The Lost Village is the literary equivalent of a popcorn thriller, not quite a B-horror movie, but something close to it. It comes with an alluring, practically irresistible premise: an entire village vanished into thin air in 1959, leaving behind only a baby and a woman stoned to death in the village square. We follow snippets from this timeline, but the majority of the story takes place in the present, in which documentary filmmaker Alice, whose grandmother lost both parents and little sister in the town's disappearance, is determined to make a documentary to discover the truth.

From the get-go, the entire premise requires a massive suspension of disbelief. Alice is running around town discovering photographs and documents that help her unravel the mystery, but am I really expected to believe that the original investigations didn't discover this? 900 people vanished into thin air and there are no true crime freaks constantly exploring this town and digging through every single facet of it? There were some half-hearted explanations for this - it was a mining town with unstable ground, it's incredibly remote, etc - but I just didn't buy it. So while I found the overall resolution satisfying, and I was pleased that most loose ends were tied up, I couldn't quite buy into it all, because there were so many gaping holes.

The treatment of mental illness is, uh. Really weird, to say the least. I feel like the author was attempting to make some sort of progressive commentary, but the execution is incredibly messy on numerous occasions. It's particularly irritating considering there are actually not one, but several mental health threads throughout the narrative, to the point where I'd say it's definitely a major, major theme, and when mental illness is going to be a major theme, you want to make sure your execution isn't so uncomfortable.

That said, I did very much enjoy reading this book; I finished it in a day. It does a good job establishing a creepy, isolated atmosphere and setting up a cool mystery while slowly introducing tidbits of information. The writing could be a bit choppy and plodding at times, but it was serviceable enough for a thriller. I also think the author does a really great job with characterization. All the characters here felt unique and fully realized.

Overall, I'd say pick this up for a mindless good time, but don't expect anything too hefty from it.

I absolutely loved this book. The ceeepy atmosphere of an empty forgotten village, the mystery surrounding nearly 900 people disappearing, it was all incredible. The pace was slow, yet still creepy, until the 50% mark then the pace was fast paced and I wasn't able to put the book down.

This was a very interesting story; can't say I've read one like this before. It kept me engaged in the story and on the edge of my seat. Perfect for fall.

This book is called a mix between Blair Witch Project and Midsommar. Since both movies freaked me out, I just couldn’t wait to read this! And wow, I’m so happy I did.
Camilla Sten perfectly nails the eerily silent and mysterious atmosphere of this lost Swedish village. This creepy place and concept was also a bit reminiscent of AHS Roanoke, slightly paranormal and ominous. The imagery is haunting. It’s easy to picture the abandoned buildings and tiny town square. There are alternating timelines which I loved because it gives more insight into the way the village used to be.
Tensions rise between the already unstable characters as more and more strange things begin to happen. Eerie noises, chilling giggles, and unexpected footsteps…name some better suspense building moments. Oh wait…ya can’t! You pretty much know from the start that these amateur filmmakers are doomed but that didn’t make us any less interested.
There is some slow buildup, but it all comes together at the fast and thrilling climax! Cult horror fans will enjoy this book. Despite some predictability, the compelling writing will make it feel like you’re watching a scary movie in your head.
Thank you NetGalley and Minatour Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. (PUB DATE: 3/23/21).

In 1959, the residents of a small Swedish mining village named Silvertjarn, disappeared. Present day Alice, is a descendant of a family that once lived in the village. Her obsession with this mysterious part of her history has driven her to make a documentary about it. With her film crew, Alice will spend five nights in the village, hoping to solve the mystery.

The Lost Village is a creepy and suspenseful thriller. The story of the village is a little like Roanoke, the lost colony in Virginia, which disappeared in the middle of night. Another lesser known village near me in Pomfret CT, called Barahack, also disappeared. These mysteries have always intrigued me. At the time these villages existed a whole colony could be wiped out by plague or tuberculosis, which could explain the sudden disappearance. But in this story, The Lost Village is set in 1959, which makes it a lot harder to explain.
The exploring of the abandoned buildings is exhilarating and haunting. This book captures that feel immediately. I could picture the rotting structures and empty rooms, and the fear of what might be behind a closed door.

When the Blair Witch came out I was terrified. The hype of the "documentary" built the sense of dread, making it real. Choosing to go with a similiar story line in this book was brilliant. They go in with a full film crew of friends, and things go wrong, people go missing. Scariest scenario to happen in the woods, where bad things have happened before.
Unlike the Blair Witch, which leaves you with questions, The Lost Village has the perfect ending. The plot twist and lead up to the climax is nothing less then thrilling, the ending is satisfying.

