Scan barcode
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Y’all! I am SHOOK. I know this one has mixed reviews, but it’s one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It’s a slow build but the chapters are short so it’s easily binged. The writing was done so well that over the course of the book the dread, anxiety, and fear really build. Y’all… it was super creepy. I couldn’t bring myself to read this too close to bedtime😅. But at the same time I didn’t want to put the book down because I HAD to know how it ended. I just knew the ended was going to be IT.
Now here’s where it lost a star for me. While the ending is a good, solid one, I didn’t have that lingering spooky feeling that I look for with a good thriller.
Overall, this was a good one and I definitely recommend it for spooky season 👻. Also, if you enjoyed Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney, definitely check this one out!
Now here’s where it lost a star for me. While the ending is a good, solid one, I didn’t have that lingering spooky feeling that I look for with a good thriller.
Overall, this was a good one and I definitely recommend it for spooky season 👻. Also, if you enjoyed Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney, definitely check this one out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Chronic illness, Car accident, and Pregnancy
paronomaniac's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall, this is a decent psychological mystery but I found the first half of the book dragged. The second half really picked up but I’m still not sure if the payoff is worth a drawn-out beginning.
There is also the possibility that some tension or atmosphere was lost when the book was translated to English.
There is also the possibility that some tension or atmosphere was lost when the book was translated to English.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide and Murder
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
chaptersofchase's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Book Review || In your opinion, what makes a good mystery, thriller, or horror novel? Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the gifted copy of The Resting Place.
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Trope: Isolated Locales
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 3.29.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Trope: Isolated Locales
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 3.29.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
"When I look at my hands, I can still see the blood, even though I scrubbed them red and raw with antiseptic soap in the bare white bathroom."
I read several excellent reviews of Camilla Sten's novel, The Lost Village, so I grabbed a copy of her newest novel, hoping it would satisfy my need for a good thriller. But I was left feeling meh.
While The Resting Place was exciting as it kept me guessing until the reveal at the end of the book, I needed a bit more substance. It boils down to that I struggle with novels that center around a protagonist that suffers from prosopagnosia (face blindness) because, in my opinion, it's a difficult concept to write about without it feeling like the same thing. And unfortunately, it felt like the same thing that I've encountered in other similar novels.
I did enjoy the creepiness of their surroundings and how I really could not figure out who was responsible for Eleanor's grandmother's death. I also liked how the chapters flipped back into the past, exposing me to more secrets from the troubled family.
✌🏼 Dual timeline
🏚 Ominous house, hidden rooms
❔Prosopagnosia
💨 Quick ending
🤫 Family secrets
❌ - a graphic depiction of suicide, miscarriage
I recommend reading Resting Place if you enjoyed reading Rock, Paper, Scissors from Alice Feeney.
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend.diner/
Follow my blog: https://thebookenddiner.com/
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookenddiner
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Suicide
nike13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This book had lost pregnancies, horrible people, seemingly nice people making huge mistakes and transforming into horrible people and corrupting others in the process. Just..wow that was a lot to unpack.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage
onemorepagecrew's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This week the newest thriller from Camilla Sten released and I had an opportunity to listen to the audio book - thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio! I enjoyed The Resting Place and The Lost Village, and recommend both of Sten’s books to anyone who enjoys a psychological suspense storyline.
In this novel, the protagonist (Eleanor) has a medical condition called prosopagnosia, sometimes referred to as face blindness, which renders her unable to recall people by their facial features. She can recall other parts of people like their hair, voices, nails, etc. however her inability to remember faces causes those around her to question what she sees and at times she is questioning herself, too.
The story takes place in a family estate in the Swedish woods that was left to Eleanor in her grandfather’s will. While she, her aunt, her boyfriend, and a lawyer are at the estate a series of suspicious and suspenseful events unfold. I wouldn’t go as far as classifying this as horror or scary, it’s more of a slow-building mystery where the truth keeps dodging the reader.
Initially I had a hard time keeping track of the characters across the two timelines on the audio book and I would recommend the paper or digital book if that’s a concern for anyone else. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story and finished the book in about 24 hours – always a sign I enjoyed a story.
Thank you again to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio – I appreciated the chance to read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
nicoledean's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.0
Thank you @stmartinspress @minotaur_books @netgalley for my review copy!
After her grandmother is murdered, Eleanor learns that she left her a remote estate in the woods. Eleanor travels there to settle the estate and learns that her grandmother was keeping some very dark secrets.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I loved the remote setting and Eleanor as an unreliable narrator. However, I wasn’t too crazy with how the author wrapped everything up in the end. I have feelings about it. I enjoyed the journey, but not so much the destination. I’m interested to hear what other readers think.
📚Read this if you enjoy Ruth Ware or if you like books with remote settings and unreliable narrators.
✍️How I rated other books from this author:
The Lost Village 3⭐️
If you’ve read this, I’d love to hear your thoughts! ⬇️
After her grandmother is murdered, Eleanor learns that she left her a remote estate in the woods. Eleanor travels there to settle the estate and learns that her grandmother was keeping some very dark secrets.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I loved the remote setting and Eleanor as an unreliable narrator. However, I wasn’t too crazy with how the author wrapped everything up in the end. I have feelings about it. I enjoyed the journey, but not so much the destination. I’m interested to hear what other readers think.
📚Read this if you enjoy Ruth Ware or if you like books with remote settings and unreliable narrators.
✍️How I rated other books from this author:
The Lost Village 3⭐️
If you’ve read this, I’d love to hear your thoughts! ⬇️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
kamin8882's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow !! This book literally had me hooked from the first page !! I love thrillers that have unique plots and this one definitely had an amazingly twisty one !!
