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The God of the Woods
When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide
Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
490 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2024
About the author
Liz Moore
11 books2,818 followersLiz Moore is the author of the novels THE WORDS OF EVERY SONG (Broadway Books, 2007), HEFT (W.W. Norton, 2012), THE UNSEEN WORLD (W.W. Norton, 2016), and the New York Times-bestselling Long Bright River (Riverhead, 2019). A winner of the Rome Prize in Literature, she lives in Philadelphia with her family, and teaches in the M.F.A. program in Creative Writing at Temple University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,515 reviews
February 1, 2024
I think I would be a great detective and then I read something like this and realise that I would be immediately demoted to traffic
April 13, 2024
Tragic
The God of the Woods is a quiet mystery/drama about the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl at a summer camp in 1975.
Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of the prominent Van Laar family of Albany, New York, disappeared from her cabin one morning in a summer camp founded by her family. In connection with her disappearance, her counselor, Louise, her bunkmate, Tracy, her mother, Alice, and a young female detective, Judyta, share their stories. All are flawed, honest, and complex characters; each of their stories is impactful.
The plot slowly unfolds. Piece by piece, bits of the lives of the main characters intersect, coming together in profound ways. The timeline is non-linear, alternating between the past in the 1950s and the present in the 1970s; the non-linearity adds to the drama and trauma of searching for a missing child.
This is a rich, multilayered novel with multidimensional characters. Through exceptional characterization, especially the women, themes of motherhood, gender roles, sexuality, identity, and class are explored.
The setting is lush and vibrant, especially in the scenes in the woods surrounding Camp Emerson.
I could visualize the characters, the setting, the house named Self-Reliance, the camp, nature, and the fine details. Moore didn't just write a novel that takes place in the 1970s, she transports her reader to this time and place. There are a few flaws, but this novel is exquisitely written and emotionally impactful. My heart shattered as the events culminated in a tragically sad and painful revelation.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Group Riverhead in exchange for an honest review.
The God of the Woods is a quiet mystery/drama about the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl at a summer camp in 1975.
Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of the prominent Van Laar family of Albany, New York, disappeared from her cabin one morning in a summer camp founded by her family. In connection with her disappearance, her counselor, Louise, her bunkmate, Tracy, her mother, Alice, and a young female detective, Judyta, share their stories. All are flawed, honest, and complex characters; each of their stories is impactful.
The plot slowly unfolds. Piece by piece, bits of the lives of the main characters intersect, coming together in profound ways. The timeline is non-linear, alternating between the past in the 1950s and the present in the 1970s; the non-linearity adds to the drama and trauma of searching for a missing child.
This is a rich, multilayered novel with multidimensional characters. Through exceptional characterization, especially the women, themes of motherhood, gender roles, sexuality, identity, and class are explored.
The setting is lush and vibrant, especially in the scenes in the woods surrounding Camp Emerson.
I could visualize the characters, the setting, the house named Self-Reliance, the camp, nature, and the fine details. Moore didn't just write a novel that takes place in the 1970s, she transports her reader to this time and place. There are a few flaws, but this novel is exquisitely written and emotionally impactful. My heart shattered as the events culminated in a tragically sad and painful revelation.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Group Riverhead in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2024
This is THE book of the summer. Easy 5 stars. Will write a full review later but definitely check this out when it releases next week!! A perfect literary mystery thriller.
March 28, 2024
4.5 rounded up
This is the greatly anticipated follow up to the bestseller “Long Bright River”, a novel I also thoroughly enjoy. In this one, Liz Moore transports us to the Adirondacks, specifically the Van Laar Preserve, within which is Camp Emerson. In August 1975, camp counsellor Louise discovers that Barbara Van Laar, the thirteen year old daughter of the owners, is missing from the cabin she shares with other girls, including Tracy, with whom Barbara has formed a friendship. As if it isn’t bad enough that she’s missing, this isn't the first Van Laar child to disappear. Sixteen years ago, Barbara’s older brother Bear vanishes and is never seen again although a deceased local man is presumed to be his killer. This ambitious novel is told in two timelines, the first is 1950’s-1961 which centres on Bears story and from 1975 which focuses on both siblings and the Van Laar family. It’s fair to say that many lives are affected and changed by their story.
There is no question in my mind that the author has pulled off her intentions with this novel and as it progresses the multiple layers are peeled back allowing us to witness the dark heart at the centre of this. The story gives us not one intriguing mystery to unravel but two and along the route to the surprising conclusion it includes family dynamics, social hierarchy and commentary such as the status of women, abuse and misogyny that takes your breath away. There’s deeply rooted toxicity and prejudice but to counterbalance this there’s also a strong element of friendship which shines like a beacon amongst the less savoury elements.
It’s a well constructed slow burner plot which speeds up after a while and has short, sharp chapters which increases the tension. The two alternating timelines are seamlessly woven together, revealing a multitude of secrets, an accumulation of lies in order to cover them up, creating a suspenseful whole. There’s a range of complex characters who are well portrayed from the deeply unlikeable to the damaged and betrayed and some who are very likeable especially Judyta Luptack the young investigator in the ‘75 timeline.
The novel twists and turns, taking you through a range of emotions, breaking your heart when the darker aspects are revealed. I certainly don’t see the end coming but it makes me cheer, loudly.
Overall, it’s a powerful and intense read which shines a spotlight on many things especially the attitudes of the time. The setting is fantastic and beautifully described so you can visualise it easily. I have little doubt this will be another bestseller for the talented Liz Moore.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction, The Borough Press for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is the greatly anticipated follow up to the bestseller “Long Bright River”, a novel I also thoroughly enjoy. In this one, Liz Moore transports us to the Adirondacks, specifically the Van Laar Preserve, within which is Camp Emerson. In August 1975, camp counsellor Louise discovers that Barbara Van Laar, the thirteen year old daughter of the owners, is missing from the cabin she shares with other girls, including Tracy, with whom Barbara has formed a friendship. As if it isn’t bad enough that she’s missing, this isn't the first Van Laar child to disappear. Sixteen years ago, Barbara’s older brother Bear vanishes and is never seen again although a deceased local man is presumed to be his killer. This ambitious novel is told in two timelines, the first is 1950’s-1961 which centres on Bears story and from 1975 which focuses on both siblings and the Van Laar family. It’s fair to say that many lives are affected and changed by their story.
There is no question in my mind that the author has pulled off her intentions with this novel and as it progresses the multiple layers are peeled back allowing us to witness the dark heart at the centre of this. The story gives us not one intriguing mystery to unravel but two and along the route to the surprising conclusion it includes family dynamics, social hierarchy and commentary such as the status of women, abuse and misogyny that takes your breath away. There’s deeply rooted toxicity and prejudice but to counterbalance this there’s also a strong element of friendship which shines like a beacon amongst the less savoury elements.
It’s a well constructed slow burner plot which speeds up after a while and has short, sharp chapters which increases the tension. The two alternating timelines are seamlessly woven together, revealing a multitude of secrets, an accumulation of lies in order to cover them up, creating a suspenseful whole. There’s a range of complex characters who are well portrayed from the deeply unlikeable to the damaged and betrayed and some who are very likeable especially Judyta Luptack the young investigator in the ‘75 timeline.
The novel twists and turns, taking you through a range of emotions, breaking your heart when the darker aspects are revealed. I certainly don’t see the end coming but it makes me cheer, loudly.
Overall, it’s a powerful and intense read which shines a spotlight on many things especially the attitudes of the time. The setting is fantastic and beautifully described so you can visualise it easily. I have little doubt this will be another bestseller for the talented Liz Moore.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction, The Borough Press for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 8, 2024
The third rule of Camp Emerson is the most important, ‘When lost sit down and yell.’
Just like the battle cry of Pan: The Greek God of the Woods.
Situated in the Adirondack Mountains is the Van Laar Preserve. Atop its ridge is the Van Laar’s colossal summer home, named Self-Reliance. Far below, is the camp they own, Camp Emerson, which is open to campers eight weeks of the year (June to August).
