One sibling in a large Catholic family has the potential to be a serial killer. Will they give in to their darker urges?
Elmira, New York – It’s 1951 wOne sibling in a large Catholic family has the potential to be a serial killer. Will they give in to their darker urges?
Elmira, New York – It’s 1951 when we first meet the Larkin Family – Donald 31, Ava 32, and their six children, Myra 13, Fiona 11, Alec 10, Joan 7, Lexy 4 and Archie 2 months.
Every Sunday after church Myra has an entire hour to herself, a reprieve from taking care of her younger brothers and sisters. While reading in a corner booth at the local diner, a handsome, charming, young stranger approaches Myra. They chat for awhile until it’s time for her to leave. On her walk home it starts to rain. A car approaches. It’s the stranger again, and he offers her a ride.
Myra doesn’t know it at the time, but it’s her first of the Larkin family’s many chance meetings with various serial killers. Myra was spared that fateful day. The family down the street from her were not so fortunate.
Wolf at the Table was a literary fiction, character study, family saga, spanning six decades between 1951 and 2010 and every chapter marked a defining moment, significant point of change, in one of the family members life. Every scene usually involved a conversation between two people, usually a one-off encounter with a never seen again character, or a first meeting with someone who would go on to become significant to them, making this a dialogue heavy novel. It was also a lengthy novel, clocking in at 480 pages. I thought it zipped by, that every sentence served a purpose, but you know me I love my long books.
It was also an in-depth examination of what shapes a predator and that no one single thing is responsible – that it’s a combination of many factors, bad choices, and risky behaviours. In this instance, genetics, upbringing, personality, lack of empathy, experiences, trauma, drugs and alcohol, lack of direction, loneliness, and boredom all contributed to create a monster. While Wolf at the Table wasn’t overly graphic given the distressing subject matter it was a disturbing, uneasy, bleak, and emotional read that has left its mark on me.
The characters were certainly memorable, and even though pretty much everything they went through was outside my experience it was relatable and understandable for these characters given their circumstances. Although I personally did not find any of these people particularly likeable, since they tended to focus on the negative aspects in their lives, given the hand they were dealt, I was unsurprised by the path each sibling chose.
It may seem a little far-fetched just how many serial killers this family stumbled upon, but there was a naivety to all these characters that made them either blind to or attracted or fascinated by the danger. And even though every family member had an inkling that a wolf resided at their family dinner table they were never prepared to acknowledge it out loud – some were scared, others oblivious, and the two really in the know were unwilling to accept it, or deal with it, and consequently all buried their heads in the sand.
The novel was beautifully written with exceptional dialogue and top-notch metaphors. The insertion of pop cultural references, historical events, and actual real serial killers made every year this was set feel authentic and nostalgic.
I toggled between the e-book and the audio, and I now worship the narrator, Paul Sparks. Any time he was reading a serial killer’s dialogue gave me goose-pimples as well as had me marvelling over how incredibly talented he was. His voices for any teenage and child featured within its pages was also amazing, and his varied American and English accents were faultless.
Given how depressing it was Wolf at the Table will not be for everyone. Although you could characterise it as uplifting because it will make you feel better about your own life. In that case, I 100% recommend this novel to everyone....more
A touching, meaningful, contemplative read, but gosh it took a long time to get there. So much filler! Warning, my rating may change after I’ve writteA touching, meaningful, contemplative read, but gosh it took a long time to get there. So much filler! Warning, my rating may change after I’ve written my review....more
Cornwall Inn, Newport, Rhode Island – Welcome to Lila’s six-day Wedding Extravaganza! The bride has mPhoebe Stone is the coincidental Wedding Crasher!
Cornwall Inn, Newport, Rhode Island – Welcome to Lila’s six-day Wedding Extravaganza! The bride has meticulously planned every detail, with no expense spared. Nothing can go wrong!
Until the arrival of Phoebe Stone – a stranger who has somehow managed to book the best room in the place, even though the entire inn was supposed to be reserved for Lila’s Wedding People. Phoebe has hit rock bottom – unable to see a way forward. But all Lila can see is a person whose mere presence has the potential to sabotage her dream wedding. And she won’t stand for it! So, Lila inserts herself into Phoebe’s life, and from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same.
