Agnes Glin travels from California to Iceland to investigate the gruesome murders of her grandmother Marie and her infant daughter 40 years earlier. The case was never solved, but most people suspect that Einar, Agnes’ grandfather, killed his wife and daughter. Agnes’ beloved grandfather has died but she wants to clear his name so connects with Nora Carver, a true crime podcaster who has helped solve another case. Will Agnes be able to prove her grandfather’s innocence or will she only confirm what virtually everyone in the town of Bifröst already believes?

There are a couple of complications. Agnes has a dependence on pain medication after a major injury to her leg. Then, just as Agnes arrives in Iceland, a university student named Ása has gone missing in Bifröst after a party at Agnes’ ancestral home. Are the cases connected?

I found Agnes an unlikeable character and so had difficulty caring about what happens to her. She’s 26 years of age, but she seems very immature. Before arriving in Iceland and despite warnings from her father, it never occurred to her that her grandfather might be guilty? She’s in Iceland for two weeks in February, but doesn’t buy gloves to protect her hands from the cold? She is very self-centred, showing little consideration for other people’s struggles or emotions. She stays with Nora but not once offers to help with things like meals? Despite her life-altering injury, she doesn’t take care of herself; over and over again, she pushes her body beyond its limits and then seems shocked by the pain she experiences. She makes rash decisions without considering possible consequences; these seem choices more appropriate to a teenager. Though we are to believe she undergoes some character growth at the end of the novel, I wasn’t convinced.

The male characters feel underdeveloped, more like flat characters with one dominant trait: Óskar is hostile, Ingvar is sweet, Thor Senior is antagonistic, etc. And what’s with Óskar’s belief in a murder gene; he’s a university student so supposedly intelligent but thinks Agnes needs to be watched and calls her “’murderer’s child’”!

Pacing is an issue. Not much happens, especially in the middle of the plot. There are just a lot of conversations which are repetitive and reveal little new information. And so much else is repetitive; since so much of the narrative is Agnes’ interior monologue, there are repeated references to her injury, her struggles with opiate addiction, her fractured relationship with her father, and her feelings for Lilja. There is action at the end of the book, but readers might be tempted to stop reading before reaching the action-packed section.

There are plot issues. The author seems not to have researched Iceland’s weather very carefully because blizzards are not likely to happen so often and so conveniently in a two-week span. And where’s the reference to the Northern Lights since February is the best month to see them there? The search for Ása is so uncoordinated and no one thinks of a cellar in a farmhouse? Agnes, not once but twice, somehow finds herself at the back of houses? And what’s with the unnecessary romantic relationship, especially one which relies on the love-at-first-sight trope? Finally and most importantly, there is no great reveal because the plot is predictable. The repeated references to people’s ages give any astute reader the answer very early on.

I understand this is not the author’s first novel, but with its plot weaknesses it feels very much like a debut book.

A gripping contemporary thriller that explores themes of survival, secrecy, and the quest for truth.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

Agnes has just lost her beloved grandfather and she is determined to clear his name. She is a character with some huge flaws and she is a bit wishy washy. This is what I liked about her…I know, I know, not my usual character choice. She pulled at my heart strings a bit. I loved her mind set even if she doesn’t know where to turn in most of her choices.

I did fluctuate between 3 and 4 stars. This is more of a 3.5 star rounded up. It just was a bit slow and draggy in spots. Yes! I did figure it out pretty quickly. However, the setting and the characters kept me reading.

This is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. She is pretty dad blame good!

Need a mystery with a great setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

From the stunning front cover to page one and throughout, author Melissa Larsen creates an atmospheric, chilling Nordic Noir set in a small Icelandic town, THE LOST HOUSE —A story of a young woman haunted by her past who returns to Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family and to clear her grandfather's name (a cold case) covering over four decades.

The author deftly explores generational trauma with true-crime culture twists (podcast) while cleverly uncovering buried family dark secrets that threaten the present and the lengths they will go to keep those secrets.

Audiobook...

I had the honor of reading an e-book and listening to the audiobook narrated by the talented Saskia Maarleveld (a favorite), elevating the story while building suspense and mystery, with darkness and menace lurking, making the characters come in this eerie atmospheric, spine-chilling setting—a spellbinding performance!

About...

Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow, lying together—a gruesome, brutal murder of mother and infant.

The case went cold, and there were no arrests. However, the suspicions turned to the husband, who fled to California with his son.

Now, the granddaughter, Agnes, wants to clear her grandfather's name after his death. She also has experienced an injury and decides to fly to the remote town of Bifröst, Iceland, where her father lived, to meet up with Nora Carver (podcaster) to be interviewed for her popular podcast —return to the scene of the crime of 40 years ago and the gruesome murder. This stirs up many unsettled feelings in the town from the past.

