What is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore about?

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore follows the disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar from her family's Adirondack summer camp in August 1975. Barbara isn't just any camper—she's the daughter of the wealthy family that owns the camp and employs most of the region's residents. The mystery deepens because Barbara's older brother similarly vanished fourteen years earlier, never to be found. The novel alternates between past and present timelines, unraveling the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow.

Who is Liz Moore and why should readers know about her?

Liz Moore is an award-winning American novelist, screenwriter, and professor who directs the MFA program in Creative Writing at Temple University. Born in 1983, Moore has written five novels including the New York Times bestseller Long Bright River, which was adapted into a Peacock miniseries in 2025. She won the 2014 Rome Prize in Literature and has been featured on Barack Obama's favorite books list twice. Moore is known for blending literary fiction with thriller elements while tackling pressing social issues like addiction, class inequality, and family trauma with compassion and authenticity.

Who should read The God of the Woods by Liz Moore?

The God of the Woods is ideal for readers who enjoy literary thrillers with complex characters and multiple perspectives. Fans of Liz Moore's Long Bright River will appreciate her seamless genre-blending style. This book suits readers interested in family dynamics, class divisions, and generational secrets set against atmospheric historical backdrops. It's perfect for those who prefer character-driven mysteries with substance over fast-paced action. However, it's not a light read—the novel deals with two missing children and unsettling revelations, making it better suited for readers comfortable with darker, emotionally complex narratives.

Is The God of the Woods worth reading in 2025?

The God of the Woods is absolutely worth reading, having won the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller. Critics call it Liz Moore's "most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet" and predict it will appear on all the best books of 2024 lists. The novel showcases Moore's masterful ability to blend genres seamlessly—it's part literary thriller, revealing character study, and examination of how power corrupts. With over a million copies sold across Moore's works and comparisons to her acclaimed Long Bright River, this novel delivers both compelling mystery and profound emotional depth.

What are the main themes in The God of the Woods?

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore explores family secrets and lies as its central theme, examining how privilege and power corrupt across generations. The novel delves into class divisions between the wealthy Van Laar family and the blue-collar community they employ, highlighting economic inequality in rural America. Additional themes include generational guilt, the long-lasting impact of childhood trauma, and the concept of secrets and second chances. Moore handles these weighty topics with care and respect, creating a thought-provoking examination of how past disappearances haunt present-day lives and communities.

Where and when is The God of the Woods set?

The God of the Woods is set in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York in August 1975. The primary location is Camp Emerson, a sleep-away summer camp owned by the Van Laar family, who also maintain an adjoining estate where they've lived for generations. The remote but opulent setting creates a moody, atmospheric backdrop for the mystery. The novel uses a nonlinear timeline, alternating between 1975 and flashbacks to fourteen years earlier when Barbara's brother disappeared, allowing readers to experience both the lush summer camp environment and the secrets buried in the Van Laar family's past.

What is the Van Laar family mystery in The God of the Woods?

The Van Laar family mystery centers on two missing children separated by fourteen years. In 1975, 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her family's summer camp, but this isn't the first tragedy—her older brother disappeared in 1961 and was never found. The Van Laars are a wealthy, powerful dynasty who own Camp Emerson and employ most of the region's residents, giving them significant influence over the investigation. As the search for Barbara unfolds, Liz Moore reveals the family's layered secrets, lies, and the ways their privilege has shaped both their lives and the surrounding community.

How does The God of the Woods compare to Long Bright River by Liz Moore?

Both The God of the Woods and Long Bright River showcase Liz Moore's signature style of blending literary fiction with thriller elements while addressing social issues. Long Bright River focuses on the opioid crisis through two sisters in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood, while The God of the Woods examines class inequality through missing children at an Adirondack camp. Both novels feature multiple perspectives, nonlinear timelines, and explore family trauma with compassion. Moore handles difficult subjects with care in both books, though The God of the Woods is described as her "most ambitious" work yet, with a broader scope spanning decades and more characters.