After seeing her grandmother Vivianne be brutally murdered, she comes face to face with the killer. the problem is Eleanor has a medical condition called prosopagnosia, which causes her brain not to remember faces the same was as others do--she has NO IDEA what the killer looked like. After months of therapy and the cops closing the case, Eleanor gets a call from a lawyer saying Vivianne left her a house. Looking for answers to her families history, Eleanor, Her bf Sebastian, her aunt Veronika and the lawyer set out the creepy abandoned house in the middle of the Swedish woods--not ready for what is waiting for them there.
This book is told in alternating timelines and POV- present day Eleanor and past, Anushka, the housemaid for her grandmother over 50 years ago. This book had some amazing characters!! Some that you loved, and some that you loved to hate. The setting of the book was spot on- old, creepy house, middle of the Swedish woods, during a blizzard really set the tone for all things creepy. The way Sten writes from Eleanor's POV as anxious and jumpy, makes you feel that way... on the edge of your seat waiting for something to pop out at you.
This is definitely a book a could not put down- the chapters were short, full of secretes, murder, deception, revenge and the further you get, the more tangled the web gets- until its all unraveled and your jaw drops !! Another really great thing I will mention is that this book was originally written and translated beautifully into English. The translator, Alexandra Fleming, did an amazing job. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her!!!
Thank you Netgalley, Minotaur books and Camilla Sten for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book !!
After seeing her grandmother Vivianne be brutally murdered, she comes face to face with the killer. the problem is Eleanor has a medical condition called prosopagnosia, which causes her brain not to remember faces the same was as others do--she has NO IDEA what the killer looked like. After months of therapy and the cops closing the case, Eleanor gets a call from a lawyer saying Vivianne left her a house. Looking for answers to her families history, Eleanor, Her bf Sebastian, her aunt Veronika and the lawyer set out the creepy abandoned house in the middle of the Swedish woods--not ready for what is waiting for them there.
This book is told in alternating timelines and POV- present day Eleanor and past, Anushka, the housemaid for her grandmother over 50 years ago. This book had some amazing characters!! Some that you loved, and some that you loved to hate. The setting of the book was spot on- old, creepy house, middle of the Swedish woods, during a blizzard really set the tone for all things creepy. The way Sten writes from Eleanor's POV as anxious and jumpy, makes you feel that way... on the edge of your seat waiting for something to pop out at you.
This is definitely a book a could not put down- the chapters were short, full of secretes, murder, deception, revenge and the further you get, the more tangled the web gets- until its all unraveled and your jaw drops !! Another really great thing I will mention is that this book was originally written and translated beautifully into English. The translator, Alexandra Fleming, did an amazing job. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her!!!
Thank you Netgalley, Minotaur books and Camilla Sten for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book !!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
anxiety, depressionfictionmajorette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Full thoughts: https://fictionmajorette.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-resting-place-camilla-sten.html
This was a really interesting blend of psychological horror, suspense, and thriller. Some aspects were more successful than others but overall this was a really great creepy read. We have a somewhat rundown estate in the middle of the wilderness, a snow storm blowing in, and uncovering unsavory family secrets from the past.
I think the psychological horror portions of the book could have really been developed more. I think if we got more of Eleanor also questioning herself and her own mind it really would have upped the horror elements. As it stands, this really felt more like an isolation thriller and less a psychological horror.
The thriller elements, I thought, were really well done. I really enjoy a good isolation thriller and this book really hit the spot. It really reminded me of Alice Feeney's Rock Paper Scissors with the tense interpersonal dynamic, snowy setting, and eerie feeling that our characters aren't alone.
Where this book lost me, a bit, was the ending. We had a good amount of tension built up by that point but then when it comes to the actual ending reveal and twist, the pacing felt like it ground to a halt. The actual twist, on paper, was good but just the way it was executed and the amount of exposition needed in that moment to put all the pieces together ended up really slowing down the story.
Overall, this was a fantastically atmospheric read. I loved the creepy atmosphere of this snowy, isolated estate. The character dynamics were spot-on and the thriller elements worked well. I do wish the ending was a bit snappier and that the psychological horror elements were a bit more developed. Sten is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC
Expected publication date is March 29, 2022
This was a really interesting blend of psychological horror, suspense, and thriller. Some aspects were more successful than others but overall this was a really great creepy read. We have a somewhat rundown estate in the middle of the wilderness, a snow storm blowing in, and uncovering unsavory family secrets from the past.
I think the psychological horror portions of the book could have really been developed more. I think if we got more of Eleanor also questioning herself and her own mind it really would have upped the horror elements. As it stands, this really felt more like an isolation thriller and less a psychological horror.
The thriller elements, I thought, were really well done. I really enjoy a good isolation thriller and this book really hit the spot. It really reminded me of Alice Feeney's Rock Paper Scissors with the tense interpersonal dynamic, snowy setting, and eerie feeling that our characters aren't alone.
Where this book lost me, a bit, was the ending. We had a good amount of tension built up by that point but then when it comes to the actual ending reveal and twist, the pacing felt like it ground to a halt. The actual twist, on paper, was good but just the way it was executed and the amount of exposition needed in that moment to put all the pieces together ended up really slowing down the story.
Overall, this was a fantastically atmospheric read. I loved the creepy atmosphere of this snowy, isolated estate. The character dynamics were spot-on and the thriller elements worked well. I do wish the ending was a bit snappier and that the psychological horror elements were a bit more developed. Sten is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC
Expected publication date is March 29, 2022
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Suicide