This highly atmospheric novel left me breathless multiple times. Although some of the “twists” were a bit obvious, the overall conclusion and the journey to get there were great! The characters were realistic and relatable and the propulsive plot made me want to keep reading.

A haunting past of murder for Agnes's grandfather - a man who was like a second father to her. Did he murder his wife and child? Attempting to find the truth, Agnes returns to help with podcaster Nora. Hoping to discover that her grandfather is innocent. So much evidence leaning towards his guilt. This started out as a difficult read for me, yet i did enjoy and finish reading.

**2.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads**

Thanks to the author and Minotaur’s Books for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you’re looking for a family murder mystery set in the icy landscape of Iceland, this book is for you. The setting was interesting and the mystery was ok. The characters were a bit flat. This was just an ok read for me.

A captivating psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats! The story follows a woman who is drawn to an old house with a mysterious past, and as she unravels its secrets, she discovers dark truths that blur the line between reality and madness. Larsen’s writing is atmospheric, and the twists are unexpected, making for a tense and gripping read. Perfect for fans of suspenseful and eerie stories.

I just finished the “The Lost House” by Melissa Larsen. It’s an Icelandic thriller investigating the 40 year old murder of a young woman and her infant daughter. Podcaster Nora invites the granddaughter of the man held responsible for the killings to join her investigation. This was a quick, twisty read.

This was a weird one for me but not in a bad way. I was really hooked in the first half and sort of lost my attention as it went on. But overall decent thriller. I loved the Iceland setting I thought it was unique. I wanted a little more from the resolution but it wrapped up nice.

I enjoyed The Lost House for the most part. I was Expecting for it to be scary but it wasn’t. The story was solid and the main character was written well. Overall not super memorable but a solid read. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating 3.5

I liked that this work included the podcasting element, but that the MC wasn't the podcaster. The podcast doesn't feature heavily, but instead is used to explain why the characters are playing detective. This interview process was also used as a way to provide background to the characters and the mystery, which was done well. It does mean that the plot is relatively slow, but I didn't mind this too much. 

The mystery was decent overall, and I did like the conclusion though there were a few aspects that felt a bit rushed. The setting was also interesting, and it was incorporated well throughout the book, adding to the tension and the MC's difficulties. Similarly, the atmosphere was strong and well incorporated. 

Overall, this is a decent mystery with a slower pace that was enjoyable. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Lost House is a Nordic Noir that weaves between past and present with the main character, Agnes at its center.

Hoping to clear her grandfathers name in the remote town of Bifrost, Iceland, Agnes meets podcaster, Nora there, ready to delve into the cold case. Days within her arrival, a girl goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Agnes finds herself in wrapped up in the lies and deceit of this small town.

I really enjoyed the way that Larson unveiled the story through stories of the past and how they pertained to the present – slowly unveiling a strong plot with all the right twists. Highly enjoyable!

My thanks to Minotaur Books for this gifted DRC!

A woman, Agnes, travels to Iceland after her grandfather's death. He was accused of killing his wife and infant daughter 40 years earlier, but he fled the country with his young son, Agnes's father. Everyone in the country believed her grandfather was guilty, but she is having trouble reconciling this with the man she knew.
As she investigates the story, along with a podcaster, she is put in danger.
I thought the book went on a bit too long, and was getting bored with the story going round and round. Finally, in the last few chapters, everything ratchets up and gets solved. The cold of Iceland and the landscape was a character in this book.

Melissa Larsen does an amazing job putting the reading right into the scene of the story in The Lost House. I felt like I was right alongside Agnes during her journey. The mystery and intrigue that enveloped me during the story was fantastic.

Agnes returns to the home of her family in Iceland - her first visit ever - to try and clear the name of her grandfather, who has long believed to have been responsible for the death of his wife and infant. She finds herself immersed in a present day mystery as a young woman has just gone missing from a party in the same area.

The mystery aspect was great. The relationship woes were great. The storytelling is great. I highly recommend this read!

Thank you to St Martins Press and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review an eARC of The Lost House in exchange for an honest review. I'm grateful for the opportunity.

Agnes leaves her life behind to heard to her ancestral homeland in Iceland to try to find out what really happened to a woman and her daughter and hopefully clear her family name. Many years ago a woman and daughter were brutally murdered and her grandfather and father mysteriously leave and head to California. Agnes discovers that the reputation her grandfather had in his homeland is nothing like the man she knew.