Because, just maybe, Phoebe Stone is exactly who Lila and The Wedding People need in their lives.
The Wedding People was a harmonious blend of serious, raw, and honest combined with playful, fun, cheeky, and hilarious. The author didn’t shy away from characters having tough conversations and her depth of understanding of human behaviour and thought processes was insightful and relatable. I could be laughing out loud one moment, and moved to tears the next. Every character was well fleshed out, and Phoebe’s deep conversations, witty banter, and chemistry with other characters, and the relationships she witnessed between others felt genuine, realistic, and entertaining. Surprisingly, given the serious subject matter this novel never felt depressing or bleak – there was always hope and light to be found. It really was a book about never giving up, even when you feel like you’ve lost everything, and that there’s joy and positivity in the smallest of things, and the most annoying of people.The wedding setting really appealed to me – all the lavish details, the activities, and outings, as did the cozy feel of an Inn setting where everyone kept running into one another, had a shared event, and couldn’t escape each other.
When I reached 64%, I remember feeling sad that I only had 36% to go, because I loved spending time with Phoebe and this group of Wedding People. I wish I could delve more into the plot, and characters, and how special it all was, but I’d be spoiling things, so I’ll conclude by saying that I loved all the directions it went in.
I’ve just realised that another of this author’s books, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, is on my list, so I’ll be reading that sooner rather than later. The Wedding People will definitely make my end of year top favourites list, no question....more
If you enjoyed Netflix’s The Maid you’ll love Margo!
Margo has always known she was white trash. Her birth was the result of a one-night stand between If you enjoyed Netflix’s The Maid you’ll love Margo!
Margo has always known she was white trash. Her birth was the result of a one-night stand between a Hooters waitress and a married pro-wrestler. At the time her mother didn’t even know her father’s real name, only his ring alias. Now, 19-year-old freshman Margo is in the same predicament, pregnant by her older married community college professor. Within weeks of her son Bodhi’s birth she has quit college, been fired from her waitress job, two out of three of her roommates have moved out, and the father of her baby has ghosted her. Out of options, and desperate to make quick money, Margo creates an account on OnlyFans uploading topless photos of herself in order to gain paid subscribers.
Margo was in a bind and had a steep learning curve ahead. But as tough as things were for her Margo was resilient, determined, savvy, intelligent, and had a straightforward, honest, sarcastic way of narrating. She was also irresponsible and overly trusting. I was completely in her corner rooting for her to succeed and find happiness. My heart broke for her as she was barely twenty and had been let down by everyone her entire life. All she wanted was support and love. No wonder she wanted a baby who would love her unconditionally. I would’ve preferred more focus on Margo adjusting to new motherhood instead of her financial woes as her interactions with Bodhi were hilarious, but I can’t really complain as it was explicitly stated in the title what the focal point would be.
I couldn’t help being entertained over Margo’s experience with OnlyFans and other social media. Yes, she was being exploited, but the combination of Margo’s business sense, detailed research, and writing skills (she was majoring in English in college) meant she had the control, well as much as she could in that situation anyway – not saying it was all smooth sailing. The writing was blunt and direct and included graphic descriptions of male and female genitalia, bodily functions, sexual content and sexual slang, and drug use. I wasn’t fazed as it fit the tone of the novel and the personality of the narrator, and was usually conveyed in an amusing way, but to decide if this book is the right fit for you, I suggest listening to or reading a sample first.
I flitted between the kindle and audio, and the audio was phenomenal, read by Elle Fanning, the perfect voice for Margo, and the cover image even looks a lot like her. And it’s lucky I loved her performance as Apple TV is turning Margo’s Got Money Troubles into a limited series, and Elle Fanning is set to star. Yay!
If you enjoy reading about characters who are a train wreck, yet are strong, tough, and fascinating then I highly-recommend Margo’s Got Money Troubles. I adored it!...more
Those who thought they knew Oliver Ryan were shocked to learn that he had assaulted his wife Alice so badly that Liz Nugent is now an Auto-buy Author!
Those who thought they knew Oliver Ryan were shocked to learn that he had assaulted his wife Alice so badly that she resides in a coma, unlikely to recover. The couple had been married for nearly thirty years and Oliver has never displayed any violent tendencies, has he? But can their memories of the man be trusted? Because hurting Alice is far from the worst thing Oliver has done.