I read this in one day because I wanted to know how it ended. But I really think the way mental health was treated in this book was not ok, and ruined any chance I had of enjoying the story.

Wow. This book had a definite Blair Witch vibe to it and was the perfect spooky season, October read. This book kept me guessing the entire way, and I loved that. I didn’t see the twists and turns coming, and that’s rare for me. Highly recommend.

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten was a fantastic book! I have enjoyed reading a variety of genre's lately, exploring those outside of my normal "go to" styles. This storyline grabbed me pretty quickly, and held my attention throughout. I had a very hard time putting this book down from about the half way point to the end.

Ms Sten developed very good characters with depth and quality. I was able to easily envision them as real people, and could imagine being present within the story itself. This is what makes a book really good, in my eyes. I love the escape that a true imaginative author provides!

I love the level of imagination that Ms. Sten demonstrated in writing this novel. I also appreciated (once I stopped crying) that she was not afraid to kill off a couple of the main characters. Many authors stay away from the loss of main characters, and usually will have them survive very tough circumstances. I usually appreciate that the main ones are spared, but in this particular book I was able to appreciate the direction Ms. Sten took. It just added to the depth of the storyline and threw in some pretty dramatic twists. I never saw that last twist to the story coming! The direction the story took was a complete plot twist!

I will absolutely be watching for more novels by this author in the future! I do believe I have a new favorite author to add to my list! Thank you, Ms. Sten, for your work and imagination that you poured into this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book has atmosphere and tension out the wazoo and yet that ended up being all it had. The setup is very similar to The Blair Witch project and from the moment the characters reach the titular village, there is an eeriness that settles in and doesn't let up. However, it ends up being a very long wait for the action to pick up, and even though the suspense does tick up a bit, the big reveal at the end was such a massive disappointment that it soured my feelings for the book completely.
Good concept, great atmosphere
But dull characters with confusing histories with each other and a ridiculous final act.

This was a well written, chilling read, which will likely be in my top reads this year! Was very unputdownable read, with a fun plot aspect, and lots of scares! I thought the author wrote it in a manner that really connected the reader, providing chills down the spine, thrills, and shocks! I had a very hard time setting down, as it just had my attention completely gripped! Thought it was unique, even though cult themed seem to be prevalent lately! Overall, I would definitely highly recommend to those looking for a scary story that is truly gripping and riveting!

Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use lower amazon reviewer number on release date!

I received a copy of this novel from net galley in exchange for an honest review.

If I could pick one book that I have read this year that really spoke to me and really impressed me, it would be The Lost Village. Camilla Sten bring atmosphere and rich characters alive within the pages of this novel. From the first moment that I read the beginning sentences all the way through to the last word of the last page I was invested and enthralled.

The darkness within the journey that is taken in this novel is astounding, I really felt like this is something that could happen to myself and my friends if I decided to film a documentary. I was completely wrapped up in the story and how the main character Alice felt so relatable even when she was struggling to hold onto her strength.

The only issue I found within this entire novel is I wish there was more...more history of the town and its people, more about the Pastors within the village....more pages to the story. These are selfish wants though because the book I felt was perfect just the way it was. I will be recommending this novel and looking forward to more from Sten in the future,

I loved loved loved this book! Could not put it down! We have a deserted Swedish town with a cult history and some brave folks wanting to film a documentary - including a descendent from the cult. What transpires at times seems and feels supernatural, and it kept me guessing the whole time. I love a good cult tale, especially one that crosses generations and weaves in so much mystery. Great read, thankful for the ARC!

I love a good horror novel but rarely feel scared while reading. However, several times as the author was building the suspense I found myself truly frightened. The scariest moments came in the middle of the story when so much was unclear about what was happening the village, but the suspense remains until the very end, even when the questions are answered. In hindsight the ending should have been obvious to me earlier in the story, but the writing is so well-done that I came to the resolution without having figured out the answers.

A great read for anyone who enjoys paranormal and supernatural mysteries.

