In 1959 the entire population, 887 people, disappeared in Silvertjan Sweden. Silvertjan is a small village miles from any other town. The train comes two times a week and is pretty much the only way out unless you own one the few cars or walk. One person, a newborn was found alive, by the police when the town was investigated. This story is told in a "now" an "then" format. The chapters are clearly indicated as such so there should be no problem understanding the different times. The now part is told by Alice and the "then" part of the story is told from Alice's great-Grandmother, Elsa. Alice's Grandmother kept letter from her sister Aina which also helps tell the "then" story. In the "now" we follow five "friends" to Silvertjan for a five day investigation. They are hoping to get enough information/footage to obtain the funding to go back to Silvertjan for more investigation. The village of Silvertjan holds a lot of secrets and do some of the friends. Right after the friends arrive strange things start happening. Are they seeing and hearing things or is someone terrorizing them? If it is someone, is it one of the friends? While the ending was not what I was hoping for, the build up was very good. The character building was detailed and we see that these friends have some interesting pasts. Additionally the description of the village and its buildings is creepy and unsettling. I am giving this a solid 4 star review. I would have given 5 if the ending was more of what I was expecting.

<I>”Something is very wrong.”</I>

All I could picture while reading this was Chernobyl. Which I find so fascinating. Probably also why I picked this book up in the first place...

Okay. Well. First things first. If this book would have been more “now” than “then” I would have liked it. There were parts that down right creeped me out and that’s hard to do.

Let’s make a documentary in a town where hundreds of people disappeared without a trace in the middle of the woods. We also have ties to said town and not everyone is who they say they are, more or less. Secrets, lies by omission if you will.

But the more I read on, the backstory just wasn’t for me. I also still have questions but honestly I just had to force myself to finish.

Unpopular opinion, here.

The writing is great, no hit to the writer.

I love the idea of thrillers, but I’m so rarely satisfied with my choices within the genre. The Lost Village, however, broke away from the mold.

Alice, an aspiring filmmaker who is seeking her niche, gathers a production crew to travel to a former mining town that is now a ghost town. Her personal connection to the town’s murky history drives her to head into the unknown, dragging others with her.

From the very beginning, this story captures your attention. Sten offers just enough details about the main characters for you to grow to care about their wellbeing, but their motivations and intentions are difficult to sort out through the lens of Alice’s first person narration.

Sten expertly layers small moments that create an increasingly sinister atmosphere. It does not take long for you to feel unsettled, and this feeling does not dissipate as the narration continues. This is a fast-paced read with well-spaced reveals that push you to keep flipping through the pages.

If you’re a horror fan or just in the mood to get creeped out, I would recommend keeping an eye out for this book.

Wow! Interesting story with unexpected twists. The creepiness of the setting and desire to know what happened to the village keeps the reader engaged and wanting to know more.

1959- 900 residents of a small Swedish village, Silvertjärn, mysteriously disappear. Only two people were left behind: a woman tied to a pole and stoned to death in the center of town and a crying newborn found in the abandoned school by local authorities. Documentary filmmaker, Alice Lindstedt, has been obsessed with the mystery surrounding the old mining town, dubbed the "Lost Village", since she was a little girl...a tragedy that took her Grandmother's entire family. Alice gathers a small crew of friends and travels to the remote village in hopes of making a film that uncovers new leads to the truth surrounding the mysterious circumstances. After they set up camp, strange occurrences begin to affect the group’s sanity leading them to doubt each other and their safety. Alice soon realizes they might not be alone and discovering the truth might just get them all killed.

The Lost Village is a psychologic suspense novel by author Camilla Sten. The novel involves a documentary team trying to discover the truth behind the tragic events surrounding an old mining town. If you are not a fan of the horror genre don't let the reference to ("The Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar") deter you from reading this one. Although this novel has a ghostly, atmospheric, feel it is definitely more of a mystery/suspense novel than horror fiction. 1959- Silvertjärn is an old mining town is struck with tragedy when 900 of its residents mysteriously vanish without a trace. The only two occupants left to tell the tale are a woman who has been left stoned to death in the town square and an abandoned baby. Present day- As soon as Alice's filming crew gets settled in the village they begin to experience several events that alludes to something potentially supernatural at work giving the story its eerie appeal. As the story unfolds you discover that several of the team members have a past history and secrets that impact the dynamics of the story. This was a well written novel with a spooky ambiance and several twists and turns that result in a rather unexpected ending. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I liked this book well enough but thought that the "villian" was a little too unrealistic considering how many years had passed. Still a good enough book and it definately didn't give any major clues as to the ending. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Documentary film maker Alice sets off to visit the old village of SIlvertjarn, home of her forebears. Ever since her grandmother had told her about how the villagers disappeared over 60 years ago, she has been intrigued and takes a crew with her to find out what happened.

