A young woman, traveling to Iceland to clear her grandfather’s name after his death. Traveling to Iceland is very brave of Agnes considering she is in California and has a significant injury.


Her father refuses to speak about the horrible thing that made them leave Iceland. His mother and baby sister were murdered horribly and left in the snow. Of course the first suspect is the husband, but Agnes is positive her grandfather did not do this.


Meeting up with Nora, a true crime expert, they are both biting off more than they can chew and are soon in danger themselves.


Absolutely loved this story!


NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press January 14,2025

Agnes travels to her family’s homeland of Iceland to clear her grandfather’s name of murder. He has always been suspected of murdering his young wife and infant daughter after they were found frozen in the snow 40 years ago. Her father and grandfather fled to the US under the cloud of suspicion and refused to talk about it ever since. But now there’s a podcast in development and the host, Nora, invited Agnes to speak. She has never broken her silence until now. At times welcomed but more often shunned, she’s determined to work with Nora to find the truth. But will she survive to tell the world?

The descriptions of Iceland bring to mind endless frozen landscapes and desolation. It fits well with how isolated Agnes feels, alone with her belief in her grandfather’s innocence. Even those close to him, neighbors and family alike, thought him guilty – there was just no one else who could have wanted to hurt the mother and child. But of course, Agnes uncovers a slew of secrets, not easy when everyone closes ranks to protect their own. I happened to see the end coming but I think many readers will be pleasantly surprised.

It was a nice touch for the author to include a few corrections to Agnes’s pronunciations, as I also would have been saying certain names and places incorrectly in my head, and that’s important to me for some reason! I’m still a bit uncertain about how the title of the book fits, but that could just be me. I quite enjoyed the story; it was a nice change of pace from the books set in the US and the UK that I typically read. So glad I checked it out!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

I was drawn to the story by the premise and the Icelandic setting. I wish the setting, with more historic background, played a bigger role than it did, but oh well. This was a sloooooooow developing plot. It picked up a bit by the end, but I think it would generous to call this a thriller. It was interesting, had several red herrings, but was not overly complicated for a simpleton like myself :).

Please, give me more Iceland.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being given freely.

"I'm drowning, I'm drowning," sing the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men on their song called Hunger. This song could be the perfect soundtrack to The Lost House because the main character is often drowning under the weight of a family tragedy from long ago and events of the present day. Melissa Larsen's Icelandic thriller is enthralling from the very start. It's a brilliant thriller with twists and turns that make it a special addition to the genre. Can an investigation of a never forgotten crime from decades earlier lead also to the solution of a modern day crime? You'll have to find out for yourselves by reading this great book. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I discovered I’m drawn to the Nordic atmosphere. Living in the US south where it’s Oct. and we’re breaking records at over 96° it was a treat to read about ice and the cold. This story has Agnes with roots in CA. and a heritage in Iceland. There are two themes in the story, Agnes’s painful injury, her resulting coping mechanism and the death of her beloved grandfather which leads her to search for answers. It was very much a family drama with secrets that created pain throughout generations. The grandfather she adored loved her unconditionally, yet he fled his Icelandic homeland as a presumed murderer. That community all believed he killed his own wife and tiny daughter. Agnes has agreed to meet a podcaster in that tainted town and participate on the fortieth anniversary of her grandmother’s demise. She doesn’t believe the man she knew capable of such a unfathomable act. There are many of the same neighbors and townspeople still living here and Agnes quickly discovered she’s the only one who believes in his innocence. A young woman disappears from a party and her situation resonates with Agnes so she joins in the search. Agnes strived to clear her grandfather’s name and the mystery resolution took me by surprise.
There were multiple subjects that touched me, how destructive lies are, how you simply cannot judge someone else’s pain if you’ve never experienced their situation, how you never truly know everything about another person. There are heavy topics referenced as Agnes struggles with sexual identity, addiction, debilitating pain, and life’s curveballs. Without life experiences younger readers may not grasp the depth of Agnes’s issues. I found Agnes relatable and enjoyed many of the supporting family members and townspeople. The author gave a vivid picture of the area and the characters had lots of emotional depth.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books (via NetGalley) for providing an Advance Reader Copy of “The Lost House” by Melissa Larsen, publication expected 01/14/2025. These are my honest, personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

