This is a first-rate mystery and the pacing and plot kept me guessing. I’ve been to Iceland in the dead of winter and I immediately recognized the setting-the details were so accurate that I felt like I was right there in Reykjavik. And Agnes-what a broken and exquisite main character! Her struggles with pain and addiction are depicted so vividly… matter of factly, but not unsympathetic. The curious detachment from the author as everyone-Agnes included-waited to see what she would do next made the story even more propulsive. I was rooting for Agnes by midway through-the first half of the book I wasn’t sure how I felt about her, but she was enthralling nonetheless. I have already told several people that this one needs to be on their list. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Melissa Larsen is a new author for me, but the story description and the fact that it is set in Iceland made me want to read it. You don't see many books with Iceland as the setting.

Description:
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.

Set against an unforgiving Icelandic winter landscape, The Lost House is a chilling and razor-sharp thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists that will leave you breathless.

My Thoughts:
This was an interesting mystery and I liked it but didn't love it. It moved a little slow for me. I wanted to root for Agnes to find that her grandfather was innocent but I didn't hold out much hope that she would be successful. Nora the podcaster was an interesting character, but I was never sure of her motives. I did find the setting interesting and the terrain of Iceland seems so bleak. I don't think I could live well in that climate. Overall this is an interesting cold case mystery that I think mystery lovers will enjoy.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Good mystery/suspense, loved the wintry vibe🌨

3.5-4.0🌟 stars
The present day disappearance and the historical murders at the heart of the plot were what hooked me and kept me reading, even after I had guessed the twist that led to the villain. This was suspenseful, the murders really tragic, and the way author Melissa Larsen wove the past and present together really worked well.

What brought my enjoyment of the story as a whole down was the intrusion of too many of main character Agnes's illnesses and problems into the mix. I did not find her a particularly sympathetic character, though I did appreciate the strong connection she had with her suspected murderer grandfather. And Agnes, her thoughts, emotions, actions and reactions to others, so central to every scene that I did not get much of a feeling for the other characters.

The writing was good and I particularly liked the atmosphere, with the dark, bitingly frigid Icelandic winter providing a starkly beautiful but at the same time menacing backdrop to the drama. It was the characters that let me down a bit.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared 1/5/25 with Barnes & Noble, Bookbub and Goodreads. To be shared on kobo and Google Play upon publication.

(3.5⭐️) I was intrigued by this book from the synopsis, but once I started reading, it took a different route than I was expecting.

This was definitely a slower burn mystery, which can be fine, but there were some parts that felt a little too slow for my liking. Agnes, the MC, really had me torn. There were times where I liked her a lot, but then others where her attitude rubbed me the wrong way. However, considering all that she was going through, it does explain some of it.

The setting for the story was one of the things I liked most. The snowy, secluded, woodsy, freezing landscape almost became its own character in a way, and created its own kind of danger. Though the rest of the book was a slower pace, the last 1/4 really kicked it up some notches, and I was turning the pages quickly. I also liked the dual mysteries, and how their stories wove together. This was just twisty enough to keep me guessing until the end. I would’ve liked some more ends tied up, but I think it leaves off in a good place.

Wow! Agnes carries both physical and emotional scars when she arrives in Iceland to find out if her beloved grandfather murdered her grandmother years ago. In a strange land very different from her home in sunny California, Agnes must peel away the mists of time and her own blind spots to uncover the truth. Tremendously engaging, I couldn't put this down!

I really enjoyed this book! The flip flop timeline really made this story intriguing and addictive. The setting was unique and I loved the Nordic vibes! Both storylines were creative and twisty.

Give me a true crime, traveling to a whole different country to meet a podcaster, and the mystery involves your family ANY DAY!!!!!!! Agnes has her own issues and it’s sad to read, I felt for this woman and clearly the love she has for her grandfather is beautiful. But her grandfather was a murder suspect in the death of his wife and baby daughter, and in Iceland it’s a cold case. But when a podcaster reaches out to Agnes to come to Iceland to talk about the case and for research she agreed, even though her own dad doesn’t agree. This book was CAPTIVATING, I couldn’t put it down. Then when Agnes gets there is ANOTHER mystery going on I town, a young woman is missing???? Is it somehow connected?? It can’t be right??!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱….. this is the first time when reading a mystery/suspense that I sort of knew who did it, and the ending did not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Lost House
Author: Melissa Larsen
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: January 14, 2025

This story revolves around Agnes who travels to Iceland to solve a decades-old unsolved murder of her murdered grandmother and baby. As the only child in America of an Icelandic grandfather and father, Agnes’s family is small and buried in secrets. Additionally, Agnes carries a lot of her own secrets. It is through the encouragement of a true crime podcaster that she returns to Iceland to solve the mystery. Her grandfather is publicly accused but never tried for the murders and Agnes can’t believe her grandfather and father would have hurt anyone. But she wants answers after her grandfather dies and she is gravely injured in an accident. There are many sub-stories to the main plot and there are a multitude of possibilities. The author captures the rugged and harsh terrain of Iceland during the long winters and how ill-prepared a California girl is for the blizzards. This is a dark story with a shocking ending. Well done but I would not call this book uplifting. I like to think I survived The Lost House. #TheLostHouse @melissalarsenauthor @minotaur_books #netgalley @netgalley #murder #lostGirls #Iceland #snow #freezing #blizzards #evil #crimepodcast @stmartinspress

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

I liked it fine. The main character did annoy me with her reactions and choices but overall thought it was a solid thriller that was enjoyable.

