Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Ása Gunnarsdóttir is missing. Many of the searchers fear she is dead.

When Agnes Glin arrives in Iceland, she is determined to clear her grandfather’s name. Accused of killing his wife and infant daughter, he took his son and fled to California, his flight from Bifröst proof of his guilt. Agnes has come to her ancestral home at the invitation of podcaster Nora Carver who is looking into the death of Bifröst Murders, the victims widely referred to as the Frozen Madonna and Child.

Can Agnes find the truth about the murders? Is her grandfather guilty? And what of the missing Ása?

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In this tale of a young woman determined to prove her beloved grandfather’s innocence, the sense of place is both atmospheric and haunting, with the unforgiving Icelandic winter taking on the role of a character in the telling of this tale. Told in three parts, the unfolding narrative slowly reveals its secrets.

The characters are diverse; readers are likely to find the anxiety-ridden, deeply troubled, conflicted Agnes difficult to like, but her intent to find the truth is commendable. However, Agnes’s backstory reveals details that help the reader gain a better understanding of her life and her problems.

The story moves slowly, giving the reader ample opportunity to consider the evidence and weigh the possibilities. Readers who enjoy atmospheric tales with a bit of mystery and intrigue woven into the narrative are sure to enjoy this chilling tale.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#TheLostHouse #NetGalley

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Melissa Larsen’s The Lost House is a mesmerizing thriller that transports readers to the icy, remote landscapes of Iceland, where secrets buried in the snow refuse to stay hidden. This novel is a haunting exploration of family, legacy, and the dark shadows of the past.

The story follows Agnes, a young woman grappling with the recent death of her grandfather and a devastating injury. Seeking solace and answers, she returns to her ancestral home in the small town of Bifröst, Iceland. Forty years ago, her grandmother and infant aunt were found dead in the snow, a crime that was never solved but left a stain on her family’s name. Agnes is determined to clear her grandfather’s name, convinced of his innocence despite the town’s long-held suspicions.

Larsen’s writing is evocative and atmospheric, capturing the stark beauty and isolation of the Icelandic winter. The setting is almost a character in itself, with the relentless cold and desolate landscapes mirroring the chilling secrets that Agnes uncovers. The author skillfully uses the environment to heighten the tension, making the reader feel the biting cold and the creeping dread that permeates the story.

The characters in The Lost House are richly drawn and complex. Agnes is a compelling protagonist, her determination and vulnerability making her journey both relatable and gripping. The supporting cast, including true crime expert Nora Carver, who invites Agnes to be interviewed for her podcast, adds depth and intrigue to the narrative. Each character is imbued with their own secrets and motivations, creating a web of suspicion and mistrust that keeps the reader guessing.

The pacing of the novel is expertly handled, with Larsen balancing moments of quiet introspection with bursts of intense action. The plot twists are well-crafted and genuinely surprising, each revelation peeling back another layer of the mystery. The dual timelines, shifting between the present and the events of forty years ago, are seamlessly integrated, adding to the suspense and complexity of the story.

The Lost House explores how past traumas and unresolved mysteries can shape the present. Larsen delves into the psychological impact of the unsolved murders on Agnes and the town of Bifröst, examining how fear and suspicion can fester over time. This adds a layer of psychological depth to the narrative, making it more than just a simple whodunit.

The Lost House is a chilling and atmospheric thriller that will keep readers captivated. Melissa Larsen has crafted a story that is thrilling and emotionally resonant.

For fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a well-told tale of suspense, this book is a must-read.

This book is definitely a thriller. The authors quest for answers is really apparent and written well. The main character is battling demons which made her real and relatable. The book starts out slow but builds up so stick with it. The setting of this book and the general storyline (two mysteries) makes this an engaging read once you get into it.

Thank you Netgalley and Minitaur Books for the ARC of this book.


Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow, lying together as peacefully as though sleeping. Except the mother’s throat had been slashed and the infant drowned. The case was never solved. There were no arrests, no conviction. Just a suspicion turned into a certainty: the husband did it. When he took his son and fled halfway across the world to California, it was proof enough of his guilt.

