I am so glad I picked up this book. It was beautifully done--well-executed reveals, characters with depth at every turn, lovely prose. It exceeds the standard mystery or crime or detective novel by taking care to depict relationships, complex family dynamics, setting rather than simply accumulating a series of actions. I'll be looking up more of Liz Moore's work, and recommending this to everyone!

It has been a while since I've read a book that was just so brilliantly constructed that it led to an absolutely seamless reading experience. The mystery is riveting and the characters are so compelling I truly felt that I was there. A teen disappears from a summer camp in the 70's and we are treated to a cast of characters that are flawed and complex, in a setting that is cinematic and beautifully depicted.. Dual timelines are handled flawlessly and the plot kept me guessing all the way. I couldn't put it down and look forward to recommending it to my library patrons.

This book hooked me from the beginning. I found the characters compelling and the setting perfect for a mystery. This is the perfect summer time mystery book. When two children from the same family go missing years apart from the same property - what could possibly be going on in the woods surrounding the summer camp and family property. This book jumps back and forth between the disappearances, but it doesn't take you out of the action. I loved this book and will be recommending it all summer.

Summer - 1975. Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of a wealthy family, disappears from her camp cabin in the Adirondack woods. Barbara's family owns the camp, and planned to have a celebration that night, with many prominent business, artists, and guests in attendance. The Van Lear family is no stranger to tragedy - Barbara's older brother, "Bear", also disappeared in the Adirondack Woods near the camp - and his body was never found.
The story is told through the viewpoints of several people - Louise, a camp counselor who hails from a local family. Tracy, Barbara's bunkmate at camp, who is gawky, struggling with her parent's divorce, and longing for a friend, Judy - a female investigative policewoman assigned to the case, and Bear and Barbara's mother - Alice.
The Van Laar family has secrets - and what happened to Bear and Barbara? I could not stop reading! Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.

I requested this book knowing NOTHING about it. I absolutely loved Moore's last book, LONG BRIGHT RIVER, so I was excited to read her next novel - and this one did not disappoint. First off, Moore does a stunning job of writing compelling, nuanced female characters who can be both flawed and brilliant. She creates a complex plot within THE GOD OF THE WOODS - but never once did I feel confused or frustrated by the two different timelines. The novel explores addiction, traumatic childhoods, motherhood, class structures, love and betrayal. I love the way Moore pulls the reader in and out of tense plot lines. Right when something big and dramatic is about to happen, she pulls the reader somewhere else in the timeline, creating a compelling suspense that makes you want to read all night. I can't wait till this book is ultimately developed into a limited series (because I'm guessing it will be). I highly recommend this one and can't wait to read Moore's next book. Thank you NetGalley for the early digital copy.

This, to me, was novel perfection: a long, steady climb to a revelation and a secret that has haunted a family for three generations. I absolutely loved this book.

I am generally reading for possible purchases in my high school library. This book was excellent, something that I know many of my avid readers will devour. It was not exactly YA, yet nothing that would prevent a YA reader from enjoying it. I had a hard time putting it down, and spent a lot of time pondering what the outcome would be. Unlike many recent novels, I was not disappointed with the ending and felt the author continued the story all the way until the end.

It’s rare when solid writing and a great, page-turning thriller with believable, well-drawn characters coalesce, but Liz Moore has done it (again) with The God of the Woods. In 1975, Barbara Van Laar disappears from her cabin at camp — a camp owned by her family and just down the road from their estate in the Adirondacks. It’s also the same place her brother disappeared from 14 years earlier. Seamlessly moving between times and characters, Moore follows the later investigation through a young female investigator — the first in the state — while sprinkling information from the 1961 incident. Any reader who enjoys thrillers and family sagas should reach for The God of the Woods as soon as possible — they will not be disappointed.

This whodunnit with many unexpected plot twists, set in an isolated, sylvan forest has a large, varied snd eccentric cast of characters. Not only does it hold the reader's interest, I think a sequel may be in order.

I couldn’t stay interested in this book and didn’t finish it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy. I will still purchase it for our collection.

