What do you think?
Rate this book
The God of the Woods
14 hours, 35 minutes
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.
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.
15 pages, Audiobook
First published July 2, 2024
About the author
Liz Moore
8 books3,829 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,831 reviews
August 14, 2024
Okay, lots of thoughts on this one. Going to try to unpack them all here.
The God of the Woods starts out really well. I found the beginning to be compelling, with lots of interesting characters and perspectives. But then as the investigation into Barbara's disappearance heats up, a few things started to really bother me, and it went a bit downhill from there.
When it comes to verbosity in a book, readers generally fall into two camps. For some, if they love a story, then stretching it out an extra hundred pages by filling it with lots of beautiful writing but no additional content makes it even better. But for me, my motto is always shorter is better, and fluffing it out to pad the page count doesn't do it for me. So you see where I'm going with this.
What starts out as compelling quickly turns meandering for me. The longer the story went on, the more unfocused it seemed. There are a lot of perspectives in here—I count seven—and every time something was about to happen, we immediately switched to a different perspective, effectively losing the momentum. And when we come back to the original one, the exciting scene had already happened off-page and it's mostly glossed over.
But it isn't just the perspectives, which I honestly don't mind that much. It's also how unnecessarily convoluted the mystery was, in large part due to the way it was written. Every time the police needed to talk to a witness, that person would inevitably end up missing. So we would have to spend time tracking them down just to have a conversation with them. In addition to the two disappearances which are central to this story, I counted no less than six other characters who disappeared at one time or another. It was exhausting.
Surely though, once these witnesses are found, they would be able to answer some simple questions, right? Well, no. Everyone in here lied every chance they had, often for no reason that I could discern and against their best interests. It felt like drama for drama's sake, making the mystery feel even more tortuous and chaotic. You know, just in case the reader thought it was too easy or there weren't enough pages in this book.
My other big issue is that the author has a real knack for writing dumb female characters. It drove me a bit nuts in Long Bright River and here it is again. This time, we have Alice and Louise, two of our main characters, both being portrayed as spineless fools. You guys know I love my female characters to be strong and smart, so to have to read about women who let people walk all over them while making one bad decision after another got old real quick.
Then after all of that (almost 500 pages), this mystery had to be one of the most unsatisfying I've ever come across. Clues were laid out seemingly to point to one direction or another, but then the story disregards almost everything it had said before and ends on something completely different. And some of the clues were never addressed at all, as if they've served their purpose to mislead us and now we can just forget about them.
Still, for all my complaints, I did find this to be a fairly engrossing read. There were many moments I got really into it, and the pages just melted away. But there were also many moments where I could not believe yet another character has disappeared or Alice and Louise are yet again being dumb and weak, and I could just feel my eyeballs rolling around in exasperation.
Clearly I'm in the minority here. Everyone else is loving this, so you shouldn't take what I say too seriously. Sometimes there is just a mismatch between a reader and a book, and that's probably what happened here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Long Bright River
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.
The God of the Woods starts out really well. I found the beginning to be compelling, with lots of interesting characters and perspectives. But then as the investigation into Barbara's disappearance heats up, a few things started to really bother me, and it went a bit downhill from there.
When it comes to verbosity in a book, readers generally fall into two camps. For some, if they love a story, then stretching it out an extra hundred pages by filling it with lots of beautiful writing but no additional content makes it even better. But for me, my motto is always shorter is better, and fluffing it out to pad the page count doesn't do it for me. So you see where I'm going with this.
What starts out as compelling quickly turns meandering for me. The longer the story went on, the more unfocused it seemed. There are a lot of perspectives in here—I count seven—and every time something was about to happen, we immediately switched to a different perspective, effectively losing the momentum. And when we come back to the original one, the exciting scene had already happened off-page and it's mostly glossed over.
But it isn't just the perspectives, which I honestly don't mind that much. It's also how unnecessarily convoluted the mystery was, in large part due to the way it was written. Every time the police needed to talk to a witness, that person would inevitably end up missing. So we would have to spend time tracking them down just to have a conversation with them. In addition to the two disappearances which are central to this story, I counted no less than six other characters who disappeared at one time or another. It was exhausting.
Surely though, once these witnesses are found, they would be able to answer some simple questions, right? Well, no. Everyone in here lied every chance they had, often for no reason that I could discern and against their best interests. It felt like drama for drama's sake, making the mystery feel even more tortuous and chaotic. You know, just in case the reader thought it was too easy or there weren't enough pages in this book.
My other big issue is that the author has a real knack for writing dumb female characters. It drove me a bit nuts in Long Bright River and here it is again. This time, we have Alice and Louise, two of our main characters, both being portrayed as spineless fools. You guys know I love my female characters to be strong and smart, so to have to read about women who let people walk all over them while making one bad decision after another got old real quick.
Then after all of that (almost 500 pages), this mystery had to be one of the most unsatisfying I've ever come across. Clues were laid out seemingly to point to one direction or another, but then the story disregards almost everything it had said before and ends on something completely different. And some of the clues were never addressed at all, as if they've served their purpose to mislead us and now we can just forget about them.