Now, nearly half a century later and a year after his death, his granddaughter, Agnes, is ready to clear her grandfather’s name once and for all. Still recovering from his death and a devastating injury, Agnes wants nothing more than an excuse to escape the shambles of her once-stable life—which is why she so readily accepts true crime expert Nora Carver’s invitation to be interviewed for her popular podcast. Agnes packs a bag and hops on a last-minute flight to the remote town of Bifröst, Iceland, where Nora is staying, where Agnes’s father grew up, and where, supposedly, her grandfather slaughtered his wife and infant daughter.

Is it merely coincidence that a local girl goes missing the very same weekend Agnes arrives? Suddenly, Agnes and Nora’s investigation is turned upside down, and everyone in the small Icelandic town is once again a suspect. Seeking to unearth old and new truths alike, Agnes finds herself drawn into a web of secrets that threaten the redemption she is hell-bent on delivering, and even her life—discovering how far a person will go to protect their family, their safety, and their secrets.

This book was thrilling and spooky. It was too descriptive for my liking, but I still enjoyed it. 3 out of 5 ⭐️

I was asked to review “The Lost House” by Melissa Larsen and I went into this novel without a clue of what to expect, which is always the best way to approach a book written by a new author.

Forty years ago, a man was believed to kill his wife and baby in Iceland. Yet, he disappeared with his son to California before a full investigation could take place and the matter remained unresolved. In the present, Agnes returns to Iceland to prove her grandfather was not the killer because she knows he could not be responsible for such a heinous act. Meanwhile, also seeing answers, Nora Carver is doing a podcast where she plans to interview Agnes. However, another woman goes missing and Nora and Agnes team up to find answers.

Agnes drives the story and her quest to find answers is what kept me reading. I did find parts of this story predictable. While this novel is classified more of a thriller, I would say the focus is more character-driven. Additionally, this was also the first book I have read set in Iceland, and the author’s descriptions are quite captivating.

Four out of five stars.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this great read.

* Thank you NetGalley & Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

The Lost House (I don't totally get the name compared to the story) is a mystery thriller about Agnes, a complicated young woman who has just arrived in Iceland to confront her family's dark past. Forty years ago, her grandmother and aunt were horrifically murdered. The only suspect was her beloved grandfather, who fled to America shortly after the murders. The story follows Agnes as she unravels the threads that tie her to that fateful night.

Wow, what a wild ride! First of all, I love books set in Iceland, and this one really did deliver. The author herself wrote part of it in Iceland, and that really comes through in the atmospheric mystery. I enjoyed Agnes, who was realistically flawed and had a complicated relationship with the people around her. Her love for her family, despite the confusion and fear, and her devotion to finding the truth really made her stand out. The mystery itself I DID happen to guess around the 50% mark, but it was such a fun ride getting to the end, I didn't even mind.

Read The Lost House! It's creepy, its weird, and it's great.

It's usually not good when someone says, "We need to talk." But in this book when Asa sends a text, "I hope I haunt you," we know it's going to be creepy as well as crazy! Protagonist Agnes broke up with girlfriend Emi and is now traveling to Iceland to meet up with Nora (wh0 hosts a podcast called The End) as Agnes is the granddaughter of Einar, a suspected murderer in an unsolved crime and she's advocating for his innocence. It's a famous case called Frozen Madonna and Child as the two were discovered in the snow after the mother had her throat slashed. It's wonderfully convoluted tale of both past and present as Agnes tries to sort through the evidence while falling for Nora and trying to figure out this decades-old murder even as a new young woman goes missing.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

The Lost House had me hooked from page one. Well written characters with a great story. This story has several twists and turns! You do not want to miss reading this book when it hits the shelves. You will not be disappointed.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Larsen delivers a chilling, immersive thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The atmospheric setting in Iceland adds an incredible depth to the story, making the haunting themes of family secrets and redemption even more impactful. Agnes is a complex, relatable protagonist whose determination to uncover the truth about her family’s dark past drew me in completely. The twists are absolutely jaw-dropping and left me breathless, especially as the investigation unfolds alongside the eerie disappearance of a local girl. Larsen’s sharp writing and intricate plotting create a narrative that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling. This book is an absolute gem for anyone who loves a gripping mystery that balances suspense with genuine emotional depth.