First things first - wow. I really enjoyed reading this book. Liz Moore did such an excellent job of interweaving the stories of the various characters of Camp Emerson & the Preserve. Without giving too much away, I thought the book was solid from start to finish. Even the "bad" characters had redeemable qualities &, truthfully, Barbara just made this book for me. I loved reading about the relationships between the characters & seeing their character development. Highly, highly recommend reading this book.

I loved Liz Moore's last book, so had high hopes for this one. She did not disappoint. I loved the atmosphere of the camp in the mountains, the wealth, the characters. Will be highly recommending it.

This book was phenomenal. I have not read a book this gripping in a long time. The detective parts were most intriguing to me, but I loved the way the characters were woven together. I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a detective novel I would describe as beautiful. I will admit some parts of this book did drag but the end game was worth the buildup. I can’t say too much without totally spoiling it but normally I don’t love rich people drama. Liz Moore did it without making it seem frivolous or annoying. Almost everyone has a motive in this book. I was guessing until the very end. I will say there did not need to be so many POVs, especially in the beginning. Once that got ironed out and the POVS shrunk they got better and more interesting overall. That is my only critique of this book. If you’re looking for a great summer thriller I have a feeling this is gonna blow up at release. I am so excited for people to read this book.

The God of the Woods is another intricate literary mystery from Liz Moore, perfect for fans of Tana French. Set at a summer camp in the Adirondacks between the 1960s and 70s, this story follows an extensive cast of characters after the disappearance of two children, 13 or so years apart. Because of the many characters and points of view, this is a book that requires your complete attention to keep names and details straight, but it’s worth it. Many of the perspectives followed women exploring their leadership (like camp director TJ and detective inspector Judy) or agency and coming of age (like camper Barbara and counselor Louise). Class and trauma are also deftly explored.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Longtime fans of Moore will recognize a natural evolution from The Unseen World to Long Bright River and now this historical mystery set a storied summer camp in upstate New York. Unfolding in multiple timelines, and exploring the connection between two linked disappearances, decades apart, Moore's latest does not disappoint.

This is difficult because so many of the characters are cold and distant (yet delicately drawn), but the story itself is more like a warm embrace, or, no, something more like the woods: Natural but fierce, nurturing and punishing.

I loved Liz Moore's last novel and this one was no different. What a masterpiece in character development. Lots of timelines and characters to keep track of but she does it so well. Absolutely would recommend this book to anyone

Having read and LOVED both Long Bright River and the Unseen World by Liz Moore, I was excited to see a new title by her. She's one author I check for regularly to see when a new book will be out and this one did not disappoint!

The God of the Woods tells the story of two missing kids, in two different times. And if you have read Moore's works you know that she will build the characters and layers of the story in a way that it crescendos together for the reader.

The events take place in a summer survival camp, on the estate of the Van Leer family. The Van Leer family had suffered the lost of their young son Bear several years earlier after he went missing and now their teenage daughter wants to attend the camp. Since she is viewed as a "problem" child, they allow it. Only things strangely happen again. Barbara goes missing, just like Bear.

I really enjoyed the various points of view, from the Investigator, the Camp Leaders, Barbara, her mother, etc. It gave such a full picture of what had happened in the past and what was presently occurring.

On my kindle I was having trouble differentiating the date at the start of each chapter (all dates were listed, one was a slightly larger font) which sometimes made it difficult to tell the time jumps, which is my only criticism.

This book took my breath away. It is layered and complex, with fascinating characters, and it's also a gripping thriller that had me eager to devour it as quickly as possible. I am so excited for it to be published so I can recommend it to all my library patrons!

It’s August 1975, and Barbara Van Laars has gone missing from the summer camp she’s attending that borders her wealthy family’s estate. 14 years earlier, her 8 year old brother went missing in the same woods. Coincidence? This book was extremely character driven, and from multiple points of view. Lots of detail, and quite a long book at 496 pages. But don’t let the length scare you, this book is worth reading. The mystery pulls you in, but the characters keep you there. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.