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 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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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

"The Lost House" by Melissa Larsen is a haunting and atmospheric novel that comes to life through the mesmerizing narration of Saskia Maarleveld. This audiobook offers an immersive experience, blending a gripping story with a captivating vocal performance that keeps listeners enthralled from start to finish.

The story revolves around Agnes, a young woman who travels to Iceland to work with a true crime podcaster to try to prove her Grandfather was not a murderer. Agnes unravels a web of intrigue, betrayal, and long-buried truths.

Melissa Larsen's writing is richly descriptive and evocative, painting vivid images of the eerie and desolate house. Her ability to build suspense and create a sense of foreboding is masterful, making each twist and turn in the plot feel surprising yet inevitable. The characters are well-drawn and complex, with Agne's journey of discovery and self-realization at the heart of the narrative.

Saskia Maarleveld's narration is nothing short of exceptional. Her versatile voice brings each character to life with distinct and nuanced portrayals, enhancing the emotional depth of the story. Maarleveld's pacing and delivery perfectly capture the tension and atmosphere of the novel, making the listening experience thrilling and immersive.

"The Lost House" explores themes such as identity, legacy, and the impact of the past on the present.

Larsen deftly weaves these themes into the narrative, creating a story that is suspenseful and thought-provoking.

"The Lost House" is a compelling and beautifully crafted audiobook that showcases Melissa Larsen's talent for storytelling and Saskia Maarleveld's prowess as a narrator. It is a must-listen for fans of atmospheric thrillers and anyone who enjoys a well-told tale of mystery and suspense. This audiobook will leave you spellbound and eager for more from the author and the narrator.

The Lost House’s atmospheric setting in Iceland during the winter captured my attention. It certainly was an eerie setting. The story features the granddaughter of man accused of infamous murders 40 years ago who goes to Iceland to work with a true crime podcaster,Nora, in hopes of clearing her grandfather's name and lands in the midst of a manhunt for a missing young woman.

The story toggles between Agnes and the podcaster looking for clues regarding the old murder and the search for the young woman. Agnes’ various issues make her a questionable narrator. Her secrets are slowly revealed at critical moments of her venture in Iceland.

The secretiveness and hostility of the locals makes them all suspect. I questioned Nora’s stated motives along with each of the grandfather’s neighbors. Between the dark setting, the creepy cast of characters, and the complicated past, I was kept intrigued throughout the story despite the slow-burn pace.

While there were some highly improbable scenarios, I enjoyed Agnes and her story. The end was satisfying enough, but I was hoping for something more that I won’t divulge as that would be a spoiler.

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for this audiobook. I really liked this one and I would highly recommend listening to the audio version versus reading the book. I gave this audio a 5 stars.

I 100% thought i knew who did it first thing, i was wrong. I love a good mystery who done it type story!

Publisher's summary
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.
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.

Thank to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book!

The Lost House
By: Melissa Larsen
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 01-14-25
Publisher: Macmillan Audio

I really enjoyed this. I loved the Iceland setting. This was a fun ride figuring out who committed the crime. I also really liked the main character. Her non stop energy and unwillingness to give up was admirable.

I would read more by author again for sure. I will add some to my TBR.

Thanks you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman travels to Iceland to discuss the brutal murders of her grandmother and aunt with a true crime podcaster hoping to shed new light on the cold case. Thirty years ago, Agnes's grandfather was accused, though never charged, with the crime, and he and Agnes's father fled Iceland to resettle in California. Now, her beloved grandfather has died, and Agnes decides it's time to find out what really happened all those years ago. Just maybe, Nora Carver and her podcast can help her, but when she arrives in Iceland, there's another girl missing, and Agnes can't help but get caught up in her disappearance as well.

