Book Review: The Resting Place by Camilla Sten

First Thoughts:

This book was gripping from the start. Our main characters prosopagnosia is a trippy, anxiety inducing attribute that just adds to the mystery and intensity of the plot. You’re right there, questioning everything and every one right along with her. There are multiple POVs which was enjoyable.

Writing: 4/5

Sten is an amazing writer. Theres no doubt about that. This version was a translation and while it was amazingly done, I can’t imagine it in its original voice. She is vivid in setting. Every detail is there, accounted for and beautifully portrayed. The internal voice she gives the main character puts you right in her shoes. The backlog of our alternate pov is well paced, setting you up for all the necessary clues and cues when it comes back to modern time. I was thoroughly enthralled, unable to put the book down.

Plot: 4/5 High stakes always. From the beginning, we get a bloody disaster that puts you on the edge of your seat. Eleanor comes face to face with her grandmothers murderer. After running straight into said murderer and witnessing the death of the only family she has left, she finds herself incapable of being much help in identifying the murderer due to her prosopagnosia. This gave the book such a creepy edge to it. You were second guessing every stranger.

To make things even more creepy, we move quickly to a mysterious house…in the middle of the woods…in the middle of a blizzard. Let me tell you. I was riveted. The mystery of the houses secrets, family politics, and a murderer on the lose made for a fast paced book with a string of unanswered questions that keep you invested.

Characters: 4/5

Our main character, Eleanor, was obviously the star of the show. She did however have to share a bit of the show when we got the alternative voice, Anushka. Anushkas chapters were blast from the pasts set in the old manor. at first I wasn’t sure how she’d tie in but that becomes obvious the more you get from her. A bit more obvious but not entirely what I thought. The ending got me by surprise.

The above mentioned are the most concerning characters. Though, we do also get Eleanor’s aunt, the lawyer responsible for settling the manor and will, Eleanors boyfriend, and the murderer on the lose. All were great characters to keep Eleanor grounded as well as her character development.

Romance: 4/5

If you’re looking for steam, this is not it. This is a mystery thriller. Most of the love is familial. Eleanor and Anushka both have to navigate family drama and politics. Eleanor has to evaluate her relationship both romantically and in herself. There is however a scandal angle that is everything!!

Overall: 4/5

I feel sometimes, the less you have to say about a book, the better the book is. I honestly have nothing negative to say about this book. I’m not sure what stopped me from giving it a full 5 star review. It was amazing, don’t get me wrong, I just was also not completely gripped to leave a lasting impact. I was ripping through pages. I ended up finishing half of it in a day and then thinking about it on my reading break, itching to finish.

It was a saving grace. My first thriller mystery left me rather disappointed and unimpressed. This book has restored my faith in it and itching to read another soon! I will definitely have my eye out for this author from here on out.