I chose to read a free eARC of The God of the Woods but that has in no way influenced my review.

Yes, it appears I am one of the last few people on the planet to read this book. Having been first published last year, The God of the Woods has been accumulating awards and accolades since then. And rightly so! It’s now set to be published in paperback, with a gorgeous new cover, and I hope those remaining few who haven’t read this stunning literary mystery now get their chance.

Camp Emerson is where the well-to-do of New York send their children for the summer. Set in the grounds of the Van Laar Preserve and overlooked by Self Reliance, the Van Laars second home, the camp has become a mainstay for the wealthy of New York to get a break from their offspring for a few blissful months. As the camp of 1975 nears its end, camp counsellor Louise raises the alarm. One of her campers is missing. It’s thirteen-year-old Barbara, daughter of Peter and Alice Van Laar, the owners of the camp. But this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has gone missing from the area. Fourteen years ago, before Barbara was even born, her brother, Bear, disappeared. Following a desperate search, the only clue found was an intricate wooden carving of a bear. Now, Barbara has vanished into the night without a trace and once again, all eyes are on the Van Laar family…

I loved The God of the Woods. This book deserves the hype it’s received, and I hope it continues to grab readers’ attention for many years to come. Definitely one for my ‘top books of the year’ list. The two Van Laar children disappear from the family’s estate fourteen years apart. Are the Van Laars just horribly unlucky, or is there something more sinister going on? The God of the Woods is a sublime character-driven mystery. Told using dual historical timelines, the reader gets to see the impact of Bear’s disappearance in 1961, the effect that it has on Bear’s mother, as well as the community, and how this latest, more modern-day disappearance (1975) affects the Van Laar family. Eight-year-old Bear was Alice’s everything. Stuck in a loveless, almost arranged marriage, Alice makes her son the centre of her world. Generally, life is pretty miserable for Alice. This is the 1950s/1960s, so attitudes and approaches are quite different to what we consider to be ‘normal’ these days. When Bear doesn’t return home, life as Alice knows it shatters. Bear’s body is never found, but Carl Stoddard, a local man and a gardener at the preserve, is arrested and charged with his abduction. Fast forward fourteen years, and thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar is attending Camp Emerson (in the Van Laar grounds) for the very first time. Barbara is a spirited teenager and has a…complicated relationship with her parents. So when Louise, an experienced counsellor herself, raises the alarm, everyone hopes it’s not Barbara who has gone missing. Can the Van Laar family, and Alice in particular, realistically deal with the trauma of a second missing child?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The God of the Woods is a sublime literary mystery where the characters are flawed and nuanced, the plot is instantly absorbing, and the setting comes to life on the page. The writing is engaging and compelling. Once you’ve made a start on the book, you HAVE to know what happened to Bear and just how much danger Barbara is in. I was fully invested in the story. I found the chapters detailing the search for Bear fascinating. Is everyone telling the truth? How does an eight-year-old boy disappear without a trace? With a bungled investigation, with biased cops at the helm, did Bear ever really stand a chance? Carl Stoddard certainly didn’t. With Bear’s disappearance still weighing heavily on the community, all the stops are pulled out to find Barbara. The New York State Bureau of Criminal Investigation are called in, bringing the state’s first female investigator, Judyta Luptack, into the investigation. I loved Judy. I loved everything she stood for, her drive, and despite everything being against her, her sheer determination to succeed. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of this character. Can Judy and her partner, Denny, discover what happened to Barbara and find her before it’s too late…? All in all, I adored The God of the Woods. It’s a well-written, highly engaging mystery with a lot for the reader to get their teeth into. I believed in the characters (there are quite a few key players, but it was easy to keep track of who was who, particularly when several of them are called ‘Peter’!). I adored the setting of the book, which adds an eerie, atmospheric charm to the novel. Beautiful, yet ultimately dangerous and potentially devastating. The mystery element was strong with the reveal of what actually happened to Bear being so shocking, it nearly brought me to tears. An ultimately satisfying, engrossing gem of a book. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The God of the Woods. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Wow The God of the Woods was a stunning and atmospheric thriller that I loved. It’s a slow burn thriller that took me a while to get into but I then became immersed in the multi layered narrative, It’s a dual time line novel that completely drew me in to the disappearance of 13 year old Barbara Van Laar who goes missing in 1975 from a summer camp owned by her wealthy parents. Shockingly her elder brother Bear also went missing 14 years earlier.
The author is so skilled at slowly drawing the reader in and I would highly recommend this superior thriller. Now I’m off to read the author’s previous novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

Ooo this was great! Really exciting. Clever plot and very believable characters. I couldn't put it down.

Fantastic read. I was engrossed from the get go. Suspenseful, kept me on my toes, and truly stayed up late to keep reading so I can know more. I finished this book fast, because I had to know the ending. Definitely recommended to others.

I didn’t think this would be my kind of thing but it really is unputdownable. A great story, really well told with fascinating characters and a brilliant lightness of touch.