I enjoyed this book! I wish it had more description of Iceland besides the weather (it was so crazy), but the plot was twisty and good, and I enjoyed finding out what happened. It's sincerely hard to read at parts if you've had a history of extreme pain - as the main character has sustained a huge injury to her leg and, surprise, it gets re-injured - and there is a CW for pill addiction. But I enjoyed this and sped through it to find out what happens! I recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Agnes Glin has spent her entire life in snow-free California, but while still recovering from a very painful accident, she’s been invited to Bifröst, Iceland, where true crime podcaster, Nora Carver, is investigating the four decades-old notorious unsolved murder of “The Frozen Madonna and Child.” Agnes’ connection is her beloved and recently deceased grandfather, who was accused but never convicted of the homicide of his wife and baby and who fled with his 9 year old son (Agnes’ father) to America.

The town where the murder took place, Bifröst, hasn’t moved on. Every year on the anniversary of the mysterious deaths (now the fortieth one in 2019), local residents throw a macabre “party” in the barn on Agnes’ grandfather’s property. The latest gathering occurred a few days before Agnes’ arrival, and another white-blond (like grandmother Marie and Agnes) partygoer has gone missing. There are two mysteries to solve.

Author Larsen creates an introspective, soul-searching Agnes, a young woman who’s lonely and grieving but trying to get out of her self-imposed shell and move forward with her life. Solving the mystery of her grandfather’s story and the missing girl is giving her the impetus to change things. The Icelandic cold and darkness, coupled with Agnes’ limiting disability and constant concerns about both physical and mental pain, magnify the character’s struggles. She’s literally and figuratively stumbling (buy some gloves, Agnes!) Yet we find ourselves rooting for her to find a resolution that she can live with. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO but close. Nora has hazel eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO February in Iceland means all the beautiful lupines have months before blooming.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Listen, the premise is so cool and I loved the atmosphere. Huge fan of Iceland right here. The plot and dynamic between the main characters and others felt off. I just couldn’t suspend belief enough to believe certain plot points so this didn’t work for me.

I throughly enjoyed this book. The description of the countryside was wonderfully done. The characters were all different but meshed together. The storyline kept you guessing right till end. I would highly recommend this book.

A young woman goes to Iceland to address a 40 year old murder and suddenly gets caught up in a missing person case. Strong writing and good cast of characters. I enjoyed reading this!

The Lost House is an enjoyable atmospheric mystery thriller set mainly in Iceland.

Agnes’s beloved grandfather has recently passed away. Forty years ago he was the prime suspect in the murder of his wife and infant daughter in Bifrost Iceland. The troubled protagonist, Agnes, heads to Iceland to meet up with Nora who had a true crime podcast to discuss the case. Agnes is determined to find out the truth about her grandfather.

After a slow start I had trouble putting this book down. It kept my interest and I needed to read one (or two or three) more chapters before I could finally close the book.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

Iceland is on my Bucket List, so I grab any thriller that is set there and devour it. This turned out to be a quite worthy find! As an American, I loved the combination of both American and Icelandic characters and settings. It is also great fun to me to Google the terms I don't know. But ANYWAY..... the story was very interesting. American Agnes, who has Icelandic roots returns to the home of her grandfather who fled after being accused of killing his wife and child. Agnes has her own secrets and is recovering from a major injury. She is invited by Nora, a true-crime podcaster (love this trope) who is looking into Agnes' Grandfather's case. Almost as soon as she arrives, local girl, Asa disappears from a party. The story was fast-paced and suspenseful. I loved the characters of both Agnes and Nora, and the atmosphere was amazing! It is the heat of Summer here in Texas so that made it even better! Some parts were a bit predictable, but overall, this one was right up my alley!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Melissa Larsen and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazonb, Instagram and other social media and retail sites upon publication day of January 14th, 2025.

4 stars for an absorbing book about a 40 year old murder mystery. The blurb:
"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 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."
Agnes goes to Iceland to be interviewed by Nora, a crime solving pod caster. At the same time she arrives, Asa, an Icelandic woman, goes missing and people are out searching for her. Agnes is instrumental in solving both mysteries. There is a satisfactory ending. There is some brief violence, but not graphic. There is also some brief sex, again not graphic. No bad language, making it suitable for cozy fans.
Agnes is hampered by an injury to leg and knee which required major reconstructive surgery. One quote: "Her left leg feels like it's composed of broken glass, grinding with every step, and the rest of her body is cramping. She hasn't walked so much in a year."
Thank You St. Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.

Pub Date Jan 14 2025

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?

=========

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!