Still, for all my complaints, I did find this to be a fairly engrossing read. There were many moments I got really into it, and the pages just melted away. But there were also many moments where I could not believe yet another character has disappeared or Alice and Louise are yet again being dumb and weak, and I could just feel my eyeballs rolling around in exasperation.
Clearly I'm in the minority here. Everyone else is loving this, so you shouldn't take what I say too seriously. Sometimes there is just a mismatch between a reader and a book, and that's probably what happened here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Long Bright River
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.
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.
September 23, 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!
medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter
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!
medium.com
August 18, 2024
Finallyyyyyyy. Worth almost 500 pages? No. But I am glad I pushed through and finished! A mystery at a summer camp was exactly what I needed to finish out my summer reading. If you dnf’d, you can read the last like 15-25 pages to see how it ends/ish lol
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.
August 17, 2024
this isn’t something i would typically pick up but the pink paint drip on the cover just did something for me. (i initially saw this book featured on the barnes & noble website as their book pick for july and just had to buy it.) then i read the synopsis and a summer camp mystery just felt like it would hit the spot. (which it pretty much did.)
3 stars✨
themes:
☑️ summer camp vibes!!!!
☑️ dysfunctional families
☑️ missing siblings
☑️ 1960s-70s era
☑️ multiple pov
☑️ timeline switches
☑️ character driven story
☑️ slowwwww burn mystery
pros:
✅ solid writing
✅ short chapters!!!
✅ unique characters
✅ camp vibes, once again!! 🌲⛺️
✅ some badass women
✅ makes you realize how NOT screwed up your real life family is
criticisms???:
➖ not THRILLING, necessarily (i’d just classify this as a slow mystery. it actuall reads like literary fiction at times.)
➖ slightly too long
➖ kinda depressing in parts?! (family dysfunction, poorer people getting treated as less than, etc… but this could just be me)
➖ SLOW (don’t say i didn’t warn you) 🤭
overall, really good reading experience. i always feel a little pride when i branch out of my comfort zone & i’m glad i picked this one up. 🌲💕
3 stars✨
themes:
☑️ summer camp vibes!!!!
☑️ dysfunctional families
☑️ missing siblings
☑️ 1960s-70s era
☑️ multiple pov
☑️ timeline switches
☑️ character driven story
☑️ slowwwww burn mystery
pros:
✅ solid writing
✅ short chapters!!!
✅ unique characters
✅ camp vibes, once again!! 🌲⛺️
✅ some badass women
✅ makes you realize how NOT screwed up your real life family is
criticisms???:
➖ not THRILLING, necessarily (i’d just classify this as a slow mystery. it actuall reads like literary fiction at times.)
➖ slightly too long
➖ kinda depressing in parts?! (family dysfunction, poorer people getting treated as less than, etc… but this could just be me)
➖ SLOW (don’t say i didn’t warn you) 🤭
overall, really good reading experience. i always feel a little pride when i branch out of my comfort zone & i’m glad i picked this one up. 🌲💕
August 4, 2024
This was a mind boggler.
A mystery twofer told in dual timelines. One child who has gone missing in 1961; another 1975. Both are from the prestigious Van Laar family and owners of the camp.
The setting is in the wooded area of the Adirondacks. But don’t be fooled by the beauty of the landscape. Something ugly is happening in these woods.
This story is stacked with multiple characters, multiple scenarios and multiple suspects.
Believe the hype. 5⭐️
A mystery twofer told in dual timelines. One child who has gone missing in 1961; another 1975. Both are from the prestigious Van Laar family and owners of the camp.
The setting is in the wooded area of the Adirondacks. But don’t be fooled by the beauty of the landscape. Something ugly is happening in these woods.
This story is stacked with multiple characters, multiple scenarios and multiple suspects.
Believe the hype. 5⭐️
August 7, 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.
I'll just go take a nap at one of the other cabins.
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.
September 2, 2024
I had really high hopes for this one, unfortunately it dragged on for so long in several parts. There’s nothing wrong with the book as a whole, it just wasn’t for me. I wouldn’t tell anyone to put it at the top of their TBR.
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.
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.
August 11, 2024
"The God of the Woods" has to be among the smartest, surprising, most literate mysteries I've read in a while. The setting is an Adirondack summer camp in the 1960s and 1970s, and not one but two children of monied New York State royalty disappear there: a boy in 1961 and a girl in 1975. Part police procedural -- and what a great cop Liz Moore has given us, a smart young woman whom the old male detectives don't take seriously -- and part character study of a wealthy family with an awful lot of skeletons in their rambling, walk-in closets, I really did stay up one until two in the morning to finish this treasure of a tale. And because I am writing this on the last day of the Olympics, let me add: wowza, does Moore stick the landing.
July 30, 2024
In the summer of 1975, at Camp Emerson in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, 13 year old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her cabin.
