‘Dead Mountain: the Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident’ by Donnie Eichar: This is, in my opinion, the best book written in English regarding the incident – I can’t say about the ones written in Russian. The author gives us a thrilling juxtaposition of past and present, as well as a narrative that isn’t too complicated without ‘dumbing it down.’ Eichar is, as far as I’ve come across, the only American to write a book on the subject that has traveled the same trail that the hikers followed in 1959 – as best as he can, since some of the places no longer exist. He also worked closely with Yuri Kuntsevitch, the head of the Dyatlov Foundation. Additionally, he had interviews with Tatiana Dyatlova, Igor Dyatlov’s younger sister, and Yuri Yudin, who did not give interviews very often. Though I don’t one hundred percent agree with the author’s conclusion, this is a must-read for anybody interested in the Dyatlov Pass Incident. You can purchase the book here.

‘Dyatlov Pass Keeps Its Secrets’ by Irina Lobatcheva, Vladislav Lobatchev, and Amanda Bosworth: I consider this to be the second best English book on the subject. It is quite detailed and covers all of the minutia involved in the case. Sometimes it can be a bit tiresome slogging through all the repetitive information, but it is clear that the authors really did their research. Another must-have. Buy it here.

‘Mountain of the Dead: The Dyatlov Pass Incident’ by Keith McCloskey: This was another good read. It didn’t dig into the event quite as much as the aforementioned books, but it’s definitely worth reading. You can purchase it here.

‘A Compelling Unknown Force – The Dyatlov Pass Incident’ by Clark Wilkins: I couldn’t take this book very seriously. In fact, I didn’t get past the first few chapters. I found it difficult to get past not only the bad grammar but also the speculations listed right away as facts. I understand that everyone has their own opinion, but when writing a book like this I expect authors to remain objective, and I found this book the exact opposite. So, if you’re like me and want to read everything you can regarding the incident, go ahead and check this one out. Otherwise, I would skip it. You can purchase it here.

‘Dyatlov’ by Setven Bayes: This was another one that I found disappointing. To be honest, I returned the book and got a refund for my money. An electronic copy is only $0.99 on Amazon, though, so if you want to read everything you can check this one out. You can find it here.

Fictional stories

‘Dyatlov Pass’ by Alan K. Baker: I loved this story. Even though it’s totally science fiction, it was an enthralling and easy read. I finished it in one day just reading during my lunch break at work and once I’d gotten home. Though I don’t believe in the science fiction side of this mystery, the author’s creativity in the matter is quite impressive. I would highly recommend this to anyone. You can find a copy here.

‘Looking Beyond the Pass’ by E.K. Hughes: This was another story that I truly enjoyed. Though I find that the personalities of the characters don’t match up the way I see them in my mind after having read so many accounts, the story is fast-paced and enjoyable. Unlike the above tale, this is a romance story rather than a science fiction one. And, unlike the previous book, this one takes place almost solely in 1958-1959. I particularly enjoyed this tale because the author really made an attempt to delve into the lives and personalities of these people, even if I don’t quite agree with the results she came up with. Purchase it here.

‘Mountain of the Dead’ by Mike Wellins: This is a story that I feel totally conflicted about. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the author’s explanation. I don’t find it believable in the least, but it’s quite fascinating and fun to read about. On the other hand, I was actually quite infuriated at the lack of research the author put into his story. Literally all of the facts were wrong. The locations were wrong. The trip itinerary was wrong. The names were wrong. The occupations and fields of study were wrong. The timeline was wrong. And the personalities were downright offensive. I don’t want to give too much away here, but Igor Dyatlov was an incredibly intelligent, dedicated, and headstrong person in real life. In the book, he’s labeled a moronic dictator and would-be rapist. I certainly would not recommend this book to anybody who is seriously interested in the case. I know it’s fiction, but I was annoyed every time I came across yet another piece of inaccurate information. In case you still want to read it, here it is.

Further Reading