Generally this type of mystery isn’t my jam, but the author has a way of changing that for me with this one. I could not put the book down and was completely pulled in early on. FABULOUS!

A darkly haunting narrative that is guaranteed to leave you at the edge of your seat!

The Lost Village is a tale about five young film makers who wish to document an abandoned settlement with a mysterious past. Upon their arrival, however, mysterious and unexplained incidents make them feel as though they are not alone.

The book was chillingly atmospheric, and the writing style was beautiful and unique. Sten did a wonderful job at making readers feel as though they were witnessing all the horrors of Silvertjärn first-hand. The author does not shy away from portraying violent scenes, and her gritty writing made the tale even more cinematic.

The characters were not immediately likable, but grew on you the more you journeyed with them. The horror aspects were well-written and I often had a chill down my spine while reading the book. The author did not overuse frightening scenes, making for a readable and well balanced book.

I was left guessing the fate of Silvertjärn until the very end. The book was compulsively readable and I truly enjoyed the ending twists. A huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

I absolutely loved everything about this atmospheric story. The choice to tell the story in the past and present at the same time, added so much tension as things unfolded in both timelines. Both of the timelines had a hanging feeling of dread that wound into true fear as things happened or were revealed. The relationships between the characters in the present and past were masterfully drawn with some shocking revelations.

The setting in the present was so very creepy. I mean what horror fan doesn't love the way an abandoned village wraps around you with its own presence when written right? Here it is done right. I could see it perfectly, hear the emptiness in the sounds, and feel the isolation of the characters. In the past, the setting held a sense of danger. It had that feeling more because of the what was happening in the village, especially toward the end... just wow!

Awesome. Chilling. I'd love to see this as a movie.

A good ole fashion ghost story along the lines of The Blair Witch Project., but i felt it dwelled too long in the present without a lot of action.

📝 Review time! 📝 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just finished The Lost Village by Camilla Sten and talk about a creepy story. This is perfect for a rainy gloomy night. It's very well written and a fairly fast paced read. It's a ghost story that will give you all the creepy vibes you feel in movies. It does flip back and forth between the past and present but I enjoy those books. I definitely recommend this if you like paranormal, horror, ghosty type books. It hits the shelves I believe in March of 2021 in the USA. It was originally released as the book Staden (The Town) in April 2019 in Swedish edition, so mark your calendars because you definitely want to add this to your TBR/Wish list. I know I have a new favorite author. I will try to give a synopsis without telling too much. Thank you to @netgalley and @wednesdaysten along with the publisher @minotaur_books for allowing me to review this book.
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Alice, Tone, Max, Emma, and Robert all set out to research and film a village called Silvertjärn where many years ago people just disappeared. Vanished. Gone, just like that. Alice wants to film a documentary about it after reading letters that her Grandmother and Great Aunt Aina (who lived in Silvertjärn) exchanged back and forth before everyone vanished. The first night there things are already happening and it progresses as each day passes. Sounds, sightings, mysterious things happening with equipment begin to freak them out. Three days in and one of them turns up missing and with everyone feeling they aren't alone, they don't know what to think. Alice finds some letter and pictures that finally begins to click everything into place, but will they all make it out?

This was a great read! Creepy and deliciously atmospheric, and that cover is just perfect. I love books set in Scandinavia and this one did not disappoint.

Alice Lindstedt is connected to Sweden's "Lost Village" through her grandmother and is obsessed with finding out why almost 900 people disappeared in 1959 with the exception of a baby found in the school's nurse's office and a woman stoned in the village square.

Alice gathers a small film crew and is intent on discovering the truth about what happened here. She hasn't been too successful in her career and is hoping this can be her big break. But when they arrive in Silvertjarn, things quickly go downhill: their equipment is destroyed, someone goes missing, and Alice swears they're not alone: ghostly voices and visions plague the group.

It soon becomes clear that there is more at stake than finding out the truth for a film: their very lives could rest on it.

I started the first third or so thinking that maybe this would be a better movie than a book. It moved a little slowly, though I did like the premise and thought Sten painted a wonderfully realistic setting. The book moves between Alice's present and the past--featuring her great grandmother, Elsa. I thought the "past chapters" were far more enticing. The present read a bit clunky to me--I think it was their dialogue and the stilted way the group seemed to react to everything--and Alice felt a little lackluster to me. She was frustrated that things weren't going her way--including fellow crew member Emmy trying to take things over, but she never really seemed to know what she was doing.

But there was always this great sense of dread that there were monsters lurking in the corners (don't read this before bed!) and things really picked up after this mark.

I do have to say, though, that overall, I liked Elsa's narrative best and wished even more of the book took place in 1959. One thing I was missing was an even deeper glimpse of where creepy Mattias came from and how he was so able to put a spell over the town as he did.

Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for a review. I will now be on the lookout for more Camilla Sten books.

A real gripping page turner! Suspenseful, edge of your seat!! Think Blair Witch. While I enjoyed the book I'm giving it 3 stars because I felt it lacked some information about the pastor (why did everyone follow him??What was it about him?? Where did Tone go when she was missing??) & Tone that could've given the store more of a thriller ending.
Overall, a great story & has made me think twice about visiting an old mining town!

This was a creepy read, especially while vacationing in the woods. I honestly struggled with the two storylines and I understand how they intertwine, but it was a little too far fetched and predictable. I enjoyed the creepiness, but I think it had almost too much going on with all the characters and it was hard to focus. I will maybe give it another try but overall 3.5.

I thought this was an excellent and fast paced read- fantastic for a chill weekend reading. I was genuinely pretty surprised by the ending, and really loved the mood throughout. This will be a great read during the time it’s going to be released! A wonderful cozy novel.

The Lost Village has a fantastic plot premise. Our central character, Alice, leads a documentary crew to investigate the strange, seemingly abandoned village, Silvertjarn, and unlock the secrets to its dark history of human sacrifice. Once the crew arrives at the desolate site, things quickly go awry, and thoughts of the documentary give way to a desire for survival against an unseen force.

The narrative jumps between the present day and the past, leading up to the catastrophic events that resulted in Silvertjarn becoming a ghost town. The links between then and now quickly become evident, and result in a pretty shocking and devastating conclusion in both timelines.

I enjoyed this book, but felt the excitement dipped a little in the middle. The last few chapters especially had a few moments that genuinely made me gasp. And while some of the characters were well-developed, some felt disposable. It was never really made clear what made the supposedly enigmatic pastor so entrancing to the people of Silvertjarn. To be honest, I felt like the story of the past could have been developed a little more, at the expense of the slower present-day sections.

Overall, the majority of the novel was very enjoyable, and I did race through the book. While the content was often incredibly dark, the book was a relatively easy read. I'd categorize The Lost Village as a horror-thriller, rather than a full-on horror novel, as I don't think there was enough of a sense of unease or dread created to describe it as uncanny.

I would absolutely read more of Sten's work; I understand she's pretty prolific in her native Sweden. I recommend this book to lovers of folk horror, mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels.

When I first saw this title offered, I thought of Roanoke. The tagline for it was for Midsommer and Blair Witch Project. I have also been trying to read books written by authors from around the world. All that convinced me that I needed to read this book. The book goes between two time settings, 1959 and present day, (titled as “then” and “now”). It takes places in a ghost town called Silvertjärn, Sweden. In 1959, this small mining town had one child found alive, one woman found murdered and the rest of the villagers, gone. Disappeared. Vanished. Over 900 people never heard from or seen again. The child is found, placed in a new home and name. All that is left are ruins of a decaying village and rumors. Present day, Alice Lindstedt is a young filmmaker. She grew up hearing about Silvertjärn from her grandmother. The grandmother grew up in the village, moving to Stockholm after she married. She had been getting letters from her mother and sister until the discovery of the missing. Alice is making a documentary about the disappearances. She hopes to solve the mystery. She has the idea to start a Kickstarter to get the funding. To do that she convinces four others to join her on a preliminary look at the village to get photos and make a short film. She and one of the others have a secret, though. The other person wanting to make this project with her is the daughter of the surviving child. Alice had tracked her down. From the first day there things went wrong. At first they tried to come up with excuses or just ignore it. Was it the girls doing those things? Was someone there trying to sabotage the documentary? Or is the place just evil? I loved reading this book! It was tremendously atmospheric. Camilla Sten created a realistic feel to the creepy tale. All of the characters were well written. Flawed and relatable you could easily imagine knowing them. The descriptions of the houses, church and school placed you in the village. The weather touched it with a gray moodiness that added to the chill. In case you are wondering if the dual time and narrators work out, the answer is a resounding yes! This author pulled the tension tight cohesively. Many times I get annoyed while reading books set in two different times with different narrators. Not so with this story. My heart would be racing in the now only to be calmed switching to then just to have my heart racing again. I was being well played and I loved it. If you are looking for a book that will bring shivers, put this one on your to be read list. I received an advanced review copy of this book from Minotaur, an imprint of St Martin Publishing Group, through NetGalley. My review is honest and voluntary. I read and reviewed this book during the local library summer reading program and I really hope the library chooses to get this one when it comes up. It is a book I plan to read again, in the fall or perhaps on a dark cold winter night. I honestly can’t wait until I can buy a copy. It’s been awhile since I fell in love with a book this hard.