July 1961: 8-year-old, Peter “Bear” Van Laar the fourth (the only child of Peter the third and his wife Alice) vanishes without a trace while hiking with his grandfather (Peter II) in the Adirondacks near the family home Self-Reliance. Following an extensive search no trace of him is ever found.
August 1975: The girls in Balsam cabin, Camp Emerson, awaken to find 13-year-old Barbara’s bunk bed empty. Barbara’s surname is also Van Laar – she’s Bear’s younger sister, born after his disappearance, to replace the void he left.
Is the Van Laar line cursed?
Surely it can’t be a coincidence that they’re two children from the same privileged family!
Or are they simply two separate unrelated tragedies?
What happened to Bear, and then Barbara?
If I could rate The God of the Woods 14 stars (for the 14 cabins of Camp Emerson) then I absolutely positivity would, but I guess 5 stars is enough to convey just how immersive, momentous, and affecting it was. A flawlessly written epic masterpiece of literary suspense fiction, and deep dive character study. There were twists that left me reeling over how shockingly clever they were, and Liz Moore’s use of misdirection and carefully concealed clues were meticulously placed. Every once and a while there is a book that comes along that is so special that I find myself taking much longer than normal to read it, inhaling every word, and taking frequent breaks to reflect on the plot, and characters, to prolong the experience, and The God of the Woods was one such example.
The story contained many gothic elements which increased my sense of unease and claustrophobia tenfold. A prickling sensation at the back of my neck permeated the novel from the very first page. First up, was the secluded setting, far enough away from the nearest town of Shattuck to be isolating, surrounded by endless wilderness and the looming Hunt Mountain, with Lake Joan cutting them off even further. Then there were the dilapidated log cabins, once used for hunting parties, complete with unused fireplaces, whose chimneys were occasionally inhabited by bats. Not to mention the origins of Self-Reliance – there was something off-putting and out-of-place about it previously being a Chalet in Switzerland, transported by ship to New York piece-by-piece and then reassembled on the Van Laar Preserve. As expected, there were numerous campfire style legends circulating – whispered stories warning of Slitter, of Scary Mary, and Old John. And last but not least, the plot was built around not one, but two disturbing enthralling mysteries.
Those who know me are aware that I love a summer camp setting and this novel contained everything I wanted in one – new friendships, secretive and untrustworthy behaviour, counsellors and campers sneaking around after dark, campfires, sing-a-longs, swimming, hiking, a camper survival trip in the woods, and an end of summer dance. The vivid and intricate descriptions of the campgrounds really brought Camp Emerson to life. There was also a handy map included at the front of the book, showing the layout of the grounds and buildings.
And I was thrilled that the author chose to set the camp story arc in the 70's – I adored the nostalgic trip, the slang, and pop culture references. The 1950’s/1960’s timelines were equally compelling. Instead of Camp Emerson, that plot focused on Self-Reliance and Peter and Alice's marriage within its walls, and of course, Bear's disappearance, and what lead up to it, and the fallout resulting from it.
The majority of the POV’s were pre-teen/teenage girls and twenty-something women (with the exception of Alice in 1975. She was 41 by this stage), and most of them were damaged or broken (and given what they'd been dealt in life I'm not surprised), beaten down and trapped by their circumstances. Back then women were considered inferior – utterly dependent on the men in their lives to make decisions for them regarding how to look, act, and behave. And a lot of the male characters in this book took advantage of this – were dismissive, controlling and abusive. Not only that when female characters were abused by men, they saw it as their failure, and thought it was them who needed to change, who needed to be more compliant. And those who did take a stand were belittled, mocked, and shunned, by both men and women, for not conforming to the norm.
Class, prejudice, injustice, and resentment was another prominent theme. With the Van Laar family and their rich, entitled friends on one side, and the locals from Shattuck (including camp staff, counsellors, household staff, and caretakers) on the other. Self-Reliance, sat high on the hill, on prominent display, lording it over everyone, literally and figuratively, looking down on people. Even its name, Self-Reliance, was an exclusion, a slap in the face for the townspeople, implying that the Van Laar’s had build it themselves with no assistance, when it had been the entire eligible male population of Shattuck who had done so, with no help from the Van Laar’s. And even the fact that the camp staff quarters were situated way down lake from Self-Reliance in the farthest south corner possible, placed in the half of the camp separated by a creek, spoke volumes.
The God of the Woods was in my opinion a smash-hit and I strongly urge everyone to read it and experience the magic for themselves. My top read for 2024 so far. Actually, a top read full stop.
Just like the battle cry of Pan: The Greek God of the Woods.
Situated in the Adirondack Mountains is the Van Laar Preserve. Atop its ridge is the Van Laar’s colossal summer home, named Self-Reliance. Far below, is the camp they own, Camp Emerson, which is open to campers eight weeks of the year (June to August).
July 1961: 8-year-old, Peter “Bear” Van Laar the fourth (the only child of Peter the third and his wife Alice) vanishes without a trace while hiking with his grandfather (Peter II) in the Adirondacks near the family home Self-Reliance. Following an extensive search no trace of him is ever found.
August 1975: The girls in Balsam cabin, Camp Emerson, awaken to find 13-year-old Barbara’s bunk bed empty. Barbara’s surname is also Van Laar – she’s Bear’s younger sister, born after his disappearance, to replace the void he left.
Is the Van Laar line cursed?
Surely it can’t be a coincidence that they’re two children from the same privileged family!
Or are they simply two separate unrelated tragedies?
What happened to Bear, and then Barbara?
If I could rate The God of the Woods 14 stars (for the 14 cabins of Camp Emerson) then I absolutely positivity would, but I guess 5 stars is enough to convey just how immersive, momentous, and affecting it was. A flawlessly written epic masterpiece of literary suspense fiction, and deep dive character study. There were twists that left me reeling over how shockingly clever they were, and Liz Moore’s use of misdirection and carefully concealed clues were meticulously placed. Every once and a while there is a book that comes along that is so special that I find myself taking much longer than normal to read it, inhaling every word, and taking frequent breaks to reflect on the plot, and characters, to prolong the experience, and The God of the Woods was one such example.
The story contained many gothic elements which increased my sense of unease and claustrophobia tenfold. A prickling sensation at the back of my neck permeated the novel from the very first page. First up, was the secluded setting, far enough away from the nearest town of Shattuck to be isolating, surrounded by endless wilderness and the looming Hunt Mountain, with Lake Joan cutting them off even further. Then there were the dilapidated log cabins, once used for hunting parties, complete with unused fireplaces, whose chimneys were occasionally inhabited by bats. Not to mention the origins of Self-Reliance – there was something off-putting and out-of-place about it previously being a Chalet in Switzerland, transported by ship to New York piece-by-piece and then reassembled on the Van Laar Preserve. As expected, there were numerous campfire style legends circulating – whispered stories warning of Slitter, of Scary Mary, and Old John. And last but not least, the plot was built around not one, but two disturbing enthralling mysteries.
Those who know me are aware that I love a summer camp setting and this novel contained everything I wanted in one – new friendships, secretive and untrustworthy behaviour, counsellors and campers sneaking around after dark, campfires, sing-a-longs, swimming, hiking, a camper survival trip in the woods, and an end of summer dance. The vivid and intricate descriptions of the campgrounds really brought Camp Emerson to life. There was also a handy map included at the front of the book, showing the layout of the grounds and buildings.
And I was thrilled that the author chose to set the camp story arc in the 70's – I adored the nostalgic trip, the slang, and pop culture references. The 1950’s/1960’s timelines were equally compelling. Instead of Camp Emerson, that plot focused on Self-Reliance and Peter and Alice's marriage within its walls, and of course, Bear's disappearance, and what lead up to it, and the fallout resulting from it.
