Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The setup: Agnes' grandfather was accused of killing his wife and their infant daughter 40 years ago. Now, Agnes is in Iceland to appear on a true crime podcast that is featuring the story of the "Frozen Madonna." Another woman goes missing. Is it a coincidence?

Positives: It was fun to listen to a book set in Iceland, as that is pretty rare. It was interesting to hear how the weather and landscape played into the story.

Overall thoughts: This book was entirely too long for the story that was being told. The characters are not at all likeable, and the plot dragged on. I think it could have been about half as long. The story seemed cobbled together instead of coherent and well-developed.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me, and I won't be recommending it to friends or family who read similar books.

I listened to the audiobook of this. And I listened at work with my desk heater on because the chilly, Icelandic weather came through so much! But as a thriller, I feel a little let down on the "twists".

The main character is Agnes, she's grown up being incredibly close to her grandfather, calling him her second dad even. But he has a dark past, his wife and baby daughter were murdered in Iceland and in the small town everyone assumed he did it, causing him and his young son (Agnes' father) to move all the way to California. Now Agnes is going to Iceland to meet up with Nora, the host of a true crime podcast. Nora has solved a cold case before and Agnes hopes to learn more about her grandparents' past. But as she meets the locals in this small town, she starts to wonder if the man she cherished is actually a murderer. However as Agnes arrives in this town, a girl has gone missing and it's possibly connected to her family's murders.

The town is mentioned to be small many times, even though there is a university there. Everyone knows everyone's business, which I found odd where there should be many students around also. The cast of characters is small however, there's a couple neighbors and a couple students. And the characters aren't too deep, aside from Agnes and her family in the past. Even Nora, the podcaster feels like a surface character, only going deeper into why she investigates cold cases once later in the book. The students are the missing girl's best friends and obvious suspects. But in such a small group of characters, everyone is a suspect. Although Agnes is there for a podcast about her family, Nora decides she needs to investigate the missing girl more. They talk to the few characters and clues start to come out about Agnes' family. They're not shocking but it's interesting to follow along. And the big twist, isn't very twisty.

Overall, the story was good, it didn't have much down time, things moved quickly. Agnes' struggle to see her loving grandfather as a murderer was hard. The whole book wraps up very well and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a thriller without too much depth. The audiobook narrator was wonderful and did a good job with the Icelandic names.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Larsen, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After discovering this book by Melissa Larsen, I was eager to see if it would meet my expectations. Larsen develops this Nordic noir thriller, mixing the best of the genre with some character development to keep the reader highly entertained. After a woman and her infant are found frozen in the Icelandic winter four decades ago, the authorities still have no leads, only presumptions that it must have been the husband. Fast-forward to the present, Agnes returns from California to her family’s native land to clear her grandfather’s name, the man who may have been responsible. While Agnes finds locals who remembered her grandfather, she discovers that it is anything but what she expected after all these years. Determined to clear her grandfather’s name, Agnes must also face many of the lingering doubts locals have of her and the whispers that have fuelled decades of presumption. Larsen delivers a wonderfully sinister story that could only come from something Nordic.

A young woman and her infant are found in the Icelandic winter four decades ago, called the Frozen Madonna and Child. While they seem peaceful, the woman had a slash across her throat and the infant was drowned before being placed in this position. The authorities could not find a suspect and the case soon went…cold. Everyone presumed it was the husband, whose guilt was on solidified when he fled with his remaining child for warmer climes across the Atlantic.

In the present, Agnes returns from California to her family’s homeland to clear her grandfather’s name, working alongside a popular true crime podcaster with a penchant for revealing truths in cold cases. Agnes is determined to get answers and ensure that her family is not left to linger in the shadows, remaining but a collection of small-town whispers. Agnes is ready to delve deeply to discover the truth and potentially hunt for a killer. The bait is set and it is high time to lay out the foundation of the crime and see what might have been missed. This serves to dig up old stories and reopens wounds best left undisturbed.