There is a lot of building of suspense in this very dark story. It keeps you on the edge. It is a slow moving book but as the story unfolds the action increases. It is a story of social humanity and how people react in times of crisis.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

Wonderfully written! The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: March 23, 2021

This novel had so much potential to be a horror/thriller that keeps the reading on their toes, but the ending simply ruined the whole story for me. The plot went from scary to silly. The tale goes back and forth in time from the 1950s to 1979. The location in both timelines is the same. The author takes us to a small Swedish mining village. In the 50s, an entire village disappeared without a trace, no bodies, no explanations. In the story’s present, a young independent filmmaker, Alice, brings a small crew back to the village to create a documentary on this mystery. The story is personal to her since her grandmother could have been a victim but she moved out of the village before they all vanished. Alice grew up on stories regarding the village and Sten uses them to tease the reader’s curiosity about what happened. Some thought the village experienced supernatural events, or possibly a mass suicide. Others thought it had to do with the new pastor who may not have been what he appeared to be. The writing in the past gives you a good feel of the community’s simple and sweet lifestyle then later in the story, how their personalities slowly begin to change. Sten does an excellent job to make you jump with her 1979 descriptions of the houses and the church. They were left eerily untouched creating a very creepy atmosphere were our imaginations could take us all over the place. However, the ending, which is the actual explanation of the phenomenon, is so unbelievable that it reads campy. Even zombie stories have to feel real to scare you. I think with a better editor and rewrites “Village” may have kept its earlier ability to continue to terrify. As is, my first Halloween read for this year was very disappointing.

This story had some killer (pun intended) aspects which I loved:
Freaky cult
Unexplained disappearances
Family drama

When I started reading about 900 people that suddenly disappeared without an explanation, I knew, no matter what, I was going to read until the end to figure it out. I enjoyed the style of writing - dual timelines between the village in the past and the filmmakers in the village present. I even found that I enjoyed most of the characters. 

What fell a little flat for me was the thrills. The story starts off incredibly slow, which did add some suspense, but dwindled before exposing anything shocking. Can a story be creepy without creeping you out? Can a story be paranormal without anything actually being paranormal? Apparently so because that's how I felt reading this book. I just wanted MORE. I think the potential for the plot was great, but the timing was off. The ending was rushed and the story could have been more effectively creepy if the book had been longer or paced more efficiently. 

Overall, I did enjoy the book. This book was a quick read that was a great start to spooky season! 

TW: mental illness, abuse of a disabled person, gore, implied rape, suicide mention

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
This is a good, sometimes creepy, thriller that takes place in an abandoned village in Sweden. In 1959 the whole village disappeared, every single person, except for a tiny baby. Alice, a documentary film maker goes back to the village with a small crew to film the town and maybe find out what happened there. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned and things unravel quickly.
I really enjoyed this read with that slight paranormal feel to it, it sure kept me turning the pages! I did feel quite bad for the little baby, even though she was rescued, that part moved my heart to my throat...

This was a good, atmospherically spooky read. It's the kind of story that Riley Sager writes - spooky without actually being supernatural - but not quite as engrossing, in my opinion. It also brushes up against "Midsommar" territory with added witch-y persecution, which is always a bummer.

The setting for the story is an isolated Swedish town where the entire population just disappeared one day in the 1950s leaving everything in place - pots of coffee still on the stove, dishes on the tables, clothes on the line ... One of the townsfolk's granddaughters, Alice, is trying to create a documentary about the village with the hopes of finding out what really happened. Her grandmother left before the strangeness began, and the letters from her younger sister remain as the only clues as to why a body was found on a stake in the town center, dead after being stoned to death, and a lone living infant crying and abandoned. The story is told with chapters alternating from "Now" and "Then"; from the perspective of Alice in the village and from her great-grandmother Elsa's perspective in the past. My heart also really broke for Birgitta, a developmentally disabled woman living in the town, alone and outcast after the death of her mother, and her part in the story may have added to what makes this book a bit more trying than I would have wanted it to be.

I give this 3.5 stars, as I felt like it was just missing something for me to make it more enjoyable. The ending also fizzled, and for books like these, the ending can really make or break a book. Those who enjoy spooky vibes, good creepy atmosphere, and building unease, should check out this book. I think everyone can enjoy it, regardless of the end - mystery lovers and horror lovers alike.

I'd like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This is a Scandinavian thriller with a supernatural feel, but it's not really a super natural book. It has a thrilling, suspenseful, spooky feel, though. Books like this I usually prefer to experience as audiobooks, it just gives a different type of setting for me. But the reading was engaging and interesting. The book was dramatic and suspenseful at times, to keep me interesting and reading.

Although I didn't see the ending coming, it didn't really sit right with me, either. I wonder if it is a translation issue or if it was just my mood while reading.

This was my first book by this author, though it does seem as though she is an established author. I would try another of her books for sure!