The majority of the POV’s were pre-teen/teenage girls and twenty-something women (with the exception of Alice in 1975. She was 41 by this stage), and most of them were damaged or broken (and given what they'd been dealt in life I'm not surprised), beaten down and trapped by their circumstances. Back then women were considered inferior – utterly dependent on the men in their lives to make decisions for them regarding how to look, act, and behave. And a lot of the male characters in this book took advantage of this – were dismissive, controlling and abusive. Not only that when female characters were abused by men, they saw it as their failure, and thought it was them who needed to change, who needed to be more compliant. And those who did take a stand were belittled, mocked, and shunned, by both men and women, for not conforming to the norm.
Class, prejudice, injustice, and resentment was another prominent theme. With the Van Laar family and their rich, entitled friends on one side, and the locals from Shattuck (including camp staff, counsellors, household staff, and caretakers) on the other. Self-Reliance, sat high on the hill, on prominent display, lording it over everyone, literally and figuratively, looking down on people. Even its name, Self-Reliance, was an exclusion, a slap in the face for the townspeople, implying that the Van Laar’s had build it themselves with no assistance, when it had been the entire eligible male population of Shattuck who had done so, with no help from the Van Laar’s. And even the fact that the camp staff quarters were situated way down lake from Self-Reliance in the farthest south corner possible, placed in the half of the camp separated by a creek, spoke volumes.
The God of the Woods was in my opinion a smash-hit and I strongly urge everyone to read it and experience the magic for themselves. My top read for 2024 so far. Actually, a top read full stop.
January 31, 2024
Liz Moore is equally compassionate about all of her characters, even the worst behaved, in this slow burn of a book. As in all her novels, she creates a deft, complex plot that weaves its way around her vivid setting. Moore consistently explores traumatic childhoods, addiction, crime, and the class system. GOTW takes place at a nature preserve that is portioned to serve as the home of wealthy families and their caretakers in the Adirondacks, as well as a summer camp for youth. The action happens between 1951 and 1975; the chapters alternate back and forth non-linearly between a storied cast and two storylines.
In 1961, the beloved “Bear”— eight-year-old son of wealthy Peter and Alice Van Laar, goes missing on a hike. Fourteen years later, their teenage daughter, Barbara, disappears from the Preserve’s Camp Emerson. Moore combines a police procedural with a character study, amid a stark portrait of a community and the overlap of personal lives with work. Crime and character blend beautifully together.
Especially engaging is Judyta (Judy), recently promoted from State Trooper to Investigator. If you’re old enough to recall the seventies, you’ll recognize what it was like for women trying to make it in a profession dominated by men. Judy was forced to balance her ambition and desire with her second-class status as female. T.J., the caretaker’s daughter, is an enigmatic woman who is now the camp Director. Friend or foe? Villain or hero---or anti-hero? Several layers there to unwrap. Most of the men in this novel are cretins, with a few exceptions.
Alice, the mother of Bear and Barbara, and the wife of Peter Van Laar, is an alcoholic. After the disappearance of Bear, her life collapsed. Husband Peter is either at work, or detached from her at home. It is not surprising, as she was raised by an aloof mother who criticized and nagged her relentlessly. Peter treated his children as commodities, while Bear was Alice’s whole reason for being. Alice remains distant to Barbara, who mostly fends for herself. The fearless teen couldn’t wait until the start of her first year at camp. She befriends Tracy, a usually sullen and reclusive girl who gradually flourishes once Barbara befriends her.
If you’re a Liz Moore fan, you already know that each of her novels are completely different stories, yet with ongoing themes of family and toxicity. The narrative abounds with loneliness, misogyny (especially in the 1970s!), detective work, and substances as a coping mechanism.
Moore attends to her story with empathy and nuance, and she knows her era. No anachronisms, either! Her time period is spot-on. And it isn’t pop-cultured or gimmicky. It’s a finely wrought plot that centers on nature, nurture, community and individuals searching for connection. The author’s rendering of the privileged v. blue-collar is done with attentive care. A dynamic must-read for Liz Moore fans and literary fiction lovers alike.
A huge thanks to Riverhead for sending me a copy to read and review.
In 1961, the beloved “Bear”— eight-year-old son of wealthy Peter and Alice Van Laar, goes missing on a hike. Fourteen years later, their teenage daughter, Barbara, disappears from the Preserve’s Camp Emerson. Moore combines a police procedural with a character study, amid a stark portrait of a community and the overlap of personal lives with work. Crime and character blend beautifully together.
Especially engaging is Judyta (Judy), recently promoted from State Trooper to Investigator. If you’re old enough to recall the seventies, you’ll recognize what it was like for women trying to make it in a profession dominated by men. Judy was forced to balance her ambition and desire with her second-class status as female. T.J., the caretaker’s daughter, is an enigmatic woman who is now the camp Director. Friend or foe? Villain or hero---or anti-hero? Several layers there to unwrap. Most of the men in this novel are cretins, with a few exceptions.
Alice, the mother of Bear and Barbara, and the wife of Peter Van Laar, is an alcoholic. After the disappearance of Bear, her life collapsed. Husband Peter is either at work, or detached from her at home. It is not surprising, as she was raised by an aloof mother who criticized and nagged her relentlessly. Peter treated his children as commodities, while Bear was Alice’s whole reason for being. Alice remains distant to Barbara, who mostly fends for herself. The fearless teen couldn’t wait until the start of her first year at camp. She befriends Tracy, a usually sullen and reclusive girl who gradually flourishes once Barbara befriends her.
If you’re a Liz Moore fan, you already know that each of her novels are completely different stories, yet with ongoing themes of family and toxicity. The narrative abounds with loneliness, misogyny (especially in the 1970s!), detective work, and substances as a coping mechanism.
Moore attends to her story with empathy and nuance, and she knows her era. No anachronisms, either! Her time period is spot-on. And it isn’t pop-cultured or gimmicky. It’s a finely wrought plot that centers on nature, nurture, community and individuals searching for connection. The author’s rendering of the privileged v. blue-collar is done with attentive care. A dynamic must-read for Liz Moore fans and literary fiction lovers alike.
A huge thanks to Riverhead for sending me a copy to read and review.
July 1, 2024
A really good page turner.. perfect for a summer read.
Set in 1975 at a sleep-away summer camp in the Adirondacks.
13 yr old Barbara Van Laar disappears from her cabin overnight .., the same camp that her brother Bear disappeared from many years before. Her wealthy parents own the camp as well as all the land surrounding and the huge waterfront house on the hill above the camp.
There are many characters and secondary mysteries.
I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Riverhead for the ARC!
On sale July 2, 2024
Set in 1975 at a sleep-away summer camp in the Adirondacks.
13 yr old Barbara Van Laar disappears from her cabin overnight .., the same camp that her brother Bear disappeared from many years before. Her wealthy parents own the camp as well as all the land surrounding and the huge waterfront house on the hill above the camp.
There are many characters and secondary mysteries.
I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Riverhead for the ARC!
On sale July 2, 2024
June 6, 2024
Believe the hype! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 14, 2024
Moore is very good at pulling you in, at slowly opening up a story for you piece by piece. What she is not so good at in this book is the second half, at taking all these pieces and bringing them together in a way that is satisfying. It is not entirely her fault, in a story with a mystery you inevitably move from many possibilities to just one. It is often an exercise in organization, in the removal of entropy, taking chaos and ending up with one simple answer. Sometimes that is satisfying and sometimes it isn't. And this book, for me, wasn't.
The hook is strong. A girl at a camp is missing. A girl whose brother disappeared in the same woods years earlier. It is the kind of story where our focus isn't on the center as much as the edges: the girl's new best friend at camp, the girl's camp counselor, the lone female investigator on the case. And this story, of missing Barbara, has lots of questions and good pacing and really comes to life. Unfortunately it all gets bogged down by this older story, of Barbara's brother who disappeared and is presumed dead and all of it happened before she was even born. Of the wealthy Van Laar family, of Barbara's mistreated and troubled mother, of the conflict between this rich family and the fading town nearby full of people whose ancestors sold their land to the Van Laar's generations before. The pieces are all there in this story, too, and somehow they never come together. In fact, Barbara's story is solved for all intents and purposes so quickly that we are left with this other one, which apparently is the more important one but is also the much less interesting one.