Now, a local girl goes missing, and Agnes finds herself drawn into a web of secrets stirred up when she discovers how far a person will go to protect their family and secrets.

My thoughts...

THE LOST HOUSE is an emotionally compelling and captivating Icelandic noir with a literary lyrical twist that explores grief, pain, trauma, loneliness, loss, self-discovery, and survival while delivering an intriguing murder mystery set in an atmospheric, chilling setting. The author brilliantly captures the time and place with both timelines in this haunting whodunit.

Hauntingly beautiful, dark, and gritty, Larsen creates complex, well-developed, vividly drawn characters with stunning, evocative prose that keeps you glued to the pages and earbuds. This is my first book by the author, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Recs...

THE LOST HOUSE is for fans of Ragnar Jónasson, Alice Hoffman, Sara Blaedel, Hannah Morrisey, Ruth Ware, Carol Goodman, and Jennifer McMahon, and those who enjoy well-written psychological suspense, mysteries, noirs, and literary fiction.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for an ARC and ALC via NetGalley for an honest review. #CoverCrush

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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
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The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is set in the fascinating landscape of Iceland in a remote town where 40 years ago a brutal murder occurred. Agnes, the granddaughter of the assumed killer, is retuning to her family's home to meet with a podcast creator and talk about what it was like growing up with her grandfather and hopefully, change the towns mind about his innocence. As she arrives, new tragedy has struck and another young woman has disappeared into the freezing cold dark night.

Agnes is a really complicated character and a bit of an unreliable narrator as she slowly comes to grips with her own history as well as that of her family. Her relationship with her father is so interesting as she's trying to come to grips with who the man she loved more than anything's story unravels.

I really enjoyed the description of Iceland and the unnatural landscape. I would love to visit there someday for sure. It was such a beautiful contrast to the storyline, as well as using the weather as another character in the storytelling was such a great choice.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns that this book took us on. I highly suggest if you enjoy a good thriller ride.

Agnes travels to Iceland to be part of a podcast based on the murder of grandma and aunt - supposedly by her beloved grandfather. She wants to find out the truth.

I thought the first 40% of the book set out to do what it was meant to do and then we started to get further from Nora and the podcast and even some of the characteristics that Agnes had at the start of the novel. While the ending kind of connected back to the idea, I ultimately thought the mystery was interesting, but there was too much extra stuff that didn’t interest me and made the story drag.

A very Nordic mystery set in Iceland - what is there not to love?

Agnes’ grandfather left Iceland after the brutal murder of his wife and baby. The entire community thought he was guilty and he took his pre-teen son to California to start again. Agnes grows up knowing the story of her family but forges a close and loving relationship with her grandfather. After his death Agnes is approached by a podcaster who wants to re-investigate the murders. Agnes ventures to Iceland and begins to discover what really happened forty years ago.

Agnes, still recovering from a devastating injury, travels to icy cold Bifrost, Iceland, in the hopes that she can clear her beloved grandfather's name, by working with Norah, a true crime podcaster. A chilling story, both atmospherically and metaphorically, there are two mysteries to be solved, and a small town that doesn't like controversy. I enjoyed the various characters, and the twists and turns to both mysteries.

"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. 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."

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Melissa Larsen’s THE LOST HOUSE is a well crafted and emotionally driven thriller that weaves together mystery, suspense, and an exploration of the complexities of familial relationships impacted by unspeakable horrors and long-buried secrets. At its heart, it is a poignant story about tremendous loss and the lasting impact inflicted by shadows of the past.

The story unfolds as our protagonist, Agnes, travels to the home abandoned by her father and grandfather in Iceland, a world away from where she herself grew up in California. She is determined to uncover the truth behind the murders that shattered her family nearly 40 years ago, when the bodies of her grandmother and aunt were found hidden in the snow. Everyone accused her grandfather of killing his wife and baby daughter, but Agnes is determined to prove her grandfather’s innocence and find out what really happened. To do that, she’s agreed to be interviewed by true-crime podcaster, Nora, whose interest in this decades-long murder mystery may be the key to uncovering the truth.

Larson’s prose, set against the backdrop of an Icelandic winter, is atmospheric and evocative, fully immersing the reader in Agnes’s journey and search for the truth. In the beginning, Agnes appears to be broken and fragile, yet as the story progresses, we see someone who is strong and courageous, making a difficult journey for her family, for closure, and for redemption.

I want to thank NetGalley, Melissa Larsen, and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for gifting me the ARC of THE LOST HOUSE! It was such a privilege to read this before publication. And I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!

