Thank you to the publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

I unfortunately don’t have a lot to say about The Resting Place, because it’s the kind of straightforward thriller that didn’t have much to say either. This is purely a book made to drop its small cast of characters into an isolated manor house and leave them snowed in and increasingly suspicious of each other as dangers looms. It’s fun, if a bit forgettable, and is definitely the type of book that would benefit having been read in an appropriately wintery setting. Given that this English translation made a recent March debut this year the timing was a bit off for me going into spring.

The Resting Place features dual timelines - one in the present day as the main character Eleanor visits her recently deceased grandmother’s hidden family estate. The other is also set at this estate, but 50 years prior following her grandmother’s immigrant cousin who is routinely mistreated by her wealthy relatives. And herein lies my main problem with this book, because my immediate assumption of who the second POV really was is eventually played as a big twist. But the way the story was written made it apparent only a few chapters in what this character’s final role would be. This made the only surprising thing about the “twist” the fact that it was written in a way the author thought the audience would be shocked by it. The characters, certainly. But not the audience.

The cast of characters in general is also not large enough to really leave room for any surprises on the final twist. There were certainly individual character moments that had me shocked, but as to the person pulling all the strings it seemed almost inevitable. This character was mentioned so offhandedly early on in the novel it was an obvious red flag to me to question why they were mentioned at all. Chekhov’s gun, in action.

While The Resting Place isn’t the kind of story that isn’t going to deliver big twists, when read at the right time of year could deliver the right kind of snowed-in thriller that makes for a quick and easy read. I think I would have enjoyed this more having read it in winter, but am still interested to check out more of Camilla Sten’s past works and upcoming releases that will hopefully also get an English translation.

This gothic thriller about a murder that results in family secrets being revealed and the discovery of a family mansion. This novel is atmospherically creepy and the premise that the main character does not recognize faces only adds to it! If you enjoy gothic thrillers, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress and @minotaur_books for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

The Resting Place was such a eerie read with a storyline that sucked me in from the first page! The characters were complex and many of them very unlikeable with complex backstories that were slowly revealed throughout. The dual points of view were well utilized and the truth to the house’s history kept me guessing until the end. The disability representation was great with the main character bringing awareness to a condition called prosopagnosia and the mental illness was also at the forefront and discussed about for many of the characters. One character’s struggle with miscarriage and depression was a larger piece of this storyline that was very difficult to read about, for me personally.

The setting and vibe of this story was very creepy and contributed a lot to the story! This book was really hard to put down! Thank you to Minotaur Books and Camilla Sten for the gifted arc copy of this novel! It’s definitely one to keep on your spooky reads list come fall!

I was very excited to read this book. Something about the idea of seeing a killer and not being able to recognize them even if they were right in front of you was very compelling. That aspect of the story didn't disappoint, but others did. For having the classic 'creepy old house' trope, Solhöga lacked character. The setting was such an important aspect that it was disappointing to be told by the characters that the house was creepy instead of showing it in the descriptions. The pace was also wonky, developing quicker at the beginning than it did at the ending. However, the plot twist was truly unexpected in the best kind of way and the actual plot was pretty good, which redeemed it. 4/5 stars.

The Resting Place by Camilla Sten was an atmospheric page turner that had me captivated the whole book.

Brief Synopsis: Elanor is an amazing and a very lovable character. She suffers from prosopagnosia which is a medical condition that means face blindness. This would be challenging every day but it was especially challenging when Elanor walked in on her grandmother’s murderer and she couldnt identify them. With each day passing she was more and more nervous of the murderer coming to find her. Six months later, Elanor and her estranged aunt were asked to go to the family home in the countryside to go through the estate. Once they arrive at this abandoned cottage things begin to happen that makes Elanor question everything she had ever known about her grandmother. This story intertwines both past and present seamlessly.

Overall Thoughts: I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good book with character development and dual timelines. This book was a little spooky but not nearly as much as the Lost Village. I loved the setting of this book and the overall atmosphere where this book took place. It felt like a claustrophobic thriller and I enjoyed it. I liked the short chapters and overall mystery. I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5. I am knocking a few off because I got a little lost with the past story. I also found that there were too many names to keep track of that all started with the letter V. The story was a little far-fetched but for the most part I enjoyed it. The twist at the end was unexpected and I always like when I can be surprised by an ending after reading so many books of this genre. I will definitely read more from this author in the future!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'm excited to see what Sten comes up with next!

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

While I very much enjoyed this authors last book, I was not as excited about this book. It was still a good book, but the pacing was a little slow for me. I was hoping for a more fast paced book. It took me a little longer to read, because it couldn't hold my interest. I didn't feel any connection to the characters. There were some good twists though!

I will continue to read this author.

I really struggled with this one for some reason. I loved Sten's last book and it's obviously the same writing style but this one just didn't do it for me. I wish I could be more specific about why but I simply found it very hard to get into and very easy to put down. I still highly recommend this author, I'd just start people with "The Lost Village'.

