The God of the Woods quickly became a New York Times bestseller and topped the charts at independent bookstores. If you loved Moore’s previous novel, Long Bright River (which was one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2020), you’ll want to pick this one up. Plus, there’s exciting news—Long Bright River is being adapted into a TV series for 2025, and both The God of the Woods and The Unseen World have been picked up for potential TV adaptations by Sony.
Heads up: the book touches on some tough topics like substance use, domestic violence, and the loss of a child, so be prepared for that going in.
What’s Included in This Guide: Online & Printable Versions
Everything you need for a successful book club meeting for The God of the Woods is included below. You’ll find discussion questions, food and drink ideas, and more!
We also have an optional printable book club kit to take your meeting to the next level. This blog post is customized to the guide and includes the following pages:
- Character List
- Discussion Questions
- Quotes from the Book
- Themed Book Ideas
- Printable Bookmarks
- Extra Info: Author facts
- Themed Food & Drink Ideas
- Book Covers from Around the World
- Custom Journal Page for Meeting Details
- Themed Notes Page
- List of Additional Book Club Resources
Book Club Questions | Additional Recommendations | Printable Book Club Kit
Characters | Summary | Ending Explained | Book Club Ideas
About the Author | Book Review
The God of the Woods
Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods (2024) kicks off with a chilling mystery: on a summer morning in 1975, 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar is discovered missing from her bunk at Camp Emerson. Barbara is part of the wealthy and influential Van Laar family, who own the camp, and her disappearance brings immediate concern, especially since it mirrors the mysterious vanishing of her brother, Peter “Bear” Van Laar IV, 14 years earlier.
The novel jumps between different characters and timelines, slowly revealing the Van Laar family’s secrets. It’s not just about the mystery, though. Moore explores big themes like the dangers of wealth, the heavy cost of keeping secrets, and the struggles women faced in mid-20th century America.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Release date: July 2, 2024
Genre: Psychological Literary Fiction
Hardcover: 490 pages
Publisher: Riverhead Books
The God of the Woods Summary
The God of the Woods kicks off on an August morning in 1975 when Barbara Van Laar, a 13-year-old from the wealthy Van Laar family, goes missing from Camp Emerson. Louise Donnadieu, a counselor at the camp, realizes Barbara is gone and starts to panic—she had snuck out the night before and worries she’ll get blamed. Louise tells the camp director, TJ Hewitt, and the search begins.
The story jumps between different time periods, from the 1950s, 1961, and 1975, unraveling the deep-rooted secrets of the Van Laar family. We learn about Barbara’s mother, Alice, who was trapped in a loveless, arranged marriage to Peter Van Laar III. Despite her discontent, Alice found joy in her son, Peter IV (nicknamed Bear), but everything fell apart when Bear mysteriously disappeared in 1961 during one of the Van Laar’s fancy summer parties. Alice never recovered and spiraled into depression.
As the search for Barbara continues, Detective Judyta “Judy” Luptack, a rookie detective, uncovers a web of secrets, including suspicions around John Paul Jr., Barbara’s godbrother, who was seen beaten and bloodied the night before she vanished. When Barbara’s camper uniform is found in his car, things take a darker turn. Louise is also caught up in the drama, facing accusations of drug possession and fearing she’s being framed by the powerful Van Laar family.
The novel moves back and forth between Barbara’s present at the camp and the family’s past tragedies, revealing just how twisted the Van Laar history really is. We see Barbara befriending Tracy, her shy bunkmate, and sneaking out to meet a secret boyfriend. There’s also a growing mystery around TJ, the camp director, and her connection to Barbara.
As the story unfolds, the search for Barbara uncovers even more hidden truths about Bear’s disappearance years earlier. Was he a victim of a local serial killer? Or was it something more sinister within the Van Laar family itself?
Without giving away too much, the book builds to a surprising conclusion as Detective Judy uncovers shocking secrets about the Van Laars—and ultimately, Barbara’s fate.
The God of the Woods Characters
Barbara Van Laar
Barbara is at the center of The God of the Woods, even though much of the story revolves around her disappearance. At first, we only see her through her parents’ eyes—they see her as a rebellious teen who’s out of control, ungrateful, and needs military school to “straighten her out.” But the real Barbara is much deeper. She uses her punk style and attitude to push back against her parents’ obsession with wealth and status.