God of the Woods

A Novel

Liz Moore

4.29(14 Reviews)

Overview of God of the Woods

In "The God of the Woods," Liz Moore crafts a spellbinding mystery where class divides and family secrets collide in the Adirondack wilderness. This Goodreads Choice Award winner captivated 82,603 readers with its "brilliant, fox-trap" narrative that critics compare to Donna Tartt's legendary works.

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Chapter 1

The Woods Hold Secrets We Dare Not Speak

When Barbara Van Laar disappears from Camp Emerson in the summer of 1975, the woods of the Adirondacks become the center of a mystery that echoes through time. This haunting tale of family secrets, betrayal, and survival captivates readers with its intricate exploration of how the past shapes our present. Liz Moore's masterful storytelling has earned her praise from Stephen King, who called it "a mesmerizing tale of family secrets and wilderness survival." The novel spent 12 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been optioned by HBO for a limited series with Nicole Kidman attached to star. What makes this story particularly compelling is how it weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives to reveal how a single tragedy can ripple through generations.

Chapter 2

Vanishing Into Darkness: The Mysterious Disappearance

The summer of 1975 brings two haunting disappearances to Camp Emerson, nestled deep in the Adirondack wilderness. First, Barbara Van Laar, a fifteen-year-old camper known for her rebellious punk style - complete with torn black clothing and heavy kohl eyeliner - vanishes from her cabin on a moonless July night. Her counselor, twenty-three-year-old Louise Donnadieu, discovers the empty bed during a routine 2 AM check and immediately senses something beyond typical teenage defiance. The rumpled sheets are still warm, suggesting a recent departure, but Barbara's prized leather jacket remains draped over her footlocker. Of all the campers to go missing, Barbara proves particularly concerning. The only daughter of wealthy Manhattan banker Peter Van Laar III and his wife Alice - a woman known in social circles for her frequent nervous breakdowns and extended stays at private sanitariums - Barbara arrived at camp under unusual circumstances. Her enrollment was hastily arranged by her mother as a final alternative to Echo Glen, a notorious behavior modification program in Maine known for its harsh methods of reforming troubled teens. Barbara's file reveals a history of shoplifting, truancy, and what her previous school termed "antisocial tendencies." Hours after Barbara's disappearance is discovered, twelve-year-old Tracy Jewell, her bunkmate, also vanishes into the dense forest. Tracy, a methodical girl who meticulously documented Barbara's nightly wanderings in a spiral notebook hidden beneath her mattress, had been keeping her friend's secrets for weeks. Armed with only a flashlight and Barbara's hand-drawn map, Tracy ventures toward an abandoned observer's cabin on Hunt Mountain - a decrepit structure where Barbara claimed to meet her mysterious boyfriend. Wearing only cotton pajamas and canvas sneakers, Tracy is woefully unprepared for the wilderness and its July mosquitoes. The twin disappearances bring Judyta Luptack to Camp Emerson. One of New York's first female state troopers and recently promoted to investigator, Luptack faces immediate resistance from local law enforcement who view her appointment as political correctness gone wrong. The case takes a dark turn when John Paul McLellan Jr., the twenty-year-old son of the Van Laars' family attorney, is discovered with a duffel bag containing Barbara's bloody camp uniform and her silver charm bracelet - a thirteenth birthday gift from her missing brother. The investigation forces the community to confront another tragedy: the unsolved disappearance of Barbara's brother, eight-year-old Peter IV - nicknamed "Bear" for his chunky build and gentle nature - who vanished from the same property in 1961 while the Van Laars were visiting the McLellans' summer estate. His body was never found, though his red baseball cap was discovered floating in Lake Champlain three months later. As search parties methodically grid the dense forest, using trained dogs and volunteer teams, the investigation uncovers a complex web of relationships and secrets. Barbara's nightly escapades, documented in Tracy's hidden notebook, suggest a pattern of meetings, but with whom? While evidence points to John Paul McLellan, Barbara's diary - found hidden in a hollow tree - hints at someone else entirely. The similarities between the siblings' disappearances fourteen years apart raise disturbing questions about whether the Van Laar children were targeted, and if the same perpetrator could be responsible for both crimes.

