“God of the Woods” and other short reviews from readers

“Women and Children First” by Alina Grabowski (SJP Lit, 2024)

This novel explores the impact of an unexpected and unexplained tragic event on a small town in rural Massachusetts. The story is told from the perspective of ten different women who live there. A subtle exploration of grief, family and community, and how relationships and even truths can change when tragedy turns your world upside down. — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

“The God of the Forest” by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books, 2024)

An eight-year-old disappears from his wealthy family's “reservation” in the Adirondack Mountains. Fourteen years later, his sister disappears too. How? Why? Liz Moore's latest thrilling novel is so gripping that I could hardly put it down. Moore creates a well-rounded story from the perspective of several characters during the events of 1961 and 1975. I particularly liked the newly promoted detective Judyta Luptack and I hope she returns in another novel. We don't get answers to every question, but I found the ending surprisingly complete. — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker

“The Beginner’s Farewell” by Anne Tyler (Knopf, 2012)

The protagonist of this novel, Aaron, works for his family's self-publishing company, best known for its “The Beginner's” series, which introduces the uninitiated to various mini-topics. He marries Dorothy, an independent working woman, and they live contentedly somewhat parallel lives. But when she dies in a bizarre accident, Aaron suddenly doesn't quite know how to carry on with his now completely alone life. The rest of the novel describes his mundane and sometimes mystical journey through grief, essentially his very own book in this curious series from his family's publishing company, which would have been titled “The Beginner's Goodbye.” — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

“The Cloisters” by Katy Hays (Atria/Simon and Schuster, 2022)

Ann Stillwell has lived a quiet life in Eastern Washington and wants to escape her provincial upbringing. After graduating from college, she becomes a summer intern at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Museum, the Cloisters, which sits high on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River. Atmospheric is one of the words to describe this mystery, as the author depicts the gardens and exhibits in the stone replica of various monasteries from France and Spain – gardens where poisonous plants from the Middle Ages grow. It is also a coming-of-age story, as Ann navigates her passion for research in niche areas and

the people she has to please in order to continue her work. A satisfying read with a surprising twist at the end. — 3 stars (out of 4); Susan Tracy, Denver

“What You Leave Behind”, by Wanda M. Morris (William Morrow, 2024)

A real page-turner! Deena Woods returns to her home in Brunswick, Georgia, after the death of her mother, the breakdown of her marriage, and the loss of her job at a prestigious Atlanta law firm. A chance encounter with an emotionally troubled older man fighting to keep his family's beachfront property outside Brunswick puts Deena in dangerous territory when he suddenly disappears and she tries to find out what happened to him. Her discovery of illegal land theft from rural, mostly poor families by greedy developers with influential connections puts her in extreme danger as she rushes to find legal heirs to contest the land sale while also trying to take the developers to court. Will Deena overcome the odds? — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

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