She is compelled to discover the truth about her family's past

Forty years ago a violent murder ripped apart the fabric of a small Icelandic town, The bodies of a young mother, beloved local teacher Marie, and her infant daughter Agnes were discovered in the fields outside of Bifröst four days after they went missing. It was clear that Marie was murdered; her throat was cut wide open. Suspicion immediately fell upon her husband Einar, a professor at the local university, and although he was never charged with the crime he was quickly branded a murderer in the court of public opinion, ultimately having no choice but to take his remaining child, a nine year old boy named Magnús, and leave Iceland to start a new life in California. Nora Carver, a true crime podcaster who has recently had success in contributing to a cold case being solved, has been fascinated by the crime which became known as "the Frozen Madonna and Child" for years and has chosen it as the subject for the upcoming season of her show. She is in Iceland, in Bifröst, to begin her investigation and has reached out unsuccessfully to Magnús for an interview. Magnús's daughter Agnes, however, has agreed to travel to Iceland to spend time there and be interviewed by Nora, much to her father's chagrin. Agnes is at a very low point in her life. The grandfather whom she loved deeply and who lived most of his adult life under a cloud of suspicion, died a year ago; shortly thereafter, she had an accident which shattered a leg and which led to multiple surgeries and PT but from which she still suffers from significant pain. She is out of work, addicted to pain pills, and her girlfriend Emi and she broke up three months earlier. Growing up, it was her grandfather Einar to whom she was closest (her parents divorced, her mother remarried and moved across the country and her father is emotionally distant). Agnes believes that he was innocent of having murdered his wife and child (her grandmother and aunt), but it is a subject which neither Einar nor Magnús would ever discuss. She arrives in Bifröst to discover that a new drama has arisen there, the disappearance of university student Ása from a party held at the farmhouse where Einar and his young family had lived decades earlier. Nora is looking into that crime as well as the one involving Agnes' family, and there does seem to be a connection between the two. Emotionally fragile and out of her depth in a town which still believe in her grandfather's guilt, can Agnes find out the truth of what happened forty years earlier? Could the grandfather she loved deeply and who was the main source of warmth and love in her life actually be guilty after all?
Set primarily in the bleak winter landscape of a small Icelandic town, where everyone knows everyone else (and their family stories as well), there is an element of Nordic Noir to this latest novel by Melissa Larsen. The main character, Agnes, is a bit of a mess; in near constant pain unless she takes the pain pills to which she is clearly addicted, adrift after the loss first of her grandfather and more recently Emi, and at odds with her father over her decision to travel to Iceland and participate in Nora's podcast. Magnús does not feel that anything good will come of the investigation (he has always believed his father to be guilty of killing his mother and baby sister), and continues to be a disapproving figure to Agnes as he has been for years. As Agnes meets the locals....Thor, a distant relation who owns the house where Nora and now Agnes are staying; Ingvar, the man who as a young boy was a student of Marie and was the one who discovered her body; Óskar and Lilja, friends of the missing Ása who have not been entirely candid with the police...she becomes caught up in the current mystery even as she tries to make sense of what she is learning about Einar from those who knew him and have judged him guilty. As much a search for identity as it is an intriguing puzzle, my attention was grabbed at the very beginning and did not waver until the end. Possible villains in both the past and present are revealed and the damage left behind on a community years ago by one crime even as they struggle to deal with another in the present is explored, as the plot gradually unfolds. Readers of Larsen's previous book Shutter (which I also enjoyed and highly recommend) and authors like Hannah Morrissey, Vanessa Lillie and Carol Goodman as well as those who enjoy Nordic Noir should pick up a copy of this haunting story. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to The Lost House in exchange for my honest review.

