The god of the woods
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.
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Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
What’s it about?
When thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Leer goes missing from summer camp it creates a stir. Her family owns the camp and her older brother went missing thirteen years earlier. Spanning from the 1950’s through 1974 and told through many eyes- this is a mystery with many layers.
What did it make me think about?
The relationship between families and communities.
Should I read it?
I read and loved Long Bright River by Liz Moore a few years ago. I have been waiting eagerly for her next book. I was so sorry to turn the last page on this book. Both books are stellar mysteries with strong character development. But the settings could not be more different. While Long Bright River takes place in the urban setting of Philadelphia, this novel is placed squarely in the Adirondack mountains. In both books, the setting is an important aspect of the story. I will say no more as you should read this one yourself. If you are looking for a great summer mystery then look no further!
Quote-
“The empty bed is Barbara’s.
She closes her eyes. She imagines herself returning, for the rest of her life, to this place and this moment: a lonely time traveler, a ghost, haunting the cabin called Balsam, willing a body to appear where there is none. Willing the girl herself, Barabara, to walk through the door. To say she has been in the washroom, to say she forgot the rule about taking the flashlight, to apologize disarmingly, as she has done before.
But Louise knows that Brabra won’t do any of these things. She senses, for reasons she can’t quite articulate, that Barbara is gone.
Of all the campers, Louise thinks. Of all the campers to go missing.”
What’s it about?
When thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Leer goes missing from summer camp it creates a stir. Her family owns the camp and her older brother went missing thirteen years earlier. Spanning from the 1950’s through 1974 and told through many eyes- this is a mystery with many layers.
What did it make me think about?
The relationship between families and communities.
Should I read it?
I read and loved Long Bright River by Liz Moore a few years ago. I have been waiting eagerly for her next book. I was so sorry to turn the last page on this book. Both books are stellar mysteries with strong character development. But the settings could not be more different. While Long Bright River takes place in the urban setting of Philadelphia, this novel is placed squarely in the Adirondack mountains. In both books, the setting is an important aspect of the story. I will say no more as you should read this one yourself. If you are looking for a great summer mystery then look no further!
Quote-
“The empty bed is Barbara’s.
She closes her eyes. She imagines herself returning, for the rest of her life, to this place and this moment: a lonely time traveler, a ghost, haunting the cabin called Balsam, willing a body to appear where there is none. Willing the girl herself, Barabara, to walk through the door. To say she has been in the washroom, to say she forgot the rule about taking the flashlight, to apologize disarmingly, as she has done before.
But Louise knows that Brabra won’t do any of these things. She senses, for reasons she can’t quite articulate, that Barbara is gone.
Of all the campers, Louise thinks. Of all the campers to go missing.”
This was a 2.5 star read for me. I unfortunately had to DNF this one. I tried really hard to work my way through it, but I felt like it never really picked up. VERY Slow burn, but I was intrigued by the overall concept of the book. I will try again later this year, and see if it was just me.
*God of the Woods* by Liz Moore offers an intriguing premise but ultimately left me underwhelmed. The characters, though interesting, felt underdeveloped, leaving me disconnected from their emotional journeys. The lack of explanation for their actions and motivations made it hard to fully invest in their stories.
The ending, while attempting a twist, felt unbelievable and out of place, disrupting the narrative’s tone and undermining the emotional buildup. However, everyone at our book club discussion enjoyed the female police character, finding her portrayal compelling and complex. The writing itself is rich and atmospheric, with strong themes around loss and identity. Despite these strengths, the weak character development and implausible conclusion left me unsatisfied overall. While the book has potential, it didn’t quite hit the mark.
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