This book pleasantly surprised me! I went in not really expecting much, as most mystery/thriller novels feel the same to me (and I normally love them either way, but count on them being average). This was a really great story that was excellently planned out.

Agnes was a great character to read about! She's frustrating enough that you want to shake her sometimes, but she has a backstory that makes you pity her a bit AND understand where she's coming from. She's not perfect, nor does she try to be, but she is human and she's doing her best (especially now that she is either temporarily or permanently disabled from an accident and also dealing with someone doing a podcast about her grandfather who may or may not have killed his wife and child).

Nora is also an interesting character, and I wish we had learned a little bit more about her and her sister's backstory. It was thrown in there very quickly and then not addressed again, even though it would have made for some more interest.

This story has some great twists and turns, most pieces are thought out well, and I think this is a perfect story for this time of year when things feel a bit cold and gloomy, as the setting fits that perfectly. If you like mysteries that are also a bit of a thriller, give this one a chance!

3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the originality of this book and the setting in a small town in Iceland. I always enjoy podcast elements in a book, so I am wondering if I would have enjoyed this more as an audiobook. I also really enjoyed the backstory of the main character and her challenges. I think the pacing was off in this book in my opinion. The way the reader receives information in the beginning is a bit disjointed, which could be in part due to Agnes as a character, but it wasn't as enjoyable to read that way. I will say, I didn't see the main culprit coming, which is always a plus in a mystery, but this book was a bit slow for me up until the last 25%. I think if you enjoy more detective like mysteries rather than a mystery/thriller, you will really enjoy this book.

This is my first book by this author. I look forward to reading more.

This book was slow to start for me but it did pick up and the ending was great. The author definitely wrapped it up great.

A murder was committed in 1979 in a small town in Iceland. A woman and her baby girl. The baby was frozen and the mother's throat was slit. Everyone suspected the husband did it. He took their son and left.

In 2019 Agnes goes to Iceland to meet a podcaster, Nora, who is investigating the deaths of Agnes's grandmother and aunt all those years ago. A girl has gone missing and of course there has been a search for her now. The house that Agnes's grandfather and father lived in has become a place for people to hang out and gawk about what happened back in 1979. That is where the other girl went missing from too.

You get a lot with this story. A murder or two. A missing young woman. A drug addiction. A kidnapping. You uncover the truth as you read but that last part is the best. When most of the actual action and the reveal happens.

The setting of this story is great and the timeframes. It goes back to what happened in 1979 only a few times to keep you knowing what happened and then who did it. You meet several of the townspeople and most are very likable. This book was good but not great. I do say it's worth reading, You may love it more than I did. I did like it. It kept me guessing for sure. Parts kept me on edge too. I believe it was well written. It was a quick read for me.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, #MacmillanAudio, for this ARC. This is my true thoughts about this book.

3 stars

Absolutely loved this book by Melissa Larsen - the Iceland setting was beautiful and chilling. A perfect winter read for those who love dark suspense.

📚 “How sad it is, she thinks, to compare personal tragedies and lose.”

👍 A great murder mystery set in Iceland. I can’t think of any better setting for a winter read. The character development was excellent! I loved the dual timeline of investigating a cold case, when another girl had recently gone missing.

I had a good idea of where this was going early on, but Larsen's writing and plotting never made me feel like I was smarter than the protagonist or bored me while we got to the resolution (which, while I was right about the perpetrator, still held some surprises).

The big reason to read this one is for the atmosphere. It's a dark, cold story that is perfectly reflected in its setting and characterization. This is not a brisk, fun, beach read; it's best read at night, under a huge blanket, the winter wind wailing outside your window.

This was a solid book. A small town mystery is uncovered by a podcaster and a young woman who has connection to the mystery. While uncovering secrets of the past mystery, this duo find themselves in the middle of a new mystery. You get two mysteries in one! Some of the book was slow for me, still a good read. Thank you, NetGalley.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Melissa Larsen and Netgalley.
Poor Agnes...
I felt sad for Agnes but holy shit did I love her attitude!
This takes place in Iceland. One of my favorite parts of the world that I'll never see. "Bummer!"
This book checked nearly all of my boxes on what I want in a mystery.
Sorry guys and gals, but that's my big review!

I loved the setting of this book, the harsh weather and remote town in Iceland made for a spooky atmospheric read. It was too much of a slow burn for me. I was dying to know what happened and wish we had gotten there sooner.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a true winter read since the setting was in Iceland!! The Lost House was a great thriller. Forty years ago, a woman and her baby daughter were found buried in the snow in Iceland, lying together as if they were sleeping. Except the mother’s throat was cut and the infant was drowned. The case was never solved, and no one was ever arrested. Everyone thought the husband did it, especially when he moved to California with his son. Now years later, his granddaughter wants to clear her grandfather's name and start investigating the crime. Once she arrives, she discovers another girl is missing. There were lots of dark themes in this book but it turned out to be a really good true crime story. Overall, I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced copy. It was a good read.

Atmospheric, twisty and suspenseful!

Agnes, anxious to escape her messy life, travels to Bifrost, Iceland, the home of her father and grandparents. There, with the help of Nora Carver, the host of a True Crime podcast, she hopes to, once and for all, clear her grandfather’s name in the murder of his wife and baby daughter from decades ago. But shortly after arriving in this bitter cold landscape, a local girl goes missing, sending the podcast investigation into a tailspin.

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the cold setting, it was the perfect backdrop for a winter read.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on January 14, 2025