I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advancer copy in exchange for an honest review. Who doesn't love a dark wintery thriller set in Iceland about a decades old murder? Sign me up... I was excited to read this but unfortunately as much as I did like the story, I found it slow overall and repetitive. I still liked the story, and will definitely try reading something else by the author.

I usually love thrillers and horror set in winter, especially in an Icelandic setting. Unfortunately this one fell flat. I couldn't connect to the characters or the plot.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

I read this one over winter break and it brought the perfect vibes for this time of year. Agnes is still in recovery from an accident of her own when she decides to return to the childhood home of her father in Iceland. Her father and grandfather moved from Iceland to the US when he was just a boy after the mysterious death of her father's mother and infant sister. They were found dead in the snow and the only suspect was Agnes's grandfather. Even though there was never any proof, the whole town assumed he did it. Agnes is now traveling to Iceland to see what truths she can uncover only to find on her arrival that another woman has gone missing.

This was a good mystery, both present and past. It was interesting to have a relative of the suspect be the one to look into the events that occurred. Agnes is an unreliable narrator of sorts which adds to the ambiguity of everything going on. The setting has a small-town, locked room feel due to the remote location of the town and the severe winter weather. The audio was well-done and kept me intrigued. It never lost me despite the various characters included in the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this book for the atmosphere and the vibes. It was a quick read perfect for an afternoon of escape during break. If you are looking for a mystery/thriller with wintery vibes, you may want to pick this one up.

This book follows Agnes, who sets out to Iceland in order to try and solve a 40 year old case in which her grandfather is known to have killed her grandmother. She wants to clear the family name, and while she’s there, gets mixed up in a new missing persons case that some locals believe is tied to the case of her grandmother.

The story started out really strong, but at some point felt very repetitive to me. I was intrigued to find out the answers, and everything was laid out neatly at the end with no unknown answers, but I still felt it was lacking something. I wouldn’t discourage the read, but it wasn’t a story that will stick with me.

3⭐️

Pub date 01.14.25

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books for my e-arc and Macmillan Audio for my ALC. #MacAudio2024

The Lost House (Audiobook) by Melissa Larsen (Goodreads Author)
with Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)
Colleen Chi-Girl on GoodReads - My rating: 5 of 5 *****
GR Bookshelves: 2024, audio, california, contemporary, crime-mysteries, iceland, netgalley, read, thrillers, women-centered
I debated between 4 or 5 🌟 and really enjoyed this dark, compelling, Icelandic novel so much that I gave it a"5". This thriller was just a great wrap up for my end of year novels.
Expected publication January 14, 2025 - have fun with this one.

Oh my word, did I enjoy this novel/audiobook! It was the right mix of everything from the setting with the creepy, dark, and freezing weather, the beautiful, modern, new home to stay in, while in its backyard is her family's original farmhouse. It is dark, thrilling and full of intrigue.

Agnes arrives in Iceland with a good attitude, but it's clear that normal walking is a very difficult task for her. Picture anyone trying to walk in ice and snow and the dark, and you'll feel a lot of empathy for Agnes. (You'll find out more about her injury as the tale enfolds.) Why did her father ever agree that his only daughter, in her condition, should go to his hometown in Iceland to discuss the murder of her grandmother and the baby (who would've been her aunt)?! And don't forget that Agnes' dad is the young boy who escaped, with his father, to sunny Calf. where Agnes was born and raised. BTW, his father is obviously Agnes' grandfather and was someone whom Agnes adored. But Grandfather is also the same man.... who possibly? probably? savagely murdered his beautiful, young wife and baby girl. So much mystery and intrigue...I couldn't put it down.

Agnes meets the podcast true-crime queen Nora Carver in Iceland and they, who are about the same age, hit it off. Nora is sympathetic to how hard it must be for Agnes to be in this small town where her Grandfather is hated, and she befriends Agnes. The secondary characters are introduced and they're well developed, quirky, interesting, and maybe have issues telling the truth. The setting gets even better and the plot moves quickly and with excitement. Saskia Maarleveld was marvelous as the narrator of all the characters, and her voice and vibe kept me on the edge...

Without giving more of the story away, I didn't go into it thinking it would be a 4 or 5 * book....I'm just glad it was. This won't disappoint!

Publisher's Blurb:
-Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow...the mother’s throat had been slashed and the infant drowned. The case was never solved. 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. Still recovering from his death and (her own) devastating injury, Agnes wants nothing more than to escape her once-stable life. She accepts true crime expert Nora Carver’s invitation to be interviewed for her popular podcast (in Iceland of course). 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 murdered his wife and infant daughter.