This is as much an adult coming of age as it is a mystery. Agnes is lost in life. She tries to understand her life after a serious accident and the death of her grandfather. Her adventure to Iceland to understand what happened years ago is the frame for her to come to understand herself and what she wants in life. The pace of the novel is methodical as the past is explored. There is some suspense near the end, however. For me, the best part of the book was the setting. I don't think I have ever read a novel set in Iceland and I really appreciated Larsen doing so. Larsen's writing style is good but the pace did have me skimming a bit to get to the suspenseful end. This is a good mystery for readers who like one focusing on the development of a character rather than action.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & Minotaur Books for an eARC ♥️

This book is like a masterclass in suspense, weaving together a decades-old murder mystery, a missing person's case, and a healthy dose of family secrets.

So, the story centers around Agnes, the protagonist, who's driven by a desire to clear her grandfather's name. Her family's past is pretty dark - her grandfather was suspected of murdering his wife and infant daughter, and the case was never solved. Agnes is determined to get to the truth, even if it means uncovering secrets that her family has kept hidden for decades.

As Agnes digs deeper, she teams up with Nora, a true crime podcaster who's investigating the case. Together, they start to unravel the mystery, but things get complicated when a local girl goes missing. Suddenly, the whole town is on edge, and Agnes finds herself at the center of a very dark and very twisted mystery.

And can I just say... I absolutely LOVE that the book is set in Iceland! There's something about the rugged, icy landscape that just adds to the suspense and atmosphere of the story. Melissa Larsen’s descriptions of the Icelandic wilderness are so vivid and immersive - I felt like I was right there with Agnes, trudging through the snow and ice.

If you're a fan of slow-burning suspense, complex characters, and atmospheric settings, "The Lost House" is a must-read. And if you're an Iceland fanatic like me, you'll love the setting! ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC. This story follows a woman who agrees to go to Iceland to speak to a true crime podcaster regarding the murder of her grandmother and aunt. She is hoping to clear her grandfathers name as he is accused of the murders but was never convicted. Right before Agnes arrives a local college girl also goes missing. There seems to be some connection between the two events even though forty years separate them.

This book was really well done and held my attention the whole time. I thought it was perfect as a winter read given the snowy element to it. I thought it was a unique concept and really enjoyed the story line. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more. I definitely would recommend reading this book.

A few pages into The Lost House, I was hooked. We're in Iceland. A young woman at a party sends an ominous text and subsequently disappears. Another woman, Agnes, is arriving from California to explore her family's legacy - her Icelandic grandfather, whom she adored, left Iceland after the death of his young wife and infant daughter. Well, after the murder of his young wife and infant daughter. A gruesome murder. And forty years later, a popular podcaster is going to try to solve the, ahem, COLD case with Agnes' participation.

The setting is perfect. The house is isolated. The neighbors are strange. Agnes feels alone, conflicted, The mystery from the past is layered, and somehow intertwined with the party girl that goes missing. What is happening, and whom can Agnes trust?

This suspenseful page turner had me guessing until the very end. I couldn't put it down.

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital ARC. The Lost House has a publication date of January 14, 2025.

One podcaster.
One "recovering" opioid addict.
One main suspect.
In the remote town of Bifrost, Iceland, two women come to learn the truth about who killed the Frozen Madonna and Child, as they are known.
Nora (the podcaster) just wants to uncover the truth, no matter what it may be.
Agnes Glin, granddaughter to the main suspect, is hoping to clear her late grandfather's name.
But will the truth give her peace?

On the surface, Agnes is your typical unreliable narrator. Not only is she still recovering from her injury, hobbling not so successfully in the icy terrain, but her battle to stop taking opioids for the pain, hasn't been an easy one. However, her persistence to find the truth, ultimately pays off. And uncovers the truth about another missing woman in town.

While there are two storylines involving the possible crimes, they ultimately come together. I won't say I was entirely shocked by the truth, but I was pleasantly surprised the strength of some made a difference.

If you are looking for a thriller with cold winter vibes, look no further.

This was good, not great. I liked the setting and the writing. It was a good wintery read. I also liked the characters and their backstories. I do wish we got more about Nora especially at the end. What happened with the podcast? It felt like the podcast should’ve been a bigger part of the story. It was a little slow, it could be cut down a bit. The ending was good. I liked the twists and that Asa was alive, I didn’t see that coming!