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Chapter 3

The Shadow of Bear: A Family's Unspoken Grief

The Van Laar family's history is marked by the mysterious disappearance of eight-year-old Bear in 1961. The official story claimed he wandered off during a hike with his grandfather and was never found, despite extensive searches. Carl Stoddard, a gardener at the Preserve, was ultimately blamed for the boy's disappearance, though he maintained his innocence until his death. Bear's disappearance shattered his mother Alice, who never recovered from the loss. Already struggling in her marriage to Peter-a cold, controlling banker who married her when she was just eighteen-Alice descended into alcoholism and prescription drug dependency after her son vanished. During her lowest point, she was institutionalized at the Dunwitty Institute, a bleak psychiatric facility where she was cut off from everything familiar, including the comforting "visitations" from Bear she believed she experienced at home. When Alice became pregnant again after Bear's disappearance, she gave birth to Barbara with profound ambivalence. Peter named the child without Alice's input, choosing "Barbara"-a name Alice later discovered meant "foreign," "wild," or "strange." From the beginning, Barbara's existence was defined by her brother's absence; she was viewed as a replacement rather than a person in her own right. As Barbara grew, Alice remained emotionally distant, heavily medicated, and preoccupied with her lost son. Peter, meanwhile, sent Barbara to boarding school at age seven, removing her from the family home. Their neglect created a rebellious, independent teenager who painted disturbing murals on her bedroom walls and adopted a punk aesthetic that horrified her conservative family. The investigation into Barbara's disappearance forces the Van Laars to confront their buried past. When Barbara's room at Self-Reliance is examined, investigators discover that Alice had recently painted over a mural Barbara had created-an act that deeply upset the teenager. This seemingly minor detail becomes significant as the investigation deepens, suggesting Barbara's disappearance might be connected to family tensions rather than foul play.

Chapter 4

Wilderness Survival: Lessons in Self-Reliance

Camp Emerson, established by the first Peter Van Laar in the 1870s, stands as a testament to traditional outdoor education, teaching children of wealthy families wilderness survival skills in the rugged Adirondack Mountains. The camp's three cardinal rules - deeply ingrained through daily repetition and practical exercises - form the foundation of every camper's experience: proper food storage to prevent bear encounters, strict prohibition of solo swimming due to dangerous underwater currents, and most crucially, "WHEN LOST SIT DOWN AND YELL." This last rule, seemingly simple yet psychologically challenging for panicked individuals, becomes devastatingly relevant when Tracy Jewell, searching frantically for Barbara in gathering dusk, becomes disoriented in the dense forest's maze of hemlock and pine. Barbara Van Laar presents a striking contradiction - her exterior screams urban rebellion with torn black clothing and multiple piercings, yet she moves through the wilderness with an almost preternatural ease. During the camp's grueling annual Survival Trip, she emerges as a natural leader, demonstrating skills that surpass even the senior counselors. She instinctively identifies water sources by following game trails, constructs weatherproof lean-tos using nothing but fallen branches and pine boughs, and maintains group morale through long nights of rain and uncertainty. Her expertise suggests years of intensive training, likely under T.J. Hewitt's tutelage - the camp director whose relationship with Barbara extends far beyond normal staff-camper boundaries. The Adirondack wilderness itself emerges as a powerful presence in the narrative - simultaneously nurturing and merciless, offering both sanctuary and peril. Ancient glacial caves, unmarked on any official maps, honeycomb the limestone beneath the forest floor. Crystal-clear streams trace paths to forgotten homesteads, while decommissioned fire towers and observer cabins on remote peaks provide perfect locations for clandestine meetings. For Jacob Sluiter, whose family once owned vast tracts of this land, the wilderness represents both escape and birthright as he evades authorities while following routes his ancestors once walked. Meanwhile, Mary Stoddard's fourteen-year obsession with searching these woods - seeking evidence to exonerate her husband Carl of murder - transforms the landscape into a vast crime scene, each hollow tree and moss-covered stone potentially hiding crucial evidence. The Van Laar Preserve, with its grand lodge named "Self-Reliance" after Emerson's celebrated essay, embodies the complex intersection of wealth, wilderness, and social responsibility. Originally Sluiter family land - worked sustainably for generations through selective logging - it was acquired during the logging boom of the 1820s when many traditional landholders were forced to sell. The transformation from working forest to exclusive retreat reflects broader tensions in the region, where old resentments simmer beneath surface civility, and questions of legitimate ownership remain unresolved across generations.