Her family, The Van Laars, are a family of wealth via banking in New York City. They started the camp and have a residence that overlooks the property.
Fourteen years earlier the Van Laars 8 year old son, Bear, also vanished from the camp and was never found again.
Is it a coincidence or is something more sinister at play? You'll have to read this to find out!
Well, color me impressed. This is my first Liz Moore book, an author I've heard praised time and time again over the years, and now I can understand all the adoration she receives. This book not only moved me emotionally it transported me to Camp Emerson in 1975. The woods, the birdsong, the smell of rainfall - the atmosphere was so rich that I felt I was walking the same grounds as the characters.
Over the years I've grown tired of missing children stories that fall in the psych thriller genre due to the over the top denouements many of them have. Like really, you did all this, for that??? This book is not a psych thriller by any means. It's a literary mystery that meanders through time and while the pacing is slow it's always intriguing.
This book has a lot of characters and many time jumps, two things that I sometimes struggle with, but never once did I get confused reading this. The chapters consist of:
1950s | 1962 | Winter 1973 | June 1975 | July 1975 | August 1975 / Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3 etc.
That may look a little intimidating but she weaves the timelines flawlessly. And let me tell you that each chapter, no matter where you are in the timeline, is just as riveting as the next one. I could not put this book down. My need for answers took precedent over everything else. I'm so glad to have picked this up at a time when I could devote my complete attention to it.
So let it be known that I am now a full-fledged Liz Moore fan and this book is one that I will proudly place on my Favorites of 2024 shelf. Highest recommendation. ALL. THE. STARS!!!!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
Her family, The Van Laars, are a family of wealth via banking in New York City. They started the camp and have a residence that overlooks the property.
Fourteen years earlier the Van Laars 8 year old son, Bear, also vanished from the camp and was never found again.
Is it a coincidence or is something more sinister at play? You'll have to read this to find out!
Well, color me impressed. This is my first Liz Moore book, an author I've heard praised time and time again over the years, and now I can understand all the adoration she receives. This book not only moved me emotionally it transported me to Camp Emerson in 1975. The woods, the birdsong, the smell of rainfall - the atmosphere was so rich that I felt I was walking the same grounds as the characters.
Over the years I've grown tired of missing children stories that fall in the psych thriller genre due to the over the top denouements many of them have. Like really, you did all this, for that??? This book is not a psych thriller by any means. It's a literary mystery that meanders through time and while the pacing is slow it's always intriguing.
This book has a lot of characters and many time jumps, two things that I sometimes struggle with, but never once did I get confused reading this. The chapters consist of:
1950s | 1962 | Winter 1973 | June 1975 | July 1975 | August 1975 / Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3 etc.
That may look a little intimidating but she weaves the timelines flawlessly. And let me tell you that each chapter, no matter where you are in the timeline, is just as riveting as the next one. I could not put this book down. My need for answers took precedent over everything else. I'm so glad to have picked this up at a time when I could devote my complete attention to it.
So let it be known that I am now a full-fledged Liz Moore fan and this book is one that I will proudly place on my Favorites of 2024 shelf. Highest recommendation. ALL. THE. STARS!!!!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
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 13, 2024
Giving up at 14%. Hard to believe that this book has received so many glowing reviews. There are so many characters that I’ve already lost track of who’s who. Hope the missing camper Barbara is okay but actually, I don’t even care all that much. Moving on.
July 30, 2024
I’ve been staring at my Goodreads page for quite a while now, as I don’t even know how to begin this review. Was I looking forward to reading this book? Absolutely yes, as I loved the author’s previous book “Long Bright River”, which is one of my top favorite reads of all time. And if I’m being honest, I thought this would be my second favorite read yet again, but something happened towards the ending of this book that has left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Was it the length of this book at 476 pages- which in my opinion, this book seemed to drag on quite a bit. Or was it the underwhelming conclusion? I’m not sure.
This story starts off in August, 1975, when Barbara Van Laar has gone missing. From there a frantic search sets off from the camp counselors at Camp Emerson, where Barbara has been a camper for the summer. This isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has gone missing. Just fourteen years prior, Barbara’s brother Bear disappeared from the same region. How can this be possible? And will these two children ever be found?
From Barbara’s disappearance comes many POV’s. The POV’s that gripped me emotionally and resonated with me most were that of Louise, the camp counselor and Alice, who is Barbara and Bear’s mother. I felt like I personally knew all the characters in this book, and I felt as if I was there with them throughout the years. This story takes place between the 1950’s and 1975, and the timeline and character shifts are done flawlessly and seamlessly.
This is a slower paced book with a phenomenal character study (in fact, I can’t think of a better one). We even have a bit of a police procedural/investigation that takes place with a new female investigator of Judyta in the lead. While all this held my interest and kept me emotionally invested in the characters, I unfortunately was still ready for this book to be over with about 75% of the way in. At this point it seemed to be dragging on, and as I stated above, the ending left me very underwhelmed.
All in all, this is a very good read- but for me personally, it didn’t deliver the five star, favorite book of the year I was hoping for.
