The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.

I love literary crime fiction and this is on of the best I have read this year . The God of the Woods is an expertly crafted, engrossing and beautifully written mystery told over two timelines, set in the Adirondack Mountains in New York State.
The book opens in August 1975 with a camp counsellor finding an empty bed. Barbara Van Laar, 13 years old is the daughter of the camps owners, their grand family home " Self Reliance" is nearby and the Van Laar's are responsible for employing a lot of people locally. In a twisted turn of events, this isn't the first time a Van Laar child has vanished. Fourteen years previously, Bear , Barbara's brother also vanished, in the same woods. The behaviour and actions of the Van Laar family in 1961 when Bear disappeared , caused consternation with some of the local community, some felt a lot of questions were left unanswered and others believe the wrong person was blamed. Could the same thing happen to one family a second time and will the outcome and their actions be different?

The story unfolds, switching effortlessly between timelines and narratives, it is excellently plotted, a slow burn but a deeply engaging read. At close to 500 pages,(it feels shorter when reading ) each character is well developed, complex and intriguing. Moore captures the time and place in rich detail especially from the perspective of the female characters and I was fully immersed in their stories which interlink and overlap as the novel progresses. Compassionate, tense, heartbreaking and hopeful, Liz Moore is a wonderful writer and this a fantastic read. Add it to your Summer reading plans.

4.5

The God of the Woods draws you in and refuses to let you leave. It is a character focused mystery that tackles privilege, fractured families and secrets buried long ago.

I was drawn to this book by its tantalising hook – it seems that tragedy has a habit of marking the Van Laar family and in one of the most horrific fashions. A missing child is a waking nightmare that I cannot even fathom. To then lose another is unimaginable. That central set up spins out into these amazingly complex characters as we move between timelines and differing groups. These essentially the mystery of the modern day disappearance and that of all those years ago. It is a study of the ripple effects of trauma and seeing how that shapes everyone around. Moore lets those effects reverberate through the years, made even sharper by the timelines co-existing alongside one another in the chapters. You are inexplicably drawn into this tragedy and feel it play out around you almost in real time.

The use of these differing narratives also allows some interesting overlaps and contrasts between accounts of different aspects of both mysteries. There is an incisive look at privilege and the abuse of power – being able to smooth away any possible wrinkles solely because of who you are and who your family is. Moore also includes a heart-breaking examination of grief and the concept of hysteria in women, including institutionalisation. This is a keenly felt blow within the narratives and adds even more pathos to an already emotionally fraught book.

Moore very much sets the power of privilege in her sights in this quieter, complex and non linear narrative. The God of the Woods is a beguiling book with beautiful prose and a mystery that tugs at your heartstrings.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore derives its title from the Greek god Pan, the god of the woods who liked to trick people until they lost their bearings and their minds. To panic, it says in the book, was to make an enemy of the forest. To stay calm was to be its friend.

This little passage about 10% into the book gives a subtle clue as to its ending. Until the book reaches its denouement however, you have no idea and it is a gripping ride getting there. Many have called this book the literary thriller of the summer, and for me, it lived up to its billing.

Set in two time periods, 1961 and 1975, on Camp Emerson, a summer camp for teenagers on a remote reserve in the Adirondacks, it tells the story of teenage girl Barbara van Laar who goes missing in 1975 and the subsequent search for her. Fourteen years earlier, Barbara's older brother Bear went missing and was never found, though the finger of suspicion has always pointed at the last person to see him alive.

This engrossing suspense novel has all the elements of a great read - top quality writing, a brilliant story, an atmospheric setting, and a web of secrets and lies woven by a rich family and those closest to them. I've had Long Bright River on my Kindle for ages - probably since it appeared on Barack Obama's summer reading list a few years ago. I'll be prioritising it! This one is highly recommended for those who love a meaty, literary thriller. 4.5/5 stars

*Many thanks to Harper Collins for the arc via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The God of the Woods was published this week.

Fifteen years ago, the eight-year-old son of the Van Laar family went missing in the woods surrounding their preserve. Now, their sixteen-year-old daughter has vanished into the same wilderness as her brother. There are some who say it is a tragic coincidence; that the daughter was unhappy and has run away. There are others who say the two disappearances must be connected, and that the family know more than they’re saying.