Moore does give a lot of life to Tracy, Louise, and Judyta, the non-Van-Laar protagonists, but their stories inevitably wind down as we lose focus on Barbara's story. It all ends in ways that are predictable and also kind of ridiculous. The book thinks the ending is happy but I found it to be rather fantastical, when the rest of the book had been so practical and straightforward. It felt like there were clearer ways to reach this end point, but it's a quibble, really.
The hook is strong. A girl at a camp is missing. A girl whose brother disappeared in the same woods years earlier. It is the kind of story where our focus isn't on the center as much as the edges: the girl's new best friend at camp, the girl's camp counselor, the lone female investigator on the case. And this story, of missing Barbara, has lots of questions and good pacing and really comes to life. Unfortunately it all gets bogged down by this older story, of Barbara's brother who disappeared and is presumed dead and all of it happened before she was even born. Of the wealthy Van Laar family, of Barbara's mistreated and troubled mother, of the conflict between this rich family and the fading town nearby full of people whose ancestors sold their land to the Van Laar's generations before. The pieces are all there in this story, too, and somehow they never come together. In fact, Barbara's story is solved for all intents and purposes so quickly that we are left with this other one, which apparently is the more important one but is also the much less interesting one.
Moore does give a lot of life to Tracy, Louise, and Judyta, the non-Van-Laar protagonists, but their stories inevitably wind down as we lose focus on Barbara's story. It all ends in ways that are predictable and also kind of ridiculous. The book thinks the ending is happy but I found it to be rather fantastical, when the rest of the book had been so practical and straightforward. It felt like there were clearer ways to reach this end point, but it's a quibble, really.
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December 18, 2023524 pages, but this zipped by, beguiling and relentless in its grip. Not my usual reading choice, but the premise of a boy who disappears in the Adirondack mountains, and fifteen years later the disappearance of his sister and the police's search for her has me intrigued. Fast-paced and satisfying. Thanks to Harper Collins for the proof.
July 17, 2024
I think I want to grade, define, declare, and devour this book beyond terms and genres because no other words can weigh my thoughts and adoration! Ladies and gentlemen who appreciate great literature, this book is for us! It is the cure to my depressed soul, restless every July, searching for a good book and often frustrated, finally finding a fountain in the middle of the Sahara! This book is my Bellagio fountain, and I can drink till I burst!
This is a great combination of historical fiction, mystery, crime thriller, and women's fiction with multiple perspectives taking us on a tour through time zones, wandering around the minds of very different characters, seeing the world from their points of view.
The story focuses on 17-year-old Barbara Van Laar, a rebellious, artsy, punk-styled outcast who vanishes from her family’s camp in the Adirondacks in August 1975. Barbara is the only remaining child of the town’s wealthy Van Laar family and the second missing child of the family after her brother Bear disappeared at the age of 8, before she was born. This left behind a psychologically damaged mother, Alice, who is a pill and alcohol addict, a workaholic authoritarian father, Peter, a harsh, relentless grandfather, and his mostly silent, obedient wife. The entire family maintains appearances, giving their social circle and business connections more importance than showing affection to each other.
But Barbara’s vanishing opens up a can of worms, revealing big secrets connected to Bear’s disappearance a decade ago. Did the family wrongly accuse someone for the crime even though they hadn’t found the body? Did the same person take the second child of the family? Is the perpetrator a runaway inmate accused of being a serial killer of several women? Or a scary woman turned into an urban legend lurking around the woods? Or is someone in the camp involved in the crime with a secret partner?
There are several perspectives in this book you can easily connect with, including:
Tracy: a quirky, meek, outcast girl who suffers from her parents’ abrupt breakup, sent to a youth summer camp belonging to the powerful Van Laar family, admiring Barbara’s straightforward, confident attributes, becoming friends and confidantes with her.
Alice: the mentally disturbed, pill-addict mother of Barbara, still trying to connect with her lost son, cutting away her connection with the real world for her own reasons, her unhappy marriage and related issues.
Louise: a 26-year-old camp counselor, trying to take care of her young brother, dealing with her depressed, irresponsible mother, working hard to put a roof over their heads. She is wrongly framed for Barbara’s disappearance by trusting the wrong people, about to be a victim of financial inequality and injustice.
Limb Jacob: who is faking his limp as a disability, escaping from prison as if he is a convicted serial killer, having quiet wild life skills to survive in the woods, hiding in the cabins without getting noticed.
Carl Stoddard: a gardener of the Preserve, taking the job five years ago to afford the expenses of his sick son who couldn’t make it in the end, suffering from his own health issues, finding himself in inappropriate circumstances during Bear’s disappearance.
Judyta Luptack: born in Schenectady, a former first-class female national trooper of Albany, first female investigator at the state at the age of 26, still cannot tell her crowded, traditional family she has to move to her own place instead of getting up at the crack of dawn to make it to her job on time, driving sleeplessly on her way back home. She’s smart, enthusiastic, observant, knowing mansplaining at the workplace firsthand but still doing her best to piece together the puzzle to merge two missing persons’ cases which point fingers at the Van Laar family!
This book is one of the best inspirational women power books, telling unique stories of different women who use their own ways to survive and protect their loved ones. T.J., the camp director, is a tough, self-sufficient, resilient character who runs the place without taking any nonsense, even from the Van Laar family. Louise is an abuse victim, overachiever raising her own brother like her own son. Judyta is an idealistic crime fighter using her wits and logic to see what others cannot decipher. Alice is trying to find her place in the world of the rich, getting lost each day in her own losses, numbing herself into oblivion.
The stories, the portraits, the travel between timelines are perfectly developed, and the conclusion with several twists and surprises is fairly wrapped up!
I enjoyed this book so, so, so, so much! I advise you to read it, read it, and read it! It’s freaking one of the best books of the year! Whatever category it will compete in at the Goodreads Choice Awards, I’ll give my vote without thinking!
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This is a great combination of historical fiction, mystery, crime thriller, and women's fiction with multiple perspectives taking us on a tour through time zones, wandering around the minds of very different characters, seeing the world from their points of view.
The story focuses on 17-year-old Barbara Van Laar, a rebellious, artsy, punk-styled outcast who vanishes from her family’s camp in the Adirondacks in August 1975. Barbara is the only remaining child of the town’s wealthy Van Laar family and the second missing child of the family after her brother Bear disappeared at the age of 8, before she was born. This left behind a psychologically damaged mother, Alice, who is a pill and alcohol addict, a workaholic authoritarian father, Peter, a harsh, relentless grandfather, and his mostly silent, obedient wife. The entire family maintains appearances, giving their social circle and business connections more importance than showing affection to each other.
But Barbara’s vanishing opens up a can of worms, revealing big secrets connected to Bear’s disappearance a decade ago. Did the family wrongly accuse someone for the crime even though they hadn’t found the body? Did the same person take the second child of the family? Is the perpetrator a runaway inmate accused of being a serial killer of several women? Or a scary woman turned into an urban legend lurking around the woods? Or is someone in the camp involved in the crime with a secret partner?
There are several perspectives in this book you can easily connect with, including:
Tracy: a quirky, meek, outcast girl who suffers from her parents’ abrupt breakup, sent to a youth summer camp belonging to the powerful Van Laar family, admiring Barbara’s straightforward, confident attributes, becoming friends and confidantes with her.
Alice: the mentally disturbed, pill-addict mother of Barbara, still trying to connect with her lost son, cutting away her connection with the real world for her own reasons, her unhappy marriage and related issues.
Louise: a 26-year-old camp counselor, trying to take care of her young brother, dealing with her depressed, irresponsible mother, working hard to put a roof over their heads. She is wrongly framed for Barbara’s disappearance by trusting the wrong people, about to be a victim of financial inequality and injustice.