This story sucked me in right from the start and I read most of it in one setting. It is winter in the northeast, and I certainly identified with the cold, bleak, and snowy setting. I liked the slow unwinding of the background details of the crime and the characters' backgrounds. The characters felt fully developed and the conflict Agnes felt between the grandfather she grew up with and knew and the town's belief that he murdered his wife and daughter, along with her other struggles related to her injury, relationship with her father and the end of her relationship with Emi felt authentic and well explored. I guessed the wrong murderer, but it would have been disappointing if my theory had been correct.

Thanks to NegGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Lost House by Melissa Larson, I love books set in Iceland and so couldn’t wait to die into this one. From the beginning, there was something about Agnes. I just didn’t like not that I liked Nora that much better but to say the mystery wasn’t a good one would be a lie and with the events that unfurl while she’s visiting Nora for the interview made the book that much better. I do want to say at no point did I want to DNF the book it is interesting, but I was looking for more of an Icelandictone to the book If you know what I’m saying. either way if you love a good mystery, especially a dual POV of a historical mystery. Then you may like this book. I liked it, but didn’t love it. #NetGalley, #MelissaLarson, #TheLostHouse,

After an injury and losing what feels like everything, Agnes returns to the homeland of her family where her grandmother and aunt were murdered to be featured on a podcast delving into the case. Everyone thinks her grandfather was the culprit, but Agnes isn't so sure. When she arrives, she finds out someone who resembles her grandmother has recently gone missing. The more time she spends in her father's home town the more she gets to know the people around her and the connections between them and what the actual truth is.

This was an interesting story, while a bit slow burning, it was enough to keep me interested. The characters were well developed and the relationships between the characters were layered. I liked the multiple story lines happening at the same time and how Agnes is delving into her last while also intrigued by and helping with the current disappearance of someone who looks so much like herself and her murdered family members. The reason for 3 stars is that it was a bit drawn out, and there were also some loose ends that never got tied up. The whole novel is based on the premise that Agnes is going to be on Norah's podcast, but by the end of the novel this is almost forgotten about other than one tiny mention of Norah. I felt the book could have been more well rounded if it circled back to that concept at the end especially given the advances in the historic case.

With that said, this was a decent read and I would still recommend it for those who like a slower paced novel and getting lost in the depths of a story.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

There’s something special about Icelandic settings on snowy days. I couldn’t have read this one at a better time as we had another snow storm roll through. The setting was atmospheric and really brought the chill to this read.

The plot, a slow burn, was interesting. I enjoyed the dual mysteries being looked into and found the ending to be twisty and satisfying. The characters were a good mix of insiders vs outsiders. While I didn’t think they were deep, I did find them successful in this story.

Fans of slow burns, small town secrets, and cold, Icelandic settings will enjoy this one.

Forty years ago, a woman and her infant were found brutally murdered in the middle of a harsh Icelandic winter. Agnes Glin grew up in the shadow of these unsolved murders— the victims were her grandmother and aunt, after all. It doesn’t help that despite her father and grandfather’s best efforts to avoid talking about the case or their lives back in Iceland, Agnes knows her beloved grandfather has always been the prime suspect.

When famous crime podcaster Nora Carver invites Agnes to Iceland for her new podcast covering the “Frozen Madonna” case, she can’t help but go and discover what her father and grandfather left behind and why. But when a local woman goes missing just before Agnes arrives, the focus shifts from the old murders to a potential new murder. The answers to these mysteries may destroy the quiet town… and Agnes.

I was really drawn in by the premise of The Lost House, which explores history, family, and community all within the confines of an intriguing bit of mystery. Agnes’ longing to learn the truth of her family’s past come hell or high water feels very real and substantial. I wasn't as invested in the disappearance of Aja as I was in the original cold case, but adding a real-time mystery also raised the stakes while creating parallels between past and present.

Agnes is a capable main character, but I do wish Larsen took her characterization a little further. She's only familiar with Icelandic culture at-a-glance, but that doesn't have a ton of effect. Agnes has an intriguing character flaw, but doesn't complicate the story in any palpable way. She never really has that moment of “maybe taking things too far” in her search for the truth, and I think those moments are part of what truly makes a novel a thriller. The other part is moments that invoke a true sense of danger, and I don't feel like that really happened until the climax. I didn't dislike Agnes, but I wanted her to feel a little less passive prior to the big end scene.

My feelings on the secondary characters are pretty similar. Some were more charming or more suspicious than others, but no one really stood out as super memorable. The cast of characters was also fairly small, so once a red herring or two was cast aside, there was really only one person who could have been the answer to the Frozen Madonna mystery. I didn't guess EVERY detail, certainly, but I got the general gist very early on. Missing Aja's story reveal was a little more surprising, but the motivations felt forced.

It may not totally sound like it, but I liked The Lost House. However, I do read a fair amount of mysteries and thrillers, and this does feel very practical and routine comparatively. If you prefer your mysteries on the simpler side (not to be confused with cozy mystery, but this is definitely not that,) then there's still plenty to enjoy.

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.