At Camp Emerson, Barbara has this untouchable air because of her last name, but most of the campers don’t actually get close to her. One exception is her bunkmate Tracy, who gets to know the real Barbara. As their friendship grows, it’s clear that Barbara is just a regular teen who’s down-to-earth and knows what she likes, even if that makes her seem “different.” She’s also super capable when it comes to outdoor skills—thanks to her mentor TJ—and becomes a natural leader during camp activities.
Underneath her tough exterior, though, Barbara is craving love and connection, especially with her mom, Alice, who’s too lost in her own struggles to be there for her daughter. Feeling emotionally abandoned and suffocated by her parents’ lifestyle, Barbara decides to take things into her own hands and disappears to TJ’s cabin, hoping for a fresh start away from the neglect and expectations.
Louise Donnadieu
Louise is the first person to notice that Barbara is missing, and she’s dealing with her own issues. She’s a young camp counselor who’s had to grow up fast, caring for her younger brother Jesse because their mom isn’t really around. Louise is used to struggling, so she’s keenly aware that the rich Van Laar family and their friends look down on her. Despite this, Louise doesn’t want to marry John Paul for status—she just works hard to support herself and her brother.
When Barbara vanishes, Louise quickly realizes that she could be blamed, especially since she broke the rules by sneaking out the night before. She’s nervous that no one will believe her after what happened between John Paul and Lee Towson, but Louise refuses to let the powerful families pin the blame on her. By the end, she really grows as a character, standing up for herself and pressing charges against John Paul for his abuse, showing that she’s no longer willing to let the wealthy control her future.
Tracy Jewell
Tracy is Barbara’s quiet, introverted bunkmate, and she’s used to being on the outside looking in. After her parents’ messy divorce and a distant relationship with her dad, Tracy is kind of used to being overlooked. She’s the type to stay in her own world, happy to read books instead of mingling with other campers.
But then, to her surprise, Barbara and another camper, Lowell, befriend her. Through their friendship, we see Tracy’s loyalty and kindness. She’s someone Barbara confides in, sharing secrets about her boyfriend and sneaking out at night. Tracy keeps Barbara’s secrets, but when push comes to shove, she knows what’s right. She steps up and shares important information with the investigators, showing that she really cares about Barbara’s safety. Tracy grows from being the quiet outsider to a strong, supportive friend who’s wise beyond her years.
Alice Van Laar
At first glance, Alice seems like a classic tragic figure. In her early years, she’s this kind, naïve young woman who, unfortunately, gets swept up into an arranged marriage with Peter Van Laar—much older, emotionally distant, and more concerned with appearances than actual connection. It doesn’t take long for Alice to realize that she’s just part of Peter’s social game. He doesn’t love her, and she doesn’t have the power to challenge the status quo. She becomes passive, simply going through the motions of life, always trying to please Peter and their high-society friends.
But there’s one person who brings her some sense of purpose: her son, Bear. Alice’s love for Bear is everything. He’s her anchor. And when he disappears—well, that’s when Alice really begins to unravel. The novel reveals the gut-wrenching truth: Bear dies while on a boat ride with Alice, who’s drunk and struggling with her own demons. Instead of confronting the tragedy, Peter and the rest of the Van Laar family cover it up, keeping Alice in the dark about Bear’s death.
What follows is heartbreak. Alice can’t let go of Bear. She refuses to believe he’s gone and starts having imaginary conversations with him, desperately holding onto the idea that he’s still out there somewhere. It’s incredibly sad to see someone so lost in grief that they can’t accept the reality of what happened. Her mental health deteriorates, and instead of getting the help she needs, Alice is shunned and placed in a facility—just to hide her away, out of sight. Her story is a painful reminder of how society often punishes women for their emotions, especially when those emotions don’t fit into the neat boxes of propriety. Alice’s suffering at the hands of both her husband and the social constraints around her is heart-wrenching, and it makes you wonder how much could have been different if she had been given the space to heal.
Judyta Luptack
Judy is a breath of fresh air in this otherwise heavy novel. As the first female investigator in Albany, she’s navigating not just the challenges of solving a complicated case, but also the hurdles of being a woman in a male-dominated profession. From the start, Judy is smart, cautious, and knows her stuff, but she’s also learning on the job, so sometimes she second-guesses herself. There’s this quiet determination about her—she doesn’t make waves, she doesn’t rush into things, but she always gets the job done.
