I read this one because of Ronni. She listened to it and loved it, so I put a hold on Libby but was expected to wait for several more months (I was 191st in line even after several months of waiting). So, she decided to gift me the book! If she decides to also review this book, we’ll add a link for her review. 😊
Book Stats
- Publication Date: 07/02/24
- Publisher: Penguin Audio
- Format: audiobook
- Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length of audiobook: 14 hours & 35 minutes
- Narrator POV: 3rd person POV
Book Rating
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Spice: No spice
Summary & Review
The God of the Woods follows many different characters, but primarily revolves around the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar while at summer camp. Her disappearance is extra suspicious, as her brother had also disappeared from the same area 14 years earlier.
Throughout this story, we get to know many characters. There’s Louise and Annabel, the camp counsellors in charge of Barabara’s cabin of girls. Louise is engaged to John Paul McLellan, whose family is close friends of the Van Laars. John Paul is a tool and a POS, but Louise believes she needs him in order to help get her brother out of the house he shares with their mom. Annabelle is like 17 and it’s her first year working at the camp. She was supposed to be the one in charge of the cabin the night Barbara disappeared.
TJ is the camp director and has always been fairly close with the Van Laar family, having known Bear and Barbara since they were born. Before taking over, TJ’s father, Vic, was the director, so they were always around.
Alice and Peter III are the parents of Bear and Barabara. Peter, like all the Peters before him, are complete jerks and they’re controlling and emotionally constipated. Alice was married off to Peter when she was young and regularly medicates with pills and alcohol in order to deal with the life she’s been married into. Plus, Peter encourages the behavior, telling her she’s more enjoyable when she has a drink.
Bear, or Peter IV, goes missing at 8 years old. He is a wonderful kid and is the only real joy Alice has in her life. After his disappearance, she has Barbara, but their relationship isn’t anything like the relationship Alice had with Bear. Something broke in Alice after he disappeared.
Carl is the Van Laar’s gardener and is a member of the fire brigade who helps search for Bear when he goes missing. He is the last to see Bear before he disappears and is very close with him, after losing his own son to a fatal illness.
Tracy is another camper, one close with Barbara. Tracy really looks up to her and the two become good friends during their time at camp.
Judyta is one of the main investigators on the case. She’s a newer investigator and was the nation’s first female state trooper. She does her best to find answers while also enduring the constant sexist comments she receives.
Finally, there’s Jacob “Slitter”, a serial killer who was convicted of 11 murders that occurred in the area near the camp. He escaped and is out on the run. He was nearby when Bear disappeared and he’s nearby again when Barbara disappears. Pretty suspicious.
So yeah, that’s not even all the characters, but it’s pretty clear that there are a lot of different stories and situations occurring during in this book. With so many people involved in the lives of these missing children, there are so many potential accusations that could be made.
This is a mystery, but not a thriller. This story doesn’t move quickly, but it also doesn’t drag. It just keeps slowly trucking along, throwing out little details here and there to keep you interested. The author took her time crafting the world and the backgrounds for each character, really giving them wonderful depth and serious flaws.
And that narration! Saskia Maarleveld was phenomenal. She did an amazing job giving voice to so many different characters. It’s truly impressive how well she was able to help breathe life into these characters despite there being so many and her being the only narrator. I cannot wait to hear more books narrated by her!
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