This is a book that's hard to review because there were many things I didn't like about it—in particular, its fragmented nature, with too many points-of-view and endless time-jumps that weren't always organic to the ongoing story—BUT about halfway through I literally could not put it down! That's no easy feat for an author =bravo! The story was fresh, surprising, full of twists, with a cast of compelling characters who (for the most part) were complex, original, and easy to root for. In retrospect, some of it was highly implausible BUT (again) it kept me riveted! Well worth reading.

Initially I enjoyed this book as an easy read and a page turner. The story is intriguing and the setting is so evocative of its time and place - it really draws you into its world. And it's just a compelling mystery, suspensefully plotted and paced to keep you coming back for more. But actually it's a lot more than a good mystery. It's a portrayal of the social, class, and gender dynamics of the 1950s to 1970s, and a particularly pointed depiction of how those dynamics impacted women, often to tragic effect. And about how women struggled to make the best of their circumstances, with varying success. This was my introduction to this author but I'll definitely be looking out for more. Great summer read with some appreciated dimension and depth.

On the surface, The God of the Woods is a wildly captivating mystery about two children who go missing from the same prominent family in the Adirondacks between 1961 to 1975. Scratch the surface and this book is also equal parts a scathing indictment of social hierarchy and the disturbing lengths people will go to in order to preserve their privilege. Ideally, this book should be read over a long weekend or during a week with plenty of anticipated downtime. In other words, don’t make any plans. This is a character rich story with a well-constructed slow burner of plot that can, at times, feel like walking through a funhouse. Moore deftly delivers shifting timelines and two mysteries to solve with her use of misdirection and carefully placed clues. Excellent late summer read with plenty of 1970s upstate New York camp nostalgia (and a neat map of Camp Emerson in every format, including the audiobook!)

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore This is a good slow thriller/mystery. It is not fast paced and it does meander between multiple time lines among the many characters. You have a teen girl, Barbara, that disappears while at camp. A family owned camp with a history. Fourteen years earlier her brother Bear had disappeared there, without a trace. Now as the investigation plows through the present 1975 and 1961, old secrets are revealed. A town that has questions and anger about the past. Wrongful accusations, families with secrets and a powerful family that will do anything to stay in control. The story is very detailed and probably could have been told more efficiently, but overall it is a really good story! The multilayered story lines keep the reader involved and invested in the outcome of the story. I also listened to the audio version and it was so well narrated! #thegodofthewoods #lizmoore #thrillingdrama #layeredmystery #multithreadedsecrets

The Story is so brilliantly organized; unfolding at a perfect pace, introducing characters and heartache and subtle information with each chapter. Family dramas can sometimes be a little over the top, but this one was very well done and not unnecessarily dramatic. I desperately longed to know what happened to Bear Van Laar (almost more so than the present worry of Barbara’s disappearance), and Moore does a masterful job of moving through the story and making nearly every possible person seem suspicious, writing characters so self-centered you hope for their comeuppance. A heartbreaking but powerful story of family (both those we’re born into and those we find), and what it means to be loved and accepted.