Agnes explored where her father grew up in the small community of Bifröst. The stories about the young boy are plentiful, but so are the whispers of what her grandfather likely did to his wife and infant daughter. Agnes wonders often if she made a mistake trying to set things straight, but cannot turn back now that she has left her California life in tatters.

As Agnes seeks answers, the local media draws parallels with her return and a girl who goes missing the same week. Could the killer have been waiting all these years, ready to reignite the crimes with new vigour? Everyone is once more a suspect and they must explain away their whereabouts, while also recounting stories of the crimes forty years earlier. The lies pile up and Agnes soon realises that she has done so much to create trouble for all in this tiny community. Was it worth it, trying to clear the name of a man whose death locked away crimes no one has thought about for many years? Melissa Larsen delivers a story that spans four decades and keeps the reader on edge until all is revealed.

There is something about Nordic noir thrillers that have always intrigued me. They deliver a solid story but always have a lingering deeper sense of despair. Melissa Larsen works well to deliver a piece that checks all the boxes, while also keeping the reader in the middle of the action. The narrative finds many ways to grow and keeps the reader connected to the larger story with ease. Many characters emerge throughout, flavored with that Icelandic perspective that adds something many novels I read lack. The depth and darkness cannot be matched, though Larsen has done so with ease. Plot points develop and expand with each passing chapter, providing strong surprises that the reader must handle as they await truths about crimes both past and present. Melissa Larsen finds ways to keep the reader stuck in the web and demanding more as the truth envelopes them with ease.

Kudos, Madam Larsen, for an addictive thriller!

Good mystery but slow at times. Enjoyed the narrator. Interesting setting and characters. First book I’ve seen from this author.

3.5⭐️

I had a hard time with this audiobook for some reason as I was so intrigued but it wasn’t hitting.

It actually pulled me in from the start but then slowed down for the majority of the book. It was very easy to sort out who did the crime so that took some of the allure out of it.

The narrator was ok. She did a fine job but neither took away or ahead anything to the enjoyment. I did mess to put it on 1.75x to make it listenable.

Then best part of the book was the gorgeous Icelandic imagery. For that I was very much appreciative. And the ending 20% of the book is where all the action was and it was engaging and exciting even knowing who “did it”. I just wish the rest of the book was the same.

I am thankful to have gotten an ALC for free from MacMillian Audio through NetGalley in order to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I enjoyed this! I am a huge fan of literary mysteries and THE LOST HOUSE definitely hit the spot! However, I will say that while I loved the mystery and the characters, the story did drag at times for me. I loved that the pacing and plot captured the barren beauty of the setting as well, I just wished the pacing moved a bit faster toward the end. Overall, a great, atmospheric mystery! And the narration by Saskia Maarleveld is always amazing!

I 'read' The Lost House in the form of audio. I think the narration was very well done. The transitions between characters was very easy, even with the multiple characters to keep up with.

I think the story was very well written and well told. I had formed multiple ways it could have ended in my head, and how it turned out was not one of them.

How far would you go to prove someone you love is innocent? Well Agnes!! Across the ocean!!!


Anges! Will prove against everything that her grandpa didn't kill her grandma 40 years ago! This book was amazing!! I didn't want it to end!
Her dad was wrong everyone was wrong! He had only one person on his side her! And she proved it!
I loved this book! It was nails bitting! Had me sitting on the edge of my sitting the last few chapters was omg! When someone else goes missing 40 years later. Do they have a copy cat on their hands! Will day save her before it's to late! Go grab the book and find out!!! You will not be disappointed!!

4 stars

I really enjoyed this chilling (sorry!) tale and the mysteries and answers included in it!

Agnes has a complicated past and present. 40 years ago, her Icelandic grandfather was accused of killing his wife and their young child (her grandmother and aunt). His departure to the US does not offer much in the way of solid PR for his case. Now that he has passed, Agnes has come to Iceland to unravel the mystery and to discover if this man she adored could possibly have been responsible for the crime so many are certain he committed.

