The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is a mystery that immediately draws you in. A 13-year old camper disappears in the same woods that her brother disappeared in over a decade earlier and was never found. Told in dual timeline, this mystery keeps you guessing until the end. I will definitely read future books by Liz Moore.

When Barbara Van Laar goes missing from Camp Emerson in 1975, her counselor Louise knows that things couldn’t get much worse. Not only is Barbara the daughter of the owner of the camp, she is also the sister of Bear, who went missing in 1961. The hunt for the missing camper dredges up the secret and hidden things that make up a long list of suspects.

I LOVED this book. There is a slow, leisurely introduction to all the characters that had anything to do with either missing child, most notably those who had an interest/involvement but that had nothing to do with the disappearance. Each “chapter” is told with a character as the central focus. The omniscient narrator relates the character’s actions, and shows what the character notices/thinks, to a degree… we also see when a character is hiding something. We just don’t see how it all fits together. As I was reading, I felt the enormity of the task the law enforcement professionals faced, and felt even more for Judyta, the female cop, who is also dealing with sexism and a long commute. I appreciate how Moore takes the time to unpack the sexual discrimination of the time, from the youngest to the oldest female characters. This unspoken sisterhood allows Judyta more access to motives and clues that her male counterparts ignore or avoid.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves VERY GOOD mysteries. It was the first book I read this past summer as an ARC, and I’m not surprised by the media attention to it. Worth every word.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Riverhead and NetGalley for access to the ARC. My review is my own, no compensation desired or required.

It's easy to see why this book was THE "it" book of summer. A great story with lots of threads that pulled together perfectly. I personally loved a description the author made about wanting to stay home all summer, in front of the fan, with a stack of books.

I put off writing this review for a really long time because in all honesty, it gave me such a book hangover that everything else wasn't good enough and I couldn't express why.

I loved Long Bright River so I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. I think I even liked it more than Long Bright River which really shocked me how the author progressed as a storyteller in such a short time.

Yes, the book is a brick. It is long, but it never felt long and to me and I could have easily read more. I just loved how everything wove together and all of the characters backstories to get to the point that they were at. I also really, REALLY appreciated that the author didn't leave us hanging at the end with an ambiguous ending. I loathe that in a mystery book.

I don't re-read a lot of books, but I could see myself re-reading this one eventually.

Favorite book of 2024 so far.

Finally got around to reading this - I know the verdict is already in - but totally loved. Had to wait until I got my children home from their first sleep-away camp to really dive in but loved it. I loved the way she plays with time and structure and loved the ending also.

Overall I really liked this book. It is a mystery with a lot going on and a literary sensibility. The way Moore weaves timelines and POVs is so so so good. It really works for this book and she is totally in control. Thankfully, because if this was done wrong it could've been really bad. I couldn't predict the end but also didn't feel like it came too far out of left field (I hate that). The book is very much white people problems, and I loved that escape. This book isn't trying to do more than it should/can. It knows what it is and I appreciate that. That being said, it is a really well written and engaging book with great plot and character development. My biggest complaint was the book went on too long, at almost 500 pages I would find myself totally invested and then zoning out in certain parts. But overall this is a big yes from me.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. In the beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure about it. The moving between time periods and characters was throwing me off a little bit, and making it take a little longer for me to get into the book. But once I was hooked…I was in. By the time I got to 70% I was like “I will just be a little late for that appointment” because I just wanted to stay home and keep reading!
This is a great thriller about awful families, loving families, the decadence of wealth, and self-reliance. Ironically, the Van Laars, who live in a manor house named “Self-reliance” are the least reliant of all. This book will suck you in and make you think. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

This literary mystery set at a summer camp in the Adirondacks was everything I hoped it would be. Alternating between two timelines in the 1950s and 1970s, this book follows the wealthy Van Laar family who owns the camp and their two children who go missing from it fourteen years apart. If it was anyone other than Liz Moore writing this, I would have rolled my eyes at the seemingly convenient premise, but she used it to create a layered, multi-threaded story full of secrets that I couldn’t look away from. I loved seeing it all slowly unravel and was amazed by how she crafted such a complex story.

This book checked all the boxes for me. It’s full of interesting characters and compelling narratives told from different points of view. The variety of perspectives gave so much depth and nuance to each character. The short chapters kept me turning the pages, making 500 pages feel like nothing. There were enough clues and red herrings to keep me guessing without driving me crazy. The woodsy summer setting was immersive and rich, feeling both nostalgic and unsettling at times.

