2.8
I want to thank netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to early read this book. This was a book I was very excited to get to however, for me personally it did not do much for me. I throught the premise was great and the scene was eerie in a great way. The story however seemed to drag on for me without building much suspense and I did not care for most the characters for most of the book. I needed know know more about them. The parts telling the past were very predictable and slow. That was my main issue with the book. The plot moved very slow and predictable. I did find that by page 184 the story picked up some but most the action was not til the last thirty pages and for me that was way to late. It did have an interesting story towards the end but, just was not my cup of tea I guess. I am thinking others may like it better.

This was out of my comfort zone book. I usually do not ready spooky mystery books. Reading this book I was on the edge of my seat. And I just needed to know how it would end.
Maybe is know my cup of tea, but it was sooo good.
4 stars.

"The Lost Village" was creepier than I expected. In August 1959, the residents of the Swedish village of Silvertjarn mysteriously disappeared. When the police arrived, they found a dead woman who had been tied to a pole and stoned to death and they found a newborn baby, but no one else. The homes still contained belongings, so it did not appear to be a mass exodus. However, no explanation could be found for how hundreds of people had disappeared without a trace. Fast forward to the present, where Alice Lindstedt, whose grandmother grew up in Silvertjarn but moved away with her husband as young adults, wants to create a documentary about the town and the disappearance. Alice and four others (Tone, Emmy, Robert, and Max) are heading to Silvertjarn to explore the village and take photos and videos to promote the Kickstarter campaign to fund the actual documentary. Alice has gathered as much information as she can find on the town, the investigation into the disappearance of the villagers, and individuals such as Birgitta Lidman (the dead woman) and her baby, but the available information is limited, consisting largely of letters her grandmother had received from her younger sister (Aina) and information her grandmother had been able to undercover following the disappearance of her family and friends.

The book mostly takes place in the present, with the exploration of the village by Alice and her team and the mysterious events that occur -- strange noises, people thinking they saw someone, items disappearing, physical harm, etc. However, the story repeatedly goes back to the events of 1959, explaining how the village changed after the closure of the mine and the appearance of a young, charismatic preacher to replace the old alcoholic pastor. Between the exploration of the village in the present and the flashbacks to the past, the story builds to the revelation of what really happened in Silvertjarn in 1959. Both Alice and Tone have kept critical information from the other three members of the group, and these omissions will end up quite dangerous. The author does a great job of evoking a sense of creepiness and mystery with how she describes the village, the buildings, and the overall environment. Some of the plot twists are not too surprising, but others are quite unexpected. The author does a good job of keeping the reader guessing. If you enjoy creepy stories, this might be a book for you.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley.

To begin, just a "thank you" to St. Martin's Publishing Group, as well as Netgalley.com for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I question my 3-star rating of this novel. I could go up to 4-stars. I'll settle for 3.5-stars for this one.

Reading the one-sentence blurbs on this novel, it seemed to be a novel I could get into. A tragic disappearance of the townsfolk, with the exception of a woman found tied to a post in the town square, and an infant found alive is all that the town of Silvertjarn, a small mining town in Sweden, have left around the 1950's. Questions abound as to what happened to this ghostly town? Why is there the remains of a woman beaten in the town square? And what of this infant? Who is she and why was she found alive?

I have not read a Camilla Sten novel. And, to be honest, the beginning of this novel had me wondering if I should continue. But - I've learned to give a novel a fighting chance (50-page limit), and ultimately, this one did not disappoint. Fast-forward to Alice, an up-and-coming documentarian, and the four members of her staff who have come to film and try to "get to the bottom" of all of these mysteries in the town of Silvertjarn. Albeit a slow start, the novel does get interesting as it intertwines Alice and her quest to find the truth of the mysteries of Silvertjarn with the past of Elsa, a relative of Alice, and her desire to help Brigitte - who is looked down upon by members of the small village.

The book hits its climax midway through the novel, as there seems to be someone else in the empty town. My interest in how this novel ended peaked with the themes of family, mental-illness, and how people are easily fooled by hucksters stating they are "performing God's work" here on Earth.

The Lost Village is a novel that I am happy I did not give up on. Interesting read and was an enjoyable read by the end.

Not typically a mystery reader, I completely enjoyed this story! Mystery, religion, mental illness, family ties, and an abandoned village combined by the author to weave a tale I couldn’t put down!

Suspenseful and creepy novel about a small Swedish village that disappeared 60 years ago, and a small film crew making a documentary. I admit that there were sections that I didn't read after dark (but I'm a bit of a 'fraidy cat).

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a slow book, but in a good way. It allowed the story to build. It was a very atmospheric read and I definitely was creeped out the entire time. The back and forth between past and present was very well done and flowed seamlessly.

Would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a creepy story.

Summary:
Alice decides to shoot a documentary film about a ghost town that was left abandoned years ago. Everyone who lived there mysteriously disappeared, including her own grandmother and family. Following the tragedy, only two humans were discovered in the town: an abandoned newborn, still alive, and a young woman, stoned to death.

