The last book of the ’26 in 26’ challenge for this month was the book ‘The god of the woods’ by Liz Moore. At first, I didn’t think it would be a thriller but some sort of drama but I was wrong there. It’s a thriller / crime novel and it was a rather good one.

This book was published in 2024 but I only came across it a couple of months ago, the title piquing my interest, not having read the description of this book.

This story plays out on the Van Laar Reserve, they own a lot of land and on it is a big house, forest, a lake but also a summer camp that has been run by the Hewitt’s for many years named Camp Emmerson. The camp has about 90+ children every summer and has a lot of staff during that season.

Mrs. Van Laar (Alice) has been a shell of herself ever since her son Bear went missing about 14 years ago at the age of 8, never to be seen again. Having has several mental breakdowns ever since. They have a 12-year-old daughter called Barbara; people are insinuating that she’s the replacement. Where Bear was the center of Alice’ universe and she wanted to give him all the attention she was allowed to give from her husband, she never really cared for Barbara; she didn’t get that motherly instinct. Almost as if she was afraid to love again.

Barbara has always been a difficult child, at least in the eyes of her parents. Peter, her father has always thrown money at problems so he didn’t have to deal with them. A night nurse – a day nurse and when Barbara became too much to handle, she was carted off to boarding school only to be kicked out just before summer holiday. Wandering around the house became boring forever being restricted by her mother, always having to behave in a certain way. After the summer she will be carted of to a new school, one for children that are difficult to handle; but before she will go there, she has made one request. She wanted to attend camp Emmerson this summer.

T.J. has been the camp’s director and janitor ever since her father’s mind faltered, preparing everything for the counselors, the staff and the children that will attend. Making sure every day is filled with activities that can be done outdoors, like swimming and survival. How to trap small animals and prepare them to eat, built fires etcetera.

Tracy’s parents have been recently divorced and her father has been demanding she spent this summer with him. Planned out her summer with a lot of books and snacks; but surprise! Her father has a new girlfriend so she’ll be at summer camp for 8 whole weeks. It becomes clear rather quickly that the children attending have been frequent flyers and know each other which makes Tracy the outsider until another girl comes to stay, a girl named Barbara and they become thick as thieves until one week before the camp is concluded, she goes missing.

The investigation into the missing camp member is still ongoing; no trace of her has been found. They have found some suspicious things in a car of one of the people attending the Van Laar’s party but nothing conclusive. A lot of manpower for searches with nothing to show for. Bear’s case being closed but will eventually be reopened because how can both siblings go missing without a trace? Surely there has to be some sort of connection which means, the one accused was more then likely innocent.

A Family that has kept dark secrets to protect their wealth and status – A Family that kept something secret to keep their house – A Man that knows what happened 14 years ago but never came forward because what could a incarcerated Serial Killer benefit from telling?

I’m giving this a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars – Unfortunately, a standalone. Wouldn’t have mind to read more with the BCI characters.