Bookseller Reviews
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Amazing!
I loved this novel! Beautifully written, with two connected mysteries at its core, this was a riveting read. We see through the eyes of multiple characters... READ MORE
You simply will not be able to put this down; the perfect Summer mystery!
Everything about this book intrigued me. From the mysterious title, the intriguing blurb, the gorgeous cover...I had high expectations going in, boosted by... READ MORE
A brilliant book to get lost in…
This proof has been in our staffroom for a while and I spotted it after reading a great review. I’m so glad I did! This is exactly the kind of psychologica... READ MORE
A perfect mystery
A perfect combination of psychological thriller, an atmospheric woodland setting and themes of prejudice, gender and family. This book cleverly weaves toge... READ MORE
Bold summer camp thriller
Thank you to the Publisher for an advance proof of this novel.
A richly detailed, tricksy thriller that reminded me of THE SECRET HISTORY. Bold characte... READ MORE
Intricate and gripping
The Van Laar family are cold, rich and esteemed; owners of a revered summer camp ran on their sprawling and picturesque land. It is the summer of 1975 and ... READ MORE
A book to immerse yourself in.
This slow burn thriller fulfils everything you want from a great read. With plenty of atmosphere, a great cast of characters and plenty of hidden secrets ... READ MORE
Incredibly addictive!
This book had me hooked from page one! I was instantly drawn to the writing style and the fast-paced plot was full of twists and red herrings in every chap... READ MORE
A perfect thriller for those who want something fresh, exciting and chilling.
First of all, I love stories with multiple points of view and set at varying different time points. I love a narrative structure that isn't wholly linear, ... READ MORE
An excellent drama.
A good drama/mystery but maybe a tad too long. It started well and is beautifully written . It's filled with a multitude of characters , some are fine othe... READ MORE
Stunning
Extraordinary book, please treat yourself to this one! The wealthy Van Laar family run a prestigious summer camp in the Adirondack mountains, teaching we... READ MORE
Totally absorbing
Wow, wow, wow. I was not expecting to love this anywhere near as much as I did, but I physically couldn’t put this down! This was totally absorbing, with t... READ MORE
Synopsis
When their thirteen-year-old daughter Barbara goes missing at summer camp, all eyes fall on the Van Laars family.
They're cold, rich people. They own the camp. And it's happened to them before.
Fifteen years ago their little boy, Bear, vanished without a trace.
Two children lost to the same wilderness.
Is it a tragedy… or a crime?
Publisher information
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- ISBN: 9780008663834
- Number of pages: 448
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 38 mm
- Weight: 390g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allLiz Moore at her best
I loved this book! Liz Moore is a favourite author of mine and her latest publication does not disappoint. Set in an elite summer camp for teens in the Adi... READ MORE
Highly recommended
My first experience with this author and I thought this book was beautifully written. The characters were well-considered and developed nicely throughout t... READ MORE
A page turner
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
From the title I expected a mythic element to this story, maybe even a White Wal... READ MORE
Utterly Compelling
The God of the Woods came to me at the height of summer and felt preordained to be the right book read at the right time. I was engrossed by it, invested i... READ MORE
Murder mystery in the Adirondacks
In the Adirondacks, near Saratoga in New York State, lies the Van Laar Preserve, a vast area of woodland. The family live in a chalet type mansion called ... READ MORE
Masterful
A boy goes missing in the woods, never to be found, and years later his sister disappears from her bunk at camp in those same woods…
This book is slow, ... READ MORE
Characters well portrayed, many twists and turn
Set over two timelines, the two children of the Van Laars disappear 14 years apart. Are their disappearances connected or not?
The Van Laars are bankers w... READ MORE
Hard to follow
Fifteen years ago, the eight-year-old son of the Van Laar family went missing in the woods surrounding their preserve. Now, their sixteen-year-old daughter... READ MORE
Sluggish
Took me a while to read this book as it didn’t grip me. Just a bit too long and a touch complicated with the dating set up. Whilst this is a decent idea, t... READ MORE
I'm glad I persevered
It took a while for me to get in to the story- the narrative swaps from character to character often and I needed to get them straight in my mind. Some of ... READ MORE
Meaty and gripping
Set over two time frames in the mid 20th Century, in rural New York State, and told from a number of female characters view points. The God of the Woods ti... READ MORE
Interesting!
