an inspiring guide book should find it to be a useful, insightful resource.

On the mystery side of things, a lot give only the bare bones of the case and remain inconclusive, with no fresh evidence or unique angles given. I found some to be quite frustrating in that a quick google turned up the same amount of info; yet the fact I felt the need to google in the first place suggests how much my curiosity was piqued. A lot of the cases covered were new to me, so I did enjoy learning about them.

The 'interesting people' stories weren't really for me; some were figures I recognised the name of, but their presence in this book baffled me a little.

The audio was done well. I found the narrator easy to listen to, and his expressive voice conveyed each case quite well. Enunciation was clear, and aside from a creative pronunciation of 'in situ' I followed easily.

I found the mix of mystery and tour guide didn't really work for me, but that's likely because I don't live in the USA so the guide book side of things slowed everything down pointlessly for me. American hikers and outdoorsy folks might appreciate the recommendations for particular trails to follow, and enjoy the immersion into the related stories. Mystery fans will find quite a lot to sink their teeth into.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

Mysteries of the National Parks is an interesting overview of different National Parks throughout the United States and some of the occurrences that have happened in them. Mike Bezemek takes us to the different areas of the country – separating the regions by North, South, East, and West – and shares with us tales of mystery and history.

I was not immediately interested in how the story-telling was presented in this book. Some of the stories interested me more than others, and due to the vast subject matter there were more often than not stories that I kind of zonked out about. My favorite story was from the Indiana Dunes National Park where a 6 year old boy was swallowed by a sinkhole. I remember reading about this years ago, so I enjoyed having the added context to the story, with a scientist regretfully being wrong about what she thought she knew about dunes (*hint – they are not solid!).
I found the book enjoyable overall, but I was hoping for a bit more mystery or strangeness. For example, I enjoyed reading about the Mammoth Caves and how they found how different paths connected during a particularly dry season, but this didn’t feel that exciting outside of an explorer lens.

The narration provided by Dean Gallagher was adequate, but left it hard for me to discern one story from the next. I had to take breaks in listening so that I could mentally differentiate parks and stories from one another.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, the author Mike Bezemek, and the narrator Dean Gallagher for an ALC of Mysteries of the National Parks!

As someone who loves "Stuff You Should Know" and fact/urban legends/historical story podcasts, this is absolutely perfect! I listened to the audiobook as an ARC courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review, and I loved it.

It's formatted as 35 easy-to-read/listen to stories about American National Parks! I was not aware that many National Parks are established *because* of strange phenomena, not just that strange things tend to happen there. If you've ever wondered about secrets of the Everglades, mummy-snatching in the Southwest, or urban legends of UFO's near Mt. Rainier, you will love this book.

I found myself wanting to be one of the people that visits every National Park and checks it off of their bucket lists... but also after listening to some of the stories, I'll admit I'm a little creeped out! Five stars - and the narrator was wonderful.

I added it to my TBR Tuesday for release day today, and it will be featured in upcoming reading vlogs! https://youtu.be/VRrunAzZzyQ

This audiobook started off very informative and engaging. I felt like I was listening to an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, which happens to be one of my favorite shows. I loved how the book not only explores mysterious phenomena but also gives insight into the geography and background of each park.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(3.75 stars rounded up to 4)

This was an entertaining and novel look at the National Parks of the USA. There was a good mix of paranormal, criminal and historical stories here and simple tips for travelers who plan to visit the park in question. Overall, I had a lot of fun with it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.