Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the perfect mystery to read in the winter as it takes place in Iceland during the winter. Agnes, our main character's grandmother and aunt were found murdered forty years ago and her grandfather was accused of their murders. Her grandfather and father, who was just nine at the time, fled to the United States. Forty years later, Agnes is contacted by Nora, who is a true crime podcaster doing a story on the murders and Agnes agrees to be interviewed for the podcast and flies to Iceland for the podcast. A few days before she arrives, another young woman, Asa, disappears from a party and people are searching for her. The story focuses on trying to find Asa while Agnes also tries to prove her grandfather innocent of the murders. I really enjoyed the mystery, and I think it is the perfect winter read.

Melissa Larsen’s The Lost House is an atmospheric and gripping thriller that masterfully blends family secrets, true crime, and a chilling murder mystery set against the stark and unforgiving backdrop of Iceland. With its icy terrain and razor-sharp twists, this novel delivers an enthralling tale of redemption, deception, and survival.

At the center of the story is Agnes, a young woman haunted by her family’s dark legacy. Her journey to clear her grandfather’s name brings her to the eerie and isolated town of Bifröst, where old wounds and suspicions fester. Larsen weaves a compelling narrative that not only explores the gruesome, unsolved murders from forty years ago but also throws in the mysterious disappearance of a local girl to keep readers guessing. The tension builds steadily, with each revelation more shocking than the last, as Agnes and true crime podcaster Nora uncover secrets that threaten to upend everything they thought they knew.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its setting. Larsen paints a vivid portrait of the Icelandic winter, a stark and merciless landscape that mirrors the cold, sinister secrets buried within the town. The writing is immersive, and the twists are relentless, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Agnes is a flawed yet relatable protagonist whose determination and vulnerability anchor the story, even as the layers of her family’s dark history unfold.

While the pacing is strong for the most part, the book occasionally falters under the weight of its many threads, leaving some subplots less developed than others. However, the immersive setting and jaw-dropping twists more than make up for these minor shortcomings.

The Lost House is a chilling, well-crafted thriller that will appeal to fans of atmospheric mysteries and complex family sagas. With its vivid descriptions, layered characters, and pulse-pounding suspense, Larsen delivers a story that lingers long after the final page.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is about a woman, Agnes, who visits the scene of her grandmother and aunt’s murders forty years ago in order to find the truth about her grandfather. Did he murder them as everyone thinks? The incentive for the visit is a true crime podcaster visiting the area for a new series who wants the point of view of a relative of the case- Agnes.

This book moved quickly and had several twists throughout. I would have liked more details and wrap up at the end. I think fans of Listen for the Lie or None of This is True would enjoy this for the podcasting theme.

This is one of the most atmospheric thrillers (or novels) I've read in a long time and Iceland acts as one of the main characters, moody, enticing, and chilling (no pun intended). I enjoyed the interwined mysteries, the complicated main characters and all the twists toward the end. Highly recommend!

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a book with two storylines that converge into one. It’s a mystery of sorts that takes place in Iceland. The story centers around Agnes and the belief that her grandfather had killed her grandmother and infant aunt many years prior. Agnes leaves California and goes to Iceland after the death of her beloved grandfather to learn the truth. Everyone there believes he is guilty of the crime but Agnes loved him and just doesn’t see him doing something so awful. While in Iceland, another girl, Asa, goes missing and Agnes is pulled into that investigation as well. This was an interesting and complex story, it held my interest and I couldn’t predict how it was going to play out. I was really pleased with the ending, knowing that Agnes was finally going to attempt to find happiness by starting her life over with someone new. I’d like to thank Stephen Erickson, Marketing Manager @ St. Martin’s Publishing Group (Minotaur Books) for inviting me to read an early copy and NetGalley for the arc. This was my first time reading this author and I’d be very interested in reading more of her work in the future. I’m rating this story at 4 stars.

I had a lot of high hopes for this book since it was taking a true crime podcast point of view of a cold case in Iceland. But in the end, the podcast storyline became a side story the personal struggles of the main character, Agnes. Agnes's story was kind of boring to me and just dragged out! The twist was ok but kind of saw it coming.

ARC REVIEW (1/14): the lost house by melissa larsen ❄️ a mesmerizing story of a young woman with a haunting past who returns to her ancestral home in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family.

I loved the dark setting and how it added to the harsh iceland ambience! many dark themes were explored so check triggers before diving in! if you’re on the hunt for a mystery to read while snowed in, this is the one for you as it’s not too frightening.

there was a podcast element that hooks you right away but I think I would’ve enjoyed this mystery more if it was told from the podcast host, nora! I was never sure of her motives so diving a bit deeper into that element would’ve been interesting🧣

despite the captivating writing, it did get a bit slow at times which was a bummer. SO much time was lost listening to the fmc, agnes, abuse her body & pop pills that it took me out of the story.

