Heads up: this God of the Woods book review contains spoilers! Do not read if you intend to read and be surprised.
Liz Moore’s literary mystery The God of the Woods left me with a pounding book hangover — I was captivated to the point that I would wake up in the middle of the night and read it until my eyes were too leaden to keep open, and once woke myself up early in the morning to give myself a window of time in which to enjoy it before my day started. Sharing my thoughts below.
The Mechanics of Mystery in God of the Woods.
As a mystery, GOTW earns top marks for its whondunit mechanics. I was genuinely surprised by what happened to Bear Van Laar, and fell for many of the book’s red herrings — I thought Sluiter was too obvious to be true, but contemplated Peter Van Laar II and even the grief-struck groundskeeper. (Had the groundskeeper been so inside out with the loss of his own son that he’d done something misguided? The carved bear!) What I find fascinating, and indicative of the book’s sophistication, is that although I kept suspecting foul play, in the end, we find a blundering cover-up for an accident, but an accident that could have been avoided if — well, if multiple generations’ worth of the Van Laar family’s wrongs were righted. There is a quote in the book where the captain investigating the crime comments: “I’m just saying — when you hear hoofbeats, don’t look for a zebra.” The sentiment is that the obvious answer is often the right one. And in this case, Moore gives us so many examples of the Van Laar family’s superciliousness, its imposition, its punching down, its self-obsession, its nefariousness that — well, why wouldn’t we assume it’s the family to blame? Their hoofbeats are clearest and most consistent. Interestingly, if you try to isolate one true villain responsible for Bear’s death and disappearance, you keep going upstream and find instead the book’s many villains, or rather the Van Laar family’s shared history of villainy. It is difficult to point your finger at any one culprit; instead, his death is at the hands of the toxic family “firm.”
What Happened to Bear Van Laar?
Put differently, at its core, the mystery is — what happened to Bear Van Laar? The answer, as I read it: his mother, Alice, was so inebriated that she fell asleep instead of accompanying her son on their planned boating excursion, and he drowned. But instead of admitting this tragedy, the Van Laars secretly buried his body and lied to Alice. This was not done so much to coddle or shield Alice (arguably, the lack of resolution was an even crueler punishment than the truth, as she would spend the rest of her life in unsettled, heavily-drugged agony) as it was to preserve and protect the family’s name, and more specifically, their business interests. And Alice would arguably not have been drinking herself into a routine stupor if it weren’t for a) her husband’s infidelity with her sister Delphine (wowza), and b) the stifling and self-abnegating marriage she was more or less forced to accept, and in which she was constantly condescended to, and dismissed. There’s a fantastic line where Moore writes: “Delphine was ashamed, too, thought Alice; for the opposite reason that Alice was. For knowing too much, rather than too little. For a woman, neither was an acceptable way to be.” And so there is also a gender commentary here: one in which the bored, rich woman can find no acceptable way to live, and is instead trapped by her own circumstances. Alice seemed to me like the mythical minotaur: born to be lost in the Van Laar labyrinth. And yet she is the least sympathetic of victims, isn’t she? Her substance abuse, and her neglect of her second-born, are blood on her hands.
Moore’s indictment of the family takes on deeper meaning within the class politics that govern the book. Though the book is rife with clever misdirection, on this point Moore is crystal clear: there are the earnest and self-reliant locals, and then there are the imperious but needy Van Laars. It is difficult to find a single moment in the book in which we learn anything favorable about them, but we grow to appreciate the hardiness and self-reliance of the blue collar families that populate the novel, even with their various foibles. In the end, the only thing that breaks the Van Laar cycle is — well, new blood. Moore seems to be optimistic that younger generations can reject inherited ills and escape by listening to and learning from the people their families have historically taken advantage of. Barbara learns how to look out for herself thanks to TJ, and is able to abscond from the family because of the self-reliance she cultivates under her direction. Interestingly, though, Barbara’s complete escape is at the hands of another local — Judyta, who sacrifices her own chance at vainglory in order to protect Barbara. I found that parallel between the two “missing” Van Laar children particularly interesting. The Van Laars are able to hide their son’s death by soliciting the help of TJ’s father in burying him in the local terrain; Barbara is able to hide herself by making TJ and a young “local” investigator complicit in her own disappearance. While one cover-up damns the family, the other releases its youngest — but all would be impossible were it not for the intercession of the poorer locals who have served the Van Laars for generations.
Repetitions and Recursions in the Novel.
