HarperCollins, London 2024

This is the fifth novel by the British author Liz Moore. On the blurb Paula Hawkins describes it as “enthralling literary thriller”, which is a mouthful.

The author has spun an elaborate narrative about the rich van Laars family, who bought a large property in the north of England, where they built a splendid residence near the woods. Later on they established a summer camp for young children, which is run by the Hewitts, the former owners of the land.

 Now, 1975, it is the third generation of the van Laars, Carl, his wife Alice and their daughter Barbara. Their son Bear disppeared in the woods more than 10 years ago and has never been found. When Barbara also vanishes in the summer of 1975, this tragedy tears the family apart.

The reader follows the police investigations via Judyta, a young police officer, who in the end finds out what really happened, not only with Barbara, but also with Bear.

Liz Moore constantly switches between dates and persons from whose view she tells, what happens, which is rather confusing.

In the first part of the novel the main characters are Alice and Louise, one of the counselors in the camp, who looks after a group of kids, among them Tracy and  Barbara, who joins the camp for the first time.

In the second the main character is Judyta. As one of the first female officers in the team it is a hard job for her to find her position, although she is the only one whose investigation is successful.

Well, a sometimes tedious read, blown to enormous proportions.