(3.5 stars- rounded up)
BOTM- July, 2024
This story starts off in August, 1975, when Barbara Van Laar has gone missing. From there a frantic search sets off from the camp counselors at Camp Emerson, where Barbara has been a camper for the summer. This isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has gone missing. Just fourteen years prior, Barbara’s brother Bear disappeared from the same region. How can this be possible? And will these two children ever be found?
From Barbara’s disappearance comes many POV’s. The POV’s that gripped me emotionally and resonated with me most were that of Louise, the camp counselor and Alice, who is Barbara and Bear’s mother. I felt like I personally knew all the characters in this book, and I felt as if I was there with them throughout the years. This story takes place between the 1950’s and 1975, and the timeline and character shifts are done flawlessly and seamlessly.
This is a slower paced book with a phenomenal character study (in fact, I can’t think of a better one). We even have a bit of a police procedural/investigation that takes place with a new female investigator of Judyta in the lead. While all this held my interest and kept me emotionally invested in the characters, I unfortunately was still ready for this book to be over with about 75% of the way in. At this point it seemed to be dragging on, and as I stated above, the ending left me very underwhelmed.
All in all, this is a very good read- but for me personally, it didn’t deliver the five star, favorite book of the year I was hoping for.
(3.5 stars- rounded up)
BOTM- July, 2024
September 8, 2024
I lost hours of sleep because of The God of the Woods. Liz Moore’s latest mystery is so gripping, so absorbing that no matter how tired I was at night, I chose the book over my bed whenever I picked it up to read.
In it, Moore gives us two mysteries to be solved, set 14 years apart in the Adirondack Mountains, the disappearance of a brother and sister from the Van Laar family preserve and the adjacent Camp Emerson. Bear Van Laar is the first to go missing, disappearing from the family estate in 1961, with Barbara then vanishing from the camp in 1975.
There’s a lot of jumping back and forth in time as Moore unwinds both stories, while also switching between character viewpoints. It’s not difficult to keep up with her, though, because both of the story threads and the respective players in each are distinct. Plus, there’s a handy timeline at the beginning of each chapter, which helps to keep your footing in the story. It’s a genius addition, really.
Though I found both mysteries compelling, I can see why some reviewers are saying they lost interest in the second half. There’s a noticeable downshift in action that occurs when the story transforms into more of a family saga, but it’s a short-lived blip because Moore then kicks back into high gear for the final act, with the book becoming unputdownable once again.
The God of the Woods isn’t perfect, but, for me, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. Moore’s writing is excellent, the story is propulsive, and the narrative is plotted so well.
There are other small nitpicks I can point out, like how the end of Barbara’s story feels abrupt and almost like wishful thinking, because I’m not sure if what happens would’ve really happened in real life. But I found the conclusion satisfying, nonetheless, so I’ll take it.
In it, Moore gives us two mysteries to be solved, set 14 years apart in the Adirondack Mountains, the disappearance of a brother and sister from the Van Laar family preserve and the adjacent Camp Emerson. Bear Van Laar is the first to go missing, disappearing from the family estate in 1961, with Barbara then vanishing from the camp in 1975.
There’s a lot of jumping back and forth in time as Moore unwinds both stories, while also switching between character viewpoints. It’s not difficult to keep up with her, though, because both of the story threads and the respective players in each are distinct. Plus, there’s a handy timeline at the beginning of each chapter, which helps to keep your footing in the story. It’s a genius addition, really.
Though I found both mysteries compelling, I can see why some reviewers are saying they lost interest in the second half. There’s a noticeable downshift in action that occurs when the story transforms into more of a family saga, but it’s a short-lived blip because Moore then kicks back into high gear for the final act, with the book becoming unputdownable once again.
The God of the Woods isn’t perfect, but, for me, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. Moore’s writing is excellent, the story is propulsive, and the narrative is plotted so well.
There are other small nitpicks I can point out, like how the end of Barbara’s story feels abrupt and almost like wishful thinking, because I’m not sure if what happens would’ve really happened in real life. But I found the conclusion satisfying, nonetheless, so I’ll take it.
September 13, 2024
The Rich stay Rich and the Poor stay Poor
The God of the Woods starts of in the early morning of August 1975 and a camp counsellor discovers an empty bunk. The empty bunk belongs to elite Barbara Van Laar. Her family is super wealthy and the owners of the summer camp and employ most of the residents within. The search party is out for Barbara, and no one can seem to locate her. Another mysterious issue is that 14 years prior her brother Bear also disappeared in the area and has never been found. We are taken on a long-winded timeline journey of when Bear disappeared and the present day of investigation taking place to find out what really happened.
SHIVER MY TIMBERS this was one long ass book! I have been seeing everyone raving and screaming about how this was the book of the summer and frankly I just had to find out what all the kerfuffle was about. We have got characters galore and a timeline jump from 1961- 1975 all jumbled up and I thought “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this”. But after a while and having to write up a glossary of the characters so I could remind myself who is whom and getting used to the timelines, I started to gather my bearings.
