“Extraordinary ... I was so thoroughly submerged in a rich fictional world, that for hours I barely came up for air ... Moore’s previous book...was a superb social novel about the opioid crisis in Philadelphia; The God of the Woods is something weirder and stranger and unforgettable.” —Maureen Corrigan, NPR
Rachel’s on top of things, no surprise there. When she posted Barack’s summer picks, I was delighted that me and the former Pres agree The God of the Woods is a great read. High five and fist bumps, Barack! Before I tell you why I think Jimmy Fallon’s Summer Book Club Pick was a hit, let me give you a little bit of background on Liz Moore’s latest.
The God of the Woods revolves around a teenage girl who disappears from her parent’s summer camp in the Adirondacks. Her prominent family ensures an exhaustive search ensues. They can’t face the possibility of another unsolved disappearance—their older son also vanished years before. Curious yet? Good. Moore will keep you guessing across the pages.
Here are a few reasons The God of the Woods is a cut above your typical thriller: for one, Judyta Luptack is an extremely likable female investigator who knows her worth, despite being in a male-dominated field. (I felt a connection to Moore’s characters.) And who doesn’t love layers of family secrets? This riveting mystery has loads of them. Maybe the most compelling reason to read this Fallon-approved whodunnit is it’s hard to untangle, which is the hallmark of a great mystery in my mind. I’m pretty sure me and Barry are on the same page here: we derive real satisfaction from figuring out the puzzle. Remember, it’s about the quest, not the grail!