I absolutely loved LONG BRIGHT RIVER, so was excited to read this one. It's a twisty thriller that dips toes into crime fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction, and more. The rebellious daughter of a prominent family goes missing from a summer camp. The twist? Her brother went missing as well, many years before. Just what connects these disappearances, and who will come out fo the woodwork as victims, suspects, and more. The mystery is set up really well, and the pages keep turning. I'm not sure it worked on all levels for me, but I enjoy the writer's style, and it's a great weekend read.

The God of the Woods is an incredible feat of a novel. From the wide cast of characters (thought not too many to keep track of), to the detail to setting and location that fully immerses a reader in the story, this story has it all. I was hooked from the very beginning, and the multiple points of views and different timelines kept the pacing perfect and left me not wanting to stop reading. I loved the writing style, the different character voices, and the mystery that unfolded slowly but satisfyingly. A delightful 5 star read and I can't wait to read more from Liz Moore.

The god of the woods really captured me from the first page. The different timelines and POVs had such a huge impact on me and I just couldn't wait to find out what happened to not only Barbara but also her big brother Bear. It is a bit of a slow burn, but it was such a complex and detailed story - I wanted to peel each layer of to get to the dark heart of this story. Although she is introduced rather late in the novel Inspector Judyta "Judy" Luptack is by far my favourite character - a female character in 1975 that is pushing herself farther than her colleagues, her family and even herself expected her to go? I love her.
All in all it was an intense read with a lot of emotions and a lot of atmosphere - you could really travel back in time in your mind. I would give this 5/5 stars and I will definitely look into reading more of Liz Moores books! Five stars!

Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods is an atmospheric masterpiece that seamlessly blends haunting mystery with lyrical prose, drawing readers into a story as deep and enigmatic as the woods themselves. Moore’s gift for crafting vivid, multi-dimensional characters and evocative settings shines in this gripping novel that is as much about the secrets we keep as it is about the ones we uncover.

Set against the eerie backdrop of an isolated forest town, where the quiet life is upended by a chilling discovery that stirs up long-buried truths. Moore masterfully builds tension with every chapter, weaving a tale that is both suspenseful and deeply emotional. Her prose captures the raw beauty of nature and the fragile intricacies of human relationships, making the book impossible to put down.

What truly sets The God of the Woods apart is its exploration of themes like grief, redemption, and the primal connection between humans and the natural world. The forest becomes a character in its own right—alive with mystery, danger, and an almost mythical presence. Each twist in the story feels both inevitable and surprising, leading to a conclusion that is as satisfying as it is poignant.

All the stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this atmospheric, character based mystery about a girl who goes missing in 1975. Her brother had also disappeared in 1961 and had never been found. I liked the plot and the interesting characters, also there was a great sense of place in this book, I could totally picture Camp Emerson. Original and absorbing.

Some books come to life in a way that makes it feel like a film running through your mind as you read. The God of the Woods is one of those books. Short chapters which I like, move the action relentlessly forward and back in time.

The story revolves around two missing children from the same family, but years apart. A rich and dysfunctional family and a camp full of children make this a complex plot and I truly had no idea where the story was leading. And I usually have a pretty good idea of whodunit in thrillers. I really liked that this book kept me guessing.

Was it far-fetched? Perhaps. But this didn't make it any less enjoyable. I read this book in two days as I just couldn't put it down.

A really original thriller that was an immersive read and one I'd recommend to people who enjoy twisty tales.

I adored Liz Moore's debut novel, Long Bright River. The story - about two sisters who live very different lives in a Philadelphia neighbourhood rocked by an opioid crisis - is intricately plotted and beautifully written.

Moore continues to impress with The God of the Woods, another character-driven literary thriller with an engaging premise. When the novel opens in August 1975, an Emerson Camp counsellor discovers that 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar is missing from her bunk. Barbara isn't just any resident: her wealthy and well-connected family owns the summer camp and employs most of the local town's residents.

This isn't the first time a child has gone missing at the camp. And Barbara isn't the first Van Laar. In 1961, fourteen years earlier, Barbara's older brother, Bear, vanished and was never seen again. The repeated disappearance has led to some dark truths being unearthed about the Van Laars, stories of both physical and psychological abuse, and what emerges isn't just a domestic drama and psychological thriller, but also a gripping murder mystery.

The God of the Woods never feels overdone. Every little piece of the puzzle falls into place so effortlessly - into this intricate, stunning tapestry. Every character is so well-drawn, making for a truly enthralling read. I loved it.

A gripping mystery about the disappearance of a teenage heiress from a holiday camp on the property of her wealthy, privileged and dysfunctional family. Her older brother, Bear, disappeared in slightly different circumstances decades earlier and before she was born. The story is told from several different viewpoints and over different timelines and piecing together the different plot lines feels a bit like putting a jigsaw puzzle together at times. That said, it is well worth persevering and following the mystery through to its conclusion. Great characters, a compelling storyline and a setting that makes me want to explore the Adirondacks in a future holiday.