At first, Judy might seem a little unsure of herself, especially in comparison to her more experienced (and often dismissive) male colleagues. But over time, she starts to find her voice and her confidence. She knows that in this world, she has to play it smart—especially when dealing with the Van Laars, a powerful and influential family. Instead of pushing her way in, Judy uses her quiet, non-threatening demeanor to gather information in a way that makes people open up to her. That’s what makes her such a great investigator—she’s a keen observer of human nature and knows how to navigate complex relationships to get what she needs.
Her intelligence shines through as she digs deeper into the case, and by the end, it’s clear that Judy’s empathy also plays a big part in her success. She even decides to protect Barbara’s secret when the time comes, showing that her compassion isn’t just a weakness, but a strength. It’s not easy being a woman in her position, but Judy proves that she can hold her own in a world that often tries to dismiss her.
The God of the Woods Character List
| Character | Role in the Story | Key Traits/Characteristics | Key Relationships | Arc/Development |
|---|
| Barbara Van Laar | The missing teen; central to the novel’s plot | Rebellious, independent, searching for connection | Daughter of Peter and Alice; Friend to Tracy | Defies family expectations; desires escape from her wealthy but emotionally distant family; ultimately runs away to seek freedom |
| Louise Donnadieu | Counselor at Camp Emerson; central to the investigation | Determined, empathetic, hardworking, feels like an outsider | Fiancee of John Paul Jr.; Caretaker of her brother Jesse | Grows stronger through the investigation; evolves from feeling powerless to taking action against the wealthy Van Laars, finding her own strength |
| Tracy Jewell | Barbara’s bunkmate and friend; provides key information | Quiet, reserved, intelligent, a bookworm, loyal friend | Friend to Barbara; Outsider at camp | Gains confidence as she bonds with Barbara; supports Barbara during the investigation and ultimately helps uncover the truth |
| Alice Van Laar | Barbara’s mother; deeply affected by grief | Kind but passive, emotionally fragile, neglectful due to her own trauma | Wife of Peter; Mother of Barbara and Bear | Spirals into grief and mental illness after the loss of Bear; struggles with accepting reality and is placed in a mental health facility due to her condition |
| Peter Van Laar | Barbara’s father; wealthy and emotionally distant | Controlling, socially focused, emotionally detached | Husband to Alice; Father to Barbara and Bear | Manipulative and distant; hides the truth about Bear’s death, prioritizes social status over family well-being |
| John Paul McLellan Jr. | Louise’s fiancé; associated with the Van Laar family | Privileged, entitled, aggressive, emotionally abusive | Fiance of Louise; Godson to the Van Laars | Fails to meet Louise’s emotional needs; involved in conflict with Lee Towson; becomes a suspect in Barbara’s disappearance |
| TJ Hewitt | Camp director at Camp Emerson; key figure in the investigation | Caring but tough, has a history with the Van Laars, protective of campers | Family friend of the Van Laars; Close to Louise | Strong, pragmatic leader; faces suspicions about her involvement with Barbara, but remains dedicated to protecting her campers |
| Judyta Luptack | Rookie detective leading the investigation | Smart, reserved, empathetic, determined, and the first woman detective in Albany | Colleague of Investigator Hayes | Overcomes initial doubts about her abilities; finds strength and confidence as she unravels the truth about Barbara’s disappearance and Bear’s death |
| Lee Towson | Kitchen staff member; outsider to the Van Laar circle | Local, defies the Van Laar family’s elite status, scrappy | Involved with Louise; Disliked by the Van Laars | Works alongside Louise; caught in a fight with John Paul; plays a minor but pivotal role in uncovering the darker secrets of the Van Laar family |
| Carl Stoddard | Hired hand on the Van Laar property; previously suspected in Bear’s disappearance | Silent, reluctant to speak, a victim of circumstances | Employed by the Van Laars | Initially blamed for Bear’s disappearance; his death raises suspicions about his involvement, though his role in the story remains murky until later |
| Victor Hewitt | Father of TJ; former caretaker of the Van Laar property | Older, frail, loyal, and carries the burden of hidden family secrets | Father of TJ; Close to the Van Laars | Protects his family’s secrets at great personal cost; forced to reveal his knowledge about Bear’s death and the cover-up |
| Jacob Sluiter | A local criminal, suspected of having been involved in Bear’s disappearance | Deceptive, manipulative, cold-blooded, and evasive | No clear personal relationships | Eventually admits to knowing Bear’s location but avoids taking responsibility for his death; plays a key role in uncovering the Van Laar family’s dark secrets |
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