Iceland provides the perfect backdrop for this winter thriller. This is a slow burn with an unreliable narrator. I did find it a little slow for my tastes at times, but overall really did enjoy this book.

I just love a story with an immersive setting, that lets you inhabit for some time a world you normally would never visit. The Lost House is set in snowy, cold Iceland in a village called Bifrost. Everyone there has known their neighbors for a few generations. Our main character Agnes Glin has come to Iceland to take part in a podcast which will feature the infamous story of her grandfather Einar's young wife who was murdered, along with her baby, and now has cult following of crime junkies who refer to long-dead Marie and her baby Agnes as the Frozen Madonna, because their bodies were discovered frozen in a snowbank. Agnes loved her grandfather and hopes the podcast will prove him innocent. Although never charged with the crime, everyone in Bifrost thinks he killed his young wife and daughter, and then fled to America with his older son Magnus, who is Agnes's father.

True crime podcaster Nora Carver received some positive notoriety when she helped solve one of the cases she was featuring. Agnes is hopeful that Nora can find a breakthrough in the case that has haunted her family her whole life. When she arrives in Bifrost, Agnes feels strangely "at home" and attracted to this place of her ancestry. But there is a sobering factor, a young college student woman has gone missing and the whole town is looking for her. This is stirring up memories of the young woman who died there some thirty years before. As Agnes meets the older people in town who remember her grandfather, a disturbing picture begins to emerge of this man she holds in so much affection.

I really enjoyed immersing myself in Iceland, and I found Agnes a damaged but likable heroine. The ending in particular was satisfying and exciting. I listened to the audio of this, and it was extremely well narrated. Anyone who likes the world of Nordic Noir shouldn't miss this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Larsen, and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, the cover looks exactly like the backdrop for the newest James Bond film so that's why I picked it up.

This novel brilliantly intertwines the search for truth with a tense, fast-paced investigation. Agnes, still reeling from her grandfather’s death and her own personal struggles, is thrust into a web of long-buried secrets. With Nora’s help, she digs deeper into the mysteries surrounding the crime, but the lines between truth and lies blur as the danger escalates.

The cold, unforgiving Icelandic winter serves as the perfect backdrop for the chilling twists and turns in the plot, and the writing keeps readers on edge, questioning every character's motives. The suspense builds steadily as Agnes unravels hidden truths, with shocking revelations that leave you breathless.

Readers who love darker, vibey mysteries that will keep you on your toes and emotionally drained, will enjoy this!

**Book Review: "The Lost House" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐**

In "The Lost House," Melissa Larsen crafts a chilling and immersive mystery that draws readers into the haunting landscapes of Iceland, where past and present collide in a tale of family secrets and unresolved tragedy. The novel centers on Agnes, a young woman burdened by her grandfather’s legacy, who embarks on a quest to clear his name after he passes away, following decades of suspicion surrounding a gruesome double murder that shattered her family.

Larsen deftly interweaves the history of the unsolved case—a mother and her infant daughter found dead in the snow—with Agnes's personal struggles as she grapples with her grandfather's alleged guilt. The narrative is enriched by the atmospheric setting, capturing the stark beauty of Iceland's winter landscape, which serves as a fitting backdrop to the dark themes explored within.

As Agnes joins true crime expert Nora Carver for an interview related to the case, she inadvertently stirs up old wounds when a local girl goes missing, thrusting the investigation into chaos. The author expertly builds suspense as the town's secrets unfold, with every character emerging as a possible suspect, all while highlighting the lengths to which people will go to protect their own.

While the story is filled with gripping twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, some plot points may feel slightly predictable, particularly for seasoned mystery readers. However, Larsen’s sharp writing and well-drawn characters elevate the narrative, making Agnes’s journey one of both personal redemption and suspenseful discovery.

Overall, "The Lost House" stands out as a compelling mystery that explores themes of family, guilt, and the search for truth. With its captivating plot and atmospheric setting, this novel earns a well-deserved four-star rating, ensuring readers will be left breathless and contemplating the depths of human nature long after they turn the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Lost House.

Fifty years ago, Agnes' grandmother and aunt were found murdered on her beloved grandfather's property. She has returned to her homeland, Iceland, to clear her grandfather's name with the help of a podcast host.

This time away is also a reprieve from the loss of her grandfather and her own personal setbacks; a harrowing injury and the slow, painful recovery of which she is still struggling with.

