Bear Brawl - by Jon Finkel (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Fight Club meets The Revenant in Bear Brawl, a heartfelt revenge-and-redemption story perfect for fans of Jaws and Rambo.

Brick Bridger, 6'6", 265 pounds, is a two-time NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, BJJ black belt and winner of eight fights in the UFC before retiring from a knee injury to run his own wrestling academy in his home state of Arkansas. One summer night, he's running fifteen minutes late to his mom's BBQ at their family cabin and disaster strikes. A rogue 450-pound black bear goes on a rampage, breaks into the cabin, kills his mom and puts his brother in a wheelchair. Brick is devastated. Torn apart with guilt. He believes in his heart if he had been there on time he could've stopped the bear.

From that moment forward, Brick vows to get revenge on the beast. No guns. No knives. No weapons. By enlisting the help of a top zoologist, his old wrestling coach and his training partner and brother, Brick goes on a quest to get inside the mind of a bear while training to track and take down the fearsome animal. This is what happens when a mountain of a man with a black belt fights a black bear.

Bear Brawl takes readers on a blockbuster adventure with heart-pounding scenes, humor, heart, bear history, William Faulkner (you'll see), and family. Dropping into the action from the first sentence, the pages fly by, covering tracking, training, fighting, philosophy, pain, grief, love and a cast of unforgettable characters you'll root for like you're watching your favorite action movie--or your favorite wrestler.

Review Quotes

"Bear Brawl is Jack Reacher meets The Edge--a white-knuckled thriller that pits one man against nature's apex predator. Jon Finkel delivers a page-turner like no other."

-- "Stayton Bonner, USA Today bestselling author of Bare Knuckle and The Million-Dollar Car Detective"

"I've long been a fan of Jon Finkel's nonfiction work. Turns out his fiction writing is just as engrossing and, amazingly, feels just as real. Bear Brawl, and the battle of Brick vs. Bear, will stay with me for a long time."

-- "Chad Finn, author and Boston Globe columnist"

"Instead of reaching for your favorite action movie standby, crack open Bear Brawl, Jon Finkel's new thriller pumping with testosterone and all the beats you want and need to release some tension. Finely crafted with endearing characters and vivid descriptions, Bear Brawl will keep you turning pages."

-- "Brad Balukjian, Los Angeles Times bestselling author of The Wax Pack and The Six Pack"

"It's insane. It's primal. It's poetic. Bear Brawl is like Rocky IV meets The Revenant, but with a deeper emotional undercurrent about grief and masculinity. Finkel captures the mind of a fighter better than most writers ever have--and reminds you that sometimes, the fight isn't just about the opponent, but also with yourself--or in this case, with a bear."

-- "Ed Latimore, former heavyweight boxer, author of Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business "

"Jon Finkel's gifts as a rollicking storyteller are on full display in his thriller Bear Brawl, along with his deep expertise in what happens when we're pushed to our physical and mental limits. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll buy an extra can of bear spray next time you head into the woods."

-- "Alex Hutchinson, New York Times bestselling author of Endure and The Explorer's Gene "

"Jon Finkel's ingeniously conceived Bear Brawl is the most fun you'll have reading a novel this year. Set in my home state of Arkansas, this high-octane thriller bleeds raw authenticity. From the expertly plotted action scenes, to its heart-wrenching themes--Finkel's debut novel arrives on the scene loaded for bear."

-- "Eli Cranor, Edgar Award-winning author of Mississippi Blue 42, Ozark Dogs, and Don't Know Tough"

"Man has never taken on nature like this. Bear Brawl is an action-packed story of love, loss, and revenge that reads like a blockbuster movie script. Buckle up!"

-- "Rafi Kohan, author of Trash Talk and The Arena, PEN/ESPN Award Finalist"

"Man versus beast is an eternal theme that Jon Finkel tackles brilliantly in this exceptional novel. Bear Brawl is edge-of-your-seat storytelling at its finest, with deep, memorable characters and crackling dialogue. A true blockbuster thriller with heart. As for Brick? Get used to that guy. He's an action hero for our modern era."

-- "Kirsten Fleming, New York Post"