3.5 stars - This was a bit of a wild ride and I was totally here for it. This was my 1st book by Melissa Larsen but will not be my last, I will be adding all of her books to my TBR.

I finished THE LOST HOUSE by MELISSA LARSON today — eagerly gobbling up this atmospheric mystery.

With its chilly (and chilling) Icelandic setting + past and present mysteries + a true crime podcast element — I was in from the minute I heard about this book. I love a complicated past + a complicated present + challenging family dynamics + dark characters.

Agnes arrives in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family & to clear her grandfather’s name. Forty years ago a young mother is found buried in the snow, with her infant daughter. They looked peaceful. But upon closer inspection they find the woman’s throat was slashed and the infant drowned.

The case was never solved. But that didn’t stop suspicion from falling to Agnes’s grandfather. He left Iceland for California, intent on starting over. But the town never forgot.

Now, true crime expert Nora Carver invites Agnes to be interviewed for her upcoming podcast which is set on solving the mystery. Booking a one-way ticket to Bifröst, Iceland, Agnes is happy for the excuse to escape her own life and to find the truth.

But when a local girl goes missing, the town is once again shattered. And as Nora and Agnes investigate both mysteries they find everyone is a suspect. And someone is intent on making sure old secrets stay buried.

This book was so incredibly tense and atmospheric. I really enjoyed the unfolding of both mysteries and the characters were so well drawn. I could feel the emotion, the desperation and the pain as they all navigated their way through the story. A lot of complicated grief here woven into an excellent mystery.

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio, Minotaur Books and NetGalley I really enjoyed Saskia Maarleveld’s narration.

I loved the setting and premise of this book, many of the scenes about the true crime podcast were well done and engaging. Unfortunately I found the book a bit of a slog to get through and I think it’s because it was trying to do too much, which really messed with the pacing. I ended up getting an audio version and listened on 2x speed. (Audio was well done, just needed to speed it up to keep interest with pacing)

It’s as much a coming-of-age book (with a big focus on diverse sexual orientation) as it is a mystery - so sometimes it felt like I was suspending my reading of a mystery to read a different book. I think if you’re looking for a coming of age book which delves into complex family dynamics and the impacts of family secrets, then this would be a good fit.

I enjoyed this story, though even more than the story, I got caught up in the setting. The frozen Icelandic scenery felt real and increased the stakes. The narration allowed for us to pause and let the story breath while also creating a sense of urgency. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this story to read in a book format, but the audiobook really brought it to life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good murder mystery with unsolved cases and atmospheric settings. I think in The Lost House by Melissa Larsen, we get all of that and a bit more.

Agnes travels to Iceland for a podcast interview to help clear her grandfather's name in an unsolved murder case from 40 years ago. The victims were her grandmother and infant aunt, but Agnes feels as though she knew her grandfather and cannot imagine the man she knew as the one who committed such a heinous crime.

However, when Agnes gets to Iceland and the city where her father grew up, she quickly learns the past is still very present in the town's memory. The people she meet still remember and have their own assumptions as to what happened. While Agnes is there, a local girl goes missing and it feels oddly linked to Agnes's arrival and the unsolved case from the past.

The cold, wintery landscape of Iceland, mixed with the twists and turns of the case, gave me a deeply unsettled vibe in all the best ways to help this suspense, thriller, feel more thrilling. I consumed this book in about 2 days because I had to know what happened and how things were going to play out. It's not perfect, but I do think the author does very well with setting the scene and weaving an intriguing narrative.

I was drawn into reading the book because I enjoy books about cold cases (fiction or nonfiction) and I was interested in the Icelandic region.

The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, has a great voice for both women and male. It sounds like she did a good job pronouncing the Icelandic words too, though what do I know lol. I've listened to a book with her narrating before and her voice is calming and adapts to each book well.

I will say that the first half of the book felt like nothing was happening but after that things started to get more interesting. I found myself wanting to know what would happen and picked it up more.

I haven't read Larsen's other book, Shutter, but I will add it to my TBR! Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Larsen, Saskia Maarleveld, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read The Lost House. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly!

"The Lost House" defrosted my love for a wintery murder mystery in idyllic Iceland. I rabidly consumed this novel as it snowed outside in Cleveland, it could not have been more kizmet unless I flew myself to Iceland...

A shocking murder of a woman and her young baby shook the small community of Bifröst, Iceland 40 years ago, placing the blame squarely on the husband especially after he left the country for America with his surviving son. His granddaughter, Agnes, returns to the town with the help of popular true crime podcaster, Nora Carver, to explore the tragic story and discover the mystery's truth. Shortly after the arrival of Agnes, another young woman goes missing, reopening the wounds of the local Bifröst townspeople. Is it possible this tiny peaceful community is enduring another violent incident? Is it possible the two events are connected?