I enjoyed the snowy, cloud-studded setting of this novel. It added an extra layer of suspense and hardship for our characters and made the whole thing that much more atmospheric. The contrast between Agnes's life in sunny California and her time in cold, wet Iceland seemed to be a metaphorical description of her life before and after her grandfather's death, and it worked really well here. I also like Agnes herself. She is written with all of her flaws in tact. We watch her make questionable decisions, deal with difficult circumstances, wrestle with her own demons, and much more; all against the backdrop of two mysteries, one current and one from decades earlier. It makes for a complex narrative that keeps the reader turning pages to find out what's around the next corner.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for my gifted copy of The Lost House by Melissa Larsen.

I picked a wintry thriller for our impending winter storm this weekend and I'm was immediately hooked into the immersive, claustrophobic thriller about a women who returns to Iceland and the scene of her Grandmother's gruesome murder 40 years ago.

There is a crime podcaster slant which makes the audiobook even more engaging as I felt like I was on the podcast crew as they conducted interviews of local residents about their memories of the murders. There are true crime groupies, angry locals, and then another woman goes missing. Coincident or a killer copycat? The creepy vibes were high and my hackles were raised nearly the entire book. The author did a great job creating a protagonist who was flawed, and perhaps even misguided, yet I still was able to believe her and root for her as she delved deeper into the case and the disappearance of the local girl. I did not see the final twist, and really enjoyed the shocking conclusion. A solid winter thriller!
The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job with the Icelandic accents, and pronunciations of the local landmarks. It enriched my reading experience as they also slowly increased the suspense and fear the characters encountered.

The Lost House is some Nordic Noir from Melissa Larsen and read by Saskia Maarleveld.

"Agnes returns to the small village in Iceland where her grandfather was accused of killing his wife and child. He was never charged and fled to America with his young son. Agnes agrees to help a true-crime podcaster find the truth about what happened, but she desperately wants to find her grandfather was innocent. Another girl is abducted and people are afraid. Everyone is telling Agnes to leave but she is determined to find answers."

Agnes is a mess. She has some injuries she is still recovering from and is trying to beat an opioid addiction. Could figure out why she wouldn't go to the store and buy some gloves - It's winter in Iceland - brrrrr - GET SOME GLOVES. Agnes keeps giving different reasons for her injuries but when you find out, you understand her a little better.
This is a slow burn mystery. The last part is pretty intense. I like the resolution for Agnes. One of the difficulties with the audiobook was keeping the Icelandic names straight. I had to check the written copy to figure some out.
Saskia Maaeleveld does a great job with the audio. There are several characters - male and female - and she does a different voice for all.

A nice mystery from Larsen - wear your coat when you read or listen - AND SOME GLOVES

The book caught my attention because I’m a sucker for anything set in a Nordic country. Honestly, it took me a decent amount of time to get into the story, but then by about the 70% mark, I was very into it. I think that the pacing could have been a bit faster, but I feel like a lot of thrillers based around a crime podcast do tend to have that slower pace to build the ante. I thought that the ending was done well and the characters all had nice character arcs. Saskia Maarlaveld is the narrator, so you KNOW that the narration is top notch!

I recommend thriller. I would prefer to read this one due to the confusing names and accent the narrator was using. I listened to the audio version.

There were some good twists and turns I did not see coming. A heartfelt family drama. Some of the romance was unnecessary and distracting from the story. But maybe that was the authors intention to get you looking at the wrong person as a suspect.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

I really liked this narrator - something about their voice was almost hypnotizing, it was unique and easy to listen to. The story itself I had a hard time following and getting into, there were a lot of moving parts and I found it hard to connect with.

That being said, the setting/atmosphere was written really well. I enjoyed the snowy, cold setting that served as the perfect backdrop to the story.

Overall, this listen provided mystery, sadness, and family ties. All things that go over well for me.

Thank you Macmillan for the ALC!