No complaints. This one lived up to the hype for me and I would press this into the hands of almost anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Riverhead for the ARC!

I’ve always enjoyed Liz Moore’s books due to her beautiful writing and complex characters. Her books are a slow burn and an unraveling of relationships, family dynamics and history. God of the Woods was no different. An excellent story that would be a great book club read.

Liz Moore can do it all. She proved that with Long, Bright River which managed to be so many different things: a compelling mystery, a family saga, an indictment of our justice system, a poignant observation on poverty and class, the tragedy of addiction.

With The God of the Woods, Moore steps it up a notch. This is some TOP TIER historical fiction. Set in the 70s, in upstate New York at a summer camp, the daughter of the owners of the camp goes missing. Her older brother went missing from the camp several years before.

Off goes The God of the Woods, full of perfectly plotted moments and incredible pacing. It's not a short book but you won't be able to put it down. Great characters, believable grief, and sublime prose, Liz Moore is a masterful storyteller.

This was a blend of literary mystery and historical fiction that lingers long after the final page. Set against the backdrop of a secluded summer camp, the story unfolds at a deliberate pace, immersing the reader into a tense atmosphere.
When the daughter of a wealthy family vanishes during summer camp, the community is thrown into turmoil. The disappearance echoes a similar incident that occurred fifteen years earlier, sparking rumors and unease. Moore skillfully weaves together the present-day mystery with the haunting past, creating a suspenseful and thought-provoking narrative.
This is not a fast-paced thriller, but rather a carefully crafted exploration of themes such as loss, grief, and the secrets that lie hidden within small towns. The author's prose and meticulous attention to detail bring the characters and setting to life, making this a truly unforgettable reading experience.
What an amazing end to my summer reading!

This was a really good mystery/thriller. Loved the writing and loved the characters. For me it wasn't a book that I could figure out the ending. Love when the author surprises me.

A camper goes missing after her older brother also went missing years ago and was never found. This was a great novel--kept me guessing and turning those pages right to the end. Great job divvying out all the different story lines!

4.5 stars -- this book had me fully SAT from the beginning.

A slow burn, lengthy mystery that will have it's hooks in you from start to finish.

The campers at Camp Emerson in the Summer of 1975 are having a normal summer. Children of elite and wealthy parents from the Northeast and beyond, they mostly enjoying their independence in the woods -- until thirteen year old Barbara Van Laar goes missing from her bunk. Barbara is not a normal camper -- her parents own the large estate and campgrounds. She also had an older brother who disappeared in these same woods before she was born.

The search is led in part by 26 year old Investigator Judyta Luptak, one of the first female State Police officers in the nation. But questions asked during their current investigation lead to natural inquiries about the handling of the first investigation -- which will lead to the truth finally being revealed about what happened to both Van Laar children.

Gripping and intense and beautifully well written -- I soaked up every page and loved every POV that led to this stunning conclusion.

Loved the story! I loved how it all came together. Liz weaves a complex storyline masterfully.

Thank you, NetGalley! I will definitely recommend this to others!

While I really liked this book as a whole, I had trouble really getting into it. The dual timelines with similar story lines and characters made it difficult to track where you were. There were also several different POVs which got confusing. I thought the way the story came together in the end was very intriguing and not something I would have guessed. Thank you net galley and the publisher for the ARC!

In 1975, thirteen-year-old Barbera Van Laar goes missing from the Adirondack camp that her wealthy family owns. But Barbara isn’t the only camper who has gone missing from the property. Fourteen years before, her older brother Bear went missing and was never found. As the search begins for Barbara, many questions arise. Barbara is a difficult teen and she has never expressed any interest in being a camper. Why does she suddenly want to join the campers? When the police are finally brought in, it becomes apparent that everyone involved with the camp has secrets.

The God of the Woods has a lot of characters and the story is told from different points of view. What happened to Barbara and who is telling the truth? I enjoyed this book, the immersive setting at a summer camp and the slow burn mystery. I didn’t see the ending coming and it took me completely by surprise.

Thanks to Penguin Group Riverhead Books and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

Keep making both exciting and literary thrillers like this! I loved the vibes of this book, but it also had such rich, nuanced characters but also a fast paced plot. Loved it!

This book got so much hype, I was so excited to start it but it ended up just not being for me. Maybe it's because I tend to like spookier and/or sadder books? But I just don't get it. I tried text and audio and I just could not bring myself to care about what was happening to the characters.

The God of the Woods captivated my attention and had me guessing the whole time I was reading it. A slow burn mystery, but with enthralling characters that were very memorable. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.