In 1961 Peter ‘Bear’ Van Laar 4, aged 8, disappears. Despite a search by locals and officials, Bear’s disappearance remains an enigma as a body was never ... READ MORE
A gripping read
The God of the Woods is the mystery surrounding Barbara Van Laar, a girl who goes missing from a summer camp. Her disappearance is eerily similar to that o... READ MORE
Excellent read
When 13 year old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her cabin at the Summer Camp it is particularly harrowing for her family as some 16 years earlier her 8 yea... READ MORE
Outstanding
This is another outstanding read from Liz Moore although completely different from Long Bright River. It switches through multiple POVs and timelines but i... READ MORE
Page turner!
Wow what a page turner. I literally couldn’t put this book down. Loved the characters and storyline which had lots of twists and turns. An excellent read.
Slow Burner
This is the first Liz Moore book I have read and I found it a bit of a slow burner. The story rattles along nicely, the characters are established and your... READ MORE
Pleasant surprise
What a pleasant surprise this suspense novel is being for me. FIRST of all I love when a author can write female complex and complete characters and well L... READ MORE
One of her best
Once in a while a book comes along that you just sink into and cannot stop turning the pages. This is such a book. It revolves around a missing teenager Ba... READ MORE
Great Read!
This was a fascinating story with lots of ups amd downs. Well described characters that brought the story to life. I did like the conclusion, very clever!!
It kept me hooked, and its resolution was not expected
The story is set in the 70s, on the private grounds of a wealthy banking family in North Eastern US. The catalyst is the disappearance of their 13 year old... READ MORE
Timeline sometimes difficult to follow
Long book and very small typeface, but it was worth it.
There's a lot of repetition at the start with the different characters' perspectives, but it get... READ MORE
Sharp and Twisty
4* An intense suspenseful book, Liz Moore has created another classic.
Two children go missing 14 years apart. Both are from the same family, the Van L... READ MORE
A Gripping Story With Multiple Layers
A gripping slow burn with multiple layers. I loved the way it showed the inequalities in class and all of the different characters. A different type of mys... READ MORE
Easy to read and a page turner
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
From the title I expected a mythic element to this story, maybe even a White Wal... READ MORE
Lost child drama
The Van Laar family are wealthy bankers with a country home in the Adirondack mountains. A decade ago, their sone, Bear went missing and was never found. A... READ MORE
Gripping Thriller
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is a mystery thriller set between the early 1960’s and mid 70’s about the disappearance of a brother and sister 13 years ... READ MORE
Fantastic
4.5 rounded up
This is the greatly anticipated follow up to the bestseller “Long Bright River”, a novel I also thoroughly enjoy. In this one, Liz Moore ... READ MORE
Wondercul
The God if the woods is a multi timeline book set at Camp Emerson which is owned by the Van Laar family.
In 1961 Bear Van Laar goes missing and was ne... READ MORE
The rich are different in this absorbing mystery
When teenager Barbara Van Laar goes missing from the summer vacation camp owned by her parents, speculation is rife. Fourteen years earlier, her eight-year... READ MORE
Beguiling
The God of the Woods draws you in and refuses to let you leave. It is a character focused mystery that tackles privilege, fractured families and secrets bu... READ MORE
Literary suspense masterpiece
Liz Moore is an auto-read author for me, and this was one of my favourites by her. A masterpiece of literary suspense with such a clever, intricate structu... READ MORE
God of the Woods
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would at first, however I know that the person I usually pass books on to will not due to the chapters dedicated to diff... READ MORE
Verified Purchase
A good thriller / mystery novel
Well written and thought out with plenty of twists I didn’t see coming. I would definitely recommend.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Yes, it appears I am one of the last few people on the planet to read this book. Having been first published last year, The God of the Woods has been accu... READ MORE
The God of the Woods
Read this in 2 days, hooked!
Highly recommend
A perfect novel. Anyone even remotely interested in thrillers, please pick this up.
Twists and turns
Absolutely great read. Brilliantly written and keeps you guessing.
a wonderful book
not ready any of Liz Moore's books before but so glad I bought this. it's one of those books you wish you hadn't read yet, it's so good. every character so... READ MORE
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