The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is a gothic layered mystery set in a secluded summer camp in the Adirondacks. The story revolves around the mysterious disappearances of two children from the wealthy Van Laar family, Bear and his sister Barbara. The atmosphere is thick with unease, enhanced by the camp's isolated setting and the dark legends surrounding it. The narrative weaves through different timelines and perspectives, offering glimpses into the lives of pre-teen girls and women, highlighting themes of class inequality, injustice, and the struggles women faced in the past.
Moore's writing style is immersive and detailed, bringing the camp and its characters to life. The story unfolds slowly, revealing twists and deepening mysteries that keep readers engaged. Some readers appreciated the complex characters and the intricate plotting, while others found the fragmented narrative a bit challenging to follow. Overall, The God of the Woods is praised for its rich themes, clever misdirection, and an enthralling atmosphere that keeps readers guessing until the end.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of abuse, childhood trauma, and class prejudice, which may be distressing to some readers.
From The Publisher:
THE RUNAWAY NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
" The God of the Woods should be your next summer mystery. " - The Washington Post
"Extraordinary . . . Reminds me of Donna Tartt's 1992 debut, The Secret History . . . I was so thoroughly submerged in a rich fictional world, that for hours I barely came up for air." - Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air , NPR
" Riveting from page one to the last breathless word. " -Rebecca Makkai, New York Times bestselling author of I Have Some Questions For You
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.
Ratings (40)
Incredible (9) | |
Loved It (18) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (102):
Read It (40) | |
Want To Read (59) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (2) |
5 comment(s)
I enjoyed this book… with the plot following multiple storylines ending with a good twist…
I really struggled in the middle because nothing much was happening and a constant back and forth with dates didn’t help…I’m just not a big fan of this kind of writing style…
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
This was interesting! I feel like I should have expected the turns it took, as it turned out to be a mystery much more about trauma and wealth then actual violence. All in all a good story, just dragged a little for me!
Definitely one of the best books I’ve read all year
SYNOPSIS
Barbara Van Laar has vanished from her family’s summer camp in the Adirondacks in 1975. Barbara is seventeen, edgy, rebellious, and the black sheep of her wealthy family.
Oddly enough, Barbara is the only remaining child in her family. Her older brother, Bear, went missing before she was born. Needless to say, Barbara’s parents were already not doing so great. Her mother, Alice, is battling many addictions & dealing with lots of psychological issues, and her father, Peter, is a piece of work & truly awful. As you see more of both of their bloodlines, it’s easy to see the generational trauma here.
As investigators dig into Barbara’s disappearance, lots of secrets are unraveled.
MY THOUGHTS
This is my second Liz Moore read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Moore is a fantastic writer.
Loved all the layers.
Lots of different points of views
Explored some really great themes — dysfunctional families & generational trauma.
Features several strong, likable women characters.
Ending was satisfying.
Well-plotted.
Excellent character development
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️really well done. highly recommend this one.
4.5 stars
Liz Moore did not disappoint me.
This literary mystery begins with the disappearance of teenage girl, Barbara Van Laar from a summer camp owned by her own rich family in 1975. Fourteen years ago, her brother then 8 years old, Bear, vanished without a trace under mysterious circumstances.
Judyta Luptack, one of the first female police investigators at the time, fights to pave her way in the male dominated police force, society and seek truth. As the story unfolds, going back and forth between timelines (which I usually do not like but handled beautifully here), perspectives from different characters builds a sense of suspense and intrigue.
Set against the backdrop of beautifully described Adirondack wilderness, we see the issues of human class, family, money and survival which does not fail to engage. A page turner for sure.
Happy Reading!!
What can you read after
The God of the Woods?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