Thank You NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this novel! Forty years ago, Agnes’ grandfather, Einar, was accused of murdering his wife and baby daughter in Iceland; but there was never enough evidence to prove it. So, he took his only remaining child, Agnes’ father, and moved to California. Agnes’ grandfather has now passed away and Nora, a true crime podcaster, wants to do her next podcast on Agnes’ grandfather. Nora invites Agnes to Bifrost, Iceland; where the murders took place, to interview people and maybe find out the truth. Coincidentally, another young woman has gone missing, Asa. Could her disappearance be related to the past? So many secrets and lies, it’s hard to tell who is telling the truth and who is lying!!! Will Agnes be able to clear her grandfather’s name, or will she find evidence that proves he murdered his wife and daughter 40 years ago? Look for this winter mystery thriller AVAILABLE January 14, 2025!!!

There is a lot going on in this story and I admit to wondering where it was going and how long it would take to make some sense. So much is predicated on the backstory of a mystery that was never truly solved years ago and I thought it muddied the waters at certain points. The characters, while some were mildly interesting, were mostly troubled and flawed, and I had trouble connecting any positive regard for them. The story went off in too many unrelated tangents that were unnecessary and did not add value. The story had great potential but it left me wanting more.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy

I love Nordic Noir and really enjoyed this story of Agnes, an American woman who travels to a small town in Iceland to be interviewed by a podcaster who is looking into a tragedy in Agnes's family. Diving back into this case stirs up the small town along with secrets and even danger. With its chilling winter setting and growing suspense, The Lost House is perfect for fans of Nordic Noir fiction!

Thank you to @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for my gifted copies of The Lost House by Melissa Larsen.

I picked a wintry thriller for our impending winter storm this weekend and I'm was immediately hooked into the immersive, claustrophobic thriller about a women who returns to Iceland and the scene of her Grandmother's gruesome murder 40 years ago.

There is a crime podcaster slant which makes the audiobook even more engaging as I feel like I'm on the podcast crew as they conduct interviews of local residents about their memories of the murders. There are true crime groupies, angry locals, and then another woman goes missing. Coincident or a killer copycat? The creepy vibes were high and my hackles were raised nearly the entire book. The author did a great job creating a protagonist who was flawed, and perhaps even misguided, yet I still was able to believe her and root for her as she delved deeper into the case and the disappearance of the local girl. I did not see the final twist, and really enjoyed the shocking conclusion. A solid winter thriller!

The Lost House is some Nordic Noir from Melissa Larsen.

"Agnes returns to the small village in Iceland where her grandfather was accused of killing his wife and child. He was never charged and fled to America with his young son. Agnes agrees to help a true-crime podcaster find the truth about what happened, but she desperately wants to find her grandfather was innocent. Another girl is abducted and people are afraid. Everyone is telling Agnes to leave but she is determined to find answers."

Agnes is a mess. She has some injuries she is still recovering from and is trying to beat an opioid addiction. Could figure out why she wouldn't go to the store and buy some gloves - It's winter in Iceland - brrrrr - GET SOME GLOVES. Agnes keeps giving different reasons for her injuries but when you find out, you understand her a little better.
This is a slow burn mystery. The last part is pretty intense. I like the resolution for Agnes. Lots of Icelandic names - best to listen to the audiobook to know how to pronounce them.

A nice mystery from Larsen - wear your coat when you read or listen - AND SOME GLOVES

I love a story where the environment is as much a part of the story as any of the characters. I read this book during the "big freeze" and snowstorm in early January 2025, and it was the perfect read.
40 years ago, outside a small quiet town in Iceland, a beautiful young mother and her infant daughter are found together, murdered, Their murder was never officially solved - but the townspeople collectively agreed it had been her husband. When he took their young son and moved to the United States, everyone assumed it was his guilt driving him.
Many years later, his granddaughter, Agnes, is recovering from a traumatic leg injury, an addiction to pain meds, and the death of her grandfather whom she loved. A well known true crime pod-caster has invited her to Iceland for the 40th anniversary of her grandmother and aunt's deaths, to research the case and possibly find the truth. Her father is angry she would engage with the pod-caster, but Agnes is determined to get the truth and clear her family's name. Just as she arrives, another local young woman has gone missing. Is there a connection?
I loved Agnes, and her strength - and weaknesses. The story lagged a tiny bit in the middle, but the suspense continued it's slow burn until the reveal.
I will absolutely suggest this book to anyone looking for a well written thriller.

