The book contains 35 stories that are related to different Nation Park Service sites across the country.
Most of the stories I have never heard of before and because each chapter focused on a different mystery, it was easy to set it down and pick it back up. Some stories were more intriguing than others and I did have points where I was zoning off.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it interesting. If anything, this book will give some cool trivia to show off.

Rating: ★★★★☆

“Mysteries of the National Parks” by Mike Bezemek is an entertaining and informative journey through some of America’s most iconic and mysterious landmarks. With a fun blend of history, legend, and travelogue, this book dives into the quirks and curiosities of our national parks in a way that’s both engaging and easy to read.

I especially enjoyed the chapters on the sequoias, the St. Louis Arch, and Glacier National Park. Bezemek’s storytelling brings these places to life—not just in terms of geography, but with the layered mysteries and folklore that surround them. The sequoias’ ancient presence, the unexpected history of the Arch, and the wild allure of Glacier Park were particular standouts for me.

While some parts of the book felt a bit lighter or more speculative than others, overall, it’s a great read for anyone who loves travel, nature, and a good mystery.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am a huge fan of the National Parks so I was super excited to get my hands on this one. Some of the chapters/stories were more interesting than others, but overall this was a fun read. I particularly liked the information about Calamity Jane, murder trials in Yellowstone, and filming the Heaven's Gate movie at Glacier NP (my personal favorite place). I listened to the audio, so I don't know if there is a table of contents or easy way to see what is in the book. That way you could jump to particular chapter/story when you're headed to that park.

If you like history, geography, and travel, definitely give this one a try.

I liked this one. It was interesting enough. The narrator did a good job. It was not an exciting book but I do love some national park lore!

Mysteries of the National Parks is an interesting collection of stories. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator had the perfect voice for such a collection. It felt like a 90s unsolved mysteries meets national geographic. His voice was nostalgic and soothing, easy to listen to.
The stories ranged greatly in topic and style, making it easy to stay engaged throughout.

I would recommend for fans of documentaries and unexplained phenomenon themed podcasts.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ALC and chance to give my honest opinion!

This is an interesting collection of stories. Some are a lot more interesting and engaging than others. Many stories I had previously heard of, but others were completely new to me! I could tell that the author really did his research. The book is separated in to different regions of the United States. Stories included such things as the sailing stones in Death Valley National Park to whether Pocahontas saved John Smith’s life in Virginia.

Overall, this is an interesting collection of stories. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook and would recommend it if you decide to pick this book up.

While “Mysteries of the National Parks” boasts 35 mysteries, it’s much more about the history and highlights of each park. As a kid, I’d have been obsessed with a book like this. As an adult who has been to many of the National Parks mentioned, I found it an interesting read, although at times the mysteries felt a bit underwhelming when compared to the synopsis.

All in, this book would make a great gift for someone who loves the parks and wants to know more, but will be less than satisfying for an adult who loves the paranormal, mysterious, and true crime related.

This is a rare case of my belief that a book is a 3, but rating it higher because I can see the market it’s meant for absolutely loving it.

While the audiobook is well done, I’d suggest the print book for this one, so it can be easily navigated by park.

This gave me chills —it was so good!! There are so many interesting stories I'd love to know the answers to!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

The introduction was extremely long.
I feel like this book should have been split by true stories/mysteries and conspiracy theories. I thought the first story was extremely silly.
I had to skim the book because the stories were so laughable.

It’s evident that a lot of research went into crafting this book; there’s plenty of stories to keep you interested for hours. While I have read a variety of books about the national parks, most of these stories were new to me. I would have liked more of the ghost stories but I’ve had plenty of those from other books. This one has a nice mix of exactly what it says: disappearances, unexplained phenomena, and all-around interesting stories about a myriad of characters and creatures. Recommended if you’re a fan of the parks or you’re planning on visiting one or two of them.

As a roadtrip lover and #nationalparkgeek, I immediately requested the ALC for this book when I saw it on NetGalley last month. I've visited many of the parks discussed in this book and knew some of the info that this book contained due to my love of the parks and visits, but there was quite a bit more that I learned. Some of my favorite stories/factoids I learned were related to stagecoach robberies in the California parks, the mysteries of how the rocks move at Death Valley, the Zone of Death at Yellowstone, the controversies at Mesa Verde NP, stories about Pocahontas, and the Al Capone connections in the Everglades and Big Cypress (which I visited last month).

