The Lost Village

Camilla Sten is a Barcelona-based Swedish author and comedian. She's gained recent notoriety for her critically acclaimed suspense novels, including a criminal psychologist character she's created, Rebecca Lekman. Her novel, The Resting Place, was one of Goodreads' Most Popular Horror Books of 2022, and she earned a Viktor Crime Award in Germany. I wanted to start with her debut, The Lost Village, published in 2021. The novel was praised by the New York Times and has been translated to multiple languages. The book has also been optioned for a movie deal.

If you are striving for a traditional, breezy reading experience, then The Lost Village is not the book for you. Instead, this novel is non-linear and alternates between events in the present with those in the mid-20th century. To assist me on my literary journey, I kept a scratch pad handy with character names for both periods. It may not be necessary, but I found it a valuable supplement to Sten's narrative.

In the past, labeled as “Then” in the chapters, a fictional small town called Silvertjarn comes to life through a handful of characters. It's a typical rural village that exists from the income earned through the local mine. It's complemented by charismatic, ordinary citizens who go to work, school, and church. But three monumental events occur that change Silvertjarn's blue-collar charm. First, a new pastor arrives who immediately begins to change the orthodox teachings of the local church. Second, the mine closes. Third, a young woman is tied to a pole and stoned to death. That last one surprised you, right?

In the present, aptly labeled “Now” in chapter headings, a small filmmaker named Alice Lindstedt leads her production crew to Silvertjarn to document the town. It's now completely abandoned, with its streets and old buildings being slowly consumed by nature. Alice wants to investigate the town and search for answers on why the town's population seemingly vanished one day. Helping her is a former ex-best friend (and her male friend), the film's financial backer, and her partner.

The Lost Village is like a cross between The Blair Witch Project and David Morrell's Creepers. The narrative's twisty first half is an atmospheric, downright spooky delve into the town's empty school, church, and residential homes. There's a feeling of cold regret, an edgy abrasiveness, and a cloak of impending doom that helps suffocate these characters. Enhancing the mood is a stalking vibe as these characters hear footsteps and laughter in this quiet, neglected place. 

Sten's second half storytelling is where The Lost Village drifts from something truly special into a formulaic cat-and-mouse thriller that doesn't develop into an inventive finale. The surprise reveal wasn't spectacular, and there's a giant plot hole that left me feeling a bit insulted as an invested reader. 

Despite the poor second half, I found there was enough spark here to still make The Lost Village an entertaining read. The panning out from present to past wasn't a unique combination, but it helped the story and propped up the mysterious circumstances involving the town's citizens. The characters were predictable, but compelling. I dislike past-tense presentation, but Sten made it work. I would read another one of her books, but I'm not in a rush to run out and get one.

Get The Lost Village HERE.