The God of the Woods - a complex mystery thriller and family drama.

It's August 1975 and Camp Emerson, in New York's Adirondacks, is approaching the end of another season. In the morning, camp counselor Louise discovers that one of the girls in her bunk, 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar, is missing. Barbara is a member of the family that founded the camp generations ago and whose large summer home is next to the camp. It turns out that Barbara has been sneaking out every night. The story spans from the 1950s to 1975 and reveals that the Van Laars had another child who vanished fourteen years earlier. Their son Bear was never found. Following his disappearance, his mother Alice was never the same. When Barbara was born soon after the loss, Alice never bonded with her daughter. The police, including Judy, a young investigator, have a list of initial suspects including camp staff and they try to get information from the elusive and powerful Van Laars. There's also an escaped serial killer on the loose. Although the case of the missing Van Laar son was quickly closed by the police, Judy believes that investigating Bear's disappearance holds the key to finding out what happened to Barbara. 

Liz Moore has outdone herself with The God of the Woods. While a highly effective mystery thriller, the novel delves into the theme of class, showing wealthy families exploiting those they believe are there to serve them. Their children either inherit a sense of entitlement or rebel against it. I was riveted by this complex and often unsettling story with many characters and a non-linear timeline. It's a perfect book club read. 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thriller | Family Drama.

Publication Date: July 2, 2024.

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