Thank you to MacMillan audiobooks, NetGalley, and the author for my ARC - my review is my own.

I enjoy these kinds of books where cold weather is such an important part of the story that I start feeling cold even when it's warm where I am. This story was also interesting because it takes place in Iceland, and there were some things I learned about the country. The story itself is about a "cold case" relating to a granddaughter who wants to clear her grandfather's name. The resolution felt natural as Agnes talked to people and learned the truth about what happened many years ago. Suspense, isolation, family secrets -- great ingredients. The narrator did a great job too.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

The first two sections of Melissa Larsen’s The Lost House were a slow burn, but the third section was a rapid fire of shocking revelations. An enjoyable atmospheric thriller perfect for a winter read. Saskia Maarleveld’s narration is rich and enthralling.

The strange beauty of the icy landscape of the remote village of Bifröst, Iceland amidst the lava fields creates an eerie setting that is its own character.

The women in the novel possess depth and richness of character while the men lack depth almost to the point of stereotypical characters.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio version of this title for an honest review.

Pick this book up if you love all things wintry and murder mysteries. I always enjoy when there’s a true crime podcast angle to a story and this was a very unique take on that theme. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested! I alternated between the book and the audiobook and enjoyed the narration.

This was atmospheric in the best way. Especially for listening during Minnesota winter (while not as brutal as the weather in the story). I enjoyed the characters, the twist and the queer element.

Such a good book! There’s a lot to unpack and we’re not going into details ;) in a nutshell two crimes, 20 years apart, similarities mixed in with family dynamics, small town secrets. Taking place in Iceland. I liked the pace and the mystery. Best part for me though was listening to Saskia as I knew it would be :) @saskiaaudio Big thanks to @macmillan.audio for my advanced copy!

The Lost House - Melissa Larsen
Pub Date - 1/14/25
Media - Audio
Rating - 3/5
Summary - Agnes, a Californian, goes back to Iceland after her grandfather dies. Her grandmother and her aunt were found dead in the snow 40 years ago and although the murder was never solved, all suspicion fell on her grandfather who took Agnes' dad to California, away from the town. Agnes gets a request from a true crime podcaster named Nora who meets her in Iceland to investigate the decades old cold case. While Agnes is in town, a girl goes missing, and while proving her grandfather's innocence, Agnes gets engrossed in helping find her.

Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for this advanced reader audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is SO SLOW. It was super frustrating because I felt like nothing really happens for over 50% of it. Also, the reader spends a ton of time internalizing emotions for a good chunk of the book, also leading to feeling extremely slow in terms of events. The last 25% when all is revealed, I was surprised since I wasn't expecting it. This will be popular for the slow burn readers, but might not go so well for those who like a more fast paced book.

n Iceland 40 years ago there was a gruesome murder of a young mother and her infant daughter, everyone believed her husband had killed them both. However, there was never any proof of what happened so the father and son left Iceland to never return and start their life somewhere new. The case remains unsolved to this day. This leads to Agnes ready to clear her grandfather's name returning to Iceland with a podcaster to participate in the podcast about the unsolved case, without her father's approval or blessing. When she arrives in Iceland people are not as welcoming as she thought they would be, the shadow of what they believed her grandfather's crimes follows her everywhere.
"He killed her we all knew"
As Agnes and the podcaster, Nora, start investigating and asking questions they run into brick walls time and time again. Then, a local girl is missing and there are search parties everywhere looking for her before the time runs out and instead of looking for the missing girl, they start looking for a body. All the twists and turns are insane, there were times I felt for Agnes because her mission was simple she wanted to clear her beloved grandfather of the speculation he committed the heinous crimes because the man she knew and grew up with could never have done that.
I listened to the audiobook and loved it! The narrator did an incredible job drawing me in, making me eager to find out what happened next and who the killer was! By the end, I couldn't stop reading; I was on the edge of my seat! Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen and review this one!

I really enjoyed listening to this story. It was entertaining. I never got bored. I’d definitely read more by this author. I especially like the audio narrator. I recognize her voice from other books I’ve listened to and she’s excellent. Her raspy voice was perfect for this mystery/thriller. Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy to review.

An interesting premise for this dark thriller set in Iceland.

