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A review by shansometimes
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
It's engrossing, it's complex, and it's being called "the book of the summer." THE GOD OF THE WOODS is set on a summer camp and makes a perfect read for the summer season. Barbara Van Laar, the thirteen-year-old daughter of the family who owns the summer camp, goes missing while attending camp. Many years prior, Barbara's brother, Bear, disappeared near the property, and his case still hadn't been closed.
THE GOD OF THE WOODS is a long, ambitious, page-turning literary mystery that demands to be savored. Told through multiple perspectives—including one of the detectives, a camp counselor, and Barbara's mother—the story follows the investigation, looking for similarities between Barbara and Bear's disappearances. It also touches upon topics like mental health, privilege, justice, and power dynamics/imbalances within marriages and families.
I must admit that the ending disappointed me, and the book wasn't as phenomenal as I expected, based on the rave reviews. I wish it had come together in a more interesting and satisfying way in the end after all the suspects, storylines, and details I endured over almost 500 pages. But the tension, twists, and short chapters kept my attention all the way through. Those woods were full of secrets, and I was locked in for the ride.
THE GOD OF THE WOODS is a long, ambitious, page-turning literary mystery that demands to be savored. Told through multiple perspectives—including one of the detectives, a camp counselor, and Barbara's mother—the story follows the investigation, looking for similarities between Barbara and Bear's disappearances. It also touches upon topics like mental health, privilege, justice, and power dynamics/imbalances within marriages and families.
I must admit that the ending disappointed me, and the book wasn't as phenomenal as I expected, based on the rave reviews. I wish it had come together in a more interesting and satisfying way in the end after all the suspects, storylines, and details I endured over almost 500 pages. But the tension, twists, and short chapters kept my attention all the way through. Those woods were full of secrets, and I was locked in for the ride.