Multi-tiered Mystery: Lots to uncover in The God of the Woods
By MARIA PAKUTKA | Cover courtesy of RIVERHEAD BOOKS
Smell the fresh summer breeze, hear it through the tree leaves, see the sun glisten and shine on the lake’s water, and learn how to survive much more than mosquitoes as you find out about a famous serial killer who is now on the loose near your summer camp. Suddenly, the empty bunk where Barbara Van Laar was supposed to be is a bit more sinister than a kid sneaking off during the night.
Prepare for a summer camp getaway with Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods. This book has received plenty of praise from BookTok, and The New York Times labeled it as the “best thriller” and “best crime novel” for 2024. The slow-burn mystery of the woods will keep you on your toes and flipping the pages faster than you can read them.
In August 1975, Barbara Van Laar’s bunk was found empty, but this isn’t the first time a Van Laar kid has gone missing. In 1961, Barbara’s older brother Peter “Bear” Van Laar disappeared in the woods as well. As you unravel the disappearances of the Van Laar children, you also get a glimpse into the Van Laar family name, the wealth tied to it and the history of the summer camp, none of which is as innocent as it seems on the surface. Oh, and don’t forget about the runaway serial killer who knows the woods like the back of his hand as well!
You will meet a large, colorful cast of characters as you follow along with multiple perspectives and alternating timelines in order to piece together the mystery of two missing siblings. The book highlights these characters’ motivations so much so that they feel like real people coming off the page to discuss their lives with you, and you really can’t help but be sympathetic to their struggles. You’ll discover themes of motherhood, messy family dynamics, class disparity and strong female leads as you read through this literary thriller. Think of the novel as if you’re reading a reality TV show, but with the possible chance of murder on the side.
While reading this book, I was constantly suppressing the urge to flip to the back just to see if I had predicted anything correctly. There are so many winding stories to follow, yet all of them build out the full picture of summer camp and its occupants. Plus, as someone who refuses to step out into the summertime heat, I found this novel painted a vivid picture of the great outdoors and motivated me to look for fun summer retreats near me — minus the missing children and serial killer, of course. Though I did like donning a sleuth hat as I honed in on those small details that may or may not have mattered while the story was unfolding.
Live your summer camp dream vicariously through The God of the Woods as you will experience survivalist training in the woods while putting on your own detective cap to solve the case of the Van Laar siblings’ disappearances.
Get ahead while you can before Netflix finishes filming a TV series adaptation of Moore’s novel, starring Maya Hawke, who recently finished her role as Robin in Stranger Things!