I was excited to read this book by Camilla Sten as I was over the moon with her book,The Lost Village, last year! Sten has a gift for building a creepy atmospheric setting with touches of gothic horror. In her first book it was a whole village that was creepy. This time it is a summerhouse in the Swedish woods called Solhoga.

Eleanor's grandmother, Vivianne, is literally murdered right before her eyes. Or at least, she runs into the bloodied murderer leaving the scene. But Eleanor has a condition called prosopagnosia, which prevents her from recognizing and remembering faces. So Eleanor "saw" the murderer, but cannot describe the person because of her condition. This is the third book I've read recently where someone had this previously-unknown-to-me condition, so perhaps its wearing a bit thin, but my first reaction was, "Oh, that again." I suppose it did add an element of intrigue to the story, but I felt it didn't add a whole lot.

Eventually Eleanor, her significant other--Sebastian, and her aunt Veronika who has also inherited a portion of the house, accompany a lawyer to the estate to have a look. Solhuga is "the resting place" where gentile relatives once went to take their rest and vacation in the summers. Dark things ensue, including the disappearance of the long-time handyman. Vivienne was a difficult person in life, and it seems like she's left a dark aura behind after death.

Meanwhile, we have another story being told, of Vivianne herself when she was a newlywed in the 1960s, and her cousin and maid, Anushka. Through Anushka's diary entries, we follow the progression of their mystery and their story. Eventually the two stories will intertwine.

I really enjoyed reading this story and I love the creepy grey landscapes with hazy figures and "out of the corner of the eye" sightings that make it unnerving. I didn't find this setting as unsettling as the village in her first book, and I've decided part of the reason for that is that Eleanor had Sebastian with her. Had she been alone with no one to depend on, I think I would have found it scarier. But that's just quibbling with the storyline. I much enjoyed the telling of this one, although maybe not quite as much as The Lost Village. However I will eagerly be awaiting the next story and hope for another haunted setting!

Thank you to NetGalley, Camilla Sten, and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After witnessing the death of her grandmother but having no knowledge of who the killer is, Eleanor must visit a house that has been in her family for over fifty years, a place with a shady past and secrets kept inside. As Eleanor struggles with guilt and anxiety over her grandmother's murder, she must figure out mysteries within her family and a presence at the house that she knows is not supposed to be there.

Overall, I thought this was an engaging read that kept me hooked throughout it. I really enjoyed the dual timelines from different character perspectives. I love a good slow burn with a creepy atmosphere, and I thought that The Resting Place delivered on that quite well. However, the plot twists were a little bit . . . lackluster to me, and there were moments when I had to go back and reread sections or refer to previous pages in the book to make connections to what was happening. Because of that, I was a little bit confused at times. Although this isn't a new favorite of mine, I thought it was a quick read, and I would recommend it to people who enjoy thrillers about family secrets.

TW for death, violence, blood, mention of miscarriage, suicide in the past.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC of The Resting Place by Camilla Sten.

Talk about a spooky read 👻

The Resting Place served up all the atmospheric Nordic vibes. Coupled with amazing dual timelines, loved both equally, and I was hooked.

There were a lot of moving parts that were so well handled. Everything was wrapped up nicely. I did wish we got more time with a certain character instead of just watching them during two points of time. However, Camilla Sten gave us more than enough to make that leap. I was just so fascinated with these characters that I wanted more time with them. Especially Veronica who I could only picture as Madeline Kahn à la Clue.

The plot was more twisty than I had initially anticipated. I was so focused on figuring out if my theory was correct while mildly suspecting another of not being who they said, that I ended up blind-sided quite a few times.

This is the perfect book to grab when you want a dash of horror with your thriller 🔪

This book has such an interesting premise - I am fascinated by prosopagnosia and was ready to learn more about it. And it was interesting how Eleanor talked about having markers for people and what she saw when she looked at someone's face. However, if it's one of the big draws I would think we would get more out of it, but that's about where it ended. I could not feel connected to any of the characters. The atmosphere was going for a gothic feeling, but mostly I just felt lost and like not much was happening. I didn't even feel connected to this "mysterious mansion" that would be just the coolest setting, but again felt flat. This book was slooooow burn, which just wasn't my personal preference. I did enjoy the back and forth between POVs that gave you that back of the neck feeling that something wasn't right. And the twists (though I saw them coming) could have been more dramatic - if I had more of a clear picture of the characters involved, but I just didn't. The ending was a dramatic, but still somehow seemed agonizingly slow.

Eleanor has prosopagnosia, which is the inability to recognize a familiar person’s face, even the faces of those closest to you. When she walks in on the scene of her capriciously cruel grandmother, Vivianne’s, murder, she came face to face with the killer. With each passing day, her anxiety mounts. Then a lawyer calls to tell her that Vivianne has left her a house – a looming estate tucked away in the Swedish woods. The place where her grandfather died, suddenly. A place that has housed a dark past for over fifty years. Eleanor, along with her boyfriend Sebastian, aunt Veronika, and the lawyer have arrived at the house looking for answers, but what they find is a house of disturbing secrets.

