cheryllovesbooks 's review for:

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

5.0

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I absolutely loved The God of the Woods. It’s atmospheric, layered, and filled with complex characters that made me want to savor every chapter. 

 

The novel begins with Barbara Van Laar’s disappearance — eerily echoing the unsolved case of her brother Bear, who vanished ten years earlier. From there, family secrets and fractures begin to unravel, pulling the reader deep into the heart of the Adirondacks and into the equally dark corridors of the Van Laar family history. 

 

What made the book stand out for me were the characters. Judyta “Judy” Luptack, the female state trooper assigned to the case, was one of my favorites. She seemed to be the only one who could consistently “see through” the Van Laars’ polished façade, asking the questions no one else dared and bringing empathy to an otherwise closed-off investigation. 

 

Alice Van Laar, Barbara’s mother, was another fascinating character. Her life has been defined by the expectations and decisions of the men around her — her husband, her family, her society. She is at once fragile and strong, and I found her portrayal hauntingly real. 

 

The novel balances suspense with rich emotional depth. It’s not just a mystery about missing children, but also about privilege, silence, grief, and the roles we are forced into. The ending tied the threads together in a way that felt both tragic and inevitable. 

 

This was a superb book from start to finish. For me, it’s one of those novels that lingers — not just for its plot, but for the questions it raises about family, power, and the stories we inherit.