This novel captivated me from its chilling origin, pulling me into an atypical incident in one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world: Iceland. The town is sure Agnes' grandfather is responsible but Agnes herself is not so sure. She could not imagine this man, more of a father than her actual Dad, could do something so violent but doubt starts to creep in. It's about opening up to the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

Melissa Larsen excels in pacing and character development, creating an easily digestible yet complicated story and simplifying the Icelandic names and language involved. Agnes is a character with flaws but you find yourself rooting for her, willing her to discover the truth and find new meaning in her own life, which essentially has ground to a halt in the last year. With Agnes at the helm, this novel is not only a mystery/thriller, it's about trusting yourself, finding the strength you didn't know you had, the value of life, and finding your home. Larsen seamlessly weaves these heavy but important themes throughout, finding hope in a cold, dark place.

And if you choose the audio format, it is narrated by the iconic Saskia Maarleveld, who gives another stellar performance from start to finish. If Saskia is attached, then it MUST be a great story and it absolutely delivered.

You know it's a standout when you are sad upon finishing a book and that's what happened to me when I reached the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, & Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"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."

A thriller based in Iceland sounded intriguing. I would love to visit there one day so appreciated and loved the descriptive writing in this book. I felt the chills and envisioned the snow and geography.

In this novel, Agnes finds herself in her family homeland. She has never been to Iceland before but it is where her father was born. It is also where her grandfather was accused of murdering his wife and daughter. Agnes sets off to find the truth after his death along with a podcast host.

Once she arrives, she also learns a young girl has gone missing and finds herself immersed in this mystery as well.

The plot was good. I did enjoy the storyline. The novel presented some great twists and revelations I appreciated. It is a slow burn novel, not so much action but a lot of mystery.

I really enjoyed this book! Perfect for winter here in WI. I thought it was perfectly atmospheric and creepy. I was surprised by the ending, but it also wasn't too farfetched. Solid pacing and fun aspect with the podcast tied in.

Cold case and true crime podcast lovers won't want to miss this dual murder/missing person mystery set in Iceland. There is great wintery thriller vibes, addiction and chronic pain content, family secrets and a twisty, fast-paced edge of your seat ending. It was also great on audio narrated by a fav, Saskia Maarleveld. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Agnes' mother left her father and so she was raised by her father and beloved grandfather. She knew that her grandmother had died in Iceland and her father and grandfather moved to California. As the book opens, Agnes is recovering from a surfing accident and has just broken up with her girlfriend. When a true crime podcaster contacts her about investigating the murder of her grandfather in Iceland, Agnes flies off to help investigate.

Her grandmother's decades old murder is in the news again, both because it's the anniversary of it and because another young woman in the area has disappeared, and is assumed dead-- on that anniversary. Agnes enjoys meeting new people and learning about Iceland, but everyone in her family's home town believes that her grandfather killed her grandmother and infant aunt forty years ago. Agnes doesn't want to believe that the grandfather who was so kind and thoughtful could have done committed the crime and is having extreme difficulty facing that possibility. And podcaster Nora is ready to move on to the new mystery of missing young woman.

This suspenseful book has enough twists to keep the reader guessing as to who Agnes should believe or trust and whether or not Agnes's grandfather is guilty.

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld, raised in New Zealand in France , and narrator of The Alice Network, skillfully vocalizes distinct accents for each of the characters.
Note: I listened to an audio ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

This book was exactly what I was looking for as a chilly winter listen. I listened to the audiobook and it had excellent narration. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book is set in Iceland, and follows Agnes, a young woman who has agreed to work with a true crime podcaster Nora in regards to an unsolved 40 year old murder case that involved her grandfather. I enjoyed the setting of this book, I felt cold the entire time I was reading based on the harsh winter weather highlighted throughout the entire book. I imagine trying to solve crime and escaping murderers during the harsh winter snow would make things extra difficult for those involved. The present day missing persons case that ran parallel to the unsolved murder involving Agnes's grandmother kept me engaged and listening carefully. I liked the character arc for Agnes, and felt she was a character that people could understand and bond with during her search. This is a book I would definitely recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audioarc to preview.

I was provided an ALC of The Lost House from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

I was intrigued at the premise of this story. A 40 year old unsolved murder in a small Iceland town. Many believed they knew who the killer was but it was never proved. The granddaughter of the murdered woman came to visit the town and house her family owned. She was also meeting with a podcaster to discuss the unsolved murder. Just before she arrived, a university student went missing.

The story was slow going for me and had a hard time keeping my interest. I was hoping for more. Maybe if I had the book instead of audio it would have been

I loved the setting for this book and enjoyed the story. However, it was a bit slow-paced for my liking in the end. I did enjoy the audiobook narration.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this arc!
This is a wonderful pick for all of the snowy, wintery vibes and I absolutely loved the Icelandic setting contained in this thriller.
Although I felt the narrator was successful with this story as an audiobook, I had some trouble connecting with the story itself. The middle of the book felt like a too long sequence of conversations that didn’t keep my attention at times.
Otherwise, I did enjoy the writer’s storytelling and really appreciated the unique Nordic experience this book offers.
3.5 stars round down!

I loved the setting (I am a sucker for anything with snow) and I thought it was well done. I enjoyed the mystery as well.

I struggled with one chapter with a POV that felt a little like cheating for me.

Also, I had a hard time connecting with the MC. She felt a bit cold and I didn't feel much depth in her character. (Also, why do so many of the women main characters in mystery/thrillers have drug addictions?)