THE RESTING PLACE is a gripping and eerie story of psychological suspense set in an atmospheric and isolated location. I’m a firm believer that setting can be key to making a book a winner for me. I absolutely devour books set in isolated locations where we find our cast of characters second guessing each other and their intentions. THE RESTING PLACE showcases this style featuring an estate with a mysterious past, a cast of characters that don’t quite trust each other, and an intense snow storm moving in. Sten wisely weaves together narratives from our main character, Eleanor, with glimpses into the past through diary entries from a maid who once worked at the estate. These two narratives compliment each other and craft a guessing game for the reader about how these events from the past possibly relate to Eleanor’s current situation. THE RESTING PLACE is a chilling and claustrophobic read that will keep you glued to the pages!

A huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

3.25 stars

A page turner for sure, you want to keep reading to see what is going to happen. The ending was just ok for me. I wish there was more of a twist and a bit of a different direction that it could have gone. Even with that being said it was good, interesting and I will for sure continue to pick more books my Camilla up.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for allowing me access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Eleanor find her grandmother murdered in her apartment. Then she has to go to a house in the country where her Grandmother lived years ago. She finds a book that has some information from years ago.
This book is different and has twists and turns.

I was so excited for this one, after reading The Lost Village last year! Camilla Sten knows how to deliver a spooky story, eerie settings, and twists that you don’t see coming. This was no different!

One thing I love is how she alternates timelines and then slowly brings everything full circle. There weren’t a ton of characters in this one, meaning that there weren’t a ton of people who could be behind everything and I STILL could not figure it out. I was questioning everything! Although I was questioning everything, there were times where things felt slow and some stuff that wasn’t exactly necessary the plot.

This one came out Tuesday, so you can grab it now!

Thank you so much to @minotaur_books for the #gifted copy!

3.5 Stars

I will start off by saying I was disappointed in the comparison to crimson peak and the like. It wasn’t anything like that. It definitely had the creep factor but something I’ve learned about Sten, is the villain is always right behind you and I love how you have no idea who it is or what is going on until all the puzzle pieces start to fit together.

This a story about a place that isn’t home.

I absolutely loved the authors first book, so I was really excited for this one. It was a very slow burn with alternating perspectives between past and present. I liked elements of it, and I think prosopagnosia to be an interesting condition… but the pacing kept losing me. I’ll definitely pick up more by the author, even if this wasn’t a homerun for me because I think she’s super talented & I think this one will be a good fit for readers who like a slow burn mystery.

Thank you so much netgalley minotaur books & macmillan audio for the copies- I thought the audio was excellent!

After the Lost Village, I was super interested in where Camilla Sten could head for me because I loved the eerily atmosphere in it. I will say that the atmosphere continues to be the best part, but it really is not my thing when it comes down to preference as the story unfolded in comparison. Some will like this better, others like myself, will wish for another book similar to The Lost Village.

Wow, twists and turns and secrets galore!

I really enjoyed this story, though I did find it a bit confusing until I finally sorted out the characters.

There’s Vivianne, Veronika, Vendela and Victoria (who wants to be called Eleanor.) Yeah, that’s a lot of V’s to keep track of, let me help you get sorted out. Vivianne is the grandmother, Vendala and Veronika are her daughters and Victoria (Eleanor) is the daughter of Vendala. Vendala died before the current story takes place and Eleanor was mainly raised by her grandmother, Vivianne.

This twisty tale is told from two different time periods. In 1965, we are following Anushka (who is called Annika,) the maid of Vivianne.

With Annika’s story, tensions are building as secrets and lies are set in place.

In the current time, Eleanor is returning to a family home that she never knew existed following the murder of her grandmother. We get a few hints that things aren’t quite as they seem right from the beginning and the ramifications from the past start unfolding.

Lots of twists and turns, none of which I saw coming. This family is loaded with secrets! A nice slow build with a tense satisfying climax. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This story is told via dual narrative - present by Eleanor, past by Annushka - a young maid at the country home.
Eleanor enters her grandmother's home for their weekly meal. She finds Vivianne’s dying from multiple stab wounds, bleeding out with no hope for recovery.
Months later, Eleanor leaves the hospital - her shock and grief less all encompassing. To her surprise, she is called to her grandmother's country estate, an asset Eleanor has never heard of. Her aunt, Veronika, along with her boyfriend Sebastian meet the family lawyer at the estate to itemize the contents.
Eleanor hears someone else in the house - gets pushed in the abandoned dumb waiter but no one believes her, only have her shaky recovery emphasized.
Annushka tells the story of Sir and Ma'am, the wealthy owners of the country home employing her. Ma'am is desperate for a child, yet fails to conceive. Annushka provides considerable insight into the owners' lives, also becoming embroiled in their scandal.
Great twist, somewhat predictable. I enjoyed these characters and the family mystery.