The premise, plot line, and setting of this book spoke to me, and I was so excited to read it. The characters were vivid and varied, and there was enough action and suspense to draw any reader to keep going. But something about the writing just didn't do it for me. Books about True Crime podcasts are almost as ubiquitous as the podcasts themselves at this point, and it was hard not to compare this book to others that did that concept better. It might not be fair of me, but that's where I landed.

However, this book did make me really want to visit Iceland some day!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC for review.

There’s something about mysteries/thrillers that are set in the winter that makes the story so much better. Being set in Iceland adds to the ambiance. A thrilling, chilling, suspenseful read.

I received The Lost House as an ARC for a review.

I felt like this book was a slow burn. There was so much happening that I didn’t want to put the book down but it was a slow build. And then when the thing happened, I was like yes! I could feel so much emotion from the main character Agnes and I liked that. Definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

This snowy mystery was such a good read while I rode out a winter storm! I loved the setting and atmosphere and the author did a great job describing the desolate, cold location. One of my favorite tropes in mysteries is when two mysteries, one past and one present, are being investigated at the same time. We got one scene from Marie’s perspective in the past and I would have loved to see more of this throughout the book. Another trope growing in popularity are podcasts in books. The podcast element here didn’t seem totally necessary to me, but it also didn’t distract from the story either. An aspect of the book I liked was the pacing. Although the pacing was slower, I believe this was the author’s intention. I am a fan of slow burns and I felt it added to the suspense and intrigue. I was able to predict what would happen in this story, but I read a ton of mysteries. I think this would be a great pick for newer mystery lovers who like or don’t mind a slow burn. Overall, I gave this one 3.5 stars and would consider reading more from this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery thriller set in Iceland.

Our main character Agnes goes to Iceland to be part of a true crime podcast that is doing a season on the "Frozen Madonna and Child" murder case. The young woman and child that were murdered are Agnes's grandmother and aunt. The main suspect is her beloved grandfather.
Then a local girl goes missing.

While I found this to be a slow burn I also loved all the Icelandic scenery and atmosphere. The story was enough to keep my interested and reading. It was great to read on a snowy day!

I received an arc copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you to Minotaur books for sending this to me. Publication date is January 14, 2025

#TheLostHouse moved at a slow pace in the beginning, but finished like a blizzard. A broken girl goes to meet a Podcaster in Iceland to reopen her grandmother's murder. Everyone in town thinks her grandfather did it, including her own father. On the 40th anniversary, another young woman disappears. A novel on grief, trust issues, and family bonds. 4 stars.

Atmospheric, wintery, creepy, mysterious.

This creepy crime thriller is set in Iceland, with a podcast incorporated in, to investigate the murders that took place 40 years ago as well as the disappearance of another local woman while they’re there. I liked that Agnes, the granddaughter of the deceased, traveled to Iceland to be involved, learn more about her family, and pay homage to their home. While some people she meets there are cagey, rude, or accusatory, she also meets a few wonderful people.

Agnes is so relatable but sad, but I’m so glad to see where she ends up at the end of the book. I really enjoyed Nora the most, so I was a little disappointed when she basically disappears towards the end. As for the twist…I guessed early on what was happening, but I still enjoyed the journey to the reveal.

I traveled to Iceland this past year, so it was so fun to read a story taking place there! I could picture that gorgeous country the whole time (and I’m glad I didn’t go in winter 🤭).

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.