I hope I haunt you 👀 thank you macmillan audio & st. martin's press for the early copies 🎧 3 stars!

The story centers around a decades-old mystery in Iceland, where a mother and her baby are discovered buried in the snow. The mother’s throat has been slashed, and the baby drowned. The initial assumption is that the husband was responsible, especially since it’s often the most obvious suspect, and when he fled to California with their surviving son, it seemed like a done deal.

Now, a year after the man’s death, his granddaughter Agnes is on a mission to clear his name. Still recovering from a serious injury, she heads to Bifrost, Iceland, to participate in an interview for Nora Carver’s podcast. But shortly after Agnes arrives, a local girl goes missing, throwing the town into further turmoil.

This is one of those rare cases where I figured out the culprit right away. While the book had an interesting premise, it ended up feeling slow and at times tedious. Much of the action revolves around Agnes’s inner thoughts, which made the plot feel stagnant. The setting was fantastic, and the book wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite capture my attention the way I hoped.

DNF, too slow, flat characters and I found myself not wanting to read it. That’s not a good sign. I’ve decided this year that if I’m not hooked by the second chapter I’m done.

💥 Pub Date: 1/14/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

• Nordic noir mystery
• chilling atmosphere
• unique characters

I found this to be more of a slow burn. It was a little too repetitive in parts, but the ending definitely paid off. The audio narrator really brought the story to life, and it was nice to know how to pronounce some of those Icelandic words!

🗣 Thank you to netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via both gifted eARC and audio! All opinions are honest and my own.

The Frozen Madonna and Child: a true crime podcast hosted by Nora Carver of The End. Forty years ago in Bifröst, Iceland, a young mother was found dead in the snow holding her infant daughter. Her throat had been cut and the baby drowned. The husband was the obvious suspect but he had an alibi. With the suspicion of the small town hanging over him, he eventually fled to California with his nine-year-old son, Magnus.

Now Agnes Glin, the granddaughter of Einar Pálsson, the suspected murderer, has come to Iceland to take part in Nora's podcast, hopefully to prove Einar's innocence. Agnes has had a bad year herself: her beloved grandfather has died, she's broken up with her girlfriend, she's recovering from a serious accident which wrecked both her knee and ankle and in the process of recovery, she's become addicted to opioids. Her father, Magnus, is furious with her for taking part in the program, thinking that the truth when uncovered will only bring shame to their family.

Upon arriving in Bifröst, Agnes learns that a young woman named Ása has gone missing after a party in the old farmhouse where Einar and his wife had lived and Nora's interest has shifted to include that crime as well. The townspeople are searching for her but...

As always with novels set in Iceland, the novel is dark and atmospheric with the weather and landscape being a big part of the story. I enjoyed spending some time there with these interesting if flawed characters. The story has a slow buildup to an absolutely riveting ending.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery. My review is voluntary; the opinions expressed are my own.

Secrets and lies-and Iceland. Agnes is in Iceland at the invitation of Nora, a true crime podcaster who is delving into the old mystery of the murder of Agnes' grandmother and baby aunt, possibly at the hands of her beloved grandfather. And Asa, a young woman has gone missing. Larsen weaves these two together in a way that doesn't really work until the end (no spoilers). She spools out information slowly (a little too slowly), especially with regard to Agnes and her leg. The leg becomes almost another character as not a page or two passes without a reference the pain Agnes is suffering. The answers she seeks about her family are hard won but....no spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I wanted to like this more than I did and I put that down to Agnes, who I found hard to root for. And I would have liked more about Nora.

The Lost House is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page. The author, Melissa Larsen, has written a story with intriguing characters using the Icelandic setting to enhance the sense of mystery. Agnes Glin's journey is both haunting and exciting as she uncovers family secrets and faces the truth about her grandfather, accused in an unsolved case involving the murder of his wife and child. The suspense is intense! Just when you think you know what's going on, Larsen throws in a surprise twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could! I really enjoyed the novel and would highly recommend it to readers who are looking for an edge-of-your seat thriller.

Agnes, broken-hearted from the death of her grandfather and the breakup with her ex, travels to Iceland, which may have cost her the one person left in her corner: her father. Agnes will find herself freezing and surrounded by breath-taking views and a lot of snow, to be apart of Nora's podcast focused on Agnes' family history.

It's cold and dark, twisty and perfectly addictive. Agnes is in a foreign country where her phone doesn't work, she doesn't speak the language, and due to an injury, unable to get around. In other words, she's at the mercy of Nora and those she meets around Bifröst--complete strangers, really. And when another woman goes missing mere days prior to Agnes' arrival, Agnes can't help but find herself wrapped up in the mystery in more ways than one.

It was dark, it was chilling, but oh-so-perfect! Every time I put the book down, all I could think about was picking it back up.