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Chapter 5

Bonds Forged in Isolation: Tracy and Barbara

The unlikely friendship between Tracy Jewell and Barbara Van Laar forms the emotional core of the story. Tracy, a quiet twelve-year-old with red hair and freckles who "continuously decrescendoed since birth," initially keeps to herself at Camp Waukeelo, preferring the company of books to her boisterous cabinmates. Her tendency to fade into the background makes her an unlikely companion for Barbara Van Laar, whose magnetic presence draws attention wherever she goes. Yet Barbara, with her sophisticated demeanor and hint of mystery, sees something in Tracy that others overlook - a hidden strength and talent, particularly her beautiful singing voice that earned her comparisons to Patsy Cline during the camp's talent show rehearsals. Their friendship develops through shared secrets and small confidences, beginning with late-night whispers in their bunks about their lives back home. Barbara trusts Tracy enough to ask her to keep her nightly departures from the cabin secret, and Tracy obliges, lying awake in her top bunk counting the minutes until Barbara's silent returns. Though Tracy never witnesses these returns directly, she notices how her bunkmate maintains her energy the next day despite apparent lack of sleep - a detail that would later perplex investigators. When Barbara catches Tracy stealing glances at fellow camper Lowell Cargill during swimming lessons, she offers encouragement rather than mockery, telling Tracy she finds her "more interesting than everyone at this camp combined." The transformation of their relationship reaches its peak during the camp's final dance. Barbara arrives with her mother's makeup kit - borrowed without permission - and spends hours teaching the Balsam cabin girls how to apply mascara and lipstick. Under Barbara's guidance, they evolve from awkward adolescents into sophisticated young women, with Tracy receiving special attention as Barbara carefully applies rouge to her pale cheeks. The evening becomes magical as Tracy dances freely with Barbara to "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes, finding unexpected joy in their friendship before Barbara pairs off with a boy named Crandall for a slow dance to "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'." Tracy's loyalty to Barbara ultimately leads her into the darkness of the woods alone, searching for her missing friend on that fateful night. Even after her rescue - dehydrated and disoriented - Tracy maintains certain secrets about Barbara while revealing others to investigators, trying to balance her fierce loyalty against her growing concern. She never reveals the contents of the letters Barbara received from home, nor the real reason behind Barbara's fascination with the abandoned chapel near Ghost Lake. Years later, as a young woman returning to her mother's home in Hempstead, Tracy finds herself stopping at diners along the highway, scanning faces in crowds, convinced she catches glimpses of Barbara in passing strangers. She feels certain her friend is still alive somewhere, perhaps living under a different name, starting fresh in a new city. This certainty speaks to the lasting impact of their brief but intense friendship - a bond that transformed both girls in ways that would echo through their lives long after that summer at Camp Waukeelo ended.