As she balances the pain of her personal life and conflicting emotions for her grandfather, Agnes discovers she will have to tap into an inner strength she never knew she had to realize life is worth living.

The Icelandic setting is the best part of the narrative.

I was in Iceland in March and the stark beauty and frigid wintery landscapes are stunning. Especially the cold. Wow, was it cold!

I'll never complain about East Coast winters again.

The narrative is a slow burn; nothing much happens and it's not hard to guess whodunit.

The mystery behind the tragic deaths is almost a backseat to Agnes and her troubles; a realistic, flawed, deeply damaged character whom is both deeply relatable and also deeply annoying.

We're in her head a lot and her head is nothing but the same roundabout memories; the loss of her partner, the accident that almost killed her, her fractured relationship with her dad.

I know most of us have repetitive thoughts like this all the time, stuff that keeps us bogged down in our sorrow, grief, and anger, but the pacing dragged even more as we read about Agnes droning on and on about the same old things.

Agnes is young, lonely and in extreme pain, physically and emotionally, but when you keep making lousy decisions (and we all do that) it's hard to connect with the character, much less like them.

The biggest trope that annoys me greatly besides the typical cliches (everyone is a hottie, coincidences, everyone has a bad childhood, etc.) is how there's a romance/relationship in every novel.

Characters (in books and in real life) do not need to partner up to be fulfilled.

The silly romance between Agnes and another character was unnecessary and did nothing to move the plot forward.

Maybe the point was to stress how Agnes generally makes poor decisions; the boozing and pill popping, and how this 'relationship' might jeopardize the case of a missing young woman.

Whatever the reason, a romance is not necessary in this book or any of the dozens and dozens I've read in this year alone.

Also, why do people drink so much in books?

Maybe I only notice because I don't drink but when characters are downing two bottles of wine or more at dinner or day drink, I have to wonder, "What does this say about our society? Or the author(s)?"

The climatic ending sort of redeems Agnes a bit, demonstrates she is resilient and strong, but I didn't feel she's grown much.

And that HEA-ending threw off the tone of the narrative, not that I was surprised by it.

Also, what is the lost house? Or did I miss that part?

The writing was good, but the mystery isn't the main focus of the narrative.

This is really about Agnes coming to terms with her family, her grandfather, and the choices she's made in her life.

With its rich atmosphere and haunting premise, The Lost House successfully lured me into its chill immediately. My experience with it was neither great nor terrible, though.

For the most part, it lacked the uniqueness I hope to find in stories. It’s trope heavy, and I wouldn’t say it offered a crisp change of narrative scenery. It’s full of melodramatic angst and intimate relationships that practically blossom overnight, leading to a rather inauthentic vibe.

That said, it was successfully suspenseful. I thought I knew where it was going, and my jaw cracked wide with surprise when I realized how wrong I was.

I am immensely grateful to Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for my copies. All opinions are my own.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a haunting and atmospheric psychological thriller that captivates readers with its intriguing mystery and complex characters. The novel follows a protagonist who, after a significant personal loss, is drawn into the mystery of a forgotten house and the secrets it holds. As she unravels the past, she is forced to confront her own history and the choices she has made.

Larsen’s writing is evocative and immersive, skillfully building a sense of tension and suspense. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of quiet reflection interspersed with thrilling twists that keep the reader engaged throughout. The central mystery of the house is compelling, and the way it unfolds adds layers of complexity to the narrative.

The characters are multifaceted and interesting, particularly the protagonist, whose emotional depth and inner conflict make her journey both relatable and poignant. While the novel excels in atmosphere and character development, there are times when the plot can feel a bit predictable, and some readers may wish for a bit more unpredictability in the narrative.

I really enjoyed reading The Lost House. It was spooky and suspenseful. The deaths of a mother and her infant daughter forty years prior are brought to the forefront by a true crime podcaster who wants to uncover the mystery surrounding their deaths. The husband/father (Einar) was believed to be responsible but his alibi cleared him. Still, many people continued to suspect him, forcing him to leave his home in Iceland and move to California to raise his son. Einar's granddaughter, Agnes, agrees to take part in the podcast and hopes to clear his grandfather's name once and for all. While Agnes is in Iceland, a new mystery surfaces when a local girl goes missing. The dual timelines (old mystery/new mystery) make for an interesting read, and I found myself totally immersed in the story. Overall, a very good read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.