Limb Jacob: who is faking his limp as a disability, escaping from prison as if he is a convicted serial killer, having quiet wild life skills to survive in the woods, hiding in the cabins without getting noticed.
Carl Stoddard: a gardener of the Preserve, taking the job five years ago to afford the expenses of his sick son who couldn’t make it in the end, suffering from his own health issues, finding himself in inappropriate circumstances during Bear’s disappearance.
Judyta Luptack: born in Schenectady, a former first-class female national trooper of Albany, first female investigator at the state at the age of 26, still cannot tell her crowded, traditional family she has to move to her own place instead of getting up at the crack of dawn to make it to her job on time, driving sleeplessly on her way back home. She’s smart, enthusiastic, observant, knowing mansplaining at the workplace firsthand but still doing her best to piece together the puzzle to merge two missing persons’ cases which point fingers at the Van Laar family!
This book is one of the best inspirational women power books, telling unique stories of different women who use their own ways to survive and protect their loved ones. T.J., the camp director, is a tough, self-sufficient, resilient character who runs the place without taking any nonsense, even from the Van Laar family. Louise is an abuse victim, overachiever raising her own brother like her own son. Judyta is an idealistic crime fighter using her wits and logic to see what others cannot decipher. Alice is trying to find her place in the world of the rich, getting lost each day in her own losses, numbing herself into oblivion.
The stories, the portraits, the travel between timelines are perfectly developed, and the conclusion with several twists and surprises is fairly wrapped up!
I enjoyed this book so, so, so, so much! I advise you to read it, read it, and read it! It’s freaking one of the best books of the year! Whatever category it will compete in at the Goodreads Choice Awards, I’ll give my vote without thinking!
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July 10, 2024
I haven’t enjoyed summer camp this much since . . .
Per usual I went into this one blind (many thankings to my ride or die for letting me know it even existed). I think it’s safe to say I’m officially a Liz Moore superfan. I looooooooved Heft and I never thought I was a reader who could be “triggered” until I read Long Bright River and felt like I had underwent some intensive therapy sessions and came to terms with a whole bunch of unresolved feelings throughout the course of reading that novel. When Shelby told me this new one was out I made sure to get to the library immediately on release day to the first come/first served shelves.
The story here takes place in the dark ages (a/k/a 1975 to all you young’uns) and jumps off with the realization that Barbara is missing from her bunk at Camp Emerson. You then get the entire history of the camp, the campers, the counselors, the owners, etc., etc., etc. There are red herrings and revelations and timehops (which y’all know can really irk me, but not when the storytelling is so well done like it was here). Truly a “dynasty of secrets” that I just now noticed is stated on the book jacket. I had an inkling of some of what was going on with the Van Laar's, but it took a while to get there and didn't lessen my final impression of the book whatsoever.
Recommended.
Per usual I went into this one blind (many thankings to my ride or die for letting me know it even existed). I think it’s safe to say I’m officially a Liz Moore superfan. I looooooooved Heft and I never thought I was a reader who could be “triggered” until I read Long Bright River and felt like I had underwent some intensive therapy sessions and came to terms with a whole bunch of unresolved feelings throughout the course of reading that novel. When Shelby told me this new one was out I made sure to get to the library immediately on release day to the first come/first served shelves.
The story here takes place in the dark ages (a/k/a 1975 to all you young’uns) and jumps off with the realization that Barbara is missing from her bunk at Camp Emerson. You then get the entire history of the camp, the campers, the counselors, the owners, etc., etc., etc. There are red herrings and revelations and timehops (which y’all know can really irk me, but not when the storytelling is so well done like it was here). Truly a “dynasty of secrets” that I just now noticed is stated on the book jacket. I had an inkling of some of what was going on with the Van Laar's, but it took a while to get there and didn't lessen my final impression of the book whatsoever.
Recommended.
June 21, 2024
Reading 'The God of the Woods" made me feel like a kid reading during the summer. Every time I picked it up, I wanted to do nothing else but read. When I finally finished, it felt like the bubble I had been in for a few days burst and I had to re-enter the real world, again.
The story begins in 1975, with the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar, at the camp her family owns. Her brother Bear disappeared in a similar way, years before she was born, never to be found again. We are woven throughout multiple timelines, with details of what happened to both Bear and Barbara being peeled back so slowly, that you don't realize you're about to be given answers until Moore's hand unfurls right in front of you.
New POVs are introduced in a way which never feels overwhelming or hard to follow. And, it should be said, that when I stumbled upon the "grand reveal", I was so blindsided by it that I audibly gasped and had to set the book down, for a moment.
I'm a very picky thriller reader. I guess the twists early on and skim through the rest of the book, quite often. This was not the case with The God of the Woods. I guessed nothing, so immersed in the story I was reading that I missed every single detail. Rarer still, the story of this is so well told that even after knowing what happened, I will still read this, again and again.
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy, in exchange for an honest review!
The story begins in 1975, with the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar, at the camp her family owns. Her brother Bear disappeared in a similar way, years before she was born, never to be found again. We are woven throughout multiple timelines, with details of what happened to both Bear and Barbara being peeled back so slowly, that you don't realize you're about to be given answers until Moore's hand unfurls right in front of you.
New POVs are introduced in a way which never feels overwhelming or hard to follow. And, it should be said, that when I stumbled upon the "grand reveal", I was so blindsided by it that I audibly gasped and had to set the book down, for a moment.
I'm a very picky thriller reader. I guess the twists early on and skim through the rest of the book, quite often. This was not the case with The God of the Woods. I guessed nothing, so immersed in the story I was reading that I missed every single detail. Rarer still, the story of this is so well told that even after knowing what happened, I will still read this, again and again.
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy, in exchange for an honest review!
July 11, 2024
4.5, rounded up to 5 stars.
The three books (The Unseen World and Long Bright River in addition to this one) I've read by Liz Moore have been remarkably dissimilar to one another. The only thing they have in common is that their principal characters are women and girls coping (or not) with the cards life has dealt them. That, and the fact that they are all very well written.
The 1975 setting for The God of the Woods is a summer camp in New York State's Adirondack Mountains, the adjacent vacation home of the wealthy Van Laar family, and the forest that surrounds both. The campers, counselors, family members, residents of the local town, and police constitute the cast. It may be trite, but it's easy to visualize this as a tapestry, with the Adirondacks as a background into which all the characters are stitched.
Why the police? Because 13 year old Barbara Van Laar, who has opted to spend the summer at the camp, has gone missing overnight. Her disappearance echoes that of her brother Bear 14 years earlier, when he was only eight.
So, two disappearances and multiple time lines. But no confusion because Moore captions each chapter with the year and the name of the person from whose POV that chapter will be told. Moore deftly uses these techniques to gradually unwind her tale.
Although what happened to the children constitutes a mystery, complete with police detectives and red herrings, this isn't a work of crime fiction. It's a study of class conflict, and of relationships between women and the men in their lives, all set against the vaguely ominous woods where it is easy to quickly become lost and confused.
When the Adirondacks were made "forever wild" in 1884 to preserve the downstate watershed, the robber barons of the east coast took over lands previously owned by foresters and others who made their living off the land. This was just the first in a series of economic setbacks inflicted on area locals, many of whom have been reduced to earning a meager living by providing seasonal services to vacationers, often the heirs of those who originally displaced their families generations ago.
This classic clash between the economic haves and have-nots permeates the book. The locals are invariably at a disadvantage to the Van Laars and their friends, whether in terms of economics or accepting responsibility when things go wrong (which goes back to economics, so perhaps they are the same thing).
But the arrogance and privilege of the Van Laars belies the unhappiness of Alice, the children's mother. Her timeline goes back to her debutante ball and her story, to which Moore devotes much attention, is that of a woman never at home with herself or the world she lives in.