Agnes, born in California and recovering from a bad leg injury, journeys back to her family's home in Iceland after her grandfather dies. Her grandmother and aunt had been found dead in the snow 40 years before - a case that had never been solved - but the suspicion had fallen on her grandfather. When he took his surviving son and fled to California, that increased the suspicion that he was the killer.

Agnes agrees to be interviewed by Nora, who runs a podcast and is investigating the decades old murder. Agnes hopes to be able to prove that her grandfather is innocent. Shortly after she arrives in Iceland, another woman, Asa, goes missing from the house in a similar fashion, and the race is on to find her.

This is a slow burner of a novel, and it was a little too slow for me during the middle of the book. I did love the setting, the dark and brooding landscape, the cold and snow - all of which provided such an atmospheric backdrop. Agnes and Nora interview the locals to try and discover what happened, but Agnes is a little cold herself - she seems to be stirring up bad memories of the past and doesn't seem too concerned about the effects that has on others. She is dealing with her own demons as she struggles to discover the truth.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator Saaskia Maaleveld did an excellent job. She held my interest despite the story line, truth to be told, through the middle of the book.

I loved this book. It was atmospheric and a perfect winter read. It easily transported me to the dark and cold winters of Iceland and quickly had me invested in finding out the truth about what happened the Agnus’ grandmother and aunt. I liked the tie in of the podcast as a means to get her back to Iceland. Overall the ending was satisfying.

Thank you for allowing me to listen to this audio book prior to release, as an ARC.
I have always loved the Icelandic setting and stories by another Icelandic author, so I was excited to have an opportunity to listen to this one as it appeared to be in the same setting.
The story line did not disappoint. I am not going to repeat what happens in the story (as so many other reviewers always do?) as that is part of the synopsis of the book! I thoroughly enjoyed the setting in the cold mysterious Icelandic atmosphere. It makes the story setting even more perfect and appears even more suspenseful. I have not read anything by this author prior and she did not disappoint!! The characters were for the most part likeable and relatable and definitely developed throughout the story. I liked the protagonist who set out to clear her grandpa's name.
The setting of the story was well described, making it possible to picture yourself in the story and environment. That is always a big pet peave of mine...I have to be able to see myself in the story...and this author does it perfectly. The narrative was well built out and not far fetched. Some parts were a little slow and I was hoping for a quicker solution but it made the story still great.
The narrator did an amazing job! A narrator can make or break a story and this narrator definitely made it a great interesting story that the reader will not want to quit!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Lost House" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audio book. A slow burn mystery that was slightly too long. The story was set in Iceland I have to admit it was a bit confusing with the names. So I will say overall ok, it was an audio book so it was a little easier.

The Lost House is an enjoyable atmospheric mystery thriller set mainly in Iceland. The narration by Saskia Maarleveld is outstanding!

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.

I read the book and later listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the audiobook immensely.

I look forward to reading and listening to more by this author.

When I heard Abby from @crimebytthebook talking about this book I raced to NetGalley to find it. So happy to get approved for both the print and audiobook, I dived right in.

The Lost House is a slow burning murder mystery set in Iceland. Almost 40 years ago, Agnes’s grandfather was suspected of killing his wife and baby daughter. He was never convicted but he took his young son and moved to California. Now with the anniversary looming, Agnes has agreed to talk to podcaster, Nora Carver about what she knows and the grandfather that she loved so dearly. She has never been to Iceland and hopes that she can clear her beloved grandfather’s name.

This was such a great story, with an incredible setting of the ice and snow. Combined with the early darkness, this made for a creepy and intense story. Agnes is pretty messed up in more ways than one, so it was hard to know if what she was telling the reader was fact of fiction. It was emotional and heartbreaking at times.

The audiobook was brilliant, with the always fantastic Saaskia Maaleveld narrating. She always brings the story and characters to life, making this a winner for me.

Thanks so much to S Martin’s Press and Macmillan audio for the advanced copies. A new author to add to the list. Out on January 14th.

Engrossing and ominous, this story had me rapt, pulled into the cold Icelandic setting, empathetic for both Agnes and Nora being such fish out of water in this foreign land where they were immersed in a cold case and a seemingly connected new missing person case. With Agnes trying to prove her grandfather's innocence, Nora the one investigating to get to the truth, and locals accepting without being welcoming or helpful very often, it creates a density throughout. Everyone is suspicious, everyone is hiding something, and Agnes' desperation is palpable. Despite how dark this book was, I found the fairly constant action and emotional zig-zagging enough to keep me from feeling bleak and hopeless for the characters.