Last year, I finally got around to reading Liz Nugent, and Unravelling Oliver is now the third novel I have read by her, and all have been five star reads. Right from the first page Oliver was a cold, manipulative, controlling, bully, but how he came to be that way definitely wrecked me, not that it excuses his actions as an adult. The various POV’s of those who encountered Oliver in life-altering ways were all interesting, exciting and tense. The majority of the book read like a contemporary drama saga but with chilling undertones, and once the entire story was revealed, I was left shocked and stunned.
The audiobook was one of the best I’ve ever read. A different narrator voiced each character and every aspect of their various personalities shone through – loved the various Irish and French accents, and the chapter narrated by Alice’s disabled brother, Eugene, was incredible – I listened to it twice.
I’m so happy to have discovered Liz Nugent, I have another library audiobook of hers coming up which I can’t wait to dive into. Unravelling Oliver is a not-to-be-missed must read. As was Strange Sally Diamond and Skin Deep....more
The tables have turned – the influencer and the nobody have traded places!
Nine years ago, when Meredith met Aspen, she was one of the biggest beauty iThe tables have turned – the influencer and the nobody have traded places!
Nine years ago, when Meredith met Aspen, she was one of the biggest beauty influencers. The two women struck up an instant friendship and Meredith took Aspen under her wing, advising her in rebranding her online image. But in the subsequent years Aspen has surpassed Meredith’s fame and is now one of the top mommy influencers. And now Aspen is no longer speaking to her, even though Meredith reinvented her friend into who she is today. Aspen needs to be taken down a peg or two, and Meredith intends to see that her former best friend gets her comeuppance.
You Will Never Be Me was a fun, haywire, troubling, black comedy and cautionary tale that highlighted the fakeness and obsession of social media. These immature, self-centred characters sickened me – the way they exploited and neglected their children was disgusting and sad. But as much as I pitied and found the adults in this novel pathetic, they sure were a blast to read about. Their behaviour and the lengths they were willing to go to for fame made for a twisty and twisted domestic drama thriller. What constantly ran through my mind as I was reading was that I know people whose offline life in no way resembles their picture perfect, lovey-dovey online content – I think we all do, and unfortunately things are only going to get worse.
I made the mistake of reading the book blurb and I implore you to avoid it at all costs as it gives so much away. You Will Never Be Me was a fast-paced, drama-filled, quick read with chapters alternating between Meredith and Aspen that I recommend if you are in the mood for hateful, unsympathetic characters and social media addiction....more
It’s the start of the summer and the arrival of the elite, cultured, seductive Richardsons – husband Elin Hilderbrand’s Last Hurrah was Pure Escapism!
It’s the start of the summer and the arrival of the elite, cultured, seductive Richardsons – husband and wife Bull and Leslee – has Nantucket locals in an excited frenzy.
Everybody who is anybody is dying to be invited to one of the extravagant, exclusive parties at their newly-purchased, twenty-two-million-dollar, seaside mansion – 888 Pocomo Road – but only a select few will be deemed worthy to glide its halls.
Fast forward to August and the Richardsons are persona non grata. What happened?
Then on the evening of August 22nd a double tragedy strikes the Richardsons. While partying out to sea aboard their yacht (with some non-locals) they receive a call from the Fire Chief to say their house is ablaze. And when their boat docks, they are one person short – a young woman is missing presumed to have gone overboard. Did she fall? Did she purposefully jump? Or was she pushed?
It’s time for the Richardsons to face the music.
Swan Song was an indulgence. I relished all the juicy interpersonal melodrama, scandalous behaviour, betrayals, sweet romances, emotional highs and lows, side of mystery, and immense wealth and privilege. It was hard for me not to daydream over what it would be like to be one of these characters living the dream in a lap of luxury on Nantucket (lobster rolls, yes please). The descriptions of 888 Pocomo Road and everything within its walls (clothes, food, etc) were hilariously insane – fascinating yes, but such an over-the-top waste of money. There were a good mix of spoilt unlikeable characters coupled with more down-to-earth ones to keep me happy and entertained.
It’s the fourth in a series but can be enjoyed by itself. I’ve only read #3 The Perfect Couple (5 stars), meaning some of the characters were familiar to me, but most were new to Swan Song and specific to this story. And any that were regulars were introduced with all the relevant information from the previous instalments.
