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The Lost House by Melissa Larsen [Book Review]

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen [Book Review]

Iceland. A cold case. A missing girl. A family mystery tangled in the past and present. The Lost House by Melissa Larsen had the makings of a page-turner, and I was ready to be swept away. But… while the atmosphere delivered, the story never fully pulled me in. Find out why I gave the book three out of five stars.

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. [Goodreads.com]

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a mystery set against Iceland’s breathtaking, otherworldly backdrop. At first, I thought, sign me up! The premise was intriguing but the story itself didn’t quite pull me in the way I’d hoped.

The plot follows Agnes, who travels to Iceland to meet with a true crime podcaster about her grandfather, who is suspected of murdering her aunt and cousin. Agnes is determined to clear his name. But things take a turn when, during her stay in the small town where her father and grandfather once lived, a girl goes missing. Everyone becomes a suspect, and Agnes is tasked with uncovering her family’s past and a new mystery.

The setup is fantastic: a podcaster revisiting a cold case, family secrets, and suspicious small-town locals. Plus, the beautiful Icelandic landscape is the story’s backdrop. I was thrilled at the idea of losing myself in a story set in its unique landscape. Larsen did a solid job describing the scenery. It felt icy, remote, and mysterious, a perfect match for the book’s tone.

But for reasons I can’t put my finger on, the book never quite sucked me in. The writing is well-crafted, and the plot is clearly thought out. But, it lacks the kind of magnetism that makes it impossible to put the book down. It’s not bad by any means—just not my favorite.

That said, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it. If you’re a fan of slow-burn mysteries, this might be the book for you.

Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you’re a mystery lover with a soft spot for Iceland. Even though it didn’t quite hit the mark for me, that doesn’t mean it won’t for you. It’s all about the right book at the right time and The Lost House is the right book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.


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