The Lost Village: A Novel

by Camilla Sten

Alexandra Fleming (Translator)

Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt has been obsessed with the vanishing residents of the old mining town, dubbed “The Lost Village,” since she was a little girl. Her grandmother’s entire family disappeared in this mysterious tragedy, and ever since, the unanswered questions surrounding the dead woman and abandoned baby have plagued her. She’s gathered a small crew of filmmaking friends to spend a few days in the quiet village and make a film about what really happened.

There will be no turning back for them.

Not long after they’ve set up camp, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People begin to go missing. As doubt breeds fear and their very minds begin to crack, one thing becomes startlingly clear to Alice: they are not alone.

• ISBN10: 1250249252
• ISBN13: 9781250249258
• Publish Date: 1 April 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 5 April 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Minotaur Books,US
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: http://melia.co.uk/page/detail/?k=9781250249258

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

The Lost Village is the first novel I've read by Camilla Sten – but after this beauty, you better believe I'll be keeping an eye on everything else that she writes! I was tempted into reading this book right off the bat, thanks to a description that promised it to be a cross between The Blair Witch Project and Midsommar. Enough said, right?

Alice Lindstedt is a filmmaker, one who is obsessed with the project she's working on. In her defense, the project touches close to home, as it ties back to her grandmother and great-aunt. In 1959, an entire village went missing.

It became known as The Lost Village. Now, Alice and her crew are returning to the scene. And she is hoping to uncover what went on all those years ago. Instead, she and her crew have walked right into a lethal trap.

“Getting closer! Almost inside the dead zone. See you in five days, if the ghosts don't get us.”

The Lost Village is one of those novels that sucked me in from the very first page. No, that's not quite true. I was captivated before I even picked up the book, thanks to that cover and description. It was more than enough for me.

This was a thrilling and chilling read, made all the more concerning thanks to the storytelling styles employed. It's split into two timelines – the past and the present. The past is a study in pure horror and sets the scene for Alice and her crew to uncover.

Camilla Sten really nailed the whole creepy vibe, at least in my book. The whole time I was reading, I was pretty much at the edge of my seat. All because I kept expecting the worst to happen! It made for a bit of a daunting read, but one I enjoyed nonetheless.

"That last time I saw my sister, Aina, she was only seventeen."

I should probably mention that The Lost Village has some truly disturbing and graphic scenes. There are also references to events in Alice's past and her mental health. All of it did a great job of starting a conversation about bias and societal judgment, which I adored. However, it also makes this book a heavier read for some. So do consider yourself warned.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks