Enjoyment: 4
Total rating: 4.21


Eleanor came face to face with her evil grandmother's killer. But she suffers from prosopagnosia, face blindness. The anxiety of not knowing who the killer was and fear that she may encounter them any day, anywhere, profoundly affects her life.

Her grandmother left Eleanor a house in the middle of the Swedish woods, the same place in which her grandpa died suddenly. A place with many secrets. Unable and unwilling to go to that house alone, the lawyer, her aunt and her boyfriend join Eleanor's visit to this house of secrets and help her find answers. If that is a good choice, now that's a different story.

The Resting Place was highly atmospheric - and it hit the right spot with its ever-increasing sense of foreboding, dubious characters and their complicated interpersonal relationships, secrets that consume those who keep it and destroy those who find them out. I was gripped from the first page to the last period. Sten's character work was fascinating. I particularly enjoyed how she wrote Eleanor's face blindness into the plot and how she managed to make Eleanor's angst and anxiety relatable.


Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to the publishers and NetGalley for providing a copy of The Resting Place.

I read The Lost Village last year and loved it. It was one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. The Resting Place is quieter. It’s still a mystery/thriller but isn’t quite as creepy. It was still very compelling and I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on.

3.5

I was really looking forward to this book! While it wasn’t love, I still enjoyed it. The dual time lines combined with the
prosopagnosia aspect really captured my attention in the beginning. As time went on, it lost some steam for me and by the time it got to the half way point I could somewhat see where the story was going. With that being said, I was still engaged and invested in the story and in the main character, Eleanor.

Taking place in Sweden we slowly discover family secrets. I do feel like some stuff wasn’t fully explained by the end of the book, they were small details but still important in my opinion. Overall, it was still very atmospheric and a quick read.

Thank you to publisher for sending my a review copy and netgalley.

Just when I was reeling from the chiller feels The Lost Village had given me, Camilla’s new books came out! I remember saying that reading through The Lost Village was like sinusoidal wave, I suppose the author saw that and said “hold my drink” and wrote this story. The Resting Place is relentless and a show topper in the horror-thriller genre mix! It has got everything I expect from a heart-thumping thriller - house of secrets, intriguing characters and a steadfast plot. You wouldn’t be disappointed if you pick this to read.

Thank you Minotaur for the reader’s copy!

This book is twisted. Is the house alive or is something far sinister at play? It didn't take long to read this because I couldn't put it down. I do caution that reading it at night may mean hearing noises that aren't really there, but for most of us thriller lovers, this is a key piece!

I loved the characters, I loved the pace, and I loved the plot! Kudos to Camilla Sten!

Trapped in an old family home during a blizzard after the murder of her grandmother, Eleanor must discover the secret her family has kept for decades before she or someone she loves gets hurt.

I really enjoy Camilla Sten's writing - she is one of those authors where I will pick up her latest book without even reading the description and know that I will enjoy it. The Resting Place, though a bit of a slow build for the first half of the book, was suspenseful, twisted, and a little bit scary. The writing of two different timelines was seamless, and this was overall a 5-star read for me.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Camilla Sten for the opportunity to read this book! It was released on March 29th, 2022.

“We perceive women suffering from mental illness with a sort of paradoxical double-sidedness; both victims and monsters. simultaneously infantilized and feared.”

THE RESTING PLACE
I absolutely enjoyed Camilla Sten’s previous novel, The Invited, and could not wait to pick up The Resting Place. Eleanor has prosopagnosia which is also called facial blindness. So it would be difficult for her to identify her grandmother’s murderer. She and her grandmother, Vivianne had a strained relationship. Viviane wasn’t the most maternal. But after a phone call from the lawyer: Eleanor, her boyfriend Sebastian, her aunt Veronika, and the lawyer all head to the family estate called Solhoga. Once they get there, family secrets become exposed and then the attacks begin…

I absolutely love Camilla Sten’s writing. She really nails the eerie atmospheric tension. Her story building is very slow-burn and I can understand how some people may not appreciate it. But just stay the course, because each reveal throughout the book really packs a punch. There is a lot happening in this book though. Trigger warnings: murder, child abuse, gaslighting, miscarriage, mental illness, suicide.