I’m sorry to report that after thirty fictional books set on Nantucket, Elin Hilderbrand is retiring so sadly Swan Song is her last release. I wish her the best, and luckily for me I still have a lot of her backlist to read including the first two in this series.
I devoured the audiobook, and Laurence Bouvard was sensational. I see she has also narrated some of this author’s previous books which makes me so happy. Elin Hilderbrand read the final chapter which left me misty-eyed.
I finally finished!! And it pains me to say this, but this instalment was bland as. Aside from one unexpected twist, the crime plot and the court caseI finally finished!! And it pains me to say this, but this instalment was bland as. Aside from one unexpected twist, the crime plot and the court case were dull and tedious, and the antagonists, especially Ruby the Nanny, were neither threatening nor juicy enough for my tastes. The regular characters were the highlight, and the only thing that held my interest, and kept me reading. I love this series, and will continue to read it, but Witness 8 was the only one out of the four others I’ve read that I haven’t rated 5 stars. Still have three more to read - so hopefully I have more luck with those. My opinion is very much in the minority though - most have loved Witness 8....more
What happens when in a single moment your entire life falls apart?
This is what happens to two suburban neighbouring families in an affluent area whereWhat happens when in a single moment your entire life falls apart?
This is what happens to two suburban neighbouring families in an affluent area where the wives are best friends, whose children have grown up together. When Lorrie’s eldest son Knox begins dating Eden’s only child Summer, the two mothers’ have mixed feelings about the relationship. They feel the young adults are too young to get serious, and since it’s their senior year, they’re months away from heading to two different colleges. What they would never, ever have anticipated is that the week before graduation Summer would accuse Knox of rape. Knox claims it was consensual, Summer insists it wasn’t. Now there’s a divide between Lorrie and Eden, Knox and Summer, their family and friends, and the wider community. Can forgiveness even come from such an unforgivable act?
I award 4.5 stars to Such a Good Family. It was heartbreaking, uncomfortable, emotional, and gut-wrenching. The plot went in an unexpected direction, and I liked that it did. I also appreciated that things were never overly dramatic, outlandish, or twisty with secrets coming out of the woodwork, and that it remained realistic and grounded in reality. The main themes were trauma, sexual consent, victim-blaming, loss, family crisis and breakdown, ostracism, and suburban social cliques, but also, picking up the pieces, moving on, starting over, growing up, and coming of age.
The multiple POV’s allow you to experience the fallout from all sides and show each character’s reactions, feelings, views, and coping mechanisms. Several chapters took place prior to the incident starting six months beforehand, but the majority of the book focused on the aftermath taking place over the span of a week.
A discussion-invoking and thought-provoking read which would make a great book club selection. I don’t usually like to compare authors, but the tone, style, and emotional impact reminded me of Jodi Picoult, Celeste Ng, and Angie Kim. I highly recommend this debut.
The Vacation Really Surprised Me – In the best way possible!
During a long hot summer in Los Angeles, nine travellers from all walks of life and cornerThe Vacation Really Surprised Me – In the best way possible!
During a long hot summer in Los Angeles, nine travellers from all walks of life and corners of the globe – Tommy, Jake, Nicole, Eric, Savannah, Ruth, Jane, Declan, and Matty – have checked into the Venice Beach International Hostel. They are there for a variety of reasons – some are on a mission, others are trying to find themselves, and all are trying to escape and outrun trauma and tragedy in their past. By the end of their stay, for better or worse, all their secrets will be exposed.
Because the past never stays buried!
The Vacation was John Marrs’ first novel, republished and rebranded in 2021, originally published under the title Welcome to Wherever You Are back in 2015. I feel the former title was a more fitting one, as none of the characters were really there on vacation, well not the kind of vacation most of us picture as one anyway. The Travellers would’ve worked better. Also, the cover art of the edition I read doesn’t work for me, as floating in an inflatable pool ring had nothing to do with this novel, as like I said, it wasn’t that kind of vacation, and It’s misleading to readers.