Unlike most of the campers, Barbara's bunkmate Tracy is new to the world of the wealthy; her recently moneyed and recently divorced father has sent her to the camp to allow himself more time with his young girlfriend. The bond Tracy develops with Barbara helps her clarify her values as she steps into adolescence.
After dropping out of college for lack of funds, Louise clings to her job as a camp counselor to escape her dysfunctional single-parent home. While at college she was wooed by the son of a friend of the Van Laars and Louise nurtures hopes that this relationship will offer a way out.
And then there is Judyta, a young woman who has been newly promoted to the position of the first female investigator in the New York State police force. She struggles to break free of her Polish immigrant father's efforts to control her life as she builds her career.
Two other women who are key to the story are seen only obliquely: Barbara, and T.J. Hewitt, the outdoorsy camp director in her late 20's. Because we never hear from them directly, they remain intriguing characters whose actions and motivations contribute to the mystery.
A few closing notes. As much as the emphasis is women, this isn't a feminist screed. There are plenty of good men scattered throughout the book, including the first of the Van Laar dynasty.
Then there is this observation from Judyta toward the end of the book: "They'll be fine. The Hewitts, like Louise Donadieu, like Denny Hayes, even. Don't need to rely on anyone but themselves. It's the Van Laars and families like them who have always depended on others."
Finally, to be honest, I wasn't impressed by the ending, but to discuss why would be going way too deep into Spoiler Land. That takes off a half star for me, making it a 4.5, but everything up to that point was so good that I will happily round up to a 5.
The three books (The Unseen World and Long Bright River in addition to this one) I've read by Liz Moore have been remarkably dissimilar to one another. The only thing they have in common is that their principal characters are women and girls coping (or not) with the cards life has dealt them. That, and the fact that they are all very well written.
The 1975 setting for The God of the Woods is a summer camp in New York State's Adirondack Mountains, the adjacent vacation home of the wealthy Van Laar family, and the forest that surrounds both. The campers, counselors, family members, residents of the local town, and police constitute the cast. It may be trite, but it's easy to visualize this as a tapestry, with the Adirondacks as a background into which all the characters are stitched.
Why the police? Because 13 year old Barbara Van Laar, who has opted to spend the summer at the camp, has gone missing overnight. Her disappearance echoes that of her brother Bear 14 years earlier, when he was only eight.
So, two disappearances and multiple time lines. But no confusion because Moore captions each chapter with the year and the name of the person from whose POV that chapter will be told. Moore deftly uses these techniques to gradually unwind her tale.
Although what happened to the children constitutes a mystery, complete with police detectives and red herrings, this isn't a work of crime fiction. It's a study of class conflict, and of relationships between women and the men in their lives, all set against the vaguely ominous woods where it is easy to quickly become lost and confused.
When the Adirondacks were made "forever wild" in 1884 to preserve the downstate watershed, the robber barons of the east coast took over lands previously owned by foresters and others who made their living off the land. This was just the first in a series of economic setbacks inflicted on area locals, many of whom have been reduced to earning a meager living by providing seasonal services to vacationers, often the heirs of those who originally displaced their families generations ago.
This classic clash between the economic haves and have-nots permeates the book. The locals are invariably at a disadvantage to the Van Laars and their friends, whether in terms of economics or accepting responsibility when things go wrong (which goes back to economics, so perhaps they are the same thing).
But the arrogance and privilege of the Van Laars belies the unhappiness of Alice, the children's mother. Her timeline goes back to her debutante ball and her story, to which Moore devotes much attention, is that of a woman never at home with herself or the world she lives in.
Unlike most of the campers, Barbara's bunkmate Tracy is new to the world of the wealthy; her recently moneyed and recently divorced father has sent her to the camp to allow himself more time with his young girlfriend. The bond Tracy develops with Barbara helps her clarify her values as she steps into adolescence.
After dropping out of college for lack of funds, Louise clings to her job as a camp counselor to escape her dysfunctional single-parent home. While at college she was wooed by the son of a friend of the Van Laars and Louise nurtures hopes that this relationship will offer a way out.
And then there is Judyta, a young woman who has been newly promoted to the position of the first female investigator in the New York State police force. She struggles to break free of her Polish immigrant father's efforts to control her life as she builds her career.
Two other women who are key to the story are seen only obliquely: Barbara, and T.J. Hewitt, the outdoorsy camp director in her late 20's. Because we never hear from them directly, they remain intriguing characters whose actions and motivations contribute to the mystery.
A few closing notes. As much as the emphasis is women, this isn't a feminist screed. There are plenty of good men scattered throughout the book, including the first of the Van Laar dynasty.
Then there is this observation from Judyta toward the end of the book: "They'll be fine. The Hewitts, like Louise Donadieu, like Denny Hayes, even. Don't need to rely on anyone but themselves. It's the Van Laars and families like them who have always depended on others."
Finally, to be honest, I wasn't impressed by the ending, but to discuss why would be going way too deep into Spoiler Land. That takes off a half star for me, making it a 4.5, but everything up to that point was so good that I will happily round up to a 5.
July 2, 2024
3.5 stars
Liz Moore's previous novel, Long Bright River, was really engaging and unique for a mystery novel, so I was very excited to pick up her latest, THE GOD OF THE WOODS. The story is centered around the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar in 1975 at a sleepaway camp in upstate New York. Barbara isn't just a typical teenager, but the daughter of the family who owns the summer camp that is a big influence in the area's economy. Barbara's brother also disappeared years ago in a similar fashion. The entire locality begins to investigate and search for Barbara, however in doing so, Barbara's family becomes front and center, slowly unraveling the Van Laar family.
THE GOD OF THE WOODS is very slow moving and character-driven. It's beautifully characterized and well written, but it takes a long time to get going. I felt at times that I was trying harder than I needed to when reading this book so I alternated between reading the physical book and listening to the audiobook. Both options are enthralling, yet slow moving. Barbara's disappearance is the catalyst for a much larger story, but the ending was a great way to tie things together. THE GOD OF THE WOODS really dives into the themes of wealth and power and family trauma. This isn't the mystery novel you may suspect if you enjoyed Long Bright River, but I appreciated the pivot that the author provided with this book. I am unsure if I'd read another book like THE GOD OF THE WOODS, but I think that readers of slow burn mysteries will enjoy this book.
Liz Moore's previous novel, Long Bright River, was really engaging and unique for a mystery novel, so I was very excited to pick up her latest, THE GOD OF THE WOODS. The story is centered around the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar in 1975 at a sleepaway camp in upstate New York. Barbara isn't just a typical teenager, but the daughter of the family who owns the summer camp that is a big influence in the area's economy. Barbara's brother also disappeared years ago in a similar fashion. The entire locality begins to investigate and search for Barbara, however in doing so, Barbara's family becomes front and center, slowly unraveling the Van Laar family.
THE GOD OF THE WOODS is very slow moving and character-driven. It's beautifully characterized and well written, but it takes a long time to get going. I felt at times that I was trying harder than I needed to when reading this book so I alternated between reading the physical book and listening to the audiobook. Both options are enthralling, yet slow moving. Barbara's disappearance is the catalyst for a much larger story, but the ending was a great way to tie things together. THE GOD OF THE WOODS really dives into the themes of wealth and power and family trauma. This isn't the mystery novel you may suspect if you enjoyed Long Bright River, but I appreciated the pivot that the author provided with this book. I am unsure if I'd read another book like THE GOD OF THE WOODS, but I think that readers of slow burn mysteries will enjoy this book.
July 5, 2024
i'm gonna give this three stars for now but... i don't know... this has been my biggest book disappointment of the year so far
March 31, 2024
4.5 stars, this book is everything you want a literary mystery to be. She’s done it again!
July 14, 2024
With summer in full swing, I’ve been trying to catch up on all the reading I had planned to do, which, admittedly, has not been easy given the many other obligations that I’ve been trying to juggle as well. Having said that, I’m working through my stack slowly but surely, prioritizing the “must-reads” by favorite authors that I’ve been looking forward to for months. One of those favorite authors is Liz Moore, whose 2 previous works
Long Bright River
(2020) and
The Unseen World
(2016) I had read and loved. Moore’s newest novel, The God of the Woods, is her most ambitious novel to date and absolutely a brilliantly written masterpiece!