This thriller/mystery was the perfect October read; thrilling, spooky, and chilling. I was pulled into the story and I loved the winter setting - definitely added to the chilling story! Only issue was it was a bit slow to start, but once the story picked up, I was hooked! I would definitely recommend this story, especially for a spooky mystery read in fall!

Agnes never believed her grandfather was a murderer, but he did flee Iceland after his wife and child were found dead. He was never convicted officially, but the town convicted him unofficially, and he made a new life with his young son in California.

When a true crime podcaster reaches out to Agnes, Agnes decides to return to the land of her ancestors. She’s initially certain she will prove her late grandfather’s innocence. On the same night she arrives in the small town, a young woman goes missing.

Agnes is also fleeing darkness of her own. After an accident shattered her leg, she became addicted to pain pills and her girlfriend broke up with her.

I enjoyed the mystery, the characters, and the setting. Parts toward the end are very suspenseful.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JANUARY 14, 2024.

I liked the premise of Melissa Larsen’s novel, The Lost House, but she lost me with her protagonist. Agnes Glin was too troubled for me to appreciate her story. She’s terrified, lonely, and an addict, not my kind of character.

In 1979, long before she was born, Agnes’ grandmother and infant aunt were murdered in Bifrost, Iceland. Her grandfather, Einar Palssen, finally couldn’t take the accusations that he killed his wife and child, so he fled to America with his nine-year-old son, Magnus. Agnes is Magnus’ daughter, but in her small family, they never talked about Einar’s past, and the two men refused to teach her Icelandic.

In 2019, there’s renewed interest in the story, forty years after “The Frozen Madonna Case”. Agnes still grieves for her grandfather who died a year earlier. And, she’s addicted to opioids after shattering her kneecap and ankle. When true crime podcaster Nora Carver reaches out to her, Agnes agrees to go to Bifrost. She’ll be the first one in the family to talk about the case. Agnes is convinced her grandfather is innocent.

By the time Agnes arrives in Bifrost, Nora is interested in a fresh case. A young woman named Asa disappeared after a party in the house where Agnes’ grandparents once lived. So, Nora doesn’t have as much time for Agnes as they originally planned. And what does twenty-seven-year-old Agnes do when left alone? She digs into the story of her grandparents.

I found The Lost House to be slow-moving with too much description. Readers who enjoy Nordic landscapes may enjoy that more than I did. But, Agnes never did grow on me. I read for character, and it’s not easy to finish a book with a troubled protagonist.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Agnes flies from the US to Iceland to meet Nora, a podcaster who is making an episode about the deaths of Agnes' grandmother Marie and her baby many decades ago. Einar, Agnes' beloved grandfather was suspected of their murders but never charged, and he took his son Magnus (Agnes' father) and emigrated to the US. Neither he nor Magnus have ever told Agnes about the tragedy and she feels it is time she found out the truth. When Agnes arrives it is to find that a young woman who looks very like her has just gone missing from the house her grandfather used to live in.

Agnes was an interestingly flawed protagonist, but I didn't like her much. The plot set-up as I have described it sounded intriguing, but in fact I found the story slow and skimmed chunks of it to keep going. There was a lot of trudging through snow and Agnes thinking about things, a 'romance' which felt a bit shoehorned in, and a dramatic conclusion which I struggled to really believe in:


SPOILER

how did none of the searchers find the cellar?

I haven’t read Melissa Larsen’s debut novel, but I will seek it out after reading the Lost House. This book was well-written, and the character development and descriptions of Iceland were excellent. It was somewhat difficult to read, however, because the protagonist Agnes is in so much physical and mental anguish all the time. The resolution of the mystery somewhat surprised me, but by that point the mystery felt almost incidental to me. If you like atmospheric books with a protagonist who’s going through a difficult but self-reflective journey, I recommend this book. 4/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read an ARC of this book.

This was a great mystery set in beautiful and dangerously cold Iceland. This book was so atmospheric and the setting complemented the mystery perfectly, adding an extra touch of suspense. This was a quick read and one that was hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

The Lost House is a perfect mystery! Pick it up RIGHT NOW!

In the Lost House we meet Agnes, a young woman who is haunted by her family history and still healing from a dangerous surfing accident. She has traveled from California to Iceland to clear her grandfather's name and work with and intrepid podcaster who is currently producing a show about him.

Agnes has traveled to Bifröst, Iceland - a small town with a community that still remembers the murder of the young woman and her daughter. Agnes's grandfather was married to the woman and fled the country immediately after, cementing his guilt in the mind of the community.
Agnes is sure that her beloved grandfather could never kill and she agreed to work with the podcaster to uncover more evidence. But there are plenty of people in town who do not want a killer's granddaughter around and when another young women goes missing, time is the essence!

The Icelandic background provides a haunting character all of it's own with close knit community members and erratic weather patterns. Agnes herself is battling a reliance on opiates which Larsen has made so real and poignant. Larsen has the capability to really insert you into the story and add details that are incredibly interesting. I enjoyed especially learning about Nora and her podcast and the armour the equipment provided when she was working.

If you love mysteries and thrillers, complicated heroines, real characters and communities, or just want to learn more about Iceland, this is a book for you. I don't know what Larsen will write next but I cannot wait!
#stmartinspress #thelosthouse #melissalarsen

I personally love an Icelandic thriller and this book did not disappoint. I was captivated by the main character's struggles with her past family trauma which was now integrated with a current missing girl as she arrives in Iceland to meet with a true crime podcaster. The story line offers an intricate and well-crafted mystery that kept me up late into the night. The suspense was unrelenting set against a snowy, unforgiving back drop that illustrated that violence against women is an age old issue.

I received a copy of this book from the author, her publishing company and the fine folks at NetGalley and I am leaving an unsolicited opinion of this book.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is the kind of novel that sneaks up on you with its chilling atmosphere and a story that quickly becomes so captivating that you’re halfway through the book before you know it.

The atmosphere of this book is incredible. It combines the beauty of the setting with the uncertainty of the unknown and the sheer danger of the environment to create such unsettling vibes that match the story perfectly. The deadly cold of winter is a threat to be battled, and this fits the deaths/disappearances that have occurred in the little town, 40 years apart and masked by the snowy, freezing temperatures. The characters having to contend with the threat of the environment, combined with the threat of a potential killer creates such a masterfully immersive book that makes it difficult not to be affected by the fear and paranoia the characters themselves feel as a reader. Two things I did really like about The Lost House is the closure Agnes gave her father by finding out the truth for their family, and I feel like Agnes found herself too during all the investigations.

The setting of this book combined with trying to solve two mysteries separated by 40 years really made this an incredible read. Uncovering the town and its secrets had me entirely immersed in the book and I was so pleasantly surprised by just how much I loved it.

The book is divided into three sections and I found the first part to be a slow burn (there were times that I was unsure whether I would be able to finish - and I normally do not like reading books that put those thoughts in my head). The second part of the book concentrates more on the murder that her grandfather had been accused of committing 40 years previous and the third attempted to bring the book to a closure. As such, while this was a relatively quick read, I would be able to give this book 3.25 stars out of five. I would recommend this one to thriller lovers as it was an interesting read. This one was a half-decent mystery, but not super suspenseful or thrilling. It did cover some sensitive subjects (addiction & suicide). Overall it was a nice story, just not suspenseful enough for me. It was well written, a good story.

As with most of my literary rants, these are just a few of my five cents worth.

This book was an interesting read - between the family history, the cultural differences, and the assumptions of people who don't know Agnes or her grandfather, there were a lot of emotions, relationships, and investigations that continually changed how I viewed the characters. I was ultimately a little surprised by the ending, although I did figure out pieces of it before getting there. I did appreciate the building of the characters, as well as the fact that I got very "sucked in" to this book and it felt like I was watching it happen as I read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a good mystery, but not super suspenseful or thrilling. It did cover some sensitive subjects (addiction & suicide). Overall it was a nice story, just not suspenseful enough for me. It was well written, a good story.