Thanks again to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this ALC read!

I enjoyed the content of this book but the narrator sounded a little hokey and it took away from what could be a very eerie vibe on some of the stories. I will probably end up picking up the print copy when it comes out next week to go through some of the interesting ones and jot some notes about some of the cool information about the national parks. I'm a huge fan of our national parks and I often visit them, so I really appreciated the side bar recommendations for other, less crowded national park gems!

I spotted this audiobook and thoughtit sounded right up my street. 'm rather obsessed with survival stories like Cheryl Strayeds Wild, Into the Wild and Touching the Void. I was rather hoping for those kind of stories whereas I found it lacked a bit there. However it was incredibly well researched and put together. It just didn't quick have what I was looking for

I love the. National parks, and I’ve spent a lot of time in them. I really enjoyed this book of multiple stories about mysteries and different things that have happened in the park. The narrator was great for this type of story.

This book was such a fun listening experience. All about our U.S National Parks and interesting stories that occurred in them throughout history, my favorites being about UFOs, Hoover Dam, the California Redwoods, and Mammoth Caves.

Each chapter details a fascinating story that occurred in a National Park, and helpful tips on how you can visit some of the sights featured in that story. The format is perfect for picking and choosing which stories to listen to, if you prefer to not go straight through.

This is the ideal book to pick up this spring/summer for families or individuals planning their National Park vacations! (Some stories may not be suitable for young children, but great for older kids). Through the whole book, I found myself day dreaming about a national park road trip!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this ARC!

Part fiction, part reality, and part travel guide, Bezemek whisks readers away on an exhilarating journey through 35 breathtaking National Parks in the U.S. You'll encounter iconic figures like Calamity Jane and Hugh Glass (yes, the character from The Revenant), along with captivating stories such as a kayaker's thrilling plunge over Niagara Falls and America's first UFO sighting! If you're feeling adventurous, you'll also find handy tips on the best times and ways to visit these beautiful destinations.

Some stories truly captivated me, while others received just a quick skim. Most were rich with historical context, although a few ventured into contemporary narratives. The travel tips were a thoughtful touch, though they were occasionally awkwardly positioned.

The narrator did a decent job; a touch more drama could have enhanced the experience. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the journey. As someone who has explored many of these parks and dreams of visiting even more, I recommend this book to fans of history, nature, and quirky anecdotes. While I've read more thrilling works, this one definitely sparked my wanderlust and desire to hit the road!

A little bit of history, combined with a travel guide and a dash of mystery, this is a very entertaining and original look at some of our National Parks. The author explores urban myths, folklore and historical facts, while providing some ideas for visitors. I’ve been to some of these Parks and I could picture the stories unfolding. The ones unknown to me, I had to Google. Which takes me to the fact that the audiobook format may not be the best for this particular book. Dean Gallagher does a great job narrating it, sounding like a knowledgeable but approachable guide who loves to gossip, and the sound quality is outstanding. It’s just that it would benefit from photographs, as well as a table of contents so that you can retrieve the book and search for a location while planning a trip. The mystery part is OK for audio, since many of the stories happened in the past or we don’t even know exactly where (such as the disappearances). Also, a little content warning, there is a bit of animal cruelty, not graphic or gratuitous, but I had to skip these parts. I’m making it sound like I didn’t enjoy this, but I did. A lot. Highly recommended for armchair travelers or those who dream of visiting as many National Parks as possible.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Tantor Audio.

3.75 stars.

Each chapter was a new mystery/story. I would say they werent all grand mysteries some were stories about the parks. If you like history, myths then you should enjoy this book. It is a very big audio.

I was genuinely excited about this book, but it didn’t work for me at all. This was 20% mysterious stories (all of which had resolutions…so not actual mysteries) and 80% read like an ad for the national parks. The delivery was off and the stories weren’t exciting. They were very informative, but in a “am I reading a textbook?” Kind of way.