From the blurb:
"In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously at Dyatlov Pass. Eerie aspects of the incident--unexplained injuries, signs the hikers cut open and fled their tent without proper clothing or shoes, a strange final photograph taken by one of them, and radiation readings on some of their clothes--have led to decades of speculation over what really happened.
"This gripping work of literary nonfiction delves into the mystery through unprecedented access to the hikers' own journals and photographs, rarely seen government records, dozens of interviews, and the author's own retracing of the hikers' fateful journey in the Russian winter...here for the first time is the real story of what happened that night on Dead Mountain."
My thoughts: I saw a documentary about Dyatlov Pass and the baffling deaths of those nine young Russian hikers several years ago and have wondered about what really happened to them ever since. So I found this book riveting. I loved how Eichar weaves together the hikers' own words and photos with the ensuing search for their bodies, and investigation into their deaths. His more recent trips to Russia to interview friends and family, as well as his own hike up to Dyatlov Pass, was equally interesting. And in the end he figures out a very plausible reason for why those hikers fled their tent that cold and windy night, finally bringing a resolution to this decades-old mystery. For me, this was a 5-star read.
Happy Reading!
Oh, this sounds like my kind of thing! I love books about mountains and climbing even though I would never in a million years take it up. Have you read Abominable by Dan Simmons? Opinions are divided but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Abominable! I'll have to go look it up. :D
DeleteI'm very curious about what might've actually happened to the hikers, so this sounds really interesting.
ReplyDeleteTheir deaths were so baffling, and there were so many conspiracy theories about what might have happened to them; I loved how Eichar parsed out the truth.
DeleteSounds fascinating and spooky at the same time!
ReplyDeleteI found it totally fascinating. But then I've been curious about this mystery for quite some time.
DeleteThat sounds like it would be a real page turner.
ReplyDeleteIt's very well-written. I couldn't put it down.
DeleteOh, wow. This sounds like a fascinating real world mystery. You're making me very curious about this one. Have to learn more.
ReplyDeleteIt's a book you might like, Sam. I thought it was very well done, and I loved how Eichar weaves together his own research with what happened that long ago night.
DeleteThis sounds really interesting. I've tried to read Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air early this year, but failed to be captivated. This one sounds perfect!
ReplyDeleteI was very interested in learning more about this true life mystery, so I found the book very compelling. (But then I also liked Into Thin Air.)
DeleteThis sounds so familiar . . . Ah! I see. It's on my TBR. I am glad you liked this one so much. I do hope to read it someday.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a very interesting and well-written nonfiction book!
DeleteNot for me, I think, but I'm glad you found it interesting.
ReplyDeleteI really did. But then I've long been curious about the Dyatlov Pass incident.
DeleteThis is what Preston and Child used as the basis for their latest Nora Kelly thriller, Dead Mountain.
ReplyDeleteI want to read that Preston and Child book, but I never connected it with this true life mystery. Probably because they set their story in New Mexico. Well, now I want to read their book even more! ;D
DeleteI always tell myself I don't like disaster books but they are usually so riveting! I guess I like to know all or most survive in the end in order to enjoy it.
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I do usually like to read survival books where the main people survive, but these hikers died so long ago I only ever knew about them after their deaths. But having what happened to them finally explained was what drew me to this book.
DeleteThis sounds fascinating! I think it would pair nicely with Andrea Lankford's Trail of the Lost.
ReplyDeleteIt really would! Both books are excellent reads and so interesting.
DeleteI'm curious about this real-life mystery now! Wonderful review, Lark! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a crazy incident and one that's inspired many stories and conspiracy theories.
DeleteSounds very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a compelling book...and a little sad, too.
DeleteI must say, I am curious to learn what actually transpired.
ReplyDeleteSo was I...which is why I had to read this book. And I'm glad I did. It's a good one. :D
DeleteOh, this is one I meant to read a few years ago, and then forgot about -- so happy to see your review! I do love reading about these sorts of adventures, so I'm glad for the reminder to track down a copy finally.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about these adventures, too.
DeleteGood to know this book is as interesting as you say. Adding to my TBR right now!
ReplyDeleteI really loved it! But then I've been fascinated about the Dyatlov Pass incident for years now.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it! Nice review.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy. It was a really good book.
DeleteI've watched a few things on this and it's fascinating and creepy and definitely mysterious. I will definitely have to try this book. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThis mystery is eerie and fascinating...and I'm glad to finally know the truth about what must have happened to the nine.
DeleteThis sounds fascinating and yet terrifying too. I'm curious to know what made the hikers left their tents.
ReplyDeleteThat's always intrigued me, too. If this had been fiction I'm sure the author would have come up with all kinds of supernatural reasons...but I'm glad to know the truth about it.
DeleteThis is a strange story and I don't know that I would enjoy reading it. I cannot imagine why the hikers would go out in such conditions. But I can imagine that this is a riveting read and I admire writers who research stories like this. The documentary sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThey were part of this hiking club that was very popular, and they were trying to achieve a higher level in it by going on such a difficult hike...plus they were between semesters at their college.
DeleteThis sounds like a really good book--I like that the author found a plausible explanation and not another Picnic at Hanging Rock ambiguous ending.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not a fan of ambiguous endings either! And Eichars certainly has the science and the evidence for what he feels happens to these nine hikers. I did really appreciate that.
DeleteCan you spill the beans on his explanation for what happened? 9 people that's quite a few. What a tragic expedition!
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to know...there's this crazy phenomenon that happens when the geography of a place is such that it funnels the wind down and around and causes something called infrasound...and apparently infrasound can cause all kinds of weird things to happen to a person's body and mind...there's a whole bunch of science behind it, and I am not explaining it well, but if that happened that night, it would have terrified the hikers in their tent, and driven them out into the night in fear, and then the darkness and cold would have caused hypothermia and death very quickly. It really was a sad ending for the nine.
DeleteAhhh thanks for the explanation. I will run this by my geologist husband and see what he thinks and if he's heard of this tragedy. Just seems spooky ... but Into Thin Air has chaos too.
DeleteI'm just as fascinated as you are with these wilderness survival/non-survival stories. I'm not very outdoorsy, so I don't know why they're so interesting to me. They just are! I need to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they're so interesting because you're not very outdoorsy (neither am I), and it's a way of experiencing things I know I will never try in real life. :D
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