Liz Moore’s new mystery novel, “The God of the Woods,” is centered around a wealthy family in upstate New York, the Van Laars. Spanning the 1960s and ’70s, the Van Laars own …
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Liz Moore’s new mystery novel, “The God of the Woods,” is centered around a wealthy family in upstate New York, the Van Laars. Spanning the 1960s and ’70s, the Van Laars own an extensive country home estate with a summer camp where two mysteries unfold.
The first is when their beloved son, Bear, goes missing. The second occurs more than a decade after when their daughter, Barbara, also disappears.
As these two mysteries unfold, the reader is given the perspective of numerous characters. The kids’ parents, Peter and Alice, have a tumultuous marriage. TJ, the no nonsense female director of the camp, dutifully protects the Van Laar children. And Judyta, a smart inspector assigned to Barbara’s disappearance, grapples with being a woman in a male-dominated profession.
There is also the perspective of a camp counselor, Barbara’s bunkmate and an escaped felon. Despite the myriad of perspectives, the book flows easily.
Like any good mystery novel, breadcrumbs are dropped throughout the book. Readers are left wondering what pieces of information are relevant as they try to solve the case alongside Judyta. The investigation also contends with the wealth and privilege of the Van Laar family. If their reputation and good name is on the line, what are they willing to hide?
Of course, a story taking place at a summer camp has to include the folk stories that camp goers tell each other around the campfire. The escaped felon becomes known as “Slitter” to campers and they’re terrified of a supposed lady walking in the woods. Moore combines these campfire tales with classic elements of whodunit mysteries.
I read a lot of mysteries and this one left me scratching my head until it wrapped up. The audiobook is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, who does a good job acting as the omniscient narrator switching between points of view. I’ll be looking forward to more Liz Moore books in the future.
“The God of the Woods” can be found across the LIncoln County Library System and on the Libby App.