The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is an incredibly thrilling novel with strong female characters that will leave you guessing until the end.
Sometimes, I read a book and get so carried away with it that I can picture myself in its location and situation. This book did just that! The Lost House is so beautifully written, and the characters are well-developed. It’s hard not to like this book. It gives a slow-burn vibe and takes a minute to get into it, but once you are in it, you’ll devour it!
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The Lost House Overview
Title: The Lost House
Author: Melissa Larsen
Pages: 352 Pages
Publish Date: January 14th, 2025
Genre: Thriller
My Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! (I loved this book and would recommend you read it!)
Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4esJa66
Synopsis From Amazon
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.
My Review of The Lost House
Thank you to the publisher, Melissa Larsen, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Lost House will blow your mind! I loved the setting, Iceland, and the strong, complex female characters. There’s nothing I love more than a complex main character. Agnes travels to Iceland to help a murder podcaster, Nora, get answers about whether her grandfather killed her grandma and aunt. She’s in a complicated spot because if she finds out that her grandfather did commit the murders, then everything she believes in could be wrong.
Agnes is a complex character because she is trying to hide the fact that she’s going through a lot. She’s grieving her grandfather’s passing, she’s in physical pain from an accident, her father isn’t speaking to her, and she has no one else in your life to turn to. Then you add the isolation of being in a foreign country and not knowing the land or the language. Plus, everyone she meets thinks her grandfather is guilty, which adds another layer to her grief.
The Lost House is a slow burn but the twisty turns of the plot throughout will keep you guessing. It’s a great book for the cold winters when you want to cuddle up with a good thriller. This book was so good and I’m glad I received it from NetGalley. I will be reading more from Melissa Larsen!
Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4esJa66
More Book Reviews
- NetGalley Book Review: Fun for the Whole Family
- NetGalley Review: Three Days In June by Anne Tyler
- NetGalley Book Review: The Tanglewood Bookshop by Lilac Mills
- NetGalley Book Review: The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock
Who Would I Recommend this Book To
This book is perfect for any reader who loves thrillers or mysteries. You will enjoy this book if you like Listen For The Lie or any book written by Freida McFadden. It’s full of twists and will leave you questioning everyone! It’s also perfect for anyone who loves complex main female characters! Basically, if you are a fan of murder podcasts, and mystery novels with moments of thriller vibes, then you need to grab this book!
Trigger Warning: This book does contain themes of murder, sex, and assault. It should be read by mature readers (at least 16 years old).
Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/4esJa66
Final Thoughts
The Lost House is a great book to read during the cold winter months that will make you wonder if you are living in this book’s isolated, cold location. Once you get into this book, you’ll want to know who killed Agnes’ grandmother and aunt. You’ll be surprised by the ending. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
If you have any thoughts or questions about this book, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from all of you!
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Thanks for reading,
Kel
