Melissa Larsen’s The Lost House is a dark, atmospheric mystery set against the icy backdrop of rural Iceland.

The story follows Agnes, who travels to her family’s ancestral home to confront the decades-old murder that has long haunted her family. Partnering with a true-crime podcaster, she begins digging into the past—only for a new disappearance to unsettle the small community and blur the line between old suspicions and new dangers.

What stood out most to me were the themes of mental health, addiction, and complicated family legacies, which gave the mystery a thoughtful layer. The wintry Icelandic setting was vivid and chilling—I could practically feel the cold creeping off the page. The plot unfolds steadily, and while not every moment was high-intensity, the ending delivered a twist that genuinely surprised me.

Saskia Maarlaveld’s narration fit the tone well, capturing both the tension and the emotional weight of the story.

Final Thoughts:
A moody, tragic family mystery with a striking setting and a memorable conclusion.

The Lost House was just as unsettling and atmospheric as I’d hoped it would be with a snowy Iceland setting.

The story was haunting and told in dual timelines with an eerily presence of mystery. I listened to the audio format and enjoyed this narration so much.

*many thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Loved the narrator, loved the setting and the synopsis was so interesting. Unfortunately, I didn’t love the story. I’m sure this will be a favorite for some but this wasn’t the book for me.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review The Lost House by Melissa Larsen on NetGalley.

Published: 01/14/25

Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld

Stars: 3.5

See the synopsis. I was drawn to The Lost House by the claim of being set against the unforgiving Icelandic winter landscape. I was looking forward to some history. Larsen doesn't disappoint in her ability to make me feel cold.

I found the story just okay. I am beginning to believe I've read too many Mystery/Thrillers of this type, and need a break. If you enjoy the genre, then this is for you.

Maarleveld did a good job and I will remember her name.

Dark and suspenseful, The Lost House is an atmospheric, if slower paced, thriller that really makes you feel a chill. Recommended!

"The Lost House" by Melissa Larson, unfortunately, just didn't click for me. I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout, often feeling a little bored and disconnected from what was happening.

Despite giving it a fair chance, I couldn't really invest in the characters or their journey. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why—whether it was the pacing, the overall storyline, or something about the characters themselves, it just didn't manage to draw me in. The pieces never quite came together to create a compelling or memorable reading experience. For me, it simply didn't work.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

OK, this cover is amazing, and the setting of Iceland was perfect. The story and the audio were just as good, and I was captivated from the start. It ended up being a one-setting read. Told in two timelines, this was an eerie, atmospheric story, with the past and present coming together in the middle of a snowstorm with an ending that I did not expect.

The Lost House was an excellent read! I loved the writing and character development. Would definitely read more from this author.

This chilling mystery was perfect on audio. The haunting Icelandic setting, the tangled family secrets, and the emotional depth of Agnes’s journey all came to life in a way that completely pulled me in. The narrator captured the tension and isolation beautifully—there’s something about listening to this story unfold in the quiet that makes it feel even more immersive.

Agnes’s search for the truth behind a decades-old murder becomes more urgent when a local girl goes missing, and suddenly nothing feels safe or certain. The narration kept me on edge the whole time, especially as past and present began to blur. If you're into slow-burn thrillers with true crime vibes and a moody, wintry backdrop, this is one to add to your audiobook queue.

Highly recommend listening with a warm drink and a blanket—you’re going to need both.

I couldn't get into this one as much as I wanted to but I still found it to be a good read. I just felt like something was missing for me.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a haunting and atmospheric mystery that unfolds against the bleak, snowy backdrop of Iceland. The novel centers on Agnes, a young woman seeking redemption for her grandfather, who was accused of a horrific crime decades ago but never convicted. Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found dead in the snow, and suspicion quickly fell on the husband, who fled the country and left a cloud of guilt hanging over the family. Now, Agnes is determined to uncover the truth about the crime and clear her grandfather’s name.

Agnes, still grappling with her own personal trauma and recovering from an injury, accepts an invitation to participate in a true crime podcast led by Nora Carver, a true crime expert. Together, they head to the small Icelandic town of Bifröst, where the mystery began. However, their investigation takes an unexpected turn when a local girl goes missing the same weekend Agnes arrives. Suddenly, the investigation grows far more complicated, with the town's secrets unraveling in real-time.