This premise is fascinating, but it is only made better by Agnes's more recent personal demons. Also, the setting and the ancillary characters add so much to Agnes's quest for answers. She's just a riveting character in my opinion (especially for the genre), and all of the details make for a solidly engaging listen. I liked getting snippets of her grandfather through her memories, too.

I'll be back for more from this author and recommend this read for a cold winter's day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really great audiobook. Great story and interesting characters. I loved the setting and the old “murder house” in the story. The ending was a surprise but I liked it. Held my interest throughout the book.
Narration was also done well.

I love mystery/thrillers and horror novels set in snowy places, and this one is set in Iceland, that is enough reason for me to pick this book.
I did love the setting and found it to be very atmospheric and chilly.
The main character is relatable enough and is struggling mentally and physically, so it is not difficult to root for them.
Well, this is a murder + disappearing mystery that fell a little flat to me. For the most part I was engaged in the plot and the mysteries, but I do think this book is a too long for what it wants to say and deliver. This is a slow-paced mystery, which I do not mind (but other readers might), but it gets repetitive in the second half, in my opinion. After 70% going through this book, I genuinely didn't care anymore if the main character would get the answers she wanted, or not. I also thought the conclusion was easily predictable (if you are an avid mystery reader) and it just wasn't surprising. I'd even say there is no plot twist - which definitely disappointed me a little. But I know that's a *me* thing. Readers who don't mind or care for plot twists might enjoy this book more than I did.
The writing is decent enough and the audiobook is well done, too.
The narrator voices different characters properly, so I would recommend the audio format, for sure.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for allowing me to listen to an advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wonderful slow burn set in freezing tundra. I was lucky enough to read during the winter which made this story even better. Protagonist Agnes, is the granddaughter to a man accused of killing his wife and infant daughter in Iceland. Leaving the small village under suspicion, her grandfather moves to Northern California with his surviving 9 year old son to raise him and subsequently his granddaughter. Now Agnes has the opportunity to get to the real story of what happened and to rectify her beloved grandfather's memory when a podcaster invites her to the scene of the incident. When she reaches the small village and in the process of meeting the townsfolk, another young woman is reported missing in the cold dark winter. Is it connected to the past unsolved murder? Is Agnes' grandfather guilty of the heinous crime after all? I couldn't leave the story until I could get to the answer. Wonderful writing and a great book for a book club. Ms. Larson's characters come to life as the pages turn.
Thank you NetGalley and author Melissa Larsen for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that pulled me in from the start. Agnes, determined to clear her grandfather’s name after decades of suspicion, returns to Iceland to investigate a long-unsolved murder. The cold, isolated setting added an eerie depth to the story, as Agnes’s investigation unearthed more secrets than she anticipated. The characters were complex, and the shifting relationships and motivations kept me on edge. I found myself deeply immersed in the story, almost feeling like a part of the investigation myself. While I did predict a few elements of the ending, it still had a surprising twist that I didn’t see coming. The pacing was strong, and the plot kept me hooked until the very last page. A few moments could have benefited from deeper exploration, but overall, it was an absorbing and thrilling read. 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

I gotta say, this was interesting in a "I-can't-stop-reading-even-though-it's-kinda-slow" kinda way. So, we’ve got this young woman, Agnes, who’s trying to clear her late grandfather’s name after he’s been accused of some pretty gruesome crimes, like, 40 years ago. She’s recovering from a nasty leg injury (I totally get that pain vibe, ugh), and she’s hoping this whole thing will give her some closure—both on her family history and her own personal stuff. So, she goes to this super cold Icelandic town, all isolated and snowy, where she’s getting interviewed for a true crime podcast by Nora. Everything’s supposed to be about old family drama… until a local girl goes missing. Cue the mystery!

I kinda loved the setting because, let’s be real, I was practically shivering reading about the snowstorms and icy vibes—super atmospheric. The suspense kept me turning pages, but... the pacing was a little slowww. Like, we’re talking a lot of talking and reminiscing before anything major happens. But the twists? Yasss, those kept me guessing till the very end, even though I had my suspicions from the start. Agnes is one of those characters you kinda root for, even though she's dealing with her own baggage.

