The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: A review

The Van Laar family owns a summer camp for kids in the Adirondacks. Their thirteen-year-old daughter, Barbara, is attending that summer camp in August 1975. When the camp counselor goes to wake her early one morning, she finds Barbara's bunk empty and a cursory search does not find her. Barbara is missing. 

Moreover, fourteen years earlier, Barbara's older brother, Bear, had also vanished when he was eight years old, never to be found. Now it seems to have happened again. But why? Are the two disappearances related and will Barbara be found?

The Van Laars are a seriously damaged family and not just because of these two tragedies. The father, Peter, is a workaholic and an authoritarian ruler of the family. The psychologically damaged mother, Alice, is an alcoholic and pill addict. The grandparents are equally messed up, a harsh grandfather and a silent, obedient grandmother. What a family life for the two kids to have endured!

The story features several strong female characters. There is Judyta Luptack, a former national trooper and now the first female state investigator at the age of twenty-six. She is idealistic and able to view things in ways that others cannot see. Assigned to the Van Laar disappearance case, she hopes to use those skills to find out exactly what has happened.

The camp director is T.J., a no-nonsense, resilient woman. She runs the camp without allowing interference from anyone, including the Van Laars.

There is Louise, who had been an abuse victim and is now raising her younger brother.

Then there is Alice who is struggling to find her place in the world while dealing with losses that threaten to numb her into oblivion.

We get the stories of all these women with their different timelines. It's a tale with several twists and surprises. It is a very well-written story and I would not be surprised to see it nominated for various prizes.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
 

Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,August 21, 2024 at 4:45 AM

    Only three out of five for a book that “is very well written and I would not be surprised to see it nominated for various prizes”?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersAugust 22, 2024 at 10:44 AM

      Most of the reader reviews I've seen are either four or five stars so I'm a bit of an outlier.

      Delete
  2. Lark August 21, 2024 at 8:39 AM

    It's an intriguing mystery, and I'm always drawn to that camp/wilderness setting. But only 3 stars? Might wait on this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersAugust 21, 2024 at 10:58 AM

      I debated quite a bit with myself about whether to award three or four stars and it could just as easily have been four. In the end I decided that if I had to debate it should only be three. If you look at my explanation for my ratings, you'll see that means "good."

      Delete
  3. thecuecardAugust 28, 2024 at 7:39 AM

    I'm glad for your review. I just started this one on audio ... and I'm wondering a bit about whether to carry on ... as it is dark and the family unappealing. Perhaps you gave it three stars b/c the family seems troubled and unlikable and the premise too. Hmm. I havent met the investigator yet ... so perhaps she'll save the day for me. & the book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersAugust 28, 2024 at 10:38 AM

      The investigator was perhaps the most likable character in the book.

      Delete

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