The book does jump back and forth between the present and 1965. There are 4 names that start with “V” and it did take a while to get used to and put all the pieces together. At every plot twist, the lies come to light and readers will be working to piece everything together. By the end of the novel, I knew who the perpetrator was. I was a little disappointed with the ending but I actually loved everything leading up to it. It was very creepy and I often wondered if we were dealing with something more paranormal rather than a long-lost family secret. –And that is how a good author keeps readers on their toes.

The characters are complex and have their faults. There are a few characters…like Vivianne who are completely toxic and I did not quite understand the hold she had on those around her. BUT, it made sense in the end. Overall, I will always read Camilla Sten’s works, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

After reading The Lost Village I was really excited for The Resting Place, but unfortunately, it really didn't work for me. The pacing felt a little slow and I couldn't connect with the book. Perhaps it was just a wrong book/wrong time issue for me and no fault of the author since I have been a fan of Sten's in the past. So I will give this book a 3/5.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Almost exactly a year ago, I read and really enjoyed Sten's debut novel, THE LOST VILLAGE. I've been looking forward to seeing what she would write next since then. Needless to say, I was thrilled when the publisher sent me a copy. It's an engaging and smoothly translated second novel - though perhaps not quite as eerie as her first book.

Told in two timelines and two narrators, the book is sent mainly in the Swedish summer home called Solhoga. Eleanor learns of the property only after the sudden death of the grandmother who raised her. The second narrator, Annushka, works in the estate in the 1960s. But soon it becomes clear that the secrets of the past are causing turmoil in the present.

Eleanor's condition of face-blindness adds to the tension here - though I do feel like this condition crops up more than you would expect in fiction. Eleanor's coping mechanisms here make her seem more capable than some of her other counterparts in fiction. The plot definitely takes some unexpected turns here and my early guess to the plot, while close, were ultimately not correct in the end. Some of the characters seemed a little unneeded, other than to act as red herrings. And of course, I appreciated all of the "v" names here... The ending feels a little abrupt but I did enjoy it! And I am curious to see what her third book will be about!

It was ok but predictable even though the rest of the story was good. Disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley, Camilla Sten and St Martin"s Press Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already Available.

After “witnessing” her grandmother’s murder, Eleanor finds out that she owned a secluded mansion. She goes there with her boyfriend, aunt, and lawyer to get an idea of it’s value, but Eleanor really wants to find out more about who her grandmother was and why she kept this house a secret.

I was skeptical going into this book. I had mixed feelings on Sten’s last novel, The Lost Village, so wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed this story.

This book is told from two perspectives, Eleanor in the present day and Anushka, a housemaid at the mansion 50 years earlier. I loved the dual timelines and trying to figure out how they tied together.

The setting of a creepy, secluded mansion set in Sweden was perfect. This book was so atmospheric, and I could feel Eleanor’s fears while trying to figure out if someone else was in the house. Throwing in a dumbwaiter made it that much spookier!

Eleanor has prosopagnosia or face blindness which adds another element of suspense to the story. Not knowing who murdered her grandmother, and who to trust made the story much more tense.

Although this was a slow burn, I really enjoyed the lead up and trying to figure out what was going on. All along I suspected one person, but was totally wrong. There are some big twists, and although I figured out one, I didn’t see the ending coming.

I’m glad I gave Sten another chance as I ended up really loving this spooky and atmospheric story. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Eleanor lives with prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize a familiar person's face. It causes stress. Acute anxiety.
When Eleanor walked in on the scene of her capriciously cruel grandmother, Vivianne’s, murder, she came face to face with the killer—a maddening expression that means nothing to someone like her. With each passing day, the horror of having come so close to a murderer—and not knowing if they’d be back—overtakes both her dreams and her waking moments, thwarting her perception of reality.

This is the second book by Camilla Sten I have read, and like the first, it starts as a slow burn. A slow but steady build, where the characters are introduced and we are shown their faults and their gifts before we even know why we are here. But the story continues to build as does the tension.
You think early on that you know what the great family secret is, and maybe even sigh at how pedestrian a trope, but you will find as I did that I was wrong and my assumptions were not even close to the truth that is finally

Thanks to @netgalley, MacMillian Publishing, and Camilla Sten for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.revealed.

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.