There were definitely parts where I was like, “Hmm, not much is going on here,” but in the end, I was kinda hooked. Overall, I’d say it was a solid read—good twists, good setting, decent character development—but a bit too long in some spots.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because I had fun even with the slower bits.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book was everything I wanted and more. Nordic noir, atmospheric setting, deeply developed characters, unanswered questions finally answered. And I was even given the Swedish term: Smultronstalle.

Smultronstalle is defined as a place where wild strawberries grow. The word is used to describe a place that is special and private to you. There may be nothing particularly spectacular about it, but it calls to you and your heart. I have a place like that of my own, maybe you do, too. And that settling and comforting realization made me fall even more in love with this book.

I loved the way this story was told. It was so gentle, frank, beautifully plotted. It was fast paced and relatable in the sense that we all have someone in our lives we love dearly despite their pasts. It tugged at my heart. I really could not read it fast enough.

I cannot even express how much I loved this book. There were so many surprises! I love the setting, the protagonist, and everyone she interacted with. I loved that ending. The narration was absolutely perfect for this book.

I really liked the idea of this book. I got the audio and the book. So I read/listened to both. The story was slow which kind of goes with the atmosphere of Iceland where the story takes place. The book picks up at the end a lot which was good. I was glad Agnes got to find out answers to her family's tragedy.

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

Forty years ago a young woman and a baby girl were murdered and left in the snowy, cold terrain of Bifrost, Iceland. That woman was Agnes' grandmother and that baby was her aunt. Although never convicted, only questioned, Agnes's grandfather was considered guilty through the rumor mill of the town and later through podcasts and unsolved crime enthusiasts. Yet, having moved to the faraway USA, Agnes's distant father allowed Agnes to spend time with her grandfather, a man suspected of murdering his wife and child.

Now Agnes' grandfather has died, she's struggling to recover from a serious leg injury, she's just come out of a failed long term relationship, and solving the murders of her grandmother and aunt is the escape that Agnes needs. The fact that means traveling to faraway Iceland is the icing on the cake. True crime expert Nora Carver, a woman investigating the murders, is already there, with a place for Agnes to stay and a willing ear if Agnes is willing to talk about what she knows about her grandfather, father, and their past.

I am fortunate to have both the ebook and the audiobook so I could listen to the audio will seeing so many words and names that are strange to me. I couldn't begin to guess how the words were pronounced and I wouldn't be able to spell them if I just heard them. Getting to see and hear them at the same time made the story feel more real. Saskia Maarleveld narrates and her voice is great for this story of a place and people that are matter of fact, mostly saying much less than what they mean, and with a somber mood of mistrust and suspicion of this granddaughter of a "murderer" coming into their midst.

The atmosphere is extremely chilly in so many ways, an exterior that can kill in minutes, and a main character that is struggling mentally, emotionally, and physically. What is she even doing here, she asks herself. How has she destroyed her life so completely. Her injury sidelined her in so many ways and left her addicted to the very meds that allowed her to make it through numerous surgeries. Can she become a new person just because she ran away from where she just came from?

There is a sense of danger from the outset. Afterall, if her grandfather didn't kill her grandmother and aunt, could the killer still be in or near Bilfrost? Rushing headlong into unwise situations, Agnes taunts the past, hoping to draw it out but not really knowing what she'll do with what what she learns. I could feel the cold through this story and was so glad to not be in this place although I love reading stories in such locations.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

50 years after her grandfather’s death, Agnes sets out for Iceland, where she hopes to clear her grandfather‘s name. Before he came to California, he lived in Iceland with his wife and two children. While he was never charged for the crime, the public believed that he had killed his wife and daughter. The persecution in the painful memories drove him to relocate to California with his son. Can it be a coincidence that a local girl goes missing the very weekend Agnes arrives? Agnes doesn’t think so, and sets out to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. Atmospheric and intense.