July 2024

I enjoyed Liz Moore's previous novel, LONG BRIGHT RIVER, so I was eager to read THE GOD OF THE WOODS. She does not disappoint. I never attended summer camp, but friends of mine have loved this experience. And in these pages, I felt like I was there.

Here we have an interesting setup. It's 1975. Next to Camp Emerson is a property in the Adirondacks owned by the wealthy Van Laars, which has been in the family for generations. They own the land where the camp is located, and it is now managed by the daughter of the camp's founder.

Barbara Van Laar is difficult, so her mother decides that she will attend the camp for the summer. This is the last thing that her 13-year-old daughter wants. Having her away at camp will ensure that she does nothing to spoil a special anniversary celebration planned at "Self-Reliance," which amusingly is what the family home is called.

The rebellious daughter has sketched out her feelings about being a member of the family on a wall in her room. Her mother has the drawings painted over as she tries to erase the very real deep emotions that Barbara shares --- thoughts that may upset their ordered lives.

Then one morning, Barbara is missing from her bunk. Neither of her counselors or any of the other campers saw anything. What makes this even more eerie is that Barbara's brother, Peter (who she never knew), disappeared 14 years ago.

Liz paints a scene as brilliantly as she draws character, and the plot will have you wondering what happened here. She weaves so much into the story. We are nudged in many directions before getting to endings that will give you pause. And satisfaction. THE GOD OF THE WOODS is worthy of all the praise it’s been getting.