The God of the Woods: A Novel Hardcover – July 2, 2024

This was the best crime and mystery book that I have read in a long time. The story is different than the run-of-the-mill genre, and the book manages to provide substantial interest and background for all the principal characters. There will be a fair number of them that most readers will really care about. The book has multiple mysteries or crimes going on, and yet they are all related and relevant to the main theme. Most readers will be wondering about how the book will end until . . . yes, until the end. The author starts to unravel various of the mysterious circumstances over the last 10-15% of the book; yet, there still are things to maintain interest right through the last page. The quality of writing is excellent. Although the phrase is over-used, this book is a page turner for all of its 480 or so pages. I alternated reading the book and listening to the audiobook. The book narrator is excellent--she has a different voice for all the characters, and her voices are appropriate and believable. She's an interesting story teller with a fantastic book to read.

This was a good multi-generational story about a rich family. Because of the multigenerational storylines, it does jump back and forth in the timeline a lot. But they mark the jumps with years to help you know where the story is in time. The characters are complex and well developed. But because it’s a mystery and there are sooooo many characters, I did struggle keeping track of who was who and how they were interconnected. Because of this, I made the character list below. I’m including it here in the review in case it helps others. Don’t worry. No spoilers here:Alice Van Laar (Ward)- from affluent family in NY. sister is Delphine. Married Peter Van Laar. Barbara & Bear’s motherAnnabelle Southworth- CIT in Barbara’s cabin. Southworth family is friends with the Van Laar’sBarbara - daughter of the Van Laar family (family that owns the camp.)Bear- (Peter Van Laar IV) - son. Disappeared from camp in 1961.Bob Alcott - owns the Alcott Family in near the Van Laar house. Is also a history teacher.Carl Stoddard- gardener at the Van Laar preserve. Also a volunteer firefighter who helped search for Bear. Wife is Maryanne.Christopher Muldauer- camperCrandall - camper. Girls liked himDelphine Ward- Alice’s sister. Married George BarlowDenny Hayes- state trooper / Judy’s partner. Helps search for Barbara.Dick Shattuck — volunteer firefighter. Helped search for Bear. Wife is Georgette.Donna Romano- cocktail waitress at Adelphi Hotel. Tracy’s father’s girlfriend.George Barlow - husband of Delphine, Alice’s sister.Goldman - one of the investigators who worked on both Bear & Barbara’s casesJacob Sluiter - escaped from prison. Lives in woods. Breaks into rich houses at night to eat.Jeannie Clute - temporary cook at the Van Laar house. Carl Stoddard’s daughterJohn Paul McLellan Sr.(father)- Friend & legal counsel of the Van Laar’s. Married to NancyJohn Paul McLellan (son)- Louise’s boyfriend/fiancé. Family friend of the Van Laar’s.Judyta (Judy) Luptack- state trooper / investigator. Helps search for Barbara.LaRochelle- lead investigator on both Bear & Barbara’s cases.Lee Towson- cook at the campLouise Donnadieu - camp counselor in charge of Barbara’s cabin. Comes from a poor family. Bad home life.Lowell Cargill- camper. Popular boy.Maryanne Stoddard - Carl Stoddard’s wife. Sunday school teacher.Marnie McLellan - family friend & Goddaughter of the Van Laar family. Staying at the Van Laar house when Barbara disappearsMcLellans - Van Laar family friends & business associates across 2 generationsNancy McLellan - Van Laar family friend. Wife of John Paul McLellan Sr.Peter Van Laar III- wealthy camp owner. Husband to Alice. Father of Bear & Barbera.Peter Van Laar II - Patriarch of the Van Laar family/ grandfather of Bear & Barbara. Wife is Helen.Ron Shattuck - has a hunting dog that helped search for Bear.T.J. (Tessie Jo) Hewitt- camp director woman. Lives there year roundTracy Jewell- shy camp girl. Barbara’s bunk mate.Vic Hewitt - Van Laar butler or groundskeeper. TJ (Tessie Jo)’s dad. Family background Adirondack guides.Walter - Lowell Cargill’s friend at camp

I really enjoyed this novel. This is a compelling story set in upstate New York in the 60s and 70s. There are many characters that the author details beautifully. There is deep history between many of the families in the local community.There are two mysteries that are being solved during this novel. The author takes you back to the 60s and then back into the 70s with many different characters, painting the complex mystery.The main setting of this novel is Camp Emerson. A small rustic camp where young kids from well to do families learn to appreciate and navigate the wilderness. I especially loved this environment is I went to a camp very similar to this growing up in northern Minnesota. The cabins even sounded similar with similar names. The kids in this camp had many urban legends and one of them was of scary Mary. Which is funny because at our camp there was an urban legend about hateful Hannah. The author does such an amazing job writing that you feel like you are at camp Emerson.There are so many “good” guys and “bad” guys and and lots of redemption. You will have to read it to find out more.I definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes a good story, psychological suspense, thrillers, historical fiction or just likes a good story.

What an incredible read. I was first attracted to this book by the cover, which was really appealing to me with the watercolors of green and baby pink. The story itself is masterfully written (I mean really, superbly written and leaves the reader wanting for nothing) with a very appealing and enthralling timeline that is easy to follow and jumps the reader around to tell the entire story. The characters and their POV’s are easy to follow and the dual plots are independently thrilling and yet cohesively intertwined beautifully. I really liked the ending tying it all together well and leaving me feeling saddened yet content. Truly a great read that I will recommend to all the book-lovers in my life.

This book is so well written. At no point was I bored. Lots of POVs and different timelines but it was all seamless and easy to follow along. Different from most thriller/mystery books as there's no gore or chaotic events happening the entire time. It's more atmospheric but still keeps you on the edge of your seat. There is one DV scene. I absolutely loved the ending. This is a great summer read.

This novel was one of the best I've read in a long time. The characters were very well developed and their interactions made common sense. I couldn't stop reading but didn't want the story to end.