Chapter 6

The Weight of Patriarchal Power: The Van Laar Dynasty

The Van Laar family represents old money and entrenched patriarchal power. Founded by Peter I in the 1870s, the family built their fortune in banking and cemented their status by purchasing vast tracts of Adirondack land. Self-Reliance, their grand estate, stands as a monument to their wealth and influence, while Camp Emerson serves as a training ground for the children of similarly privileged families. Peter II, Barbara's grandfather, embodies the family's worst qualities-arrogance, entitlement, and a willingness to use wealth and connections to avoid consequences. When investigator Judyta Luptack attempts to question him about Barbara's disappearance, he becomes hostile at the mere mention of his grandson Bear, warning her not to even speak the boy's name. His reaction reveals a man accustomed to controlling narratives and suppressing uncomfortable truths. Peter III, Barbara's father, continues this tradition of control. He marries eighteen-year-old Alice Ward, choosing her precisely because of her youth and malleability-"because she wouldn't be difficult." He criticizes her as "boring at parties" and suggests she drink to be "more fun," inadvertently encouraging the alcoholism that will later consume her. When Bear disappears, Peter focuses on damage control rather than supporting his grieving wife. Later, he sends seven-year-old Barbara to boarding school and plans to enroll her in a "behavior modification program" when she becomes too rebellious, prioritizing the family's reputation over his daughter's well-being. The Van Laar men view their children as investments rather than individuals. They expect conformity and obedience, particularly from the women in their lives. When Alice discovers Peter in bed with her sister Delphine during the annual Blackfly Good-by celebration, she lacks the agency to confront them directly, instead retreating into alcohol and isolation. The investigation into Barbara's disappearance threatens this carefully maintained power structure. As secrets emerge-about Bear's fate, about the family's treatment of Barbara, about their willingness to frame innocent people to protect themselves-the Van Laar dynasty begins to crumble under the weight of its own corruption.

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Chapter 7

Echoes of the Past: Parallel Investigations

The dual investigations into Barbara and Bear's disappearances mirror each other across time, revealing patterns of power, privilege, and injustice. In 1961, when Bear vanished, the Van Laars' attorney John Paul McLellan Sr. aggressively pushed for Carl Stoddard's guilt, despite limited evidence. Stoddard, a working-class gardener who had recently been hired at the Preserve, made an easy scapegoat. Though he maintained his innocence until his death, the accusation destroyed his life and family. Fourteen years later, when Barbara disappears, John Paul McLellan Jr. becomes the primary suspect when Barbara's bloody clothing is found in his car. The parallel is striking-in both cases, someone connected to the Van Laars faces accusations, but the family's wealth and influence shape the narrative in their favor. Investigator Judyta Luptack, approaching the case with fresh eyes, begins to see connections between the two disappearances. Through interviews with locals like Bob Alcott and Mary Stoddard (Carl's widow), she learns about alternative theories regarding Bear's fate that were never properly investigated. The town has long harbored suspicions that either Jacob Sluiter or Bear's own grandfather was responsible, not Carl Stoddard. When Jacob Sluiter is captured and agrees to speak with Judy, he reveals the location of Bear's remains-not as a confession to murder, but as someone who discovered the body years earlier and created a cairn to mark the spot. The discovery of Bear's skeleton leads to the truth: he drowned in a boating accident with his mother Alice during a storm. The Van Laars, with the help of groundskeeper Vic Hewitt, covered up the accident and framed Carl Stoddard to protect the family's reputation and Alice's freedom. This revelation transforms the investigation into Barbara's disappearance. If the Van Laars were willing to frame an innocent man once, they might do so again. John Paul McLellan Jr., despite the evidence against him, may be another convenient scapegoat in a family pattern of deflection and denial.

