Modern Novels Set in National Parks
The Personal History of Rachel DuPree
by Ann Weisgarber. Penguin, 2011. In this historical literary fiction tale, Black settler Rachel DuPree and her husband set out to stake their claim in South Dakota, near what’s now known as the Badlands National Park
by Ann Weisgarber. Penguin, 2011. In this historical literary fiction tale, Black settler Rachel DuPree and her husband set out to stake their claim in South Dakota, near what’s now known as the Badlands National Park.
Anna Pigeon Mysteries
by Nevada Barr. Varied publishers, dates. Author Nevada Barr’s 18 bestselling mysteries place heroine Anna Pigeon in national parks, monuments, caverns and volcanoes, from Big Bend National Park (Texas) to Lassen Volcanic National Park.
by Nevada Barr. Varied publishers, dates. Author Nevada Barr’s 18 bestselling mysteries place heroine Anna Pigeon in national parks, monuments, caverns and volcanoes, from Big Bend National Park (Texas) to Lassen Volcanic National Park.
The Wild Inside
by Christine Carbo. Simon and Schuster, 2015. A teen boy experiences his father’s horrific mauling by a grizzly at Glacier National Park. Decades later, he returns to solve a similar crime amid natural wonder— and terror—in this crime novel.
by Christine Carbo. Simon and Schuster, 2015. A teen boy experiences his father’s horrific mauling by a grizzly at Glacier National Park. Decades later, he returns to solve a similar crime amid natural wonder— and terror—in this crime novel.
Take Me With You
by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Lake Union Publishing, 2014. Struggling with sobriety, a teacher takes his teen son’s ashes— and two homeless boys—on a life-changing trip to Yellowstone National Park in this contemporary novel.
by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Lake Union Publishing, 2014. Struggling with sobriety, a teacher takes his teen son’s ashes— and two homeless boys—on a life-changing trip to Yellowstone National Park in this contemporary novel.
Serena
by Ron Rash. HarperCollins, 2009. During the Great Depression, a newlywed couple of questionable morals start a timber business in an Appalachian community, against the backdrop of what would become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A work of literary historical fiction recently made into a movie (unfortunately panned by most critics and a mere 18% on the Tomatometer).
by Ron Rash. HarperCollins, 2009. During the Great Depression, a newlywed couple of questionable morals start a timber business in an Appalachian community, against the backdrop of what would become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A work of literary historical fiction recently made into a movie (unfortunately panned by most critics and a mere 18% on the Tomatometer).
The Butterflies of Grand Canyon
by Margaret Erhart. Plume, 2009. A newlywed woman discovers hidden secrets amid the light and shadows of the Grand Canyon, including forbidden love and a long-unsolved murder in Erhart’s suspense-driven historical novel.
by Margaret Erhart. Plume, 2009. A newlywed woman discovers hidden secrets amid the light and shadows of the Grand Canyon, including forbidden love and a long-unsolved murder in Erhart’s suspense-driven historical novel.
Temple Grove
by Scott Elliott. University of Washington, 2013. An independent logger and an indigenous Makah environmentalist battle over the last stand of Douglas fir in Olympic National Park in this suspenseful work of literary fiction.
by Scott Elliott. University of Washington, 2013. An independent logger and an indigenous Makah environmentalist battle over the last stand of Douglas fir in Olympic National Park in this suspenseful work of literary fiction.
The Storms of Denali
by Nicholas O’Connell. University of Alaska Press, 2012. Four men set out to conquer Mt. McKinley at Denali National Park and Reserve in real-life climber O’Connell’s adventure novel. But will all return home in the face of avalanches, knife-like winds and bitter infighting?
by Nicholas O’Connell. University of Alaska Press, 2012. Four men set out to conquer Mt. McKinley at Denali National Park and Reserve in real-life climber O’Connell’s adventure novel. But will all return home in the face of avalanches, knife-like winds and bitter infighting?
Waltzing in Ragtime
by Eileen Charbonneau. Forge, 1997. Heated historical romance in the cool shade of Sequoia National Park in California, where a newspaper journalist meets a wild park ranger with a mysterious past.
by Eileen Charbonneau. Forge, 1997. Heated historical romance in the cool shade of Sequoia National Park in California, where a newspaper journalist meets a wild park ranger with a mysterious past.
Letters from Yellowstone
by Diane Smith. Penguin, 2000. A young woman shocks an 1898 field study with her mere presence; as the group moves forward, collecting from Yellowstone National Park, the lively and disparate team’s tensions increase in Smith’s historical novel.
by Diane Smith. Penguin, 2000. A young woman shocks an 1898 field study with her mere presence; as the group moves forward, collecting from Yellowstone National Park, the lively and disparate team’s tensions increase in Smith’s historical novel.
Death Canyon
by David Riley Bertsch. Scribner, 2014. Attorney Jake Trent leaves high-stress life behind to become a fishing guide, only to get pulled into solving a bizarre series of deaths. This mystery novel’s answers lie in Yellowstone National Park.
by David Riley Bertsch. Scribner, 2014. Attorney Jake Trent leaves high-stress life behind to become a fishing guide, only to get pulled into solving a bizarre series of deaths. This mystery novel’s answers lie in Yellowstone National Park.
What did we forget? Tell us about your favorite national park books in the comments.