Although this book is very atmospheric and there is a plot it is a very character driven book. I can confidently say this will read like marmite to some. You really are either going to love it or not care for it all.
For me… I did enjoy it! I was so wrapped up in the f&ckery of some of the characters and became super invested to getting to the bottom of all the hidden secrets. Also did I mention this book is very long!? If you are used to my reviews, you know I’m not a fan of slow burns unless it done well and keeps me engaged. This book succeeded with doing all of that! BUT the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. For everything I had read beforehand the ending wasn’t plausible/ underwhelming and made not an inch of sense to me.
As a literary fiction book this excelled and was done so well, especially highlighting the themes of class and gender. But the mystery part was what let me down and stopped me from giving it a 5 star!
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ The slow burn mystery
➽ The atmosphere
➽ Compelling characters
➽ Unputdownable
➽ Great writing
➽ Short chapters
➽ Themes of socioeconomic status
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The ending
➽ A little bit long winded
➽ A wide array of characters
I read this book in two sittings and listened to the audiobook when I had to do adulting task. With the number of jumps in timeline, I would highly recommend you have the physical or digital copy of the book, as the audio may cause you some confusion (the narrator for the audiobook was fabulous btw). Not the book of the summer for me unfortunately but regardless it was a very good read.
DO NOT CONTNUE READING THE BELOW IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
❈ MY ISSUE WITH THE ENDING ❈
☆ From what I read the Van Laars did not care for Alice so I don’t understand why they wouldn’t have just explained to the police what really happened and let it go down as an accidental death. Even if Alice was arrested and jailed, would the Van Laars really have cared. The whole ‘reputation’ aspect just doesn’t waiver enough for me.
☆ There is no where on earth fictional or not that you can convince me that a 14-year-old girl can live on a island by herself. Obviously, I am glad she is alive and that she managed to escape her vile family but that whole living alone till she is of age to go back into civility just read so incapable to me.
☆ Then Alice!... She played such a massive role in the book and to not get any finality on her was very underwhelming.
☆ Sluiter involvement was also unnecessary. It read like an obvious red herring, and I could have done without his POV.
☆ And finally, who the hell led Tracy out of the woods!???????
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
This book has been doing the rounds all over social media
And frankly I am getting FOMO!!!
Its looking like a slow burn but i am excited for this one!💚🤍
The God of the Woods starts of in the early morning of August 1975 and a camp counsellor discovers an empty bunk. The empty bunk belongs to elite Barbara Van Laar. Her family is super wealthy and the owners of the summer camp and employ most of the residents within. The search party is out for Barbara, and no one can seem to locate her. Another mysterious issue is that 14 years prior her brother Bear also disappeared in the area and has never been found. We are taken on a long-winded timeline journey of when Bear disappeared and the present day of investigation taking place to find out what really happened.
SHIVER MY TIMBERS this was one long ass book! I have been seeing everyone raving and screaming about how this was the book of the summer and frankly I just had to find out what all the kerfuffle was about. We have got characters galore and a timeline jump from 1961- 1975 all jumbled up and I thought “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this”. But after a while and having to write up a glossary of the characters so I could remind myself who is whom and getting used to the timelines, I started to gather my bearings.
Although this book is very atmospheric and there is a plot it is a very character driven book. I can confidently say this will read like marmite to some. You really are either going to love it or not care for it all.
For me… I did enjoy it! I was so wrapped up in the f&ckery of some of the characters and became super invested to getting to the bottom of all the hidden secrets. Also did I mention this book is very long!? If you are used to my reviews, you know I’m not a fan of slow burns unless it done well and keeps me engaged. This book succeeded with doing all of that! BUT the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. For everything I had read beforehand the ending wasn’t plausible/ underwhelming and made not an inch of sense to me.
As a literary fiction book this excelled and was done so well, especially highlighting the themes of class and gender. But the mystery part was what let me down and stopped me from giving it a 5 star!
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ The slow burn mystery
➽ The atmosphere
➽ Compelling characters
➽ Unputdownable
➽ Great writing
➽ Short chapters
➽ Themes of socioeconomic status
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The ending
➽ A little bit long winded
➽ A wide array of characters
I read this book in two sittings and listened to the audiobook when I had to do adulting task. With the number of jumps in timeline, I would highly recommend you have the physical or digital copy of the book, as the audio may cause you some confusion (the narrator for the audiobook was fabulous btw). Not the book of the summer for me unfortunately but regardless it was a very good read.
DO NOT CONTNUE READING THE BELOW IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
・❥・
❈ MY ISSUE WITH THE ENDING ❈
☆ From what I read the Van Laars did not care for Alice so I don’t understand why they wouldn’t have just explained to the police what really happened and let it go down as an accidental death. Even if Alice was arrested and jailed, would the Van Laars really have cared. The whole ‘reputation’ aspect just doesn’t waiver enough for me.