This intricately crafted, multi-layered story weaves together several complex threads, told from the perspectives of multiple complicated (and often morally ambiguous) characters, to create a wonderfully nuanced narrative that I honestly could not put down (despite clocking in at nearly 500 pages, I flew through this one in two sittings). The story begins with a mystery – the disappearance of teenager Barbara Van Laar from a family run summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains (in New York) – but when it is revealed that another Van Laar child had also disappeared from the same family compound 14 years ago (Barbara’s older brother Bear), the possible connection between the two cases leads to a riveting exploration of family dynamics and much, much more. This is truly a wide-reaching novel that covers many themes and social issues, including family and marriage struggles, parent/child relationships, class disparities and the implications of these differences on the rich vs the poor, gender discrimination, land conservation vs exploitation of nature, coming of age, identity and belonging, abuse and neglect vs caretaking and found family, inequalities within the criminal justice system, etc. At the same time, there are also historical elements that Moore incorporated into the narrative that aren’t readily apparent without reading the Author’s Note (which I highly recommend).
There is so much to unpack with this story, yet at the same time, it’s not the overly complex type of story where you have to read it several times to understand what it’s trying to say. In addition to the mystery / suspense element being superbly done (at multiple points when I thought I had figured out the ending, turns out I was completely wrong), the atmospheric nature of the writing (to the point that I felt transported back to a different time and place) gave this a historical fiction feel, while the extensive coverage of various contemporary social issues also made the story and characters highly relatable.
One of the things I love about Moore (in addition to her knack for creating memorable characters that I can’t help stop thinking about) is her ability to take a subject that I’m usually not too keen on reading about (i.e. drug addiction/opioid crisis, computer science and technology, environmentalism) and craft such an emotionally compelling story around it that it piques my interest and I find myself wanting to read/learn more about the subject.
This brilliant, genre-defying novel is the perfect summer read and one that I highly, highly recommend. If this is your first-time reading Moore’s novels, this is a great place to start, but definitely go back and read her previous novels as well, if you can (I myself still have to read her first 2 novels, which are on my list to get to at some point). I can’t wait for what Moore decides to write next – hopefully we’ll hear something soon!
Received ARC from Riverhead Books via NetGalley.
This intricately crafted, multi-layered story weaves together several complex threads, told from the perspectives of multiple complicated (and often morally ambiguous) characters, to create a wonderfully nuanced narrative that I honestly could not put down (despite clocking in at nearly 500 pages, I flew through this one in two sittings). The story begins with a mystery – the disappearance of teenager Barbara Van Laar from a family run summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains (in New York) – but when it is revealed that another Van Laar child had also disappeared from the same family compound 14 years ago (Barbara’s older brother Bear), the possible connection between the two cases leads to a riveting exploration of family dynamics and much, much more. This is truly a wide-reaching novel that covers many themes and social issues, including family and marriage struggles, parent/child relationships, class disparities and the implications of these differences on the rich vs the poor, gender discrimination, land conservation vs exploitation of nature, coming of age, identity and belonging, abuse and neglect vs caretaking and found family, inequalities within the criminal justice system, etc. At the same time, there are also historical elements that Moore incorporated into the narrative that aren’t readily apparent without reading the Author’s Note (which I highly recommend).
There is so much to unpack with this story, yet at the same time, it’s not the overly complex type of story where you have to read it several times to understand what it’s trying to say. In addition to the mystery / suspense element being superbly done (at multiple points when I thought I had figured out the ending, turns out I was completely wrong), the atmospheric nature of the writing (to the point that I felt transported back to a different time and place) gave this a historical fiction feel, while the extensive coverage of various contemporary social issues also made the story and characters highly relatable.
One of the things I love about Moore (in addition to her knack for creating memorable characters that I can’t help stop thinking about) is her ability to take a subject that I’m usually not too keen on reading about (i.e. drug addiction/opioid crisis, computer science and technology, environmentalism) and craft such an emotionally compelling story around it that it piques my interest and I find myself wanting to read/learn more about the subject.
This brilliant, genre-defying novel is the perfect summer read and one that I highly, highly recommend. If this is your first-time reading Moore’s novels, this is a great place to start, but definitely go back and read her previous novels as well, if you can (I myself still have to read her first 2 novels, which are on my list to get to at some point). I can’t wait for what Moore decides to write next – hopefully we’ll hear something soon!
Received ARC from Riverhead Books via NetGalley.
July 2, 2024
I was really excited to get to this one after loving Moore's previous book LONG BRIGHT RIVER. That was one of my favorite books. This was very different from that book. This was a character driven story about a 13 yr. old girl named Barbara that went missing at a summer camp in 1975. She's the daughter of the camp's owner. Her brother had also disappeared from the camp years earlier. The story is told through multiple POV. The camp counselor, Louise, Barbara's bunkmate, Tracy, her mother Alice, and the detective on the case, judyta.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but after the first few chapters, you'll get the hang of it and remember who they are. The characters are flawed, and have secrets. I loved how Moore gave the backstory to these characters. The story slowly unfolds, going between the past and present. You'll read about the trauma these characters faced. As the story progresses, you'll get a sense of how all the characters' stories connect. I loved the setting at the camp. The author gives you a great visualization of everything. This was such a unique story that I'm sure people are going to enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but after the first few chapters, you'll get the hang of it and remember who they are. The characters are flawed, and have secrets. I loved how Moore gave the backstory to these characters. The story slowly unfolds, going between the past and present. You'll read about the trauma these characters faced. As the story progresses, you'll get a sense of how all the characters' stories connect. I loved the setting at the camp. The author gives you a great visualization of everything. This was such a unique story that I'm sure people are going to enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 3, 2024
Brilliant mystery + meditation on class, wealth, women’s lives, and the of course, the woods. Exceptional on audio and impossible to put down. Perfectly plotted, expertly paced, and just gorgeously crafted. A true winner!
July 12, 2024
Not gonna lie, they really had me on the first half (first 10% actually). Writing style, ambiance, all good. Then it lost me. I didn't care about anyone. Let her be lost; let all of them be lost, actually. I'll just go take a nap at one of the other cabins.
June 12, 2024
Well, well, well. I may have just listened to my book of the year and with the fabulous reads I’ve had this year, that is saying something. I was completely captivated while reading this tense, layered story. The plot was enthralling and the character development superb. If you loved Long Bright River, I think you will agree with me that this one is somehow even better!
Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite voice actors and she does an incredible performance here with such a large cast of characters. Her smoky voice perfectly captures the mood here and definitely added to my enjoyment of this brilliant novel. This book is not to be missed!
P.S. Donna Romano 😂 The name describes that character so well that I barely needed details. Many children from divorced parents will encounter their very own Donna Romano.
Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite voice actors and she does an incredible performance here with such a large cast of characters. Her smoky voice perfectly captures the mood here and definitely added to my enjoyment of this brilliant novel. This book is not to be missed!
P.S. Donna Romano 😂 The name describes that character so well that I barely needed details. Many children from divorced parents will encounter their very own Donna Romano.
July 13, 2024
This is a slow-burn mystery about the disappearance of two children with numerous POVs and timelines. Unsurprisingly, the rich family at the center of the mystery is made up of controlling, narcissistic men and doormat women. It's the people surrounding the Van Laar family—the ones who run the prestigious summer camp or serve at the Van Laar's string of lavish parties—who are at the heart of this story.
My favorite narratives belonged to Barbara Van Laar (the second missing child) and Judyta, the female detective, and I felt like the pace really picked up once Judy appeared. I wish the woods where the children got lost were more atmospheric. I couldn't picture the forest or the camp as vividly as I would've liked, especially since these settings were so central to the plot. The mystery is carefully plotted and while many readers will guess who did what, it's satisfying to witness authorities solve it.