There are so many layers to this novel, my word. On the surface is the investigation into Barbara’s and, by association, Bear’s disappearances. But beneath that, there are secrets, affairs, complicated family dynamics, physically and mentally abusive relationships and an escaped convict on the run.

Despite there being so much going on, the plot felt pretty lacklustre until around half way through, when Judyta gets involved in the investigation. I really enjoyed her, and became much more engrossed when reading the chapters following her enquiries into Barbara’s whereabouts.

I didn’t love the way this book is written. The way the narrative hops between timelines and to different characters is confusing. The parallel timelines are difficult to follow when presented in this way because it was difficult to work out which timeframe we were in at any given point in the book. Again, things straightened out and became much easier to follow ones the focus was more on Judyta and the present investigation.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Is a mystery thriller set in 1975 around a missing girl Barbara Van Lear, who disappears from a summer camp owned by her family.

However the case has many similarities to he brother Bear who went missing fifteen years before and has never been seen since.

So the questions for investigator Judyta, the first female on the force, is where Barbara is and is her disappearance connected to her brother who she never met.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is a thriller which is over 400 pages which is on the larger size for a novel of this genre, however every single page if the story was needed and it read quicker than the page count would have you believe.

Having said that Liz Moore’s Gods of the Woods, is a standard police procedural it does cover a few issues that take it above a basic novel of its genre.

The first is the ability the wealthy have to make lives easier for themselves in any situation, this may just be to pay for bail when being investigated so they spend less time in jail, to the power they have due to the connections.

In addition the family and how far people will go to preserve, how it is perceived by those who are on the outside,

The final issue that The God of the Woods by Liz Moore examines is the attitudes of previous generations around feminism as the novels most up to date time period is 1975 and the main detective Judyta is the first female investigator on the force.

However with The God of the Woods being a thriller so the novel does not examine them in any depth there are a number of times where these do form part of the plot line if just on the periphery of the story.

The structure of, The God of the Woods can sound complicated for some readers as the novel is not only told through ten different perspectives,

It also Jumps around a number of different time periods covering, before, after and during, both Barbrara’s and Bear’s disappearance. This gives the advantage to the mystery of the story however some readers may not like the time jumps.

Having said that, Liz Moore’s writing style allows a smooth transition when the story changes perspective and or time period.

While The God of the Woods by Liz Moore could be considered a standard police procedural with the addition of a previous sibling gone missing 15 years before it gives the story an added mystery as a reader you are trying to work out if the events are connected in any way.

Thank you for this ARC!

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. It was just too slow and the ending didn’t justify the plot points leading up to it.

The God of the Woods is a slow burn mystery that keeps you intrigued but doesn't quite hit the mark. While the story builds up nicely, the ending felt a bit implausible, which took away from the overall impact. Despite this, it's still a good read and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries. Just don't expect it to be a standout in the genre.

The God of the Woods is a riveting read. If you're looking for intriguing characters, a beautifully crafted, slow and atmospheric mystery that feels incredibly intense, then this is the one for you.

<i>Long Bright River</i> is one of my all time mystery novels so of course this was one of my most anticipated books of the year! Moore is such a talented writer and this story was so well crafted. it’s a very slow burn as Moore takes her time introducing the large cast of characters before we get to the actual meat of the mystery (it really takes about halfway through the book for the pace to pick up), but it’s really because this story is about SO much more than the mystery at hand. it’s very character driven and has a lot of commentary on social hierarchy (the book takes place across the early ‘60 and mid ‘70s), this is not for readers who enjoy fast paced thrillers. it didn’t quite reach the heights of LBR for me, and the slow pace had me wondering for awhile if we were ever getting to the point, but still another fantastic work from Moore.

