The God of the Woods

With "The God of the Woods", Liz Moore has created an impressively layered novel that reaches far beyond the investigation of two missing children. When thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar disappears from a summer camp, the mystery of her disappearance inevitably brings back the unsolved case of her brother Bear, who vanished fourteen years earlier. At the same time, long-buried secrets within the influential Van Laar family begin to surface. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its narrative structure - through shifting perspectives and timelines, the story gradually pieces itself together, revealing new details about the characters and their relationships along the way. The tension comes less from action or dramatic twists than from the many unanswered questions and hidden connections that slowly emerge. The novel is equally compelling as a social portrait, as Moore explores the power structures surrounding the Van Laars and the dependencies between the wealthy family, their employees, and the people working at the camp. Questions of female independence, friendship, privilege, and social inequality are woven naturally into the story. The Adirondack setting adds another layer to the novel: The dense forest, the summer camp, and the secluded landscape are rendered with such atmosphere that they almost become characters in their own right. Therefore, despite its considerable length, the novel develops a strong sense of momentum and kept me guessing until the very end. For me, "The God of the Woods" is a beautifully constructed and atmospheric novel of suspense, combining psychological depth and social commentary with a compelling family mystery.

"The God of the Woods" is the perfect thriller for a hot summer day. Following multiple perspectives and characters through different time lines, you feel like an investigator yourself, trying to figure out whether the Van Laar family is somehow supernaturally cursed or if someone is holding a grudge against them. I inhaled this book so fast and simply couldn't get enough of it. Liz Moore's writing is extremely gripping and descriptive, making the story even more immersive. 10/10

In meinen Augen der perfekte Mystery Thriller! Moores dritter Roman „The God of the Woods“ handelt von der Van Laar Familie, ihrem Imperium und deren verwobene Geheimnisse. Wie jedes Jahr findet auch im Sommer 1975 das Sommercamp im Van Laar Gebiet statt, doch eines ist dieses Mal anders – eines Morgens wird eines der Betten leer aufgefunden. Barbara Van Laar, die 13-jährige Tochter der Van Laars wird vermisst. Rasch beginnt eine bittere Suche, bei der alle mitzuhelfen scheinen. Die einzige Polizistin in dem Fall wird schnell zur Hauptermittlerin und erfährt abermals, wie es sich anfühlt, gegen Mauern zu laufen, bis sie mittels ihrer eigenen Stärke diese durchbrechen kann. Der Roman zeigt ein kraftvolles Bild starker, weiblicher Charaktere auf, welche für sich selbst einstehen und miteinander kämpfen. Sie alle haben ihre eigenen Wege, sich dem Leben zu stellen und durch dieses zu gehen. Die Geschichte wird durch mehrere Stimmen und Zeiten erzählt und bietet einen dynamischen Thriller, in den Lesende sofort eintauchen können.

It's not really a thriller, but more of a suspense novel, nonetheless a very gripping story. The back and forth between the timelines and the many characters made it a little bit confusing, especially at the beginning. Once you get into the story, it becomes really exciting. I also liked the ending, it was a fitting conclusion. 4,5 ⭐