Thank you to PRHaudio for the gifted audiobook. The narration was excellent.
My favorite narratives belonged to Barbara Van Laar (the second missing child) and Judyta, the female detective, and I felt like the pace really picked up once Judy appeared. I wish the woods where the children got lost were more atmospheric. I couldn't picture the forest or the camp as vividly as I would've liked, especially since these settings were so central to the plot. The mystery is carefully plotted and while many readers will guess who did what, it's satisfying to witness authorities solve it.
Thank you to PRHaudio for the gifted audiobook. The narration was excellent.
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July 2, 2024Why I Love It
By Fiora Elbers-Tibbitts
While most people love a sunny beach day come July, I prefer my summers moody. Liz Moore’s newest novel, The God of the Woods, speaks directly to this desire for a more melancholic exploration of the sticky season, set against a lush backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains and the frenzied heat of escalating secrets.
The God of the Woods begins with a disappearance from a summer camp. Barbara, daughter of the wealthy Van Laar family, is nowhere to be found—a concern made even more alarming by the fact that her parents own the camp she’s vanished from. As the search party takes shape, the townspeople exchange nervous glances; the case clearly echoes Barbara’s own brother’s vanishing over a decade earlier. But the family seems determined to avoid any comparison between the two children’s misfortunes. And the longer the investigation continues, the more is revealed about just how much they have to hide.
The God of the Woods is a beautifully written novel with a kaleidoscope of perspectives that form a richly layered puzzle of personalities and motives. The setting is evocative; the mystery is compelling; the themes are deep and vast. Every person who populates these pages has a rich interior life and a profound well of unimaginable pain that slowly reveals itself as the plot unfolds. If you are looking for a summer soul-ache, this is the book for you.
By Fiora Elbers-Tibbitts
While most people love a sunny beach day come July, I prefer my summers moody. Liz Moore’s newest novel, The God of the Woods, speaks directly to this desire for a more melancholic exploration of the sticky season, set against a lush backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains and the frenzied heat of escalating secrets.
The God of the Woods begins with a disappearance from a summer camp. Barbara, daughter of the wealthy Van Laar family, is nowhere to be found—a concern made even more alarming by the fact that her parents own the camp she’s vanished from. As the search party takes shape, the townspeople exchange nervous glances; the case clearly echoes Barbara’s own brother’s vanishing over a decade earlier. But the family seems determined to avoid any comparison between the two children’s misfortunes. And the longer the investigation continues, the more is revealed about just how much they have to hide.
The God of the Woods is a beautifully written novel with a kaleidoscope of perspectives that form a richly layered puzzle of personalities and motives. The setting is evocative; the mystery is compelling; the themes are deep and vast. Every person who populates these pages has a rich interior life and a profound well of unimaginable pain that slowly reveals itself as the plot unfolds. If you are looking for a summer soul-ache, this is the book for you.
July 11, 2024
4.5 // review to come
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July 14, 2024Review to come
July 2, 2024
wow!! what an excellent novel. this book was intriguing, heartbreaking, infuriating, yet satisfying all at the same time. i will for sure be buying a physical copy and reading Long Bright River ASAP. (updated to say that i have since read Long Bright River and also loved it!)
i read this book in less than a week, while reading other books as well—which says a lot since this is almost 500 pgs. this is not necessarily a fast paced book and is more character-driven, but something about Liz Moore's writing is so captivating. i was never bored while reading this, and the structure was a little unconventional yet easy to keep up with. it follows a nonlinear timeline with different perspectives (written in 3rd person), but it was easy to tell who was who. this book is a compelling mystery and family saga which also examines the privileges of the rich, secrets of a strained yet close-knit community, and how young girls are sexualized yet grown women are infantilized. Moore incorporated the 50s-70s time periods well and attitudes surrounding women at those times without it being stereotypical or contrived. the themes were able to come across to the reader in a subtle way, without being preachy or hitting the reader over the head.
the characters were all so vivid and felt real—not caricatures. Moore delves into the important players’ inner thoughts and backstories, yet still makes the reader question who to trust. it’s easy to root for some characters and hate others, yet feel unsure about many of them. Moore also parallels similar feelings in certain characters in order to connect them to a common theme, forcing the reader to think about the thematic threads that bind different characters.
this book also took me by surprise with the ending and reveals. i feel like this would be a perfect book for a discussion! the setting in upstate NY was also impeccable. i could picture everything as i was reading, and there is even a little map at the beginning. however, i didn’t need to refer to it much because of the atmospheric descriptions.
i would recommend this book if you like:
⁃ character-driven books
⁃ subtle commentary on wealth, class, and the female experience
⁃ unconventional structure
⁃ summer camp/outdoor woodsy settings
The God of the Woods is out now. thank you to Riverhead Books, Liz Moore, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
i read this book in less than a week, while reading other books as well—which says a lot since this is almost 500 pgs. this is not necessarily a fast paced book and is more character-driven, but something about Liz Moore's writing is so captivating. i was never bored while reading this, and the structure was a little unconventional yet easy to keep up with. it follows a nonlinear timeline with different perspectives (written in 3rd person), but it was easy to tell who was who. this book is a compelling mystery and family saga which also examines the privileges of the rich, secrets of a strained yet close-knit community, and how young girls are sexualized yet grown women are infantilized. Moore incorporated the 50s-70s time periods well and attitudes surrounding women at those times without it being stereotypical or contrived. the themes were able to come across to the reader in a subtle way, without being preachy or hitting the reader over the head.
the characters were all so vivid and felt real—not caricatures. Moore delves into the important players’ inner thoughts and backstories, yet still makes the reader question who to trust. it’s easy to root for some characters and hate others, yet feel unsure about many of them. Moore also parallels similar feelings in certain characters in order to connect them to a common theme, forcing the reader to think about the thematic threads that bind different characters.
this book also took me by surprise with the ending and reveals. i feel like this would be a perfect book for a discussion! the setting in upstate NY was also impeccable. i could picture everything as i was reading, and there is even a little map at the beginning. however, i didn’t need to refer to it much because of the atmospheric descriptions.
i would recommend this book if you like:
⁃ character-driven books
⁃ subtle commentary on wealth, class, and the female experience
⁃ unconventional structure
⁃ summer camp/outdoor woodsy settings
The God of the Woods is out now. thank you to Riverhead Books, Liz Moore, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
July 7, 2024
Solid read, definitely a must for thriller/procedural fans. If you liked her last novel (Long Bright River), you’ll definitely like this one as it’s a bit stronger. The first 100 pages or so were very compelling, but ultimately this is not a book I’ll remember as 100s of pages of repetitive police procedures followed. I have been waiting for a Liz Moore novel to be on par with her earlier releases but it seems like that’s not coming for me. Oh well. This will surely be enjoyed by many and I did think she stuck the landing with the ending.
June 24, 2024
Every summer I CRAVE reading a mystery that oozes summer, drama and generational family secrets - and I am PLEASED to announce this one pops off!! Excellent timeline skips that build the suspense and allow us to try and piece some of the puzzle together without feeling dumb about it. I did think the reveal was underwhelming, but it played into the “rich white people can get away with anything” narrative so I see why it was done and I can respect that. 10/10 beach read my bois
March 27, 2024
Exactly what I was hoping for: an engaging, thoughtful, intelligent mystery that challenges the reader even as it entertains. Missing children (two from the same family), adolescent hormones, people manipulators, family secrets, the gender politics of the '70s, class politics of, well, forever, plot twists, multiple perspectives... it's all here. I wanted something that would divert me but was several steps above what I consider "brain candy." "God of the Woods" delivered. It's every bit as good as "Long Bright River." Liz Moore is now on my must-read list.
My thanks to Riverhead Books and Edelweis+ for providing an advance digital review copy in return for an honest review.
My thanks to Riverhead Books and Edelweis+ for providing an advance digital review copy in return for an honest review.
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