Melissa Larsen’s The Lost House is a masterful blend of chilling suspense and emotional depth that left me utterly spellbound. Set against the hauntingly beautiful but unforgiving Icelandic winter, the novel unravels decades-old secrets through Agnes’s desperate search for redemption and truth. Larsen’s atmospheric prose draws you into the icy grip of Bifröst, where every character brims with suspicion and every revelation feels like a punch to the gut. With its heart-stopping twists and deeply human exploration of guilt, family, and survival, this razor-sharp thriller grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. A must-read for anyone craving a story as dark and gripping as the long Icelandic nights.

The audiobook narrator of The Lost House brings an added layer of immersion to an already captivating story. Her smooth, measured voice perfectly complements the haunting and atmospheric tone of the novel, drawing you effortlessly into Agnes’s journey. Each word is delivered with precision and care, her pacing calibrated to build tension at just the right moments without ever feeling rushed. The narrator’s ability to capture the emotional undercurrents of Agnes’s struggles and the chilling unease of the Icelandic setting makes the listening experience unforgettable, adding depth and richness to Melissa Larsen’s gripping thriller.

I had a lot of high hopes for this book since it was taking a true crime podcast point of view of a cold case in Iceland. But in the end, the podcast storyline became a side story the personal struggles of the main character, Agnes. Agnes's story was kind of boring to me and just dragged out! The twist was ok but kind of saw it coming.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was well done.

This got my attention right away and was a decent read. The attention to detail and character development were on point. There were a lot of characters to keep track of though and I did find it difficult until I started writing everything down. I felt pretty certain I knew what was going to happen and I did end up being correct, but there were also so many twists though out, it did have me second guessing my first thought. After a while this did start to seem repetitive and drag a little, but towards the end it did pick up again. The narrator for the audio was a great fit for this book. All in all I thought this was an interesting mystery book. 3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Melissa Larsen, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

ARC REVIEW (1/14): the lost house by melissa larsen ❄️ a mesmerizing story of a young woman with a haunting past who returns to her ancestral home in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family.

I loved the dark setting and how it added to the harsh iceland ambience! many dark themes were explored so check triggers before diving in! if you’re on the hunt for a mystery to read while snowed in, this is the one for you as it’s not too frightening.

there was a podcast element that hooks you right away but I think I would’ve enjoyed this mystery more if it was told from the podcast host, nora! I was never sure of her motives so diving a bit deeper into that element would’ve been interesting🧣

despite the captivating writing, it did get a bit slow at times which was a bummer. SO much time was lost listening to the fmc, agnes, abuse her body & pop pills that it took me out of the story.

I hope I haunt you 👀 thank you macmillan audio & st. martin's press for the early copies 🎧 3 stars!

💥 Pub Date: 1/14/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

• Nordic noir mystery
• chilling atmosphere
• unique characters

I found this to be more of a slow burn. It was a little too repetitive in parts, but the ending definitely paid off. The audio narrator really brought the story to life, and it was nice to know how to pronounce some of those Icelandic words!

🗣 Thank you to netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via both gifted eARC and audio! All opinions are honest and my own.

Macmillan Audio ALC
What a perfect atmospheric mystery for winter. This story takes place in Iceland when there’s lots of snow storms. The story felt claustrophobic between the snow, Agnes’ injury, and not knowing who to trust. I always love a story with an old family mystery, and this one is dark. I also thought the exploration of the podcast trope was so well done here. I liked how it explored how dredging up traumatic history isn’t always a good thing. Saskia Maarleveld narrated, and she is perfect for these kinds of stories.

A riveting, well-paced murder mystery thriller. I connected with the main character, Agnes, with her flaws, chronic pain, and her family's dark backstory. Despite her pain from a bad injury to her knee and leg, and convinced of her grandfather's innocence, Agnes makes the trip from California to Bifröst, Iceland to meet with a podcaster digging into her grandmother and great aunt's cold case. She meets distant relatives and new friends, many of them holding pieces of the puzzle to solving the mystery. Her journey to the truth is difficult and riddled with obstacles, and I loved how the mystery unfolded. The narration of the audiobook was fantastic and engaging. I highly recommend this book for fans of Nordic thrillers and murder mysteries.