Chapter 8

Breaking Free: Women Finding Their Voice

Throughout the narrative, women struggle against societal constraints and family expectations to find their authentic voices. Alice Ward, married at eighteen to Peter Van Laar III, initially accepts her role as a decorative, compliant wife. Her sister Delphine challenges this acceptance, telling Alice: "The best part of being married to George Barlow for a decade was learning that it's all right not to do everything that's expected of you all of the time." This philosophy becomes a touchstone for characters seeking liberation from oppressive expectations. Louise Donnadieu, Barbara's counselor, has spent four years with John Paul McLellan Jr., waiting for him to fulfill promises of marriage and financial security. When he attacks her in a jealous rage, calling her a "whore" for speaking with kitchen worker Lee Towson, Louise begins to question her relationship. After being framed for involvement in Barbara's disappearance, Louise finds unexpected support from Mary Stoddard, who posts bail for her using her house as collateral-a gesture of solidarity from one woman wronged by the Van Laars to another. Judyta Luptack navigates professional challenges as one of New York's first female state troopers. Her traditional Polish family disapproves of her living alone before marriage, yet she persists in building her independence, eventually moving to her own place near Ray Brook. Throughout the investigation, she faces subtle and overt sexism from colleagues but proves her worth through methodical, insightful detective work. Barbara Van Laar herself represents the most radical break from family expectations. Her punk aesthetic-cutoff shorts, ripped stockings, army boots, dog collar, and multiple ear piercings-visually signals her rejection of the Van Laar legacy. Her mural painting, her nightly escapes from the cabin, and ultimately her disappearance all represent acts of self-determination in a family that values conformity above all. Tracy Jewell, initially paralyzed by shyness, finds her voice both literally and figuratively through her friendship with Barbara and her growing relationship with Lowell Cargill. When lost in the woods, she learns to yell "I'M LOST"-a metaphorical as well as literal cry for help that marks the beginning of her self-assertion.

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Chapter 9

The God of the Woods: Nature's Justice

The title "The God of the Woods" evokes the wilderness as a higher power-one that witnesses human crimes and eventually reveals hidden truths. Throughout the novel, the Adirondack forest serves as both setting and symbolic presence, a place where human hierarchies dissolve and natural law prevails. Jacob Sluiter, despite his violent history, possesses an almost mystical connection to the forest. Following a stream that feels "strangely familiar," he's drawn back to places from his childhood, guided by instincts he doesn't fully understand. Though he doesn't believe in any god except himself, he's "superstitious enough to trust that encountering something uncanny deserves consideration." This intuitive relationship with the wilderness allows him to survive where others would perish and to discover Bear's remains in a remote cavern accessible only by water. Mary Stoddard, known locally as "Scary Mary," has spent fourteen years searching the woods for evidence to clear her husband's name. Her persistence, bordering on obsession, represents a faith that the forest will eventually yield its secrets. When she helps Louise by posting bail, she explains her motivation: "I've spent fourteen years trying to clear my husband's name for a crime he didn't commit." Her devotion to this cause has transformed her from a Sunday school teacher into a reclusive figure haunting the woods-a human embodiment of the forest's memory. The Van Laars, despite naming their estate "Self-Reliance" after Emerson's essay celebrating harmony with nature, maintain an exploitative relationship with the land. They purchased it from the Sluiter family during the logging boom, transforming working forest into a private playground. Their attempt to control the narrative about Bear's disappearance represents a broader attempt to impose their will on the natural world-an effort the forest ultimately rejects by preserving evidence of their deception. In the novel's final revelation, we learn that Barbara Van Laar has escaped to a remote island cabin fifty miles north of the Preserve-a place T.J. Hewitt once described as her dream home, "accessible only by canoe." When Judyta Luptack swims across the frigid water to confirm Barbara's whereabouts, she glimpses the teenager standing "straight and strong... at home in her body, at home in the woods," appearing almost immortal before disappearing behind the pines "like a curtain around the girl." This image suggests Barbara has achieved a kind of transcendence by embracing the wilderness on its own terms rather than trying to control it as her family has for generations.