Agnes has just lost her grandfather, has a difficult relationship with her father, recently broke up with her girlfriend and still recovering from a horrific accident she has become addicted to pain killers.

When she is contacted by a podcast that is investigating the murder of her grandmother and aunt in Iceland before her family fled to America. Her grandfather has always been the main suspect and everyone in the small town in Iceland believes he was the culprit. She decides to go to Iceland and try to figure out what really happened.

When she gets there she sees a missing poster for a girl who looks remarkably like her. This missing case seems to take priority over the cold case of her grandmother.

This is well done mystery set in a remote location in a small town. All evidence points one way but Agnes has a feeling the new case and the old case may be connected. I found the book very readable and switched over to the audio for the second half and found the narrator to be engaging. This is more the slower, darker pace of a nordic thriller than the typical mystery. But I'm a huge Scandi Noir fan so it was perfect. Great way to start the year.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so tragic to me! Forty years ago, a young mother and her child were found murdered in the Icelandic snow in a small town. The husband was of course the main suspect and he fled with his other child, a young son. The case was never solved.

Fast forward to today, and the granddaughter of the man who fled, Agnes, heads to the scene of the crime to see if she can figure out what happened, along with a true crimes podcast host, Nora.

The weekend that Agnes arrives, a young girl goes missing. Is this coincidence or is it tied to the tragedy from so long ago.

Told in different periods throughout the book, filled with twists and turns, love and tragedy, this was a lovely book and I'm looking forward to more from this author!

A riveting, well-paced murder mystery thriller. I connected with the main character, Agnes, with her flaws, chronic pain, and her family's dark backstory. Despite her pain from a bad injury to her knee and leg, and convinced of her grandfather's innocence, Agnes makes the trip from California to Bifröst, Iceland to meet with a podcaster digging into her grandmother and great aunt's cold case. She meets distant relatives and new friends, many of them holding pieces of the puzzle to solving the mystery. Her journey to the truth is difficult and riddled with obstacles, and I loved how the mystery unfolded. I highly recommend this book for fans of Nordic thrillers and murder mysteries.

The Lost House is a dramatic yet heartfelt story that still maintains a dark and mysterious vibe. I applaud the complexity that the author attempted…and pulled off brilliantly! The book mixes: a woman lost without the answers she craves about her family, a 30-year-old cold case, and a current day missing person. If not executed correctly, this could be one gigantic mess of a book, but it was really well done.

All the plot lines blended together seamlessly and the emotions of the main character added depth and a human connection that is refreshing for this genre of book! A very engaging and hard to put down crime fiction novel! I recommend to fans of the genre!

I received a free digital copy of The Lost House from the publisher, all opinions are my own .

The use of Iceland and its harsh winter landscape adds an eerie element, a la True Detective: Night County, and heightens the suspense. I was definitely intrigued enough to want to see the conclusion of the mystery. The novel's pace is often slow and repetitive. This impacted the overall reading experience for me. There were certain chapters that I began to feel impatient and wanted to skip to the conclusion. It is a decent read for those who enjoy suspense.

Thanks to to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of this novel.

I am pleasantly surprised by The Lost House by Melissa Larsen. I went into it expecting a basic thriller - something entertaining, but maybe a bit far fetched or lacking in depth. What I got was a slow-moving, atmospheric character study of a young woman trying to make sense of her life.

Forty years ago, Agnes’ grandfather allegedly murdered his wife and their infant daughter, leaving them in the snow to be discovered by neighbors. Although he was never convicted of the crime, he was damned by public opinion and left his small town to start a new life in America. Now, in the wake of her grandfather’s recent death, Agnes comes to Iceland for the first time in her life to help contribute to a true crime podcast about her family’s darkest moment. Days before Agnes arrives, a young woman goes missing, pitching this small Icelandic town into memories of the last horrible crime that happened on their watch.

The Lost House moves slowly and really puts you into the mind of Agnes. Agnes has spent the last year recovering from a devastating leg injury that left her both vulnerable and addicted to opioids - an addiction she’s trying to break. So much of this story relies on Agnes’ internal conflicts - wrestling with her addiction while also striving to clear her grandfather’s name.

In many ways, the storytelling of this book felt reminiscent of Notes on An Execution; the crime is a big piece of the plot, but Larsen pushes readers to think more about the humanity of those impacted rather than the crime itself.

The beginning was a bit repetitive; it took me getting about 30% in before I was hooked. But once I was hooked, I couldn’t put this down. I thought the ending was superb. I could see some people not liking Agnes, but I think that’s sort of the point - she’s a complicated character dealing with different levels of trauma. I thought Larsen was masterful in the way she portrayed Agnes’ pain, both physical and mental.

Overall, I recommend this to people who like slow, character-driven mysteries.