The God of the Woods

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"Riveting from page one to the last breathless word."--Rebecca Makkai, New York Times bestselling author of I Have Some Questions For You

"Brilliant, riveting .. an epic mystery, a family saga and a survival guide...I loved this book." --Miranda Cowley Heller, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace

When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide

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.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Moore's latest (following Long Bright River) is a seamlessly woven crossover lit-fic mystery set in the atmospheric Adirondack Mountains. In the summer of 1975, Barbara Van Laar, the rebellious teenage daughter of a wealthy land-owning family, asks to attend the summer camp her family owns. Then she disappears from camp one night. Barbara isn't the first Van Laar child to go missing on that tract of land; her older brother Bear disappeared 14 years prior, never to be seen again. As so many secrets are hidden within the Van Laar family, and the surrounding community is reliant upon the family's land holdings, panic and suspicion take over. The novel's artfully described setting and the intricately interwoven plots and perspectives of its many players--some innocent and others monstrous--result in expert storytelling that is equally fascinating and devastating. VERDICT Moore's novel is wild yet delicate, with complex characters and an immersive reading experience that will draw audiences. Its explorations of class, crime, and family dynamics, in addition to Moore's incredible storytelling, will appeal to readers of Lisa Jewell, Tana French, and Lucy Foley.--Alana R. Quarles

Publishers Weekly Review

The gripping and revelatory latest from Moore (Long Bright River) revolves around a prominent banking family's troubled legacy in the Adirondacks. In 1975, 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar goes missing near the end of her first summer at Camp Emerson. It's the second time a Van Laar child has vanished from the area; 14 years earlier, Barbara's older brother Bear disappeared from their summer house when he was eight. The nonlinear narrative lays bare the family's pain and unhappiness, showing how Peter Van Laar pressures his wife, Alice, to have another child shortly after Bear's disappearance, and how Barbara frustrates the couple by being comparatively more difficult as a young girl, leading them to send her to boarding school. Moore gradually reveals the truth behind Barbara's disappearance in scenes told from the alternating perspectives of several characters, including her bunkmate Tracy, who helps Barbara sneak out of the camp to meet her boyfriend. Meanwhile, details about Bear's disappearance emerge as state police detective Judyta Luptack investigates Barbara's case. The beautiful and dangerous wilderness setting enhances the suspense as the narrative builds to a dramatic final act that sheds a glaring light on Peter's reluctance to prioritize the family's well-being over its reputation. This astonishes. Agent: Seth Fishman, Gernert Co. (July)