Alice arrives in the abandoned town with the small crew she’s assembled, including Emmy, her old roommate from college, determined to shoot a documentary focused on the town’s history. But as soon as they arrive, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People go missing. And it soons becomes clear that they are not alone.

---

This story is told through alternate timelines, switching between the present (Now), in which Alice and her crew scout the deserted area, and the past (Then), in the months leading up to the abandonment of the town. Old letters, sent and received by Alice’s ancestors, are also incorporated.

In the ‘Then’ timeline, a good deal of the events are foreshadowed early, but this is by design. It allows you, the reader, to figure out what is going to happen before it’s revealed, and it’s incredibly effective in creating a sense of impending doom.

To counterbalance that, the ‘Now’ timeline is edge-of-your-seat shocking and unexpected and full of twists I did NOT see coming. It’s bold and dramatic and surprising and scary and also, unexpectedly, sad. Alice is a wonderfully flawed main character, and I really appreciate how well-developed the relationship is between her and Emmy.

This story has similarities to the work of filmmaker Ari Aster (Midsommar, Hereditary), which I love!! It’s smart horror that doesn’t just entertain and scare, but provides interesting - and at times uncomfortable - social commentary.

And just like Aster’s movies, this book is NOT for the faint of heart.

I’d say this is perfect for fans of horror, first and foremost, but also those who enjoy psychological thrillers or mysteries.

Thank you #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC of #thelostvillage!

This will be posted on my blog and social closer to publication date, unless it’s requested earlier.

This was described as The Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar and this is so accurate!! It draws vibes from each without stealing from either.

The way the book is presented as a pitch for a documentary creeped me out from the very beginning. The story flips back and forth between NOW and THEN. NOW, a small team of investigators/journalists/filmmakers, not all without direct ties to the subject matter, are scoping out a town that was mysteriously deserted THEN. THEN... a small mining town, full of everyday people, helping each other along. Until a newcomer arrives.

I like scary movies and scary books but I don't often find myself scared. As this book alternates between the two time periods, the intensity steadily builds. It's very mild in the beginning, and it somehow rises undetected. At the midpoint, you're almost relieved when you get to switch to the other time period and breathe a bit. But as both timelines proceed, they reach their peak intensities simultaneously and there is no relief as you alternate between one and the other! This book was *definitely* creepy.... I LOVED it. Highly recommend if you want to feel spooked!

From the synopsis I was expected a ghost story or something paranormal, which made me a bit nervous because I don't typically like books along those lines, but even still, this book brought new elements that captivated me the entire time I was reading and I could not put it down. I highly recommend Camilla Stens' "The Lost Village"!

I was so thrilled to receive a copy of this book because I had just seen Midsommar and wanted to see how this book compared since it was supposed to be a cross between that and Blair Witch Project. I GUESS I can see the comparison, KIND OF. The story takes place in Sweden, that's true. There is cult-like activity, also true.

I enjoyed the story for the most part, but I take issue with the discovery of what happened to the villagers. I find it hard to believe that the initial investigation wouldn't have considered that particular scenario. I don't know. I didn't hate the book, by any means. I read it quickly and then moved on to a new book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the advanced copy.

This book is heralded as a mix between The Blair Witch Project (which I LOVE) and Midsommar (which... I still haven't made my mind up about) so I couldn't help but be intrigued.

This book is intense, dark, and set in a Scandinavian backdrop that just begs you to envision ghosts and ghouls and haunted houses galore. Despite the fact that I kind of guessed the ending, I still couldn't help but be reeled in.

Just like Blair Witch this book kind of starts off slow and then suddenly it's completely ramped up. One minute Alice and her crew are setting up to film a documentary, the next things are getting completely out of control. Mixed in are letters from those of the past, highlighting what happened leading up to an entire village seemingly vanishing off the face of the earth.

If you're not quite over the fact that the spooky time of year is long gone, this book might just be the pick for you.

The Lost Village was a fantastic reading experience. In 1959, an entire village of people disappeared without a trace. In modern times, filmmaker Alice Lundstedt is obsessed with the mystery and sets out to make a documentary with a small crew of friends.

As soon as they arrive at the amazingly creepy Silvertjarn things start to get weird. Equipment is destroyed, they hear weird noises, and people go missing.

Word’s I’d use to describe The Lost Village- addicting, unsettling, dramatic, fast-moving, intense, atmospheric and chilling.

Even more, I loved how this novel unfolded and found the ending very satisfying. Four stars!

Big thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Camilla Sten for an advanced copy to review!

Great book! I was hooked from the start, thank you so much for providing me a copy of this book to read. This is something I would love to purchase.