Teenager Barbara Van Laar goes missing from the summer vacation camp that is owned by her parents. Fourteen years earlier, her eight-year-old brother, Bear, had also gone missing, and was never found. What happened to Bear? Has Barbara runaway? Is there a connection to the two disappearances?
The story is told from different times and with from several characters. There is a lot going on in this novel and there is no let up on the tension. A very good engrossing mystery novel.

I’ve seen a lot of great reviews of The God of the Woods so my expectations were high and happily I can confirm that it is just a brilliant as I had hoped. It’s a pretty long book but I tore through it in just a few days, completely drawn in by the evocative atmospheric tension and the fascinating story. The narrative is split between the early 1960s when Bear Van Laar went missing and the 1970s when his elder sister, Barbara goes missing in the same woods. The story is told by quite a few different characters but never feels disjointed or convoluted at all. In fact, it is beautifully written and expertly paced, keeping the reader totally gripped in its claws from beginning to end. If you like your mysteries intelligent and nuanced with a fantastic sense of atmosphere then I highly recommend The God of the Woods. I loved it. An easy five stars from me.

I’m not much of a crime or thriller reader so I wasn’t sure about this one when I started it but damn this was a good read! It kept me guessing from the get go and I had no clue what was going to happen.

The connection between Barbara and Bear’s stories was created so effectively, allowing for discussions on family relationships, identity and grief. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs as they added a lot to the story along with the time jumps. Usually time jumps can be a bit off putting and confusing but this wasn’t the case here. It was clear exactly what was going on and the flashbacks to the past tied in nicely with the present action.

Although it’s set at a summer camp this is defo one of those books you can snuggle up with this autumn and get hooked by. You could easily get lost in it for hours.

Some said it was tragic when the Van Laars’ son went missing. Others said the family deserved it. Rumours that they knew what really happened to him and that was why it took them so long to call for help are whispered alongside the grumbles that they didn’t even bother to thank those who spent five freezing nights searching for the boy. Now, fifteen years later, tragedy has struck again for the family. Their daughter, Barbara, has gone missing while at the camp held each summer on the family’s property. Some people think the two disappearances are connected. Others don’t. But what is the truth?

Dark, atmospheric, intriguing and suspenseful, The God of the Woods is a gripping thriller. In multiple timelines it tells the story of the disappearance of two children from the same family: Bear and Barbara Van Laars. Tightly plotted, complex and brimming with foreboding, the story moves seamlessly between timelines and narrators. It is a slow-burning thriller, building the tension piece by piece to keep the reader hooked. And when the full picture emerged it revealed something totally unexpected.

The compelling characters each have an important role in the story that will lead us to the truth of the siblings’ fates and I enjoyed trying to guess what the next twist or clue would be. The ‘present day’ narrative is set in the 70s and this timeline merges with the summer camp setting to provide a nostalgic atmosphere that I loved. I was taken back to the heady days of being a teenager in a simpler time when you couldn’t just text someone to ask where they were or track their location by phone.

Mysterious, twisty and alluring, I highly recommend this bingeable thriller.

What an absolute gem of a book! I was completely invested in the story of siblings who go missing in the same woods about a decade apart. It's a mystery but also a layered tale about the dysfunction of families and the influence of privilege on a community. There's a lot going on and many timelines but the story never gets confusing or over-complicated. A top read of 2024 for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

The Van Laars are a peculiar bunch - wealthy, haughty, insular, and with a Peter in every generation. The family run a summer camp on their property every year, and employ people from the surrounding area.
in 1961 their son Peter goes missing, and is never found., with far reaching consequences for his family, especially his mother. Fast forward to 1975 and their daughter Barbara, who is attending the summer camp, leaves her hut one evening and also disappears.
The story unfolds through the eyes of various characters and there are many. I had to keep reminding myself of who was who, which was slightly distracting. There are so many possible suspects, even an escaped serial killer who seems to be making his way towards the property through the Adirondacks, thrown in for good measure.
All the characters have a back story, and this is distracting too - well it was for me. The novel eventually reaches a conclusion after plenty of plot lines, suspects and possible scenarios.
It didn't grab me as much as I thought it would, but I did manage to finish it.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the proof copy.

Thriller lovers, you need to get your hands on God of the Woods by Liz Moore! 😱 From the very first page, this haunting, atmospheric thriller had me completely hooked. Moore masterfully layers slow-burn suspense with a gripping psychological depth, unraveling the fragile bonds of family and the eerie mysteries lurking in the woods. 🌲🖤

The story follows siblings Alex and Leah as they return to their childhood home, where long-buried family secrets—and the dark, unsettling presence of the forest—start surfacing.

The creeping dread builds beautifully, and when the twists hit, they hit HARD. 💥 If you live for dark, emotionally complex stories with plenty of suspense, flawed characters, and a moody atmosphere, this one’s an absolute must-read! 🍂
An atmospheric slow burn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of five