What to Read Next: The God of the Woods & Little Underworld
Issue #352, featuring Liz Moore and Chris Harding Thornton
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Happy Friday, readers!
Crime fiction is among the most popular genres in bookstores and on bestseller lists. When you bring the crime back in time, it becomes historical crime fiction. Some of my wife and I’s favorite authors fall into this niche — Colson Whitehead, Kate Quinn, James Ellroy, Matthew Pearl, and more.
After reading the two books featured today, I’ve added two more names to that list: Liz Moore and Chris Harding Thornton.
The God of the Woods has been everywhere on the internet lately, and I’m very happy to say it lived up to the hype.
Little Underworld, on the other hand, hasn’t seen as much press but is equally deserving. Next Tuesday I’m publishing a wonderful interview with Chris in place of the usual discussion thread — be on the lookout for that in your inbox!
Let’s jump in.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Liz Moore skyrocketed onto bestseller lists in 2020 after Long Bright River appeared in a number of end-of-year lists that crossed over between literary and popular tastes alike.
This year, she’s back with The God of the Woods.
I had seen its dark green cover everywhere on the bookish web and was lucky to snag a copy from our local library, just to see what all the fuss was about. By page 100 (out of ~475), I was utterly sucked in.
Set mostly in the 1970s (but jumping back into previous decades as well), the primary storyline revolves around a teenage camper who’s gone missing. Most of the kids at Camp Emerson are from well-off families, but Barbara Van Laar is altogether different — her family owns the camp and employs a number of blue-collar locals.
There are many threads to this novel, including the disappearance of little brother Bear Van Laar fourteen years earlier. Mixed in with that are time jumps that explore class dynamics, teenage relationships, grief, and drugs. It sounds complicated, but Moore masterfully weaves all these elements together into a believable and wildly compelling story. Her writing made me want to pay attention to the complexity.
As with any great crime story, Moore puts readers right into the setting, which in this case is the dense Adirondack woods. This aspect gave the novel a decidedly outdoorsy and literally campy feel, which I really enjoyed.
This was my first Liz Moore novel but certainly not my last. The God of the Woods was excellent — definitely among my favorite crime reads of the year — and it’s easily recommendable to a wide audience.
Join my online book club, The Big Read, today. Every month there are options for a classic, fiction, and non-fiction title. For $5/month, you get access to weekly recaps, robust discussions, and the motivation to read great books.
Reading is always better when done in community.
Little Underworld by Chris Harding Thornton
Omaha isn’t exactly broadly known for its sordid gangster history. Even in the Midwest, you’re more likely to think of Chicago or St. Louis. But in Little Underworld, Chris Harding Thornton brings us deep into the dark and corrupt underbelly of Nebraska’s largest city.
TL;DR: There are numerous reasons I loved this book.
First, Thornton gives a unique and memorable styling to the world of historical noir. The sense of place she creates is exactly as gritty and grimy as you expect from the genre. Throughout the story, there’s a real feeling of moving back and forth amidst Omaha’s dark alleyways and smoky offices. It’s exactly what I was hoping for in that regard.
Second, the main characters offer plenty of that classic noir wit, sarcasm, and pessimism, while also showing an uncommon warmth that made me appreciate and root for them all the more. Plenty of old-school noir characters are one-dimensional in their coldness — think Raymond Chandler’s and Dashiell Hammett’s protagonists. They don’t even feel real. In Little Underworld, Thornton gives Jim and Frank the real qualities that all humans have, including genuine friendship and compassion.
Finally, Thornton keeps the story tight and manageable, while weaving in fun twists and turns along the way. It reminded me of Agatha Christie in that way. There’s no bloat or fluff material here — it’s all in service of the story.
You don’t really need to know the plot details; Little Underworld is murdery and murky and delightful. Just trust me and jump in.
Thanks so much for reading. I deeply appreciate your time and inbox space!
-Jeremy
P.S. I’m now offering sponsored book reviews for Read More Books. Inquire at jeremy.anderberg@gmail.com.
P.S.S. I’m also doing some work as a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist, especially for non-profit organizations. If you have any needs in those areas, check out www.thecaspercreative.com.
Loved The God of the Woods. You might like an earlier book if hers called The Unseen World which deals with an early version of virtual reality.
I just finished The God of the Woods and loved it. I’m going to check out Unseen World, thanks!