The Lost Village

Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the ARC of The Lost Village by Camilla Sten. I’m a huge fan of Scandinavian Noir and was excited to get started on this story. Like many great suspense/mystery thrillers, it is set in present day but is grounded in a terrifying event of the past; in this case, the disappearance of an entire town of 877, marking it as Sweden’s only ghost town. A documentary is being filmed with the hopes of finding clues to what really happened in 1959; this alone sets the stage for quite the intriguing story, but just wait...
Nature, in both it’s sweet and scary forms, acts as a main character; it holds the town close to its bosom and is relentless in her presence, both during the current and past events. As the film makers start to explore the town, clues of other beings make themselves seen and heard — but just barely. Whispers, a sniff of breath, a small muffled laughter... just enough to make the readers’ nerves tingle but not jump. But in a place of such mystery, sadness and death, you know something is coming. Our fears are confirmed with an explosion, marking the beginning of the end of this documentary quest. Will the mystery of Silvertjarn be solved? The problem, I did want to find out what occurred to create this ghost town, but I did not care what happened to the present-day characters. I did like some of the characters from the past but the author didn’t manage to bond me to the film makers; this caused me to skim through some of those parts. But the need to know the truth pulls you through and it’s worth the wait!

A young woman goes back to a village that disappeared to film a documentary and to try to solve the mystery of what horrible thing happened to make everyone disappear except one woman found hanging and a baby abandoned. But her crew starts to hear voices, and then people start dying. At first they turn on each other, but they slowly unravel the mystery, but it may be too late, and they may disappear too.

A little bit ghost hunting and a little bit history told through the voice of one of the town's women, this book has a slow burn with unexpected chills along the way.

Good character development in both the past characters and the present. There is more to the characters than meets the eye, but the author only gives you a little bit at a time as if you are just meeting them and need to continue the conversation to get to know them better.

When I read the description of the book it said it was a mix between The Blair Witch Project and Midssomar. I didn't like Midssomar and The Blair Witch Project made me tired with all the shaky camera angles. What they should have said was this book is better than these movies. A pulled-together documentary crew goes to a tiny village where back in 1959 the people of the town vanished. No one knows what happened to them. The documentary maker, Alice has a connection to the town as well as one other member of the crew, but they still have no idea what happened and are excited to film the empty houses, school, and church and try to solve the mystery. When bad things start happening, the reader begins to wonder if there's something in the air or something supernatural cursing anyone who visits. The writer weaves this story with the historical story and masterfully leaves clues as to the whereabouts of the missing townspeople. Well written story to read late into the night!
I obtained this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.

Well, this was wild. I could not put this down and was genuinely scared at some points.

I’m having a hard time rating this book because I did enjoy the reading experience at times, but it was predictable and there were many plot holes that seem very obvious.

But the real reason why I’m giving this such a low rating g is because I didn’t like how mental illness was portrayed throughout. I thought it was tasteless and I hated how it was demonized (even if part of the message may have been not to demonize it)

Overall this was a good book, but I think the “Blair Witch meets Midsommar” tagline really set me up with the wrong expectations.

A ragtag team of filmmakers set out to make a documentary about a secluded town where 900 people mysteriously vanished without a trace. – having a previous obsession with the lost colony of Roanoke, I was instantly hooked. I absolutely loved the spooky atmosphere and the picture Camilla Sten painted in my mind of the abandoned ghost town.

There’s a lot going on in the plot. We learn about some awkward relationships amongst the crew, spooky unexplained things are happening, we get some flashbacks to the original townsfolk, it’s a bit of a slow build up until BOOM one big event changes the pace of the book. After that it’s a rollercoaster ride of twists and thrills!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t particularly attached to any of the characters so in the end the desire to find out what happened to the village was really the driving force that kept me invested. I appreciate that there was an explanation in the end, but again with the “Blair witch meets Midsommer” tagline I expected a little more creepy-church-cult and/or witch content built into the storyline.

Big thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Camilla Sten for an advanced copy to review!

The Lost Village follows a crew of five individuals, off to film a documentary about the village of Silvertjärn. They aim to uncover why a whole village of 900 people just disappeared in one night, with only two people left. Items go missing and creepy sounds emit from their walkie-talkies. They soon discover that they are not alone in this abandoned village.

I was slightly disappointed, but this is only due to my high expectations and predictable ending. The premise was so fascinating and I ate it up. I really enjoy creepy villages with unexplained occurrences. This makes for an excellent horror. This book, however, was not straight-up horror, but the feeling of unease creeps up on you and you're left with so many questions plaguing your mind. Was it something supernatural? Was there a logical reason?

The Lost Village was told in two timelines, "Now" and "Then". I found this to be written really well but towards the end of the novel, the time jumps got too frequent that it took me out of the story. As soon as I was getting into one timeline, the next chapter would jump back. It was disorientating.
The characters were not that likable and I found Alice to be very impulsive. I had wished the characters were more fleshed out because they were all complex and interesting. Sadly, I did not care for them throughout the whole novel.

Overall, this was a really spooky read, perfect for fans who enjoy fast-paced narratives and ghost towns.