Larsen does an excellent job of creating an eerie, suspenseful atmosphere, with the Icelandic winter setting adding a chilling edge to the story. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the reader to become immersed in the mystery, though at times, the plot feels slow and some of the twists can be anticipated. The dynamic between Agnes and Nora is engaging, and their investigation provides an intriguing exploration of family secrets, guilt, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their own.

While the mystery itself is compelling, some aspects of the narrative are a bit predictable, and the conclusion, though satisfying, may not have the jaw-dropping impact that some readers might expect. The characters, particularly Agnes, are well-developed, but their motivations sometimes feel unclear or forced, which affects the emotional depth of the story.

Saskia Maarleveld's narration is solid, capturing the somber tone of the novel and adding a layer of tension to the unfolding mystery. However, at times, the slower pace of the story makes it challenging to stay fully engaged.

In conclusion, The Lost House is a chilling mystery with a strong sense of atmosphere and an intriguing premise. While it may not deliver the most unexpected twists, its deep dive into family secrets and the search for redemption makes it an engaging read for fans of atmospheric crime fiction.

Maybe this one wasn’t a hit for me because I had this figured out early on. I really hoped I was wrong and that might’ve been a redemption then, but sadly it was not. This also felt slow and longer than it needed to be.

I would like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audio copy.

"The Lost House" takes place in the frigid and icy landscape of Iceland. The story focuses around Agnes, a young woman with a troubled past, who is overcoming trauma, and dealing with an addiction. She returns to her family’s old home to investigate a brutal murder that happened in her family generations past.

The brutal murder of Agnes's grandma and baby daughter was discovered in the snow forty years ago. Agnes grandfather, who escaped to the United States, was the primary suspect in the case, however, the case was never solved. Having been brought up by her grandfather, Agnes has always believed in his innocence.

Agnes agrees to assist a true crime podcaster Nora in her investigation of her families tragedy, which Agnes believes will give her a chance to exonerate her grandfather. Their collaboration into the case uncovers long-forgotten truths and presents them with danger and the challenge of finding the location of a recently missing woman.

The book has the potential to have a really dark, spooky vibe. The harsh Icelandic landscape would add that terrifying element, heightening the suspense. There were times I felt that and then others I felt it missed its mark. The premise of the storyline is a good one, which is why I was drawn to it.

The book itself goes at a slow pace and can be quite repetitive in nature and there was a lack of connection with the characters. I feel like Nora and the podcast were overlooked and the storyline could have been delved into more. The storyline focusing on Agnes and her addiction took up most of the book, overshadowing the overall storyline in my opinion, making things very redundant. There were moments when I felt impatient and wished the story would progress more quickly. Despite these issues, it is a decent read for those who enjoy atmospheric mysteries and are willing to be patient as the plot unfolds.

Nordic noir is a recent favorite genre of mine, and I soaked up all of these type books I could through a particularly cold winter. This book starts with a cold case - literally - and spools into a page turner of a mystery/thriller. Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy of this book!

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I had a hard time getting into The Lost House—it took several tries to start, and even then, it struggled to hold my attention. The pacing felt slow, and I found myself restarting more than once in hopes it would click. Sadly, it just wasn’t the right fit for me as a reader.

Agnes grew up in California with a loving grandfather who left Iceland decades ago under suspicion of killing his wife and daughter. After her grandfather's death, she travels to a remote town in Iceland to see if she can learn the truth, teaming up with a true crime podcaster named Nora. The story has some dark aspects, but does give an interesting perspective of life in Iceland. Worth a listen!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

Agnes returns to her ancestral home of Iceland to clear her recently deceased grandfather's name. He was accused of killing his wife and daughter before he left the country with his son. The trip is nothing what Agness expected and as she meets more people from her grandfather's past she is plagued with more questions. Story is ok with ok characters.

This was a great thriller and I loved that it was set in Iceland. The narration was great and kept me interested. The cast of characters was many, but they were well integrated into the story. The author kept me speculating about the mystery up until the end.

I had a really hard time connecting to the characters in this book, but I found the setting and mystery to be quite engaging.

I really liked this story. It kept my attention on it and I went through the audio rather quickly. I enjoyed the fast pace and the thrills. I didn't guess the plot until it was revealed which I love! I loved the historical aspect of Iceland and thought the characters were well developed. I'm looking forward to more!!!