There are many repetitions and multiplicities like this throughout the novel — the two families that live on the preserve (TJs and the Van Laars); the two sisters (who “share” a husband); the two children of Alice Van Laar, both of whom “go missing”); the multiple Peter Van Laars; the morning in which not only Barbara but her bunkmate go missing; etc. Most of these doublings seem to be in service of our misdirection as mystery readers: there are lots of ways in and out; lots of possibilities and forkings. Moore creates a 3D maze with multiple generations, across multiple years, embroiled in multiple evils. She brilliantly carries this out on a syntactical level through Bear’s name. Bear is actually named Peter Van Laar IV, but he breaks tradition (in many ways — he also seems to be universally loved and adored by all the characters unlike everyone else in his family) and goes by “Bear.” There is a moment in the book in which Alice comments on the multivalence of her son’s name. It’s the noun for an animal, but it’s also the verb for many other things — to carry, to bring, to support, to sustain, to assume responsibility for, to give birth to, to produce, to endure. Even on the narrowest point of his name, Bear becomes a site for mystery, for reading and misreading.
What Does the Title “God of the Woods” Mean?
One big question I had was about the title — who or what is the god of the woods? We have the brief story at the beginning about the word panic, and how “it came from the Greek god Pan: the god of the woods. He liked to trick people, to confuse and disorient them until they lost heir bearings, and their minds. To panic was to make an enemy of the forest. To stay calm was to be its friend.” I kept revisiting this and thinking how Moore (the author) is the true god of the woods, and how the concept didn’t really play out clearly in the novel otherwise, but perhaps I’m misreading it.
What were your thoughts?
God of the Woods Book Club Questions.
01. What did you make of the title “God of the Woods”? Per my note above, Moore offers us a straight-forward gloss on the phrase at the beginning of the text, but who did you believe to be “the god”?
02. Who did you seriously suspect was responsible for Bear’s death? Did this change over time? Who do you ultimately think was responsible for his death, and what might Moore be saying about culpability and truth?
03. What did you think of the treatment of class in the novel? What commentaries might Moore have been making about the relationship between the local townspeople and the wealthy Van Laar family?
04. Judy ultimately protects Barbara’s secret retirement. What motivated this decision? How does this ending resolve or not resolve various tensions in the book?
More Book Thoughts + What to Read Next.
+If you liked this book, you might also like this or this.
+My other favorite book I read in 2024, and what I’m reading in 2025.
+What was the last book that gave you a book hangover?
+A voice like good rivers. Or, a reminder to get out there and toast the people you love.
+Thoughts on the modern thriller as a genre.
Shopping Break.
+I own many Dorsey pieces, but their Clemence necklace is my long-time favorite – easy to layer but elegant on its own against a bare neckline!
+Tory Burch Romy Tote – perfect work/everyday mom bag. More of my spring tote picks here.
+Obsessed with these Rag & Bone widelegs! Probably one of my top two or three most worn pairs of jeans.
+One of my all-time favorite tees from Ayr – a perfect hybrid between a tee and a sweatshirt.
+One piece swimsuit for summer – flattering but cheeky, and come in the best colors.
+This depuffing face mask from Clarins is the GOAT. I didn’t even know my skin was puffy sometimes before I tried this.
+Crisp white bed sheets at a great price. I bought these as back-ups for our higher end sets, but now use them interchangeably. Remarkably good quality relative to cost.
+These pants make lounging feel luxurious. I wore these on an overnight flight to Italy last fall!
+Hotel standard pillows – our favorite inexpensive sleeping pillows. We use throughout our home.
+I swear by this red light therapy mask; reduces wrinkles and promotes collagen production. I’ve noticed a huge difference around my eyes in particular. Use code JEN10.
+An elevated plain white tee is worth the investment, and this is my favorite of all time. I own several white and most of the other colors, too. Use code MAGPIE15 for a discount.
+I love the size and silhouette of this chic bucket bag! Bonus: I’ve never seen anyone else carry it.
+Any and all Chappywrap blankets – my family is obsessed. We have one for each of us! The most gorgeous, elevated patterns, and the perfect cuddle/share size. Use code JEN15 for 15% off.
+One of my all-time favorite moisturizers.
+This Lake lounge set is a long-time Magpie reader (and personal) favorite. The softest, swingiest material – it’s what you want to put on when you’re not feeling well, are tired, etc.
+Quince has become one of my most-loved brands – excellent quality for less. I always find myself reaching for this cardigan to throw on over any outfit!
+I use my Ugg platform slippers daily – perfect for school drop-offs or running to the mailbox.
+High-end fit on these kick-flare jeans from Gap.
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