In 1959, 900 residents of the old mining town Silvertjarn mysteriously vanish, leaving behind a woman who had been stoned in the town square and a day old infant.
Alice, whose grandmother's family was among the residents who vanished, has always been obsessed with the town and the mystery. Now aspiring to be a documentary filmmaker, Alice things she can get her big break with a film that explores the mystery. When her crew arrives at the town, strange and horrible things start to happen.

If you are looking for something a little creepy & spooky, this might be for you. I thought it was OK. Spoiler Alert - The villagers were really a bunch of mindless sheep. I don't know that someone can survive alone eating old food for 60 years. A bit unrealistic. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Such a delicious, blood freezing, unputdownable combination: intense, gory, depressingly dark Scandinavian horror elements dances with a story reminds us of Blair Witch Project and Stand ( without apocalypse but insane leader and his batshit worshippers theme)

It is fast paced. It is outstandingly exciting, terrifying paranormal, horror novel that you don’t want to stop reading and you cannot put down even though you forget the iron plugged in and you can smell the smoke coming from your kitchen at the same time.

It was one of my fastest reading. Everything about this book intrigued me: one haunted, abandoned, deserted town named Silvertjarn. Its 877 residents had disappeared into thin air. Nothing has left behind. No corpse, no trace, no next of kin! They have just vanished by leaving so many conspiracy theories behind.

As soon as five members of documentary crew arrived the village, they realize something is wrong with this place. Somebody is watching them. They hear eerie voices including people’s screams, giggles from walkie talkies. The houses left like its occupants can come back at any second.

Alice Lindstedt is the producer and this documentary project is her obsession because it will help her learn more about her ancestors’ pasts.

She was raised by listening her grandmother’s stories about the lost village like dark Grimm fairy tales. The residents including her grandmothers’ parents and sister are still missing and she is adamant to find the truth.

At this abandoned place, only a person has been found at the school building: A little baby. Her parents has been unknown and her name has been changed after adoption but Alice already knows the baby’s identity. She already convinced miracle baby’s daughter Tone to be part of the crew.

And she also hired her old friend, once upon a time her best friend Emmy for her excellent filmmaker skills but she still has second thoughts because of her trust issues. They were estranged because of a tragic event they both have no intention to discuss about. Emmy’s boyfriend Robert and Alice’s friend Max were also other team members to support project.

With limited budget and in only five days, they plan to achieve the impossible and finalize their shots and leave the place as they scheduled but Tone accidentally hurts her leg and she disappears when Emmy leaves her alone to drive somewhere with better reception to talk to her mom call the police if she won’t hear from her.

Where did Tone go? Did somebody kidnap her or was she involved with something more sinister connected with the vanishing of the village?

Wow! Wow! Wow! We’re moving back and forth between 1959 and present to learn more about town’s history, how the village’s people lost their hopes by losing their jobs at the mine and a new pastor’s arrival gave them the false hope they needed and turned them some kind of eerie lunatics.

Ending twist was surprising, pace is heart throbbingly fast and riveting. I’m giving my well deserved 4 stars as a die hard fan of Scandinavian literature!

Get ready to surprise, jump from your seats and enjoy each of your screams! This book was absolutely my favorite cup of chilled Chardonnay!

Soooo much thanks to NetGalley and St. Patrick’s Press / Minatour Books for sharing this incredible Arc with me in exchange my honest opinions.