Book Review: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

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In my spoiler-free book review of The God of the Woods, I want to chat about all the things I enjoyed about this literary mystery/thriller that is sweeping 👏🏼 the 👏🏼 book world. Definitely one of the best thriller books of 2024! I’ll share my favorite book quotes from The God of the Woods, a brief synopsis and ALL my thoughts, book club discussion questions, books with similar vibes, other books by Liz Moore, and more!

Content Warnings

Toxic relationships, domestic abuse, statutory rape mentioned, death of child, murder recounted, drowning, neglect

Thank you to @PRHaudio for gifting me this complimentary book. My review reflects my honest thoughts.

The God of the Woods Book Review / Summary

#1 New York Times bestselling author Liz Moore

The God of the Woods follows a group of teenagers at an Adirondack summer camp in the 1970s when one thirteen-year-old girl, Barbara Van Laar, isn’t in her bunk as expected. Chaos and panic ensues, because Barbara isn’t just any camper, and it isn’t the first time—she’s the camp owners’ daughter. And Barbara’s older brother, Bear, vanished fourteen years ago.

As the camp directors and leaders search for Barbara Van Laar, the only daughter of the family, secrets unfold in a multilayered story about the camp’s secret history and Barbara’s family, including the story of her older brother, Bear.

My Thoughts on The God of the Woods

I absolutely loved this historical fiction and mystery twofer—the riveting tale of a missing child and her missing older. brother. I also loved her previous novel Long Bright River.

And I will say, there are multiple timelines to keep track of in this atmospheric family drama, which can be a little complicated at times. But if you give this story the time it takes to take root, you won’t be able to put it down.

The family history and nuance, the character development, the historical elements that affect the setting and characters’ motives and behaviors—it’s all so rich.

I will warn readers and fans of mysteries that it gets pretty dark, and parents especially should take care.

I found the plot twists to be quite emotional and gripping, but I would call the plot more of a slow burn—definitely more mystery than thriller. Even so, the narrative builds into quite an adventure.

My God, was I invested! The friendships, the atmospheric descriptions of the summer camp, the complex storytelling . . . it was exactly what I hoped it would be and made for such an immersive reading experience.

Favorite Quotes from The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Her voice, it seemed, had been continuously decrescendoing since birth, so that by age twelve, she could scarcely be heard.
—Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

The quickest way to make an attractive man ugly was to give him too much to drink.
—Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

It was wonderful, thought Tracy, having friends like these, who seemed to see the parts of yourself you worked hardest to hide, and bring them into the light and celebrate them with a sort of tender ribbing that uplifted more than it put down.
—Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

But at nearly thirteen, Tracy swings wildly between self-abasement and overconfidence. There is no middle ground.
—Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

Kissing someone—someone you want to kiss, I mean—is like living inside the best song you ever heard. It’s the same feeling.
—Liz Moore, The God of the Woods

the-god-of-the-woods-book-club-questions

Book Club Discussion Questions for The God of the Woods

Ice breaker question: What summer camps, if any, did you grow up going to?
What was your first impression of the Van Laar child, Barbara, in the beginning of the novel? How did it change over the course of the book? How did you feel about her at the end of the novel?
What do you think is the significance of the title The God of the Woods?
As the story unfolds, we learn more about camp counselor Louise’s past. How does her past affect her present decisions and motivations?
How did T. J.’s. character color your experience reading about the summer camp and Barbara as a character?
Barbara’s mother, Alice, is quickly painted as an unreliable character because of her dependence on medication and alcohol. How did you view Alice throughout the book? Did you find yourself rooting for her? Why or why not?
How did the story of Jacob, the mass murderer who escaped from prison, weave into the narrative of Barbara’s and Bear’s disappearance?
Because of the different jumps in timelines and the majority of the story taking place in the 1970s, there is a lot of emphasis on the explorations of class, gender roles, and traditional family dynamics. How did these societal expectations play out throughout the book?
What did you think about the “mystery twofer” element of the story (i.e., the dual mystery of the two missing children in the same family)?
Which character did you want to hear more from about the camp and the disappearance, and why?
How did the setting (a summer camp in the wilderness) work for you as the backdrop to this mystery?

Other Books by Liz Moore

Here are the other books written by Liz Moore:

The Words of Every Song
The Unseen World
Heft
Long Bright River

Similar Books to The God of the Woods

These books explore similar themes or are reminiscent of The God of the Woods in some way:

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo (full review here!)
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
The Berry Pickers (full review here!)
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Final Thoughts

I recommend The God of the Woods if you like multilayered POVs and literary thriller books that aren’t exactly linear or thrill-y but more intriguing and chilling with a dangerous wilderness setting. It really is a rare gem and the best kind of missing persons story.

I think this book is perfect for fall reading, and I know it would be an excellent book club pick for fall.

If you’re a sensitive reader, make sure to check content warnings as this book deals with some pretty heavy themes.

If you love a rich fictional world and character-driven book with lots of compelling POVs with interesting social circles, you have to check this out out. This is my full book review of The God of the Woods. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the book!