For some reason I went into The Vacation thinking it was a locked room Agatha Christie style mystery. I have no idea why I thought this or where I got my information from, as I was way off. This novel was mainly drama, soap opera, action, character study, with elements of thriller, suspense, crime, and romance thrown in (like any good soap opera, right?). And even though the plot wasn’t what I was expecting, and despite it being completely different from anything else John Marrs has written, I absolutely loved it. I loved the camaraderie and friendships that developed between the hostel guests, and the idea of like-minded strangers being drawn to one another in the most difficult of circumstances when they really needed each other most. And that being surrounded by supportive people also taught them to stand on their own two feet.
There were ninety-eight short chapters, plus a prologue and epilogue, mainly unfolding from the POV’s of the nine guests, but occasionally narrated by other’s as well. Chapters were usually divided into two parts – the present, and then a flashback to how the character narrating got to where they are. I cannot emphasise just how much drama there was, so trigger warnings for nearly every topic, but nothing too graphic. There were definitely serious scenes, situations, and topics, but they were conveyed in that soap-operish kind of way, if you know what I mean? I should also mention that there were a lot of characters, but I never struggled to keep track of who was who.
I’m thrilled over how much I enjoyed The Vacation and am happy to name it as one of my top reads so far this year, and probably my favourite John Marrs.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Pan Macmillan, and John Marrs for the e-ARC. ...more
On the night Angus Stoat proposes to Gabby Alvarez in a NYC midtown bar, Gabby’s best friend Natalie Shapiro meeNo one-star rating from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On the night Angus Stoat proposes to Gabby Alvarez in a NYC midtown bar, Gabby’s best friend Natalie Shapiro meets Angus’ best friend Rob Kapinsky for the first time. Their banter is fun and flirtatious, there’s a definite vibe, but Natalie has a boyfriend and Rob has a plane to catch so they somewhat reluctantly part ways, but occasionally text over the next year and a half.
Their second meeting at Angus and Gabby‘s wedding is decidedly less friendly, in fact it��s downright hostile. Natalie now hates Rob because he had the nerve to give her first novel a one-star rating on Goodreads. Rob feels justifiably disappointed in Natalie after what he discovered she’d written on page 28.
But, over the years they keep crossing paths, unable to avoid each other because of their shared connection through their best friends. And every time they come into contact, they can’t help being drawn to one another, and unwittingly an attraction is growing between them. Will Natalie and Rob ever admit that they have feelings for one another?
Out of all the contemporary romantic comedies that I have rated five stars this year, and this includes Katherine Center’s, The Rom-Commersand Emily Henry’s, Funny Story, Laura Hankin’s, One-Star Romance is my top favourite for 2024. I would even go as far as to say that it’s one of my top romances of all time. I loved it! If I had to compare it to anything I would say that it shares commonalities with the Katherine Heigl 2010 movie, Life as We Know it, and the TV series Love Life (2020) starring Anna Kendrick.
One-Star Romance contained several of my most favourite romantic tropes including enemies to lovers, hate to love, slow-burn, forced proximity, forced to share a bed, love triangle, and open-door (although not quite all the way ...more
3.5 stars. Home Truths wasn’t my favourite by Charity Norman. The first half was thought-provoking, and a unique twist on the unravelling of a family 3.5 stars. Home Truths wasn’t my favourite by Charity Norman. The first half was thought-provoking, and a unique twist on the unravelling of a family due to grief, obsession, and addiction. But, apart from one decent twist, the last half was pretty predictable and repetitive, and I found myself doing the dreaded skimming....more
For three years Frank Szatowski has been estranged from his daughter Maggie. Until out of the blue heA ‘Wedding at a Summer Camp’ Setting. Sign Me Up!
For three years Frank Szatowski has been estranged from his daughter Maggie. Until out of the blue he receives a phone call from her inviting him to her wedding at Osprey Cove, New Hampshire – a former summer camp turned retreat – owned by her future father-in-law, Errol Gardner. Frank readily accepts, is relieved to be back in contact with Maggie. But his first meeting with his daughter’s fiancée, Aidan, doesn’t go well, there’s just something off about him that Frank can’t quite put his finger on. And when Frank discovers that a year ago Aidan dated a girl who went missing it raises all kinds of red flags. Frank is determined to protect Maggie at all costs.