Wow! What a book. I absolutely loved it. My first time reading @lizmoorebooks and it won’t be my last. I was completely gripped, it’s so riveting right from page one.
The story is about the disappearance of 13 year old Barbara Van Laar at Summer Camp in the Ardinaks mountains. And her brother Bear who also disappeared fourteen years before. It includes toxic families,classism, sexuality, identity, motherhood and so much more….
Told in alternating timelines between the past in the 1950’s and present in the 1970’s which is seamlessly woven together, and through multiple POV’s which are easy to follow. It’s beautifully written and perfectly paced as the story twists and turns. It’s powerful and intense, a rollercoaster of emotions. The short chapters add to the tension, with complex flawed characters which are well written, some likeable and others not so likeable. All the characters are vivid and felt so real. My favourite character is Inspector Judyta Luptack. The setting is brilliant and beautifully described and you can visualise it easily.
The story is multi layered revealing not just one but two mysteries with the details of what happened to both Bear and Barbara Van Laar. The multitude of secrets which are revealed and the lies told to cover them up make it so suspenseful and with the surprising ending. Just brilliant. I loved the authors writing style. It’s just so captivating and she writes with such depth. It’s a brilliant complex and detailed story I just couldn’t put it down. This book is definitely one of my favourite reads so far for 2024. I love the cover too. Highly recommend this page turning literary mystery family saga thriller. If you enjoy these genres you love this book.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HarperCollinsUK @Harperfiction for an arc of #TheGodOfTheWoods by Liz Moore in exchange for a honest review. I will post my review on Instagram @allthingsbookswithclaire
Book publishes 4 July 2024.

In the Adirondacks, near Saratoga in New York State, lies the Van Laar Preserve, a vast area of woodland. The family live in a chalet type mansion called “Self-Reliance”, high on a ridge. Down below lies Camp Emerson, a collection of wooden huts which, each summer, becomes a “Summer Camp” for children between eight and fourteen. The geographical distance between these is a metaphor for the class distinction between the two groups, because the Van Laars are very high class while the campers are essentially from wealthy but not rich stock. Nearby is the down-market town of Shattuck from which the family and the camp derive all of their manual workers. In 1961, Peter, aged 8, the fourth son of Peter the third and his wife Alice, went missing in the woods. In 1975, Barbara, the thirteen-year-old daughter of the family, pestered her parents until she was allowed to be come a camper. Two months into the holiday, she slipped out of her hut during the night and never returned. Tracy her bunkmate, knows that these ‘trips’ are a regular event, but Barbara always sneaks back in before reveille. Who has she been meeting and why? Louise her counsellor, who comes from Shattuck, was supposed to spend the night in the hut but had been out on an assignation, and Annabel, the trainee, had also sneaked off. Were either of them complicit? Is this disappearance connected to earlier one? Is it a coincidence that Jacob Sluiter, a serial killer, has recently escaped and is heading towards the area?
A mystery story, then, but we don’t know if it’s a murder story. It’s a thriller, but the writing is so heavy that the pace is slow and the plot buried beneath a wealth of background. There is a lot of time shifting mainly between 1961 and 1975, but going back to the 1950s, and varying viewpoints. There has to be a police investigation, of course, so this is also a procedural story, and this also highlights the class differences, because Denny, the Senior State Investigator, comes from Shattuck and the other, Judyta, is from a similar background. The pace picks up once this begins (about a third of the way into this 490 page book), the story becomes much clearer and the plot is better managed. The solutions to the two disappearances are sensible and surprising so, from that point of view, this is a satisfactory mystery story, but I think the first third could have been pruned to give a cleaner start without compromising the solutions.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

JUST WOW. I’ve been (not so patiently) waiting for Liz Moore’s new book after being obsessed with LONG BRIGHT RIVER, and I can tell you … the wait was worth it 😅 THE GOD OF THE WOODS is a mystery meets family drama that will have you so engrossed and turning the pages so fast!

Barbara Van Laar is the teenage daughter of very wealthy parents who own a summer camp. On her first year attending, she goes missing one night. Where is Barbara? Who’s taken her? … but everyone knows she’s not the first Van Laar child to go missing. As the search begins, secrets unfold and the past and present collide 🫣🤫

👀 If you want a book that will captivate you and hook you from the very first page - pick this character driven novel up now 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This storyline was a little slow evolving and did not really grab my attention. I did manage to complete the book but can only give it 3 stars rating. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

This is an easy 4 star for me. It is quite complex, so I would recommend sitting for a good period of time whilst reading. If you pick it up and put it down again every 10 mins then you may struggle to keep up - the time changes with each chapter, flipping for past to present, and there are a lot of characters to keep up with, and complex “histories”. I make it sound more complex than it is….but if you’re like me, you’ll need to read in big chunks!

The plot is truly excellent, and there’s a lot to take in, a lot to process, and it really keeps you on your toes. I never expected it to go where it went. Absolutely blown away at the ending.