Chapter 10

Justice Emerges From Darkness

The resolution of the dual mysteries brings a measure of justice to those wronged by the Van Laar family's deceptions. Bear's remains are finally discovered and properly identified, vindicating Carl Stoddard posthumously. The Van Laar men face legal consequences-Peters II and III charged with criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice-though Alice escapes charges due to the statute of limitations on her role in Bear's accidental death. Barbara's disappearance is revealed as an elaborate escape plan, orchestrated with help from T.J. Hewitt. The bloody clothes found in John Paul McLellan's car were planted there-both to throw investigators off Barbara's trail and to deliver justice for Louise, whom McLellan had injured, and for Carl Stoddard, who was wrongly framed. This vigilante justice represents Barbara's final rejection of her family's corrupt legacy. When Judyta Luptack locates Barbara on a remote island, she makes the conscious decision not to report her findings. Despite knowing that finding Barbara alive would advance her career dramatically, Judy questions whether she should pursue Barbara if she's chosen to disappear. This ethical choice places human dignity above institutional demands, suggesting that sometimes true justice requires looking beyond legal frameworks. The novel concludes with multiple characters finding their own forms of liberation. Tracy returns to her mother's home in Hempstead, recognizing that "her real family stands beside her" despite her father's new life. Louise's brother Jesse asserts his independence, telling her he's fine and doesn't need her constant worry. Alice, though still medicated and haunted by her son's death, has finally learned the truth about what happened to Bear. And Barbara, glimpsed briefly on her island refuge, has created a new life far from the constraints of her family name. In this way, the god of the woods-that natural force of truth and consequence-brings a form of resolution to each character's journey, not through supernatural intervention but through the inexorable revealing of hidden realities. The wilderness, which initially seemed a place of danger and disappearance, ultimately becomes a space of revelation and, for some, redemption.

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Key Themes in God of the Woods

wilderness survival
intergenerational trauma
missing children
class dynamics
female law enforcement

Quotes from God of the Woods

The past shapes our present.
The woods hold secrets we dare not speak.
Her exterior screams urban rebellion.
Barbara's existence was defined by her brother's absence; she was viewed as a replacement rather than a person in her own right.

Characters in God of the Woods

Barbara Van LaarThe rebellious teenage daughter who disappears
Judyta LuptackA state trooper and investigator on the case
Alice Van LaarBarbara's mother, haunted by her son's loss
Tracy JewellBarbara's bunkmate who follows her into the woods
Peter "Bear" Van Laar IVBarbara's brother who vanished years earlier

About the Author

Liz Moore is the bestselling author of The God of the Woods, a gripping literary thriller set in the Adirondacks that explores family dysfunction, privilege, and the dark secrets lurking beneath seemingly perfect surfaces.

A Professor of English at Temple University where she directs the MFA program in Creative Writing, Moore has captivated over a million readers with her intricate plots and complex characters.

Her previous novel Long Bright River became an instant New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a Peacock limited series starring Amanda Seyfried, with Moore serving as co-creator and executive producer. She is also the author of Heft, The Unseen World, and The Words of Every Song.

A winner of the Rome Prize in Literature, Moore has earned recognition from President Barack Obama, who selected two of her novels for his annual favorite books lists. The God of the Woods won The Tonight Show's Summer Reads contest and is being adapted for television by Sony.

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@Jaded_Falcon

201

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@OojasSalunke

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@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

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@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

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Chapter 2

God of the Woods

OverviewOverview of God of the Woods

One book. Many ways to hear it.

The Woods Hold Secrets We Dare Not Speak

Vanishing Into Darkness: The Mysterious Disappearance

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The Shadow of Bear: A Family's Unspoken Grief

Wilderness Survival: Lessons in Self-Reliance

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Bonds Forged in Isolation: Tracy and Barbara

The Weight of Patriarchal Power: The Van Laar Dynasty

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Echoes of the Past: Parallel Investigations

Breaking Free: Women Finding Their Voice

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The God of the Woods: Nature's Justice

Justice Emerges From Darkness

You made it to the end of God of the Woods

Key Themes in God of the Woods

Quotes from God of the Woods

Characters in God of the Woods

About the Author

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1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

One book. Many ways to hear it.

The Woods Hold Secrets We Dare Not Speak

Vanishing Into Darkness: The Mysterious Disappearance

See every word as you hear it

The Shadow of Bear: A Family's Unspoken Grief

Wilderness Survival: Lessons in Self-Reliance

Get more out of God of the Woods

Bonds Forged in Isolation: Tracy and Barbara

The Weight of Patriarchal Power: The Van Laar Dynasty

See every word as you hear it

Echoes of the Past: Parallel Investigations

Breaking Free: Women Finding Their Voice

Get more out of God of the Woods

The God of the Woods: Nature's Justice

Justice Emerges From Darkness

You made it to the end of God of the Woods

Users also liked

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Overview of God of the Woods