The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

A Four-Star Book Review

As I plough my way through my BOTM backlist—have to earn that last Book of the Month challenge before the end of the year—I finally picked up The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. This mystery novel has been making the rounds on Bookstagram since its publication day this year, so I had high expectations going in. I was not disappointed. 

Summary of The God of the Woods (No Spoilers)

The wealth Van Laar family has owned a large estate in the Adirondacks for nearly a century. On one side is their luxurious home, named Self-Reliance, each piece brought over from Switzerland in the 1800s and rebuilt as a perfect Swiss chalet. On the other side, is Camp Emerson, with the Van Laar patriarch opened as an effort to teach children about nature, particularly the deep Adirondack woods, each summer. The family separates themselves from Camp Emerson as much as possible, leaving the management to their longstanding employee Vic Hewitt and now his daughter, T.J. But in 1975, that changes as their troubled daughter, Barbara, insists on attending camp.

The story begins when camp counselor Louise wakes up to find Barbara missing. As the Judyta, a newly appointed member of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and her colleagues search for the 13 year old, secrets about the Van Laar family come to the surface, including the unsolved case of what happened to their 8-year-old son, Bear, when he went missing in 1961. Only the BCI and Barbara’s friends seem to feel the urgency of finding Barbara, which brings more suspicions and layers to the story.

What I Enjoyed about The God of the Woods

The God of the Woods is a compelling read with two mysteries across two timelines, which made it especially enjoyable for me. Here are a few other reasons I liked this book:

• Multiple points of view: If you’ve read any of my blog posts, you know I love a multi-POV novel. When done well, the variety of character perspectives moves along the story and brings shades of grey to the plot. Such is the case with The God of the Woods. From Judyta and Louise to Tracy, Barbara’s best friend at camp, to Alice, Bear and Barbara’s troubled, cold mother, among others, the characters’ POVs and backstories were interesting and relevant to the mysteries of Bear and Barbara’s disappearances.
• The characters: Unlikeable characters are a favorite of mine as well, and there are some infuriating characters in The God of the Woods. Moore makes a clear statement about classism, distinguishing between the wealthy Van Lars and their friends who are visiting for the end-of-summer party at Self-Reliance versus the workers at the house and camp, and the investigators and search party members. There are clear standards, according to the haughty Van Laars, and if even family members, like Barbara, don’t meet expectations, there are consequences.
• The setting: Nature and I aren’t best friends. I like to look at it from afar because bugs, dirt, and slithery creatures. Also, I’m incredibly clumsy, so I’d probably break my arm or leg by tripping on a stick or rock. But reading this book makes want to visit the Adirondacks, settle into a cozy cabin, and possibly hike a bit. Just don’t ask me to sleep on the ground in a tent.

My Final Thoughts about The God of the Woods

The God of the Woods hit the right notes for me for an October read. I’m not much for scary books or horror novels, but Moore’s mystery kept me interested for nearly 500 pages. It’s worth the hype it’s received on Bookstagram and a good read for anyone who wants an atmospheric mystery with complicated, compelling characters.