*Note: I received an audio ARC through NetGalley, and I’m incredibly grateful to both the author and the publisher for the opportunity. This is an honest review.

Wow. Just wow. This book exceeded all of my expectations.

I picked this title because I enjoy mystery books in general. I didn’t know much about the author or the plot beforehand, but the synopsis seemed intriguing, especially with its Icelandic setting, which felt perfect for a winter read. To my surprise, this book checked so many boxes of things I love in fiction that I could hardly believe it!

The story follows a relatable young female protagonist who is grappling with loss, a recent separation, depression and the aftermath of an accident that left her with a shattered leg a year prior to the events of the book. She feels empty and adrift, until she is contacted by the creator of a popular true crime podcast who is interested in doing a special episode in Iceland, tied to her family and the unsolved murder of her grandmother nearly forty years ago. While most people in the town believe her grandfather was the killer —and that’s why he fled the country— our protagonist is convinced that’s not the case. So she sets out to uncover the truth about what happened long before she was even born and to clear her grandfather´s name!

When she arrives in Iceland, we’re introduced to a fascinating cast of characters, and we learn that a young woman has recently gone missing. The protagonist finds herself inadvertently involved in two parallel investigations that seem to be linked in unexpected ways.

I won’t delve deeper into the plot. You can read the synopsis and discover the details for yourself (and I highly recommend you do), but I want to highlight one of the book’s most refreshing aspects: the natural, non-romantic portrayal of queer and sapphic characters. Their sexualities are just one part of who they are, not the focal point of the story, and are presented as casually as other personal traits, like hair color or coffee preferences. This inclusive, matter-of-fact representation is something we need more of in fiction, particularly outside the confines of romance. The characters’ relationships, whether they involve a partner or not, don’t define them or their role in the story. It was a thoughtful and meaningful touch that added so much depth to the book. I did not expect to find myself represented in this story… until I did, with one of the side characters.

As for the mystery itself, while it’s not entirely unique, it’s still compelling and filled with intriguing twists. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is excellent, and the resolution is satisfying. If I had one minor critique, it would be the inclusion of a few scenes from the past. These flashbacks, though few, felt somewhat out of place and unnecessary. But aside from that, this is a top-notch mystery/thriller.

And I would love to see Nora (the podcast host) become the anchor for creating more mysteries in a longer series of books in the future. I feel that, as a character, she had a lot of missed potential in this book. She also has her own story to tell at another time. Can this become book #1 in the Nora Mysteries Saga? Please?

I would highly recommend this book to any fan of the genre. It’s an engaging, well-crafted story that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

3.5 Stars
Agnes has traveled from California to Iceland to meet with a true crime podcaster covering the unsolved murder of her grandmother and aunt, forty years earlier. Her stoic grandfather was convicted by public opinion, but he fled with Agnes’ father to the US before anything could come of it.

Agnes loved her grandfather, closer to him than her father, and is still grieving his loss. She can’t imagine he’d kill his wife and baby daughter, so she hopes to clear his name with the investigation. However, as the details of her grandfather and grandmother’s life emerge Agnes starts to realize how little she knew of them.

Then there’s a new case of a missing girl that is somehow tangled up in all of it.

Agnes was a complicated character dealing with issues besides the mystery of her grandmother’s murder. Still healing from an accident she barely survived and reliant on painkillers. I felt that she took a lot of unnecessary risks trapsing about in the cold countryside when she still had so much trouble walking. Also, not letting anyone know where she was going half the time or having a properly working phone, but I guess that fit with where she was in her life mentally.

Iceland was described vividly, cold, stark and beautiful, almost a character on its own!

The Lost House was an atmospheric and compelling mystery. Engrossing but slow going at first. I feel like things didn’t really take off in pace until after the 50% mark.

I alternately read and listened to The Lost House narrated by the talented Saskia Maarleveld. I’ve enjoyed her performances immensely and she did a wonderful job with both male and female voices and giving a subtle Icelandic accent where appropriate. I recommend either version!

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.

In an effort to possibly clear the name of her grandfather for a grisly crime and to escape the unstable remnants of her life, Agnes travels to her family’s remote former home in Bifröst, Iceland to be interviewed by podcaster Nora Carver for her true crime podcast.

The Lost House intertwines a mystery of the past with an unexpected disappearance in the present and provides a compelling and flawed character in its protagonist Agnes. Agnes struggles with her conflicted feelings related to her beloved-and somewhat infamous grandfather-as well as the effects of addiction and impulsive decisions.

The frigid and snowy town of Bifröst is an isolating and at times, dangerous location and helps to increase the tension as secrets are revealed and the possibility of escape becomes increasingly minuscule. Nora’s presence within The Lost House also illustrates how the influence of a true crime element can sometimes play both a helpful and hindering role in relation to a case.

The narration by Saskia Maarleveld is wonderful, I especially appreciated the pronunciations of names and places. I was hanging on every word, especially as events began to escalate.

The Lost House is a slow-burning and gripping story. Of the two mysteries, the resolution of only one of them surprised me, but I enjoyed learning I was correct in my assumptions.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.