The Book:
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Published July 2, 2024 by Riverhead Books
Date read: September 19, 2024
Find more July 2024 releases here.
The God of the Woods spoilers can be found below, but they’re hidden under a spoiler tag so you’re safe to keep scrolling if you’d just like to read my review.
The Characters:
Barbara, the missing girl
Judyta, the investigator
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The Plot (from Goodreads):
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.
The God of the Woods Spoilers
The Review:
I know I’m late to the party, but The God of the Woods was freaking incredible. I wasn’t sure I was going to read this one after feeling so-so about Long Bright River, but after rave reviews (and a craving for a summer camp thriller) I’m so glad I did.
I loved the characters, especially Tracy and Barbara. There area a lot of characters to keep track of, but Moore lays them out flawlessly, and their personalities are unique enough to keep track. Just about everyone has a secret!
The setting is also great. I’ve never been to summer camp, but books like this make me wish I had gone as a kid. Not the disappearance bit I mean, but the atmosphere and the early scenes before all goes wrong. If you liked The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager, you’re going to want to give this one a read.
I can’t think of an ending I’ve loved this much in a long time.
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