Overall. Brilliantly done.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. It was just too slow. I can understand a lot of readers enjoying it hence numerous 4 and 5 star reviews but not me.

After reading wonderful reviews and being intrigued by the synopsis, I decided to pick up The God of the Woods . Despite its 500-page length and deliberate pacing, I was profoundly captivated by the story and its characters from the very beginning, thanks to the author's incredible writing and immersive atmosphere.

The book spans 25 years and explores multiple perspectives, each meticulously crafted to provide deep insights into the characters' lives and circumstances. The narrative illuminates their worries and motivations while leaving enough unsaid to keep the reader guessing. The characters are complex and multifaceted; some are despicable, others deeply unhappy or misunderstood, but all are fascinating to read about.

At its core, the novel revolves around two mysteries that kept me deeply invested. While I enjoyed some perspectives more than others (particularly Judy and Louise), each one contributed meaningfully to the story, and the two disappearances were both frustrating and sad. By the end, I felt a sense of loss at parting with these characters. The resolution of one mystery was a tragic story that I found particularly compelling and unexpected. The other mystery also concluded in a deeply satisfying manner.

I highly recommend this novel to fans of literary thrillers who appreciate taking the time to delve into characters' lives and aren't in a rush to uncover all the secrets. The God of the Woods is a slow-moving but beautifully crafted thriller about family, relationships, and class issues.

This book definitely lived up to its blurb. It centres around the wealthy van Laar family and the disappearance of their two children 15 years apart. Barbara van Laar disappears from a holiday camp on her parents’ land. Her brother’s murder was allegedly solved but his body was never found. All the characters are well depicted with their strengths and weaknesses including the police officer Judy operating in a male dominated world which, from my memory, still existed in 1975. She is determined to solve the mystery of both disappearances. Lots of twists and a very satisfactory ending. A great thriller. Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, publishers and author for an e-arc. All opinions remain 100% genuine.

Despite it taking me a while to read, due to mainly issues with the Netgalley shelf app and then commitments to book tours, I absolutely adored this novel.

This was a fantastic mystery, with so many twists and complexities that kept me guessing.
We followed quite a few perspectives (children at the camp, those missing, the rich people on the hill, the workers for them, the police force) and every point of view added an extra layer of retrospect and depth to the telling of the story.

The back drop being at a summer camp, with tensions between those that run it and know the land, and those that own it and reap the rewards really took the story itself further and I enjoyed seeing how relationships (good and bad) developed due to those tensions.
The atmosphere building from the relationships and the surrounding woodland perfectly heightened and grew taunt as the story progressed.

The writing style and use of time, going back and fourth, and stemming from the investigation from the original missing child case of the first Van Laar child was incredibly told. I was hooked from the start all the way to the end.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.

Loved this book! It kept me up late at night reading, I was so engaged in the story. The story goes back and forth between the early 1960s and the mid 1970s, when two children of a wealthy New York family go missing over a decade apart, from the same place. Told through multiple perspectives, we get an intriguing glimpse into the lives of the East Coast elite of past generations and what they will do in the interest of keeping up appearances. The book has a great pace, and the peril and intrigue is kept up throughout. Neither of the children's stories ended in a way I was expecting, kudos to the author for crafting this story with such well done twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and deeply invested in the characters and outcomes. Highly recommend!

I thought this was going to be a light summer read. I was wrong and in the best way possible.
This story follows multiple time lines and from multiple view points in a non linear time line. Essentially we follow the story of the Van Laars a wealthy New York socialite/ banking family through from 1951 to 1975 and the loss of two children. The Van Laars own a summer camp and family home in the Adirondacks. Wealthy, spoilt and with an eye on their reputation the youngest son marries Alice, a quiet socialite with no experience of the world or how to exist in social circles. They loose their son Bear, 8, who goes missing at the end of one summer on an hike with his grandfather, his body is never found. Skip 14 years later and his sister Barbara goes missing overnight from the summer camp. What transpires is stories of wealth, privilege, secrets, and justice. Can the new first female investigator get to the bottom of the decades of secrets held by the Van Laars.

Liz Moore creates a wealth of characters exploring misogyny, loneliness and toxicity in a police procedural / family saga with depth and engagement. It’s a little bit of a slow burn and not the shortest of books but you really feel like you know the characters and their voices are loud and clear. I really enjoyed this novel ive given it a 4 star but it’s more of a 4.5. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.