☆ There is no where on earth fictional or not that you can convince me that a 14-year-old girl can live on a island by herself. Obviously, I am glad she is alive and that she managed to escape her vile family but that whole living alone till she is of age to go back into civility just read so incapable to me.
☆ Then Alice!... She played such a massive role in the book and to not get any finality on her was very underwhelming.
☆ Sluiter involvement was also unnecessary. It read like an obvious red herring, and I could have done without his POV.
☆ And finally, who the hell led Tracy out of the woods!???????
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
This book has been doing the rounds all over social media
And frankly I am getting FOMO!!!
Its looking like a slow burn but i am excited for this one!💚🤍
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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 24, 2024
*4.5 rounded up to 5 for GR!
this book is GOOD my friends! 🪵🩷📖 it’s another buzzy chonk of a book but i was so invested in the setting and characters—alongside the mystery of a missing camper in the woods 👀
read if you like: genre-bending books, missing persons stories, summer camp, character driven books, multiple POVs, settings that become characters, ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK
i think this is similar to ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK in many ways, but i enjoyed the setting and plethora of characters in THE GOD OF THE WOODS a bit more. it was even giving THE LAST TIME I LIED by Sager vibes for a hot minute! Moore’s writing is absolutely captivating. i was immediately invested and was constantly thinking about it when i wasn’t reading, wondering “is my gal Barbara alive?!??”
my two favorite things were the setting (do i want to go to summer camp now???) and characters, especially Tracy and Barbara. i loved that we got POVs of soooo many characters to really get the whole picture of what happened in present day as well as 14 years earlier (during another missing person case at camp). every character has a secret and some are JUICY! the mystery was a slow burn but i appreciated the ending. overall, definitely worth the read and hype 👏🏼
THE GOD OF THE WOODS follows a young teenager that goes missing during summer camp. the problem? her family owns the camp. the other problem? her brother went missing from the same camp 14 years ago 👀 where did the daughter go? are these disappearances somehow intertwined? could both of the Van Laar children be found alive?
its hard for me to put my finger on exactly why this wasn’t an OMG 5-star book, but i did really like it and it’s one of the better books i’ve read this year. i think it books down to a few things—i guessed multiple parts of the ending ahead of time, i didn’t love some of the characters POV’s and the middle pacing started to lag. my recommendation: read it in 2-3 sittings max to keep everything straight and fully dive into the story!
hot take but i’d prefer a 🎬 adaptation for this over LONG BRIGHT RIVER. so much potential with these characters and the setting!! 🤞🏼
this book is GOOD my friends! 🪵🩷📖 it’s another buzzy chonk of a book but i was so invested in the setting and characters—alongside the mystery of a missing camper in the woods 👀
read if you like: genre-bending books, missing persons stories, summer camp, character driven books, multiple POVs, settings that become characters, ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK
i think this is similar to ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK in many ways, but i enjoyed the setting and plethora of characters in THE GOD OF THE WOODS a bit more. it was even giving THE LAST TIME I LIED by Sager vibes for a hot minute! Moore’s writing is absolutely captivating. i was immediately invested and was constantly thinking about it when i wasn’t reading, wondering “is my gal Barbara alive?!??”
my two favorite things were the setting (do i want to go to summer camp now???) and characters, especially Tracy and Barbara. i loved that we got POVs of soooo many characters to really get the whole picture of what happened in present day as well as 14 years earlier (during another missing person case at camp). every character has a secret and some are JUICY! the mystery was a slow burn but i appreciated the ending. overall, definitely worth the read and hype 👏🏼
THE GOD OF THE WOODS follows a young teenager that goes missing during summer camp. the problem? her family owns the camp. the other problem? her brother went missing from the same camp 14 years ago 👀 where did the daughter go? are these disappearances somehow intertwined? could both of the Van Laar children be found alive?
its hard for me to put my finger on exactly why this wasn’t an OMG 5-star book, but i did really like it and it’s one of the better books i’ve read this year. i think it books down to a few things—i guessed multiple parts of the ending ahead of time, i didn’t love some of the characters POV’s and the middle pacing started to lag. my recommendation: read it in 2-3 sittings max to keep everything straight and fully dive into the story!
hot take but i’d prefer a 🎬 adaptation for this over LONG BRIGHT RIVER. so much potential with these characters and the setting!! 🤞🏼
August 17, 2024
Split timelines, multiple narrators, info dumps, descriptions and background details for almost every character we encounter… To what end? Get in the page count? The prose is overworked and meandering, the pacing mind-numbingly slow and therefore a chore to get through, especially when there’s a supposed mystery involved. I found the ending predictably anticlimactic.
My second Liz Moore novel and I have to say that her writing doesn’t work for me. On any level. I am putting her on the two-trick-writer shelf with Kate Morton, leaving them to their convoluted narrative puzzles!
My second Liz Moore novel and I have to say that her writing doesn’t work for me. On any level. I am putting her on the two-trick-writer shelf with Kate Morton, leaving them to their convoluted narrative puzzles!
September 25, 2024
4.50 Stars
Upon careful consideration of "The God of the Woods," several notable aspects of the book come to the forefront. The author skillfully employs multiple points of view and non-linear storytelling, creating an engaging narrative that avoids leaving readers in the dark. Each chapter adeptly guides us through different perspectives and timelines, deftly interweaving character relationships and unveiling past and present events.
The chapter narrators encompass a camp counsellor who has discontinued her college education, is in a relationship with a wealthy individual who takes advantage of her, and is at a loss about her future; an insecure 12-year-old camper who forms a surprising bond with the missing girl; the drug-addled mother of the missing children; an escaped serial killer; a man under suspicion but displaying kindness; and a female police officer striving to succeed in a male-dominated environment. The author's skill in crafting the characters is so impressive that you can easily discern their personalities and traits without relying on the chapter titles.
This book is more akin to a study of characters rather than a fast-paced psychological thriller. The author excels at crafting genuine and intricate characters, challenging initial impressions and revealing their multi-dimensional nature. Through the interconnected narratives of the characters, the author effectively conveys the ambiguity of truth and perception in the real world.
Particularly noteworthy is Moore's ability to articulate profound truths through her writing. For example, her portrayal of the insecure camper resonated deeply, demonstrating a poignant blend of harshness and poetry in a single phrase.
The God of the Woods" defies categorization into a single genre—it seamlessly blends mystery, police procedural, and literary fiction; encompassing elements of mystery, police procedural, and literary fiction. Its ability to maintain suspense until the end attests to its compelling nature, making it a truly engaging read, engrossing me from beginning to end. Exploring the clash between the affluent and the working class offers valuable insights into family dynamics and societal nuances. The portrayal of Judyta and her family and her distinction as "The Nation’s First Class of Female State Troopers" provided a captivating glimpse into their pride and dynamics as a family.
I highly recommend this book. Although it was my first encounter with Liz Moore's work, I eagerly look forward to delving into "Long Bright River." I paired my copy with the audiobook for an immersive experience. Saskia Maarleveld's narration vividly brought the characters to life. The only minor aspect that left me underwhelmed was the slightly anticlimactic ending, which did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
(Pre-review)
I need to go to bed—I’m So tired 😴 I read for most of the late afternoon into the morning. I could put this book down
I hope to post a review soon. I’m taking some time to enjoy my vacation away in cottage country to beat this brutal heatwave 😎
Upon careful consideration of "The God of the Woods," several notable aspects of the book come to the forefront. The author skillfully employs multiple points of view and non-linear storytelling, creating an engaging narrative that avoids leaving readers in the dark. Each chapter adeptly guides us through different perspectives and timelines, deftly interweaving character relationships and unveiling past and present events.
The chapter narrators encompass a camp counsellor who has discontinued her college education, is in a relationship with a wealthy individual who takes advantage of her, and is at a loss about her future; an insecure 12-year-old camper who forms a surprising bond with the missing girl; the drug-addled mother of the missing children; an escaped serial killer; a man under suspicion but displaying kindness; and a female police officer striving to succeed in a male-dominated environment. The author's skill in crafting the characters is so impressive that you can easily discern their personalities and traits without relying on the chapter titles.
This book is more akin to a study of characters rather than a fast-paced psychological thriller. The author excels at crafting genuine and intricate characters, challenging initial impressions and revealing their multi-dimensional nature. Through the interconnected narratives of the characters, the author effectively conveys the ambiguity of truth and perception in the real world.
Particularly noteworthy is Moore's ability to articulate profound truths through her writing. For example, her portrayal of the insecure camper resonated deeply, demonstrating a poignant blend of harshness and poetry in a single phrase.
The God of the Woods" defies categorization into a single genre—it seamlessly blends mystery, police procedural, and literary fiction; encompassing elements of mystery, police procedural, and literary fiction. Its ability to maintain suspense until the end attests to its compelling nature, making it a truly engaging read, engrossing me from beginning to end. Exploring the clash between the affluent and the working class offers valuable insights into family dynamics and societal nuances. The portrayal of Judyta and her family and her distinction as "The Nation’s First Class of Female State Troopers" provided a captivating glimpse into their pride and dynamics as a family.
I highly recommend this book. Although it was my first encounter with Liz Moore's work, I eagerly look forward to delving into "Long Bright River." I paired my copy with the audiobook for an immersive experience. Saskia Maarleveld's narration vividly brought the characters to life. The only minor aspect that left me underwhelmed was the slightly anticlimactic ending, which did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
(Pre-review)
I need to go to bed—I’m So tired 😴 I read for most of the late afternoon into the morning. I could put this book down
I hope to post a review soon. I’m taking some time to enjoy my vacation away in cottage country to beat this brutal heatwave 😎
September 25, 2024
3 Stars
I thought this was good, but I didn't love it.
Likes:
The overall tone of the story. It had that haunting quality that I love and it kept the expectation pedal down on the impending answers to come. I also loved the time period and the setting.
Mehs:
The writing was a little more over the place then I prefer. A lot of filler and pages/descriptions that did nothing to move a scene, character, or the story itself forward. There were also POVs seemingly out of the blue that felt unnecessary. And I felt connected to exactly zero of them. And don't even get me started on Jacob. His whole character and arc felt gratuitous. What he brought to the ending could have been accomplished in a much more realistic, nuanced way through another character or method that didn't feel so out of place.
Dislikes:
The ending. So many loose ends. I love a good open ending, but this left me unsatisfied all around. So much could have been done with it. So much detail and pages of character arcs and efforts that went exactly nowhere.
Oh well, as I said. I think I'm an outlier on this one.
I thought this was good, but I didn't love it.
Likes:
The overall tone of the story. It had that haunting quality that I love and it kept the expectation pedal down on the impending answers to come. I also loved the time period and the setting.
Mehs:
The writing was a little more over the place then I prefer. A lot of filler and pages/descriptions that did nothing to move a scene, character, or the story itself forward. There were also POVs seemingly out of the blue that felt unnecessary. And I felt connected to exactly zero of them. And don't even get me started on Jacob. His whole character and arc felt gratuitous. What he brought to the ending could have been accomplished in a much more realistic, nuanced way through another character or method that didn't feel so out of place.
Dislikes:
The ending. So many loose ends. I love a good open ending, but this left me unsatisfied all around. So much could have been done with it. So much detail and pages of character arcs and efforts that went exactly nowhere.
Oh well, as I said. I think I'm an outlier on this one.
July 20, 2024
The God of the Woods is a great summer read! There was WAY may to this story than I was expecting. There are a lot of characters and several from the same family. I had to take notes while reading. The God of the Woods explores the idea of "family" across several families from different socioeconomic levels. Having the story set in 1975 really adds to the story and adds a different dimension. The 70's is a decade where our country is shifting. The most noticeable is Judy, the first female investigator for the New York State Police, investigating the case. The reader is reminded of how things were (and at times still are today) with the "boys club", the challenges in breaking through the limits and then succeeding in spite of the comments and obstacles put in place. I had great respect for her supervisor, Hayes. He was such a good man.
There are two stories in one. The disappearance of Bear and Barbara. Both cases involve lies, cover ups, frame jobs, and wrongly accused. The author does an incredible job of keeping the reader guessing. At the heart of both stories is the juxtaposition of love of family, fortune, and nature. It is not obvious at first how intertwined these are and how they influence the story.
There are two settings in one: Camp Emerson and the great house Self-Reliance. I love the name of the house and the irony of it. I'm not sure where there was more drinking and sleeping around. It was like the Summer of Love continued into the 70s. Of course, this adds to the confusion and obfuscation of the truth of what really happened in both cases.
Which set of people have the better survival skills? Do the survival skills they have in one setting transfer to another? The author plants many details, some lead the way and others lead away. That is a theme throughout the novel. Every decision we make highly impacts the outcome. When choosing a path, one must choose wisely.
The God of the Woods is part family drama and part police procedural. I greatly enjoy both genres and greatly enjoyed the novel. I figured out what happened to Barbara about 3/4 of the way in. What happened to Bear was there, but I missed it. Sometimes you beat the book, and sometimes the book beats you! That's what I love most about reading and discussing books.
There are two stories in one. The disappearance of Bear and Barbara. Both cases involve lies, cover ups, frame jobs, and wrongly accused. The author does an incredible job of keeping the reader guessing. At the heart of both stories is the juxtaposition of love of family, fortune, and nature. It is not obvious at first how intertwined these are and how they influence the story.
There are two settings in one: Camp Emerson and the great house Self-Reliance. I love the name of the house and the irony of it. I'm not sure where there was more drinking and sleeping around. It was like the Summer of Love continued into the 70s. Of course, this adds to the confusion and obfuscation of the truth of what really happened in both cases.
Which set of people have the better survival skills? Do the survival skills they have in one setting transfer to another? The author plants many details, some lead the way and others lead away. That is a theme throughout the novel. Every decision we make highly impacts the outcome. When choosing a path, one must choose wisely.
The God of the Woods is part family drama and part police procedural. I greatly enjoy both genres and greatly enjoyed the novel. I figured out what happened to Barbara about 3/4 of the way in. What happened to Bear was there, but I missed it. Sometimes you beat the book, and sometimes the book beats you! That's what I love most about reading and discussing books.
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!
September 3, 2024
Overall I really liked this book. It is a mystery with a lot going on and a literary sensibility. The way Moore weaves timelines and POVs is so so so good. It really works for this book and she is totally in control. Thankfully, because if this was done wrong it could've been really bad. I couldn't predict the end but also didn't feel like it came too far out of left field (I hate that). The book is very much white people problems, and I loved that escape. This book isn't trying to do more than it should/can. It knows what it is and I appreciate that. That being said, it is a really well written and engaging book with great plot and character development. My biggest complaint was the book went on too long, at almost 500 pages I would find myself totally invested and then zoning out in certain parts. But overall this is a big yes from me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,831 reviews