The God of the Woods
When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
Themes & atmosphere
Books in conversation with The God of the Woods
A few of the closest reads from our full list.
What you might want to know about The God of the Woods
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
On an August morning in 1975, the counselors at Camp Emerson find that thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar is gone from her bunk. Barbara is the daughter of the family that owns the camp, and her older brother vanished from the same woods fourteen years earlier.
The God of the Woods was written by Liz Moore and published in 2024. Moore is also the author of Long Bright River, which was adapted into a 2025 Peacock series.
Yes. Hello Sunshine has optioned The God of the Woods. As of 2025, the project is in development.
The God of the Woods is 467 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The God of the Woods takes most readers 7 to 10 hours to finish.
The God of the Woods is a standalone novel by Liz Moore, not part of a series.
The God of the Woods is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.