This author’s debut novel, Hidden Pictures, was a hit for me so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of The Last One at the Wedding. Both contained sinister, creepy, foreboding vibes, tense situations, and mystery elements, but this one was more family drama, and psychological thriller. Having Frank as the sole narrator completely worked as he’s drawn more and more into the Gardner family’s web of lies, yet at the same time we wonder whether he’s entirely trustworthy as we don’t know why he and Maggie fell out in the first place, only that it was big, that he blames himself, and wishes he had of done things differently.
Osprey Cove, a former summer camp surrounded by woods in the middle of nowhere, with the Gardner’s lakefront Lodge overlooking smaller cottages reminded me of a novel I loved earlier this year, The God of the Woods. Just like that one, the setting in this was intricately described, and I loved all the descriptions of the three-day wedding extravaganza, with its delicious food, lavish décor, and various activities.
It wasn’t quite a 5 star read as at times the characters made some dumb decisions, the plot was too convenient, and I also had to suspend my disbelief on several occasions. I also saw the biggest twist coming, but it was a great twist, and I liked how impactful it was and the consequences and fallout that resulted from it. This was surprisingly an emotional read, and I was happy with how everything wrapped up.
The Last One at the Wedding was an immersive, fast-paced, high-stakes read. I always looked forward to continuing, was never bored, and I stayed up late last night finishing it off. I highly recommend adding this one to your tbr for the 8th October 2024.
I’d like to thank Netgalley Uk, Little Brown Book Group UK, and Jason Rekulak for the e-ARC....more
The Family Experiment definitely posed many an ethical question!
It’s the most explosive. addictive reality show to hit British television – live-streaThe Family Experiment definitely posed many an ethical question!
It’s the most explosive. addictive reality show to hit British television – live-streaming around the world – welcome to The Family Experiment!
11 contestants – 5 couples, 1 single parent – each challenged to raise a virtual child in the metaverse from birth to 18 years.
Duration of the experiment – 9 months, 9 life stages.
The viewing public will be there for it all – watching, dissecting, judging, voting – twenty-four-seven.
Only one family will win.
The losers’ meta-children will be terminated.
After all, they’re not real!
John Marrs’ latest futuristic techno thriller set in the same universe as The One (2016), The Passengers (2019), and The Marriage Act (2023) was certainly hard hitting and disconcerting, especially considering a version of this could potentially be our future given the alarming pace and rise in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, designer babies, and genetic engineering. Not to mention the global demand for the most controversial, dramatic and sensationalised reality TV possible, which I’m contributing to as shows like Selling Sunset and Married at First Sight Australia are my guilty pleasure. As a psychological suspense thriller, The Family Experiment more than met all my requirements - it was shocking, dark, exciting, fast-paced, addictive, and contained a multitude of gasp-worthy twists. As a drama it was chock full of toxic relationships, backstabbing and betrayal, emotional upheaval, and juicy secrets galore.
As mentioned above the nine months of the reality show unfolded in nine parts each containing chapters from the eleven parents/contestants POV’s. There were also flashbacks to twelve years earlier, breaking news stories, live chats from viewers at home, chapters following the fallout and outcry after the conclusion of the show, and narrators that need to remain anonymous.
During Part One which covered month one of The Family Experiment I struggled to keep all the parents and babies straight, which is rare for me. I think it was because the parents were dealing with newborns, and all the POV’s consisted of crying babies, nappy changes, etc, so not much to distinguish one from the other. But, once month two (nine months old) rolled around, along with the beginning of revealed past secrets, and relationship dynamics, I was home and hosed, and never forgot who-was-who, nor who was narrating after that. Also, in the opening chapters I struggled to get my head around all the technobabble being thrown around, as words like metaverse are largely outside my experience since I’m not an online gamer. I used to play The Sims in the early 2000’s, and the metaverse the meta-children inhabited in this novel, which their parents were able to visit, experience, create, and explore did remind me of that game, which helped me make sense of it all going forward. The age jumps, designing your dream home and dream life, and escaping-from-reality, were also reminiscent of The Sims and similar role-playing games. Of course, this virtual world was much more advanced, and realistic – and of course, much scarier!
The audiobook was masterful – performed to perfection. All the narrators excelled, and the bonus sound effects and music elevated my listening experiences. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
It seems John Marrs can do no wrong in my book no matter what genre he writes!...more
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.
SituatThe 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....more
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