Book cover of The Bell in the Lake

Book description

The engrossing epic novel a #1 bestseller in Norway of a young woman whose fate plays out against her village s mystical church bells

As long as people could remember, the stave church s bells had rung over the isolated village of Butangen, Norway. Cast in memory of conjoined twins,…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Bell in the Lake as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The Bell in the Lake is a fascinating historical novel that takes place in a Norwegian mountain village.

Central to the tale is an ancient stave church and the role it plays in village life over the years. This is a fascinating glimpse into Norway’s past, and contains an unexpected mystical twist that delightfully brings the past to life. The eventual fate of the church is a powerful testament to the folly of blindly bulldozing our way to modernization.

Lars Mytting’s characters are engaging and multi-faceted, and he’s written an emotionally powerful, well-crafted novel that is sprawling in its ambition,…

If you love The Bell in the Lake...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like The Bell in the Lake?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Bell in the Lake.

Browse books like The Bell in the Lake

Book cover of The Archaeology of Churches
Book cover of Guided by a Stone-Mason
Book cover of Prague Panoramas: National Memory and Sacred Space in the Twentieth Century

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,340

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like The Bell in the Lake, you might also like...

Book cover of Miami Beat

Miami Beat by Jorge E. Goyanes,

Jose Castillo is a cynical, wise-cracking Cuban-American who restores classic cars. He’s also a private eye whose sarcastic ways sometimes get him into trouble.

One day, in the process of installing a four-barrel carburetor on a 1965 Mustang, into his shop walks trouble—in the shape of a mysterious, beautiful woman…

Book cover of Bruce Songs: The Music of Bruce Springsteen, Album-by-Album, Song-by-Song

Bruce Songs by Kenneth Womack,

Bruce Songs is an authoritative guide that offers an in-depth exploration of Bruce Springsteen's musical legacy. Covering Springsteen's entire discography, from "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." to "Only the Strong Survive", this unique book combines historical context, literary analysis, and meticulous research